Helicobacter pylori:Effect of coexisting diseases and update on treatment regimens

The presence of concomitant diseases is an independentpredictive factor for non-Helicobacter pylori(H. pylori) peptic ulcers. Patients contracting concomitant diseases have an increased risk of developing ulcer disease through pathogenic mechanisms distinct from those of H. pylori infections. Factors other than H. pylori seem critical in peptic ulcer recurrence in end stage renal disease(ESRD) and cirrhotic patients. However, early H. pylori eradication is associated with a reduced risk of recurrent complicated peptic ulcers in patients with ESRD and liver cirrhosis. Resistances to triple therapy are currently detected using culture-based and molecular methods. Culture susceptibility testing before first- or second-line therapy is unadvisable. Using highly effective empiric first-line and rescue regimens can yield acceptable results. Sequential therapy has been included in a recent consensus report as a valid first-line option for eradicating H. pylori in geographic regions with high clarithromycin resistance. Two novel eradication regimens, namely concomitant and hybrid therapy, have proven more effective in patients with dual-(clarithromycin- and metronidazole-) resistant H. pylori strains. We aim to review the prevalence of and eradication therapy for H. pylori infection in patients with ESRD and cirrhosis. Moreover, we summarized the updated H. pylori eradication regimens.

Nosocomial infection and spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection among hospital staff,patients and caregivers

BACKGROUND There are difficulties in diagnosing nosocomial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2) infection in hospital settings. Furthermore, mortality of cases of nosocomial infection(NI) with SARS-CoV-2 is higher than that of the general infected population. In the early stage of the pandemic in Taiwan, as patients were not tested for SARS-CoV-2 at admission, NIs often go undetected. Strictly applying the systematic polymerase chain reaction(PCR) screening, as a standard infection control measure was subsequently implemented to reduce NI incidence. However, evidence on risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 NIs among healthcare workers(HCWs) and caregivers is limited.AIM To assess NI incidence of SARS-CoV-2 among hospital staff, hospitalized patients, and caregivers, and the transmission routes of clusters of infection.METHODS This descriptive retrospective analysis at our hospital from May 15 to August 15, 2021 included data on 132 SARS-CoV-2 NIs cases among hospital staff, inpatients, and caregivers who previously tested negative but subsequently identified with a positive SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcriptase-PCR(RT-PCR) test results, or a hospital staff who tested positive following routine SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test. Chi-square tests were performed to compare the differences between hospital staff and private caregivers, and between clusters and sporadic infections.RESULTS Overall, 9149 patients and 2005 hospital staff members underwent routine SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR testing, resulting in 12 confirmed cluster and 23 sporadic infections. Among the index cases of the clusters, three(25%) cases were among hospital staff and nine(75%) cases were among other contacts. Among sporadic infections, 21(91%) cases were among hospital staff and two(9%) cases were among other contacts(P < 0.001). There was an average of 8.08 infections per cluster. The secondary cases of cluster infection were inpatients(45%), hospital staff(30%), and caregivers(25%). Private caregivers constituted 27% and 4% of the clusters and sporadic infections, respectively(P = 0.024);92.3% of them were infected in the clusters. The mortality rate was 0.0%.CONCLUSION The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was relatively high among private caregivers, indicating a need for infection control education in this group, such as social distancing, frequent handwashing, and wearing PPE.