Health problems and exposure to infectious risks in returning humanitarian aid workers.

BACKGROUND: Humanitarian aid workers are exposed to deployment-related health threats. Identifying subgroups at a higher risk of infection in this diverse population could help optimize prevention. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study based on anonymized data of humanitarian aid workers that visited our clinic for a post-deployment visit between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2021. We conducted a descriptive analysis of basic demographic data, self-reported risk exposure and health problems encountered during deployment extracted from a standard questionnaire. RESULTS: The questionnaire was administered to 1238 aid workers during 1529 post-deployment medical consultations. The median age was 37.2 years (IQR 31.7-44.3), and 718/1529 (47.0%) were female aid workers. The median duration of deployment was 6 months (IQR 3-12 months). Most deployments (1321/1529 (86.4%)) were for a medical organization and in Sub-Saharan Africa (73.2%). The most common risk exposures were contact with freshwater in schistosomiasis endemic regions (187/1308 (14.3%)), unprotected sexual contact with a person other than a regular partner (138/1529 (9.0%)), suspected rabies exposure (56/1529 (3.7%)) and accidental exposure to blood (44/1529 (2.9%)). Gastrointestinal problems (487/1529 (31.9%)), malaria (237/1529 (15.5%)) and respiratory tract infections (94/1529 (6,2%)) were the most encountered health problems. Fifteen volunteers (1%) were hospitalized during deployment and 19 (1.2%) repatriated due to health problems. Adherence to malaria chemoprophylaxis was poor, only taken according to the prescription in 355 out of 1225 (29.0%) of aid workers for whom prophylaxis was indicated. CONCLUSION: Humanitarian aid workers deployed abroad encounter significant rates of health problems and report a high level of risk exposure during their deployment, with the risks being greatest among younger people, those deployed to rural areas, and those working for non-medical organizations. These findings help guide future pre-deployment consultations, to increase awareness and reduce risk behaviour during deployment, as well as focus on adherence to medical advice such as malaria chemoprophylaxis.

Presentation of HIV-associated nephropathy and outcome in HAART-treated patients.

BACKGROUND: Among the numerous renal diseases observed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients, HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) is a major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The purpose of our study was to describe the presentation and outcome of HIVAN in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). METHODS: We analysed clinical features and outcome of 57 patients with histologically proven HIVAN diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 in four teaching hospitals in Paris, France. RESULTS: This series was characterized by median age of 41 years (18-58), frequent African origin (87%), severe renal dysfunction [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 20 mL/min/1.73m(2) (1-68)], high-grade proteinuria [4.1 g/day (0.6-16.8)], high proportion of sclerotic glomeruli [31.5% (0-95)], high HIV load [4.5 log copies/mL (0-6.7)] and low CD4+ count [127/mm(3) (3-713)]. Nevertheless, a non-negligible proportion of patients did not present with these typical features. Follow-up data were available for 51 patients. ESRD occurred in 30 patients (58.8%). Median renal survival was 40 months. Baseline characteristics significantly associated with ESRD were as follows: severity of renal dysfunction, percentage of sclerotic glomeruli, time from HIV infection to HIVAN diagnosis longer than 1 year and prior exposure to antiretroviral drugs. There was an insignificant trend towards better renal outcome being associated with viral suppression during follow-up. Use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers was associated with higher renal survival (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Despite HAART, HIVAN led to ESRD in more than half of the cases. Early recognition of the disease is crucial to start HAART and RAS blockers before irreversible renal injury.

Enfuvirtide: from basic investigations to current clinical use.

IMPORTANCE OF THE FIELD: Drug resistance is a major challenge in the treatment of HIV infection. Enfuvirtide is the first entry inhibitor to have been approved for clinical use. AREAS COVERED IN THIS REVIEW: Relevant information through searches of MEDLINE (1998 to June 2010) and meeting abstracts of major HIV/AIDS conferences (2003 - June 2010) using the search terms 'enfuvirtide', 'T-20' and 'fusion inhibitor'. WHAT THE READER WILL GAIN: Enfuvirtide blocks HIV fusion to host cells. It works against the different HIV-1 variants but is not active against HIV-2. The recommended dosage of enfuvirtide is 90 mg b.i.d. subcutaneously. The two large Phase III pivotal clinical trials TORO 1 and 2 showed that enfuvirtide is an effective therapeutic option as rescue therapy in combination with other active antiretroviral drugs. Resistance to enfuvirtide is conferred by mutations in the HR1 region of gp41. Single and double mutations have been shown to result in high-level resistance to enfuvirtide. Postmarketing studies have been helpful to define more precisely the place of enfuvirtide in the sequence of antiretroviral therapy. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The emergence of new compounds and new classes of drugs, highly active against multiresistant virus but more convenient to administer than enfuvirtide, will probably prevent the extensive use of enfuvirtide. This drug remains attractive in some subgroups of patients because of its excellent systemic tolerance and the lack of interactions with the major cytochrome P450 isoenzymes.

Amoxicillin-induced flare in patients with DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms): report of seven cases and demonstration of a direct effect of amoxicillin on Human Herpesvirus 6 replication in vitro.

Amoxicillin is known to induce exanthema in patients with EBV-induced infectious mononucleosis. It is widely recognized that the reactivation of herpesviruses, including HHV-6 (Human Herpesvirus 6) and EBV (Epstein Barr virus) is associated with DRESS (Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms). We report 7 cases of amoxicillin-induced flare in patients with DRESS induced by other drugs and investigate whether amoxicillin may have a direct effect on HHV-6 replication in vitro. 7 cases of DRESS with amoxicillin-induced flare were retrospectively analysed. The influence of amoxicillin on HHV-6 HST strain replication was studied in vitro in a human T lymphoblastoid MT4 cell line. The viral replication was quantified by immunofluorescence assay and by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Comparisons were performed using the Student's t test. Amoxicillin-induced flare was observed in 7 patients with DRESS induced by other drugs. In two cases HHV-6 reactivation was studied and was demonstrated by PCR. Amoxicillin neither modified cell viability nor cell proliferation for the range of tested concentrations. Amoxicillin increased the replication of HHV-6 at 25 microg*mL-1 and 50 microg*mL-1. Amoxicillin may induce a flare of DRESS, possibly by acting directly on herpesvirus replication.