A cohort analysis of sexually transmitted infections among different groups of men who have sex with men in the early era of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis in France.

BACKGROUND: MSM are at particular risk of STIs due to sexual behavior and substance use. HIV PrEP use may increase this risk. DESIGN: Our aim was to comparatively assess incident STIs among different at-risk groups-PLWHIV, HIV-negative PrEP and no-PrEP users-seen at our center early after PrEP implementation. METHODS: Clinical data were retrospectively collected on 636 MSM seen at the Infectious Diseases Department between September 2016 and October 2018. STI incidence rate was assessed among groups for the whole period, as well as separately for each year of the study. RESULTS: Overall STI incidence rate ratio was higher in HIV-neg when compared to PLWHIV. In multivariate analysis, STI risk was significantly higher among HIV-neg no-PrEP users compared to PLWHIV, while not different between PLWHIV and PrEP users.STI incidence globally increased during the first 2 years after PrEP approval among PLWHIV and no-PrEP users, stated by odds ratio (OR = 1.77 [1.23-2.55], p = 0.0020 and OR = 2.29 [0.91-5.73], p = 0.0774 respectively) while it remained rather stable for HIV-neg PrEP users (OR = 1.19 [0.60-2.38], p = 0.6181). The HIV-neg no-PrEP group remained at higher risk of STI than PLWHIV and PrEP users during the two periods. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that a proactive approach of an efficient follow-up of MSM participants since PrEP approval may have prevented an increase of the incidence of STIs among PrEP users.

An optimized stepwise algorithm combining rapid antigen and RT-qPCR for screening of COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND & AIM: We investigated the combination of rapid antigen detection (RAD) and RT-qPCR assays in a stepwise procedure to optimize the detection of COVID-19. METHODS: From August 2020 to November 2020, 43,399 patients were screened in our laboratory for COVID-19 diagnostic by RT-qPCR using nasopharyngeal swab. Overall, 4,691 of the 43,399 were found to be positive, and 200 were retrieved for RAD testing allowing comparison of diagnostic accuracy between RAD and RT-qPCR. Cycle threshold (Ct) and time from symptoms onset (TSO) were included as covariates. RESULTS: The overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, LR-, and LR+ of RAD compared with RT-qPCR were 72% (95%CI 62%-81%), 99% (95% CI95%-100%), 99% (95%CI 93%-100%), and 78% (95%CI 70%-85%), 0.28 (95%CI 0.21-0.39), and 72 (95%CI 10-208) respectively. Sensitivity was higher for patients with Ct ≤ 25 regardless of TSO: TSO ≤ 4 days 92% (95%CI 75%-99%), TSO > 4 days 100% (95%CI 54%-100%), and asymptomatic 100% (95%CI 78-100%). Overall, combining RAD and RT-qPCR would allow reducing from only 4% the number of RT-qPCR needed. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the risk of misdiagnosing COVID-19 in 28% of patients if RAD is used alone. A stepwise analysis that combines RAD and RT-qPCR would be an efficient screening procedure for COVID-19 detection and may facilitate the control of the outbreak.

Coxiella burnetii: A Hidden Pathogen in Interstitial Lung Disease?

We report 7 patients with interstitial lung disease seen at computed tomographic scan review. Coxiella burnetii infection was diagnosed in situ in 1 lung biopsy specimen. Q fever may be a cofactor of interstitial lung disease, especially in endemic areas.

Early Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Improves Survival in Severe Clostridium difficile Infections.

Background: Severe Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) are associated with a high mortality rate despite medical and/or surgical treatment. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) prevents recurrences, but its effect on survival has been shown only in patients with O27 ribotype CDI. Here, we investigated whether early FMT could improve survival in hospitalized CDI patients, particularly those with severe infection. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study between May 2013 and April 2016 at the infectious diseases department of the North University Hospital of Marseille, France. Patients received either medical treatment alone or treatment with early FMT. The primary outcome was the 3-month mortality rate. Results: A total of 111 patients were included: 66 in the FMT group and 45 in the non-FMT group. No patient underwent surgery. The O27 ribotype (odds ratio [OR], 3.64 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.05- 12.6], P = .04), severe CDI (OR, 9.62 [95% CI, 2.16-42.8], P = .003), and FMT (OR, 0.13 [95% CI, .04-.44], P = .001) were independent predictors of 3-month mortality. FMT improved survival in severe cases (OR, 0.08 [95% CI, .016-.34], P = .001) but not in nonsevere cases (OR, 1.07 [95% CI, .02-56.3], P = .97), independent of age, sex, comorbidities (Charlson score), and ribotype. The number of severe patients who needed to be treated to save 1 life at 3 months was 2. Conclusions: Early FMT dramatically reduces mortality and should be proposed as a first-line treatment for severe CDI. Further studies are needed to clarify complications and contraindications. Surgery should be reassessed in this context.

From Expert Protocols to Standardized Management of Infectious Diseases.

We report here 4 examples of management of infectious diseases (IDs) at the University Hospital Institute Méditerranée Infection in Marseille, France, to illustrate the value of expert protocols feeding standardized management of IDs. First, we describe our experience on Q fever and Tropheryma whipplei infection management based on in vitro data and clinical outcome. Second, we describe our management-based approach for the treatment of infective endocarditis, leading to a strong reduction of mortality rate. Third, we report our use of fecal microbiota transplantation to face severe Clostridium difficile infections and to perform decolonization of patients colonized by emerging highly resistant bacteria. Finally, we present the standardized management of the main acute infections in patients admitted in the emergency department, promoting antibiotics by oral route, checking compliance with the protocol, and avoiding the unnecessary use of intravenous and urinary tract catheters. Overall, the standardization of the management is the keystone to reduce both mortality and morbidity related to IDs.

HHV8 and Kaposi's sarcoma: should we really give up protease inhibitors in all HIV-infected patients?

: We describe the first case of a patient presenting Kaposi's sarcoma with human herpes virus 8 (HHV8) viremia after switching from a protease inhibitor to an integrase inhibitor-based combination antiretroviral therapy, followed by a rapid remission when resuming protease inhibitor. We suggest that the recent recommendations to switch all HIV patients to protease inhibitor-free regimens should be carefully re-evaluated especially in MSM HIV patients which are at higher risks of HHV8 infections and associated malignancies.

A Regional Outbreak of Clostridium difficile PCR-Ribotype 027 Infections in Southeastern France from a Single Long-Term Care Facility.

OBJECTIVE To describe and analyze a large outbreak of Clostridium difficile 027 (CD-027) infections. METHODS Confirmed CD-027 cases were defined as CD infection plus real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (PCR) positive for CD-027. Clinical and microbiological data on patients with CD-027 infection were collected from January 2013 to December 2015 in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region (southeastern France). RESULTS In total, 19 healthcare facilities reported 144 CD-027 infections (112 confirmed and 32 probable CD-027 infections) during a 22-month period outbreak. Although the incidence rate per 10,000 bed days was lower in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) than in acute care facilities (0.05 vs 0.14; P<.001), cases occurred mainly in LTCFs, one of which was the probable source of this outbreak. After centralization of CD testing, the rate of confirmed CD-027 cases from LTCFs or residential-care homes increased significantly (69% vs 92%; P<.001). Regarding confirmed CD-027 patients, the sex ratio and the median age were 0.53 and 84.2 years, respectively. The 30-day crude mortality rate was 31%. Most patients (96%) had received antibiotics within 3 months prior to the CD colitis diagnosis. During the study period, the rate of patients with CD-027 (compared with all patients tested in the point-of-care laboratories) decreased significantly (P=.03). CONCLUSIONS A large CD-027 outbreak occurred in southeastern France as a consequence of an initial cluster of cases in a single LTCF. Successful interventions included rapid isolation and testing of residents with potentially infectious diarrhea and cohorting of case patients in a specialized infectious diseases ward to optimize management. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;1-5.

Actinomyces gerencseriae hip prosthesis infection: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Actinomyces bacteria are part of the human oropharyngeal microbiota. They have been associated with abdominal, cervicofacial and thoracic infections and a few cases of joint infections have also been described. In particular, Actinomyces gerencseriae, formerly described as Actinomyces israelii serovar II, has rarely been associated with human infections, mostly involving cervicofacial lesions and periodontal diseases. Here, we report one case of hip prosthesis infection due to A. gerencseriae. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72-year-old Caucasian male developed an inflammatory collection on the outside of the right thigh where a hip prosthesis had been implanted for 11 years. Culturing a fluid sample from the collection puncture found Staphylococcus hominis and a Gram-positive bacillus unidentified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass-spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Sequencing the 16S rRNA gene amplified from both the specimen and the isolate identified A. gerencseriae. Treatment adjusted with amoxicillin and trimethropim-sulfamethoxazole cured the infection. CONCLUSION: The recently described A. gerencseriae has rarely been involved in human infections. We report the first case of A. gerencseriae joint infection in a hip prosthesis.

Laryngeal tuberculosis diagnosed by stool sample cultures: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngeal tuberculosis is a rare and often misdiagnosed disease. Its diagnosis is based on the association of a laryngeal lesion and the microbiological detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Stool cultures have recently been described as a useful tool in the diagnosis of atypical forms of tuberculosis. In this report, we describe the first case in the literature of laryngeal tuberculosis diagnosed by culture of stool samples. CASE PRESENTATION: A 41-year-old French Caucasian man was admitted to our hospital for dysphonia of 3 months' evolution. A laryngeal biopsy was performed because of suspicion of carcinoma. He had no clinical signs of tuberculosis. The biopsy showed a caseating granuloma suggestive of laryngeal tuberculosis. The diagnosis was finally confirmed by stool cultures, whereas sputum cultures remained sterile for M. tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: This case confirms the importance of stool cultures in the diagnosis of tuberculosis, especially for patients with uncommon presentations.

Respiratory tract isolation of Mycobacterium europaeum following influenza infection in an immunocompromised patient: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Mycobacterium europaeum, a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacteria belonging to the Mycobacterium simiae complex, was described after the seminal characterization of five isolates collected from three sputum specimens and a jaw gland biopsy in Italy, Greece and Sweden. Five respiratory tract isolates were further reported in Iran. Here, we report the first isolation of M. europaeum in France, in the respiratory tract of a patient co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus. CASE PRESENTATION: A 49-year-old Caucasian woman with a 26-year history of human immunodeficiency virus-hepatitis C virus co-infection was admitted for significant influenza-like syndrome in a context of repetitive exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Significant biological parameters included lymphocytes of 1.6G/L including 237/mm3 T4 lymphocytes, a human immunodeficiency virus viral load of 1.6 log and a hepatitis C virus viral load of 6 log. Reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of her nasopharyngeal aspiration confirmed influenza A H1N1. Three sputum specimens lacked acid-fast bacilli but one grew mycobacteria identified by using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry as M. europaeum with a 1.56 log score. A 1,482-bp 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene sequence yielded 99% similarity with both Mycobacterium parascrofulaceum ATCC BAA-614 and M. europaeum DSM 45397T and partial rpoB polymerase chain reaction-sequencing yielded a 725-bp sequence exhibiting 100% similarity with M. europaeum strain DSM 45397T. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first isolation of M. europaeum in France, in the respiratory tract of a patient co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus. M. europaeum warrants further attention in immunosuppressed patients with influenza, using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry and rpoB partial sequencing as tools for its accurate identification.

Rickettsioses and Q fever in travelers (2004-2013).

Rickettsioses (also called typhus) are associated with arthropods, including ticks, mites, fleas, and lice, although Q fever is more frequently acquired through the inhalation of contaminated aerosols or the consumption of milk. These zoonoses first emerged in the field of travel medicine 20 years ago. Here, we review rickettsioses and Q fever in travelers, highlighting cases reported in the past decade. African tick bite fever and Mediterranean spotted fever are the two most frequent spotted fevers. While the presentation of these fevers is typically benign, cardiac and neurological complications due to African tick bite fever have been reported, and Mediterranean spotted fever has been complicated by multi-organ failure and death in a few cases. Murine typhus and Q fever remain difficult to recognize and diagnose because these illnesses often present with only fever. New molecular tools, particularly when deployed with samples obtained from eschar swabs, might be easily implemented in laboratories with PCR facilities. Doxycycline must be introduced upon clinical suspicion of rickettsioses or Q fever and should be considered in cases of fever of unknown origin in travelers who are returning from at-risk geographic areas.