Citations

Context.— Studies of lungs in patients with COVID-19 have focused on early findings. Objective.— To systematically study histopathologic and imaging features and presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in lung tissue from patients in later stages of COVID-19. Design.— Autopsies, explants, surgical lung biopsies, transbronchial biopsies, cryobiopsies, and needle biopsies from patients with COVID-19 whose onset of symptoms/confirmed diagnosis was more than 28 days before the procedure were studied. Available images were reviewed. Reverse transcription droplet digital polymerase chain reaction for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was performed on lung tissue. Results.— Of 44 specimens (43 patients; median age, 59.3 years; 26 [60.5%] male) features of acute lung injury (ALI) were seen in 39 (88.6%), predominantly organizing pneumonia and diffuse alveolar damage, up to 298 days after onset of COVID-19. Fibrotic changes were found in 33 specimens (75%), most commonly fibrotic diffuse alveolar damage (n = 22) and cicatricial organizing pneumonia (n = 12). Time between acquiring COVID-19 and specimen was shorter in patients with diffuse ALI (median, 61.5 days) compared with patients with focal (140 days) or no ALI (130 days) (P = .009). Sixteen (of 20; 80%) SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription droplet digital polymerase chain reaction tests were positive, up to 174 days after COVID-19 onset. Time between COVID-19 onset and most recent computed tomography in patients with consolidation on imaging was shorter (median, 43.0 days) versus in patients without consolidation (87.5 days; P = .02). Reticulations were associated with longer time to computed tomography after COVID-19 onset (median, 82 versus 23.5 days; P = .006). Conclusions.— ALI and SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in patients with COVID-19 for many months. ALI may evolve into fibrotic interstitial lung disease.

Abstract Background Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are resistant to numerous antibiotics and lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Omadacycline (OMC) is an aminomethylcycline antibiotic that is Food and Drug Administration-approved for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections and community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. Furthermore, OMC has shown in vitro activity against NTM. Given that real-world evidence is lacking, our primary objective was to evaluate the clinical success and tolerability of OMC when used for a variety of NTM infections. Methods This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study conducted from January 2020 to June 2021. We included all patients ≥ 18 years of age that received OMC of any indication for Mycobacterium spp. The primary outcome was clinical success, defined as a lack of all-cause mortality, lack of persistence or re-emergence of infection during or after therapy, and lack of alteration of OMC. Incidence of adverse effects potentially attributable to OMC and reasons for OMC utilization were also analyzed. Results A total of 31 patients were included from 12 geographically distinct academic health systems (median age: 57 (IQR, 45-63) years; 45% male; 81% Caucasian). The majority of isolated pathogens were Mycobacterium abscessus complex (84%) and of those with subspeciation performed (54%), the majority (86%) were subsp. abscessus. The primary infections were of pulmonary origin (67%) and the median (IQR) duration of OMC therapy was 5.3 (3.2-9.4) months. Most isolates did not have OMC susceptibility conducted (87%), while the majority did for tigecycline (90%). Clinical success was reported in 81% of the population. Most patients were on combination antimicrobial therapy, and 39% of patients reported an adverse effect while on OMC (58% gastrointestinal distress). The majority of patients were prescribed OMC due to ease of administration (61%) and antimicrobial resistance to previous antibiotics (42%). Conclusion OMC may be a potential option for the therapy of NTM infections. Prospective, randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm our preliminary findings. Disclosures Julie V. Philley, MD, Paratek Pharmaceuticals (Advisor or Review Panel member)Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Consultant) Michael P. Veve, Pharm.D., Cumberland (Grant/Research Support)Paratek Pharmaceuticals (Research Grant or Support) Michael J. Rybak, PharmD, MPH, PhD, Paratek Pharmaceuticals (Research Grant or Support)

We report the case of a 78-year-old woman who presented with cardiovascular risk factors and a history of an atypical transient ischaemic attack. She was referred by her primary care physician to the vascular surgery department at our institution for evaluation of progressive weakness, fatigue, arm claudication and difficulty assessing the blood pressure in her right arm. She was being considered for surgical revascularisation, but a careful history and review of her imaging studies raised suspicion for vasculitis, despite her normal inflammatory markers. She was eventually diagnosed with biopsy-proven giant cell arteritis with diffuse large-vessel involvement. Her symptoms improved with high-dose glucocorticoids.