ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The European Union encompasses 30 outermost and overseas countries and territories (OCTs). Despite a recent increasing activity of renal transplantation in these territories, many patients still undergo transplantation in continental Europe, with follow-up care coordinated between health professionals from both their transplant center and their home region. Each territory has its unique infectious epidemiology which must be known to ensure appropriate care for kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). AIMS: This paper proposes a pragmatic approach to optimize pre-transplant check-up and to provide an overview of the specific epidemiological features of each region. It offers practical algorithms to help practitioners in managing infected KTR living in these territories. This work advocates for increased collaborative research among European OCTs.
ABSTRACT
Cryptococcus is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that can cause disseminated infection with predominant central nervous system involvement in patients with compromised immunity. Biologics are increasingly used in the treatment of neoplasms and autoimmune/inflammatory conditions and the prevention of transplant rejection, which may affect human defense mechanisms against cryptococcosis. In this review, we comprehensively investigate the association between cryptococcosis and various biologics, highlighting their risks of infection, clinical manifestations, and clinical outcomes. Clinicians should remain vigilant for the risk of cryptococcosis in patients receiving biologics that affect the Th1/macrophage activation pathways, such as tumor necrosis factor α antagonists, Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors, fingolimod, JAK/STAT inhibitors (Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription), and monoclonal antibody against CD52. Other risk factors-such as age, underlying condition, and concurrent immunosuppressants, especially corticosteroids-should also be taken into account during risk stratification.
ABSTRACT
Caulobacter species are aerobic Gram-negative bacilli initially isolated from aquatic environments and are an uncommon cause of human infection. We report a case of bloodstream infection and postoperative meningitis caused by Caulobacter spp. that occurred in a 53-year old woman two weeks after surgery for a breast carcinoma cerebral metastasis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and sequencing of the 16 S ribosomal DNA identified Caulobacter spp. in three blood cultures and two cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures. Based on our susceptibility results, the patient was successfully treated by a 2-week course of iv imipenem followed by a 4-week course of oral trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.