Anniversary of Leonid Aleksandrovich Blatun (March 29, 1941)

The article presents a brief biography of the senior researcher in wounds and wound infections department and clinical microbiologist of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “A. V. Vishnevsky National Medical Research Center of Surgery” Ministry of Health of Russia Leonid Aleksandrovich Blatun (03/29/1941) in honor of his 80th anniversary, of which 55 years passed within the walls of the A. V. Vishnevsky institute of surgery!

Application, Verification, and Implementation of SARS-CoV-2 Serologic Assays with Emergency Use Authorization

ABSTRACTInterest continues to grow regarding the role of serologic assays for the detection of prior infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization (EUA) status to many SARS-CoV-2 serologic assays. In this document, expert recommendations from clinical microbiologist members of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) concerning detailed verification strategies for SARS-CoV-2 serologic assays with FDA EUA are provided, as are insights into assay limitations and reporting considerations for laboratories. Assessments concerning single-antibody and multiantibody isotype detection assays, which may provide either differentiated or nondifferentiated (i.e., total antibody) antibody class results, are addressed. Additional considerations prior to assay implementation are also discussed, including biosafety, quality control, and proficiency testing strategies. As the landscape of SARS-CoV-2 serologic testing is rapidly changing, this document provides updated guidance for laboratorians on application of these assays.

Infection in the clinic of internal diseases

In the modern clinic of internal diseases, the specific gravity of the infectious pathology, manifested by various clinical syndromes, is increasing. Infectious pathology is represented by diseases of the respiratory system, heart disease (infective endocarditis, cardioimplant infections, viral myocarditis), infectious arthropathies, extrahepatic manifestations of viral hepatitis, cytopenic syndromes, various manifestations of sepsis and some other conditions.In most cases, the diagnosis and management of such patients is the responsibility of the internist, who must be able to suspect the infection and carry out its verification. In the process of diagnostic search and management of patients, close interaction of the internist with a clinical microbiologist, clinical pharmacologist and other related specialists is necessary.

Antibiotic stewardship programs and the internist’s role

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a worldwide issue, but with significant epidemiological diversity in different countries. A recently observed phenomenon is represented by the diffusion of AMR, initially confined to intensive-care units, to medical wards. This was predictable, since patients hospitalized in medical units are made up of more than 70% of elderly people (over 75 years of age in 1 case out of 2). They are fragile patients, with significant comorbidity (over a half with at least 3 diseases), weakened immune systems, and consequently a higher risk of infection. Given such a scenario, it becomes therefore both necessary and urgent to adopt a multifaceted approach of antimicrobial stewardship programs in order to prevent, detect and control the emergence of antimicrobial resistant organisms. The ideal antimicrobial program is led by an infectious diseases (ID) physician and clinical pharmacist with ID training, together with a list of other important staff: clinical microbiologist, information systems specialist, infection control professional, and hospital epidemiologist. In real life, not all the Italian hospitals have got an ID physician and therefore the best canditates for antimicrobial management practices are internists if provided with a specific expertise in ID and antibiotic therapy. Adhering to the principles of optimal antimicrobial therapy in their clinical practice, the internist is able to improve the care and help to reduce the resistance of a patient at his bedside. At the same time, he can achieve other key goals reducing the length of stay and reducing the cost and utilization of health care resources.