Mortality in KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections: a changing landscape.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of carbapenem resistance on mortality in Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection (BSI) in the era of novel ß-lactam/ß-lactamase inhibitor combinations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of patients with K. pneumoniae BSI between January and August 2020 in 16 centres (CARBANEW study within the MULTI-SITA project). RESULTS: Overall, 426 patients were included: 107/426 (25%) had carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae (CR-Kp) BSI and 319/426 (75%) had carbapenem-susceptible K. pneumoniae (CS-Kp) BSI. Crude cumulative 30 day mortality was 33.8% and 20.7% in patients with, respectively, CR-Kp BSI and CS-Kp BSI (P = 0.027). Carbapenemase production or carbapenemase-encoding genes were detected in 84/98 tested CR-Kp isolates (85.7%), mainly KPC (78/84; 92.9%). Ceftazidime/avibactam was the most frequently used appropriate therapy for CR-Kp BSI (80/107; 74.7%). In multivariable analyses, variables showing an unfavourable association with mortality after correction for multiple testing were age-adjusted Charlson comorbidity index (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.10-1.31, P < 0.001) and Pitt score (HR 1.33; 95% CI 1.15-1.55, P < 0.001), but not carbapenem resistance (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.74-2.22, P = 0.410). In a propensity score-matched analysis, there was no difference in mortality between patients appropriately treated with ceftazidime/avibactam for CR-Kp BSI and patients appropriately treated with other agents (mainly meropenem monotherapy or piperacillin/tazobactam monotherapy) for CS-Kp BSI (HR 1.07; 95% CI 0.50-2.29, P = 0.866). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the increased mortality in CR-Kp BSI compared with CS-Kp BSI is not (or no longer) dependent on the type of therapy in areas where ceftazidime/avibactam-susceptible KPC-producing isolates are the most prevalent type of CR-Kp.

Risk of hospitalization and sequelae in patients with COVID-19 treated with 3-day early remdesivir vs. controls in the vaccine and Omicron era: A real-life cohort study.

Recently, a benefit from administration of a 3-day course of early remdesivir (ER) in the outpatients' setting was reported. However, real-life data on its use is scarce. Therefore, we explored the ER clinical outcome in our outpatients' s cohort, compared to untreated controls. We included all patients who were prescribed ER from February to May 2022 and followed them up for 3 months and compared patients who received treatment with untreated controls. In the two groups the following outcomes were investigated: hospitalization and mortality rate, time of negativization and symptom's resolution, and postacute coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) syndrome prevalence. Overall, 681 patients were analyzed, mostly females (53.6%), and with a median age of 66 years (interquartile range: 54-77), 316 (46.4%) patients received ER, and 365 (53.6%) did not receive antiviral treatment (control group). Overall, 8.5% patients eventually required oxygen support, 8.7% were hospitalized for COVID-19, and 1.5% died. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) immunization and ER (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.049 [0.015; 0.16], p < 0.001) independently reduced hospitalization risk. ER was significantly associated with a shorter duration of SARS-CoV-2 positivity at nasopharyngeal swabs (aß -8.15 [-9.21; -7.09], p < 0.001) and of symptoms (aß -5.11 [-5.82; -4.39], p < 0.001), and with lower rate of COVID-19 sequelae compared to control group (aOR: 0.18 [0.10; 0.31], p < 0.001). Even in the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and Omicron era, in patients at high risk of developing severe disease, ER demonstrated to have a good safety profile and to significantly reduce the risk of disease progression and COVID-19 sequelae compared to untreated controls.

Pillars of long-term antiretroviral therapy success.

BACKGROUND: Meeting the challenge of antiretroviral therapy (ART) whose efficacy can last a lifetime requires continuous updating of the virological, pharmacological, and quality of life outcomes to be pursued and a continuous review of literature data on the efficacy and tolerability of new drugs and therapeutic strategies. METHODS: With the aim of identifying open questions and answers about the current controversies in modern ART, we adapted the Design Thinking methodology to the needs of the design phase of a scientific article, involving a team of experts in HIV care. RESULTS: Five main pillars of treatment success were discussed: sustained virologic suppression over time; immunological recovery; pharmacological attributes; long-term tolerability and safety of ART; and people's satisfaction and quality of life. The definition of the outcomes to be achieved in each thematic area and the tools to achieve them were reviewed and discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term treatment success should be intended as a combination of HIV-RNA suppression, immune recovery, and high quality of life. To achieve this, the regimen should be well-tolerated, with high potency, genetic barrier, and forgiveness, and should be tailored by a person-centered perspective, based on individual needs, preferences, and therapeutic history.

New insights into SARS-CoV-2 Lumipulse G salivary antigen testing: accuracy, safety and short TAT enhance surveillance.

OBJECTIVES: The rapid, accurate and safe detection of SARS-CoV-2 is the key to improving surveillance and infection containment. The aim of the present study was to ascertain whether, after heat/chemical inactivation, SARS-CoV-2 N antigen chemiluminescence (CLEIA) assay in saliva remains a valid alternative to molecular testing. METHODS: In 2022, 139 COVID-19 inpatients and 467 healthcare workers were enrolled. In 606 self-collected saliva samples (Salivette), SARS-CoV-2 was detected by molecular (TaqPath rRT-PCR) and chemiluminescent Ag assays (Lumipulse G). The effect of sample pre-treatment (extraction solution-ES or heating) on antigen recovery was verified. RESULTS: Salivary SARS-CoV-2 antigen assay was highly accurate (AUC=0.959, 95% CI: 0.943-0.974), with 90% sensitivity and 92% specificity. Of the 254 antigen positive samples, 29 were false positives. We demonstrated that heterophilic antibodies could be a cause of false positive results. A significant antigen concentration decrease was observed after ES treatment (p=0.0026), with misclassification of 43 samples. Heat had a minimal impact, after treatment the correct classification of cases was maintained. CONCLUSIONS: CLEIA SARS-CoV-2 salivary antigen provides accurate, timely and high-throughput results that remain accurate also after heat inactivation, thus ensuring a safer work environment. This supports the use of salivary antigen detection by CLEIA in surveillance programs.

Clinical efficacy of different monoclonal antibody regimens among non-hospitalised patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 at high risk for disease progression: a prospective cohort study.

This study aimed to compare the clinical progression of COVID-19 in high-risk outpatients treated with the monoclonal antibodies (mAb) bamlanivimab, bamlanivimab-etesevimab and casirivimab-imdevimab. This is an observational, multi-centre, prospective study conducted from 18 March to 15 July 2021 in eight Italian tertiary-care hospitals including mild-to-moderate COVID-19 outpatients receiving bamlanivimab (700 mg), bamlanivimab-etesevimab (700-1400 mg) or casirivimab-imdevimab (1200-1200 mg). All patients were at high risk of COVID-19 progression according to Italian Medicines Agency definitions. In a patient subgroup, SARS-CoV-2 variant and anti-SARS-CoV-2 serology were analysed at baseline. Factors associated with 28-day all-cause hospitalisation were identified using multivariable multilevel logistic regression (MMLR) and summarised with adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 635 outpatients received mAb: 161 (25.4%) bamlanivimab, 396 (62.4%) bamlanivimab-etesevimab and 78 (12.2%) casirivimab-imdevimab. Ninety-five (15%) patients received full or partial SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. The B.1.1.7 (Alpha) variant was detected in 99% of patients. Baseline serology showed no significant differences among the three mAb regimen groups. Twenty-eight-day all-cause hospitalisation was 11.3%, with a significantly higher proportion (p 0.001) in the bamlanivimab group (18.6%), compared to the bamlanivimab-etesevimab (10.1%) and casirivimab-imdevimab (2.6%) groups. On MMLR, aORs for 28-day all-cause hospitalisation were significantly lower in patients receiving bamlanivimab-etesevimab (aOR 0.51, 95% CI 0.30-0.88 p 0.015) and casirivimab-imdevimab (aOR 0.14, 95% CI 0.03-0.61, p 0.009) compared to those receiving bamlanivimab. No patients with a history of vaccination were hospitalised. The study suggests differences in clinical outcomes among the first available mAb regimens for treating high-risk COVID-19 outpatients. Randomised trials are needed to compare efficacy of mAb combination regimens in high-risk populations and according to circulating variants.

Going to war with COVID-19: Strategies for SARS-CoV-2 management in the Padua Nephrology and Dialysis Unit's hemodialysis facility.

BACKGROUND: The recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak represents a global health emergency, and dialysis patients are a high-risk population. Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in hemodialysis facilities require specific protocols to be planned and promptly executed for the management of suspected/confirmed cases of COVID-19 with respect to prevention, protection, screening, and isolation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In order to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in our Hemodialysis Unit, we adopted individual protection measures accompanied by measures to minimize contacts among hemodialysis patients with suspicious symptoms as well as other patients and medical staff. We provided our patients detailed instructions to be followed in the event of their having symptoms compatible with SARS-CoV-2 infection or having contacts with SARS-CoV-2-positive subjects. Ultimately, four possible scenarios and care paths were developed and implemented in collaboration with the Infectious Diseases and Emergency Units at the Padua University Hospital. RESULTS: The application of this strategy has resulted in the nearly 200 patients treated in our hemodialysis facilities while there were only 2 cases of COVID-19 (1% incidence rate) with no deaths. CONCLUSION: We attribute the low COVID-19 incidence noted so far for patients in our hemodialysis facilities to the early detection and prompt isolation of suspected patients per our specific plan along with the prompt application of preventive measures.

Exposure to dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 inhibitors and COVID-19 among people with type 2 diabetes: A case-control study.

Because other coronaviruses enter the cells by binding to dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4), it has been speculated that DPP-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) may exert an activity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. In the absence of clinical trial results, we analysed epidemiological data to support or discard such a hypothesis. We retrieved information on exposure to DPP-4is among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) hospitalized for COVID-19 at an outbreak hospital in Italy. As a reference, we retrieved information on exposure to DPP-4is among matched patients with T2D in the same region. Of 403 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, 85 had T2D. The rate of exposure to DPP-4is was similar between T2D patients with COVID-19 (10.6%) and 14 857 matched patients in the region (8.8%), or 793 matched patients in the local outpatient clinic (15.4%), 8284 matched patients hospitalized for other reasons (8.5%), and when comparing 71 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 pneumonia (11.3%) with 351 matched patients with pneumonia of another aetiology (10.3%). T2D patients with COVID-19 who were on DPP-4is had a similar disease outcome as those who were not. In summary, we found no evidence that DPP-4is might affect hospitalization for COVID-19.

Frequency and clinical correlates of antiphospholipid antibodies arising in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection: findings from a multicentre study on 122 cases.

OBJECTIVES: COVID-19 features include disseminated intravascular coagulation and thrombotic microangiopathy indicating a hypercoagulable state. We aimed to investigate antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) prevalence and clinical relationships in a large cohort of COVID-19 patients. METHODS: We analysed the prevalence and titres of serum aPL in 122 patients with COVID-19 and 157 with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) and 91 with other autoimmune rheumatic diseases (oARD) for comparison. IgG/IgM anticardiolipin (aCL) and IgG/IgM anti-beta2glycoprotein I (ß2GPI) were assayed using homemade ELISA, IgA aCL and anti-ß2GPI by commercial ELISA kits and lupus anticoagulant (LAC) by multiple coagulation tests following updated international guidelines. RESULTS: Prevalence of IgG and IgM aCL and of IgG and IgM anti-ß2GPI across COVID-19 patients were 13.4%, 2.7%, 6.3% and 7.1%, being significantly lower than in PAPS (p<0.0001 for all). Frequency of IgG aCL and IgM anti-ß2GPI was comparable to oARD (13.4% vs. 13.2% and 7.1% vs. 11%, respectively), while IgG anti-ß2GPI and IgM aCL were lower (p<0.01). IgA aCL and IgA anti-ß2GPI were retrieved in 1.7% and 3.3% of COVID-19 patients, respectively. Positive LAC was observed in 22.2% COVID-19 vs. 54.1% of PAPS (p<0.0001) and 14.6% of oARD (p=0.21). Venous or arterial thromboses occurred in 18/46 (39.1%) COVID-19 patients and were not associated with positive aPL (p=0.09). CONCLUSIONS: Thrombosis is a frequent manifestation during COVID-19 infection. However, prevalence and titres of aPL antibodies or LAC were neither consistently increased nor associated with thrombosis when measured at a single timepoint, therefore not representing a suitable screening tool in the acute stage of disease.

Clinical characteristics and laboratory biomarkers changes in COVID-19 patients requiring or not intensive or sub-intensive care: a comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Identifying risk factors for severe novel-coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is useful to ascertain which patients may benefit from advanced supportive care. The study offers a description of COVID-19 patients, admitted to a general ward for a non-critical clinical picture, with the aim to analyse the differences between those transferred to the intensive (ICU) and/or sub-intensive care (SICU) units and those who were not. METHODS: This observational retrospective study includes all COVID-19 patients admitted to the Infectious Diseases Unit. Clinical, laboratory, radiological and treatment data were collected. The primary outcome was a composite of need of transfer to the ICU and/or SICU during the hospitalization. Patients who did not require to be transferred are defined as Group 1; patients who were transferred to the ICU and/or SICU are defined as Group 2. Demographic, clinical characteristics and laboratory findings at the 1st, 3rd and last measurements were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: 303 were included. The median age was 62 years. 69 patients (22.8%) met the primary outcome and were defined as Group 2. The overall fatality rate was 6.8%. Group 2 patients were predominantly male (76.8% vs. 55.1%, p < 0.01), had a higher fatality rate (14.5% vs. 3.8%, p < 0,01), had more hypertension (72.4% vs. 44%, p < 0,01) and diabetes (31.9% vs. 21%, p = 0.04) and were more likely to present dry cough (49.3% vs. 25.2%, p < 0.01). Overall, chest X-ray at admission showed findings suggestive of pneumonia in 63.2%, and Group 2 were more likely to develop pathological findings during the hospitalization (72.7% vs. 17.2%, p = 0.01). At admission, Group 2 presented significantly higher neutrophil count, aspartate-transaminase and C-Reactive-Protein. At the 3rd measurement, Group 2 presented persistently higher neutrophil count, hepatic inflammation markers and C-Reactive-Protein. Group 1 presented a shorter duration from admission to negativization of follow-up swabs (20 vs. 35 days, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of comorbidities and the persistent observation of abnormal laboratory findings should be regarded as predisposing factors for clinical worsening.

Clinical Features and Mortality of Nosocomial Candidemia in Very Old Patients: A Multicentre Italian Study.

INTRODUCTION: Being elderly is a well-known risk factor for candidemia, but few data are available on the prognostic impact of candidemia in the very old (VO) subjects, as defined as people aged ≥75 years. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess risk factors for nosocomial candidemia in two groups of candidemia patients, consisting of VO patients (≥75 years) and adult and old (AO) patients (18-74 years). In addition, risk factors for death (30-day mortality) were analysed separately in the two groups. METHODS: We included all consecutive candidemia episodes from January 2011 to December 2013 occurring in six referral hospitals in north-eastern Italy. RESULTS: A total of 683 nosocomial candidemia episodes occurred. Of those, 293 (42.9%) episodes were in VO and 390 (57.1%) in AO patients. Hospitalization in medical wards, chronic renal failure, urinary catheter, and peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) were more common in VO than in AO patients. In the former patient group, adequate antifungal therapy (73.2%) and central venous catheter (CVC) removal (67.6%) occurred less frequently than in AO patients (82.5 and 80%, p < 0.002 and p < 0.004, respectively). Thirty-day mortality was higher in VO compared to AO patients (47.8 vs. 23.6%, p < 0.0001). In AO patients, independent risk factors for death were age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.09, p = 0.038), recent history of chemotherapy (OR 22.01, 95% CI 3.12-155.20, p = 0.002), and severity of sepsis (OR 40.68, 95% CI 7.42-223.10, p < 0.001); CVC removal was associated with higher probability of survival (OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.03-0.33, p < 0.001). In VO patients, independent risk factors for death were PPN (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.17-10.47, p = 0.025) and hospitalization in medical wards (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.02-6.53, p = 0.046), while CVC removal was associated with improved survival (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0.16-1.00, p = 0.050). CONCLUSION: Thirty-day mortality was high among VO patients and was associated with inadequate management of candidemia, especially in medical wards.

Effect of Remdesivir vs Standard Care on Clinical Status at 11 Days in Patients With Moderate COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Remdesivir demonstrated clinical benefit in a placebo-controlled trial in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but its effect in patients with moderate disease is unknown. Objective: To determine the efficacy of 5 or 10 days of remdesivir treatment compared with standard care on clinical status on day 11 after initiation of treatment. Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized, open-label trial of hospitalized patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and moderate COVID-19 pneumonia (pulmonary infiltrates and room-air oxygen saturation >94%) enrolled from March 15 through April 18, 2020, at 105 hospitals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The date of final follow-up was May 20, 2020. Interventions: Patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive a 10-day course of remdesivir (n = 197), a 5-day course of remdesivir (n = 199), or standard care (n = 200). Remdesivir was dosed intravenously at 200 mg on day 1 followed by 100 mg/d. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was clinical status on day 11 on a 7-point ordinal scale ranging from death (category 1) to discharged (category 7). Differences between remdesivir treatment groups and standard care were calculated using proportional odds models and expressed as odds ratios. An odds ratio greater than 1 indicates difference in clinical status distribution toward category 7 for the remdesivir group vs the standard care group. Results: Among 596 patients who were randomized, 584 began the study and received remdesivir or continued standard care (median age, 57 [interquartile range, 46-66] years; 227 [39%] women; 56% had cardiovascular disease, 42% hypertension, and 40% diabetes), and 533 (91%) completed the trial. Median length of treatment was 5 days for patients in the 5-day remdesivir group and 6 days for patients in the 10-day remdesivir group. On day 11, patients in the 5-day remdesivir group had statistically significantly higher odds of a better clinical status distribution than those receiving standard care (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.09-2.48; P = .02). The clinical status distribution on day 11 between the 10-day remdesivir and standard care groups was not significantly different (P = .18 by Wilcoxon rank sum test). By day 28, 9 patients had died: 2 (1%) in the 5-day remdesivir group, 3 (2%) in the 10-day remdesivir group, and 4 (2%) in the standard care group. Nausea (10% vs 3%), hypokalemia (6% vs 2%), and headache (5% vs 3%) were more frequent among remdesivir-treated patients compared with standard care. Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with moderate COVID-19, those randomized to a 10-day course of remdesivir did not have a statistically significant difference in clinical status compared with standard care at 11 days after initiation of treatment. Patients randomized to a 5-day course of remdesivir had a statistically significant difference in clinical status compared with standard care, but the difference was of uncertain clinical importance. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04292730.

Circulating miRNA-375 as a potential novel biomarker for active Kaposi's sarcoma in AIDS patients.

The aim of this study was to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) that could be used as biomarkers in patients at risk for or affected by AIDS-Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Screening of 377 miRNAs was performed using low-density arrays in pooled plasma samples of 10 HIV/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)-infected asymptomatic and 10 AIDS-KS patients before and after successful combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). MiR-375 was identified as a potential marker of active KS, being the most down-regulated in AIDS-KS patients after cART and the most up-regulated in naïve AIDS-KS patients compared to naïve asymptomatic subjects. Validation on individual plasma samples confirmed that miR-375 levels were higher in AIDS-KS compared to asymptomatic patients, decreased after cART-induced remission in most AIDS-KS patients and increased in patients with active KS. In asymptomatic patients miR-375 was up-regulated after cART in both screening and validation. Statistical analyses revealed an association between miR-375 changes and CD4 cell counts, which could explain the discordant cases and the opposite trend between asymptomatic and AIDS-KS patients. These data suggest that circulating miR-375 might be a good indicator of active AIDS-KS. Moreover, changes in miR-375 levels may have a prognostic value in HIV/HHV8-infected patients undergoing treatment. Further large-scale validation is needed.

Outcome of a First Episode of Bacterial Infection in Candidates for Liver Transplantation.

Bacterial infection (BI) is a major cause of worsening of liver function and death in patients with cirrhosis who are awaiting liver transplantation (LT). This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of LT candidates after a first episode of BI between January 2006 and December 2014 at Padua University Hospital. Among 876 LT candidates with cirrhosis, 114 (13%) experienced an episode of BI. Of the 114 patients, 79 were male and 35 were female, and the median (interquartile range) age and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores were 58 (12) years and 19 (8), respectively. When compared with matched LT candidates who experienced no BI, they had a higher probability of death (P = 0.004) and a lower probability of undergoing LT (P = 0.01). Considering only patients who recovered from BI within 30 days, their probabilities of death and of undergoing LT were similar to those of matched controls (P = 0.34 and P = 0.43, respectively). The 90-day post-LT mortality was equal between groups (P = 0.90). BI was a strong predictor of early death on the waiting list for LT. Conversely, patients who fully recovered from a BI episode within 30 days did not have a higher mortality risk than matched controls without infection.

Virus and Antibody Dynamics in Travelers With Acute Zika Virus Infection.

Background: To improve our understanding of the natural history of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in humans, we described the dynamics of ZIKV RNA shedding in different body fluids and antibody responses in patients with acute infection. Methods: Twenty-nine adults with travel-associated infection and 1 case of sexual transmission were enrolled and followed up with weekly ZIKV RNA testing in blood, urine, saliva, and semen samples and antibody testing. Results: ZIKV RNA was detected in plasma, urine, and saliva of 57%, 93.1%, and 69.2% of participants, with estimated median times to clearance of 11.5 days (interquartile range [IQR] 6-24 days), 24 days (IQR, 17-34), and 14 days (IQR, 8-31), respectively. In 2 pregnant women, ZIKV RNA persisted in blood until delivery of apparently healthy infants. ZIKV RNA was detected in semen of 5 of 10 tested men; median time to clearance was 25 days (IQR 14-29), and the longest time of shedding in semen was 370 days. In flavivirus-naive patients, the median times to detection of ZIKV nonstructural protein 1 (NS1)-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were estimated as 8 days (IQR, 5-15 days) and 17 days (IQR, 12-26 days), respectively. ZIKV NS1 IgM antibodies were undetectable in patients with previous dengue. Conclusions: Prolonged viremia and ZIKV RNA shedding in urine, saliva, and semen occur frequently in patients with acute ZIKV infection. At the time of diagnosis, about half of patients are ZIKV IgM negative. ZIKV NS1 IgM antibodies remain undetectable in patients with previous dengue. Estimates of the times to viral clearance and seroconversion are useful to optimize diagnostic algorithms.

Soluble CD163 and soluble CD14 plasma levels but not cellular HIV-DNA decrease during successful interferon-free anti-HCV therapy in HIV-1-HCV co-infected patients on effective combined anti-HIV treatment.

Soluble CD163, soluble CD14 and cellular HIV-1-DNA levels reflect two different aspects of HIV infection: immune activation and the reservoir of infected cells. The aim of this study was to describe their relationships in a cohort of HIV-HCV co-infected patients successfully treated for both HCV and HIV infections. Fifty-five patients were recruited and studied prior to the start of direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) (T0), at week 12 of DAA treatment (T1) and 24 weeks after T0 (T2). The subjects were classified as having undetectable plasma HIV viraemia (UV) or low-level viraemia (LLV) in the 18 months before T2. Plasma levels of sCD163 and of sCD14 were comparable in patients with UV and in subjects with LVL at T0, T1 and T2. The HIV DNA level was positively correlated with LLV but not with sCD163 and sCD14 levels; these two markers of inflammation were positively correlated (p = 0.017). Soluble CD163 and sCD14 decreased over time from T0 to T2 (p = 0.000 and p = 0.034, respectively). In conclusion, the significant decrease in sCD163 and sCD14 levels in patients cured of HCV infection, regardless of the presence of LLV, suggests a main role for HCV in immune activation in HIV-HCV co-infected patients.

Antiretroviral therapy in geriatric HIV patients: the GEPPO cohort study.

Background: GEPPO is a prospective observational multi-centric cohort including HIV-infected geriatric patients. We hypothesized that the GEPPO cohort may help characterize antiretroviral (ARV) prescribing criteria used in real life by Italian infectious disease (ID) physicians. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study describing the current ARV regimen in a geriatric HIV population (≥65 years). Antiretroviral strategies were categorized as follows: (i) multidrug regimens (MDRs), which comprised triple or mega ART combinations; (ii) less drug regimens (LDRs), which comprised fewer than three ART compounds. Multi-morbidity (MM) was defined as the presence of three or more non-communicable diseases, and polypharmacy (PP) as the use of five or more medications in chronic use. Four alternative combinations (MM+PP+, MM+PP-, MM-PP+, MM-PP-) were used in logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 1222 HIV-positive patients were included (median age 70 years). Females composed 16% of the cohort. Median duration of HIV infection was 17 years; 335 population members had been infected for >20 years. MM was present in 64% and PP in 37% of the patients. Treatment consisted of triple therapy in 66.4%, dual therapy in 25.3%, monotherapy in 6.5% and 'mega-ART' with more than three drugs in 1.64% of the patients. In multivariate logistic regression MM and PP were predictive for mono-dual, NRTI-sparing and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF)-sparing combinations. Female gender and age were predictors of unboosted ARV regimens. Conclusions: High prevalence of non-conventional ARV regimens in elderly HIV patients suggests that clinicians try to tailor ARV regimens according to age, HIV duration, MM and PP.

Time course of cellular HIV-DNA and low-level HIV viremia in HIV-HCV co-infected patients whose HCV infection had been successfully treated with directly acting antivirals.

This longitudinal study described cellular HIV-DNA changes and their correlation with HIV low-level plasma viremia (LLV) in HIV-HCV co-infected patients on successful antiretroviral and anti-HCV therapy by treatment with direct-acting antivirals (DAA). Thirty-nine patients were examined prior to the start of DAA (T0), after week 12 (T1) and 24 weeks (T2) of anti-HCV therapy. Cellular PBMC HIV-DNA was analysed as an absolute value and as the percentage of increase or decrease from T0 to T2. Patients were classified as having undetectable plasma HIV viraemia (UV) or LLV in the year before the start of anti-HCV treatment and within the T0-T2 study period. Thirty-five patients (89.7%) of the 39 subjects enrolled had the same plasma HIV viraemia control in the year before HCV treatment and in the T0-T2 interval. The HIV-DNA value at T0 and at T2 was higher in patients with LLV than in subjects with UV (p = 0.015 and p = 0.014, respectively). A similar proportion of patients with LLV and UV experienced an increase or decrease of HIV-DNA from T0 to T2. The percentage increase in HIV-DNA value (262.8%) from T0 to T2 was higher compared to the decrease (43.5%) in patients with UV (p = 0.012), and it was higher compared to the percentage increase in HIV-DNA value reported in subjects with LLV (262.8 versus 49%, p = 0.026). HIV-HCV co-infected patients experienced a multifaceted perturbation of cellular HIV-DNA levels within a 24-week period during anti-HCV treatment; the extent of the phenomenon was greater in subjects with UV. Fast HCV-RNA clearance seemed to have a greater influence on the cellular reservoir than on plasma HIV-RNA.

Vibrio cholerae non-O1, non-O139 bacteraemia associated with pneumonia, Italy 2016.

This paper describes an elderly male patient, living in the Veneto Region, Italy, who developed Vibrio cholerae bacteraemia and pneumonia. Some days previously, while on holiday in the Lagoon of Venice, he had been collecting clams in seawater, during which he suffered small abrasions of the skin. On admission to hospital, he was confused, had fever and a cough, but neither diarrhoea nor signs of gastroenteritis were found. Both blood and stool cultures grew V. cholerae of non-O1 non-O-139 type, and the patient recovered after prompt administration of intravenous ceftriaxone for 2 weeks. This clinical case emphasises the role of global warming and climate changes in causing increasing numbers of water-borne infections.