Research Keyword: critical care

The Prognostic Value of (1→3)-β-D-Glucan in COVID-19 Patients with and Without Secondary Fungal Disease

During COVID-19 infection, a fungal marker called beta-D-glucan (BDG) in the blood can predict patient survival even without a diagnosed fungal infection. Researchers found that COVID-19 patients with high BDG levels had a 91% death rate if not treated with antifungal drugs, but this dropped to 50% when antifungal therapy was given. The high BDG levels trigger a strong inflammatory response in the body that worsens disease severity, making BDG a valuable warning sign for doctors treating critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Read More »

Acute liver failure caused by Amanita verna: a case series and review of the literature

This case study examines three patients who became severely ill after eating poisonous Amanita verna mushrooms in China. One patient successfully received a liver transplant and recovered, while the other two died from brain bleeding complications. The study highlights that liver transplantation can be life-saving for mushroom poisoning victims with severe liver failure, though doctors need better guidelines to decide when transplantation is the right choice.

Read More »

Mycobiome analyses of critically ill COVID-19 patients

This study examined fungal infections in severely ill COVID-19 patients treated in intensive care units across Europe. Researchers found that a dangerous mold called Aspergillus fumigatus was more common in patients who died and less common in those treated with azole antifungal drugs. The findings suggest that giving antifungal medications to critically ill COVID-19 patients when they arrive at the hospital might help prevent fungal-related deaths.

Read More »

Investigating the Increasing Azole Resistance in Candida Infections Among Critically Ill Patients: Experience From a Tertiary-Level Setup in North India

This study tracked the increase in drug-resistant yeast infections in hospitalized patients in India from 2023 to 2025. The researchers found that common antifungal medications like fluconazole are becoming less effective, with resistance rates nearly doubling over the study period. The good news is that newer antifungal drugs called echinocandins remained highly effective. The findings highlight the need for better infection control measures and more careful use of antifungal medications.

Read More »

Therapeutic Plasma Exchange in Acute Liver Failure: A Real-World Study in Mexico

Acute liver failure is a serious medical emergency where the liver suddenly stops working properly. This study found that a treatment called therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), which filters the blood to remove harmful substances, significantly improved survival rates in liver failure patients treated in a Mexican hospital. Patients receiving TPE had a 92% survival rate at 30 days compared to only 50% in those receiving standard treatment alone, even though the TPE group had more severe cases at the start.

Read More »

The Prognostic Value of (1→3)-β-D-Glucan in COVID-19 Patients with and Without Secondary Fungal Disease

During COVID-19, patients in intensive care sometimes develop dangerous fungal infections. Doctors use a blood test to measure a fungal marker called BDG to help diagnose these infections. This study found that even without confirmed fungal infection, high BDG levels predicted who would not survive, but giving antifungal medications improved survival even without proven infection.

Read More »
Scroll to Top