Introduction The hemogram and hemogram-derivative ratios (HDRs) are becoming markers of the severity and mortality of COVID-19. We evaluated the hemograms and serial weekly HDRs [neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-platelet ratio (NPR) and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII)] in the survivors and non-survivors of COVID-19. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical notes and serial hemograms of real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 adults hospitalized from April 2020 to March 2021 from the time of diagnosis to the 3rd week of diagnosis. Results Of the 320 adults, 257 (80.3%) were survivors and had a lower mean age than the non-survivors (57.73 vs. 64.65 years, p < 0.001). At diagnosis, the non-survivors had lower hematocrit (p = 0.021), and lymphocyte (p = 0.002) and basophil (p = 0.049) counts and the hematocrit showed a p-value (Is this what you meant???) of 0.021); higher NLR (p < 0.001), PLR (p = 0.047), NPR (p = 0.022) and SII (p = 0.022). Using general linear models, the survivors and non-survivors showed significant variations with weekly lymphocyte count (p < 0.001), neutrophil count (p = 0.005), NLR (p = 0.009), MLR (p = 0.010) and PLR (p = 0.035). All HDRs remained higher in the non-survivors in the 2nd week and 3rd week of diagnosis and the HDRs were higher in the intubated patients than in the non-intubated patients. The NLR and SII were more efficient predictors of mortality in COVID-19 patients. Conclusions This study shows that serial lymphocyte and neutrophil counts, NLR, PLR, MLR, NPR and SII could serve as good and easily accessible markers of severity and predictors of outcomes in COVID-19 patients and should be used for the monitoring of treatment response. hemogramderivative derivative (HDRs COVID19. COVID19 COVID 19. 19 neutrophillymphocyte , (NLR) monocytelymphocyte monocyte (MLR) plateletlymphocyte platelet (PLR) neutrophilplatelet (NPR immuneinflammatory immune inflammatory (SII) nonsurvivors non realtime real reversetranscription reverse transcription RTPCRconfirmed RT PCR confirmed COVID-1 202 rd 32 25 80.3% 803 80 3 (80.3% 57.73 5773 57 73 (57.7 vs 6465 64 65 64.6 years 0.001. 0001 0.001 . 0 001 0.001) 0.021, 0021 0.021 021 0.021) 0.002 0002 002 0.049 0049 049 pvalue value Is meant meant??? 0.001, 0.047, 0047 0.047 047 0.047) 0.022 0022 022 0.022. models 0.005, 0005 0.005 005 0.005) 0.009, 0009 0.009 009 0.009) 0.010 0010 010 0.035. 0035 0.035 035 0.035) nd nonintubated response COVID1 1 (NLR (MLR (PLR (SII COVID- 20 2 80.3 8 (80.3 57.7 577 5 7 (57. 646 6 64. 000 0.00 00 0.02 02 0.04 004 04 meant?? 0.01 01 003 0.03 03 80. (80. 57. (57 0.0 meant? (80 (5 0. (8 (

ABSTRACT Hyalohyphomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis are groups of mycoses caused by several agents and show different clinical manifestations. We report a case of an immunocompromised patient who presented rare manifestations of opportunistic mycoses: mycetoma-like hyalohyphomycosis on his right foot caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, followed by cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis on his right forearm caused by Exophiala oligosperma. Further to the rarity of this case, the patient's lesion on the foot shows that the clinical aspects of mycetomas could falsely appear in other fungal infections similar to hyalohyphomycosis. We also show that the muriform cells that were seen in the direct and anatomopathological examination of the skin are not pathognomonic of chromoblastomycosis, as observed in the lesion of the patient's forearm. mycetomalike mycetoma like gloeosporioides oligosperma patients s chromoblastomycosis

BACKGROUND Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) allows rapid pathogen identification and potentially can be used for antifungal susceptibility testing (AFST). OBJECTIVES We evaluated the performance of the MALDI-TOF MS in assessing azole susceptibility, with reduced incubation time, by comparing the results with the reference method Broth Microdilution. METHODS Resistant and susceptible strains of Candida (n = 15) were evaluated against fluconazole and Aspergillus (n = 15) against itraconazole and voriconazole. Strains were exposed to serial dilutions of the antifungals for 15 h. Microorganisms’ protein spectra against all drug concentrations were acquired and used to generate a composite correlation index (CCI) matrix. The comparison of autocorrelations and cross-correlations between spectra facilitated by CCI was used as a similarity parameter between them, enabling the inference of a minimum profile change concentration breakpoint. Results obtained with the different AFST methods were then compared. FINDINGS The overall agreement between methods was 91.11%. Full agreement (100%) was reached for Aspergillus against voriconazole and Candida against fluconazole, and 73.33% of agreement was obtained for Aspergillus against itraconazole. MAIN CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates MALDI-TOF MS’ potential as a reliable and faster alternative for AFST. More studies are necessary for method optimisation and standardisation for clinical routine application. Matrixassisted Matrix assisted desorption/ionisationtime desorptionionisationtime desorption/ionisation time desorption ionisation MALDITOF MALDI TOF . (AFST) Microdilution n 1 h Microorganisms (CCI matrix crosscorrelations cross correlations them breakpoint compared 9111 91 11 91.11% 100% 100 (100% 7333 73 33 73.33 application ionisationtime desorptionionisation (AFST 911 9 91.11 10 (100 733 7 3 73.3 91.1 (10 73. 91. (1 (

ABSTRACT Introduction: The etiology of pulmonary infections in HIV patients is determined by several variables including geographic region and availability of antiretroviral therapy. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional prospective study was conducted from 2012 to 2016 to evaluate the occurrence of pulmonary fungal infection in HIV-patients hospitalized due to pulmonary infections. Patients’ serums were tested for (1-3)-β-D-Glugan, galactomannan, and lactate dehydrogenase. The association among the variables was analyzed by univariate and multivariate regression analysis. Results: 60 patients were included in the study. The patients were classified in three groups: Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (19 patients), community-acquired pneumonia (18 patients), and other infections (23 patients). The overall mortality was 13.3%. The time since diagnosis of HIV infection was shorter in the pneumocystosis group (4.94 years; p = 0.001) than for the other two groups of patients. The multivariate analysis showed that higher (1-3)-β-D-Glucan level (mean: 241 pg/mL) and lactate dehydrogenase (mean: 762 U/L) were associated with the diagnosis of pneumocystosis. Pneumocystosis was the aids-defining illness in 11 out of 16 newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients. Conclusion: In the era of antiretroviral therapy, PJP was still the most prevalent pulmonary infection and (1-3)-β-D-Glucan and lactate dehydrogenase may be suitable markers to help diagnosing pneumocystosis in our HIV population.