Incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in people with cystic fibrosis in Europe between February and June 2020

Background: Viral infections can cause significant morbidity in cystic fibrosis (CF). The current Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic could therefore have a serious impact on the health of people with CF (pwCF). Methods: We used the 38-country European Cystic Fibrosis Society Patient Registry (ECFSPR) to collect case data about pwCF and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results: Up to 30 June 2020, 16 countries reported 130 SARS-CoV-2 cases in people with CF, yielding an incidence of 2.70/1000 pwCF. Incidence was higher in lung-transplanted patients (n=23) versus non-transplanted patients (n=107) (8.43 versus 2.36 cases/1000). Incidence was higher in pwCF versus the age-matched general population in the age groups <15, 15-24, and 25-49 years (p<0.001), with similar trends for pwCF with and without lung transplant. Compared to the general population, pwCF (regardless of transplantation status) had significantly higher rates of admission to hospital for all age groups with available data, and higher rates of intensive care, although not statistically significant. Most pwCF recovered (96.2%), however 5 died, of whom 3 were lung transplant recipients. The case fatality rate for pwCF (3.85%, 95% CI: 1.26-8.75) was non-significantly lower than that of the general population (7.46%; p=0.133). Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in severe illness and death for pwCF, even for younger patients and especially for lung transplant recipients. PwCF should continue to shield from infection and should be prioritized for vaccination

Track A Basic Science

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138319/1/jia218438.pd

Bacteriophage Types and Antibiotic Susceptibility of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

In vitro tests of 132 strains of Staphylococcus aureus , among which were 38 (28.7%) heteroresistant strains, were performed with 14 commonly used antibiotics, including gentamicin and vancomycin. Heteroresistant strains were found predominantly, but not only, with group 3 phage-typable strains; no heteroresistant strain was found in out-patients. Gentamicin appeared as a uniformly effective agent at low concentrations against oxacillin-sensitive and -resistant strains. It is suggested that gentamicin should be compared to vancomycin in future clinical therapeutic trials in severe staphylococcal infections, especially in cases due to oxacillin-resistant strains. </jats:p

Anaerobic Wound Infections in Cancer Patients: Comparative Trial of Clindamycin, Tinidazole, and Doxycycline

Clindamycin, tinidazole (a parent compound to metronidazole), and doxycycline were compared in vitro against 376 anaerobic bacteria isolated from clinical specimens. Bacteriostatic tests indicated that clindamycin was the most active drug, on a weight basis, against these strains except for Clostridium species. The three drugs were compared as therapies for anaerobic wound infections in cancer patients. In a randomized double-blind study, no statistically significant differences between clindamycin and tinidazole could be documented. Doxycycline was less active presumably because of the lack of clinical response in three out of four patients infected with doxycycline-resistant strains. No major untoward effects were observed. The bactericidal dilution of the serum was predictive of the clinical outcome