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Objective: To describe and analyze transmitted drug resistance (TDR) between 2014 and 2019 in newly infected patients with HIV-1 in Portugal and to characterize its transmission networks. Methods: Clinical, socioepidemiological, and risk behavior data were collected from 820 newly diagnosed patients in Portugal between September 2014 and December 2019. The sequences obtained from drug resistance testing were used for subtyping, TDR determination, and transmission cluster (TC) analyses. Results: In Portugal, the overall prevalence of TDR between 2014 and 2019 was 11.0%. TDR presented a decreasing trend from 16.7% in 2014 to 9.2% in 2016 (p for-trend = 0.114). Multivariate analysis indicated that TDR was significantly associated with transmission route (MSM presented a lower probability of presenting TDR when compared to heterosexual contact) and with subtype (subtype C presented significantly more TDR when compared to subtype B). TC analysis corroborated that the heterosexual risk group presented a higher proportion of TDR in TCs when compared to MSMs. Among subtype A1, TDR reached 16.6% in heterosexuals, followed by 14.2% in patients infected with subtype B and 9.4% in patients infected with subtype G. Conclusion: Our molecular epidemiology approach indicates that the HIV-1 epidemic in Portugal is changing among risk group populations, with heterosexuals showing increasing levels of HIV-1 transmission and TDR. Prevention measures for this subpopulation should be reinforced.
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Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous, rapidly growing, gram-positive bacterium causing infections in humans and animals. It is responsible for a variety of symptoms depending on the infection site and the integrity of the host's immune system. Case reports of skin and soft tissues infections by Listeria are rare. The authors present a case of a 65-year-old diabetic male with recurrent skin abscess diagnosed with a perianal abscess due to Listeria monocytogenes associated with lumbar spine osteitis. At the time of this publication and to our knowledge, this case represents the first Listeria monocytogenes infection involving skin and bone in a diabetic man with recurrent skin abscess.
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PURPOSE: Very scarce information has been published to date with the combination of ABC/3TC/NVP but it is currently being used in clinical practice in Spain and Portugal. Our aim was to present the clinical experience with this regimen in a cohort of adult HIV-infected antiretroviral (ARV)-naïve patients. METHODS: Retrospective, multicentre, cohort study. Consecutive adult HIV-infected ARV-naïve HLA-B*5701-negative patients, who started ABC/3TC/NVP between 2005-2013, with at least one follow-up visit, were included. Demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were assessed at baseline, month 1, and every three-four months thereafter. The primary end point was HIV-1 viral load (VL)<40 c/mL at 48 weeks. Data were analyzed by intent-to-treat (ITT) (switch=failure, and missing=failure) and on treatment (OT) analyses. RESULTS: 78 patients were included. Median follow up was 26 (0.1-84) months. 86% were male, median age 41 (23-69) years, 9% had AIDS, 8% were HCV+, baseline CD4 was 275 (10-724) cells/µL and median VL 4.58 (3.02-6.92) log. After 48 weeks, VL was<40 c/mL in 89.8% (OT), 79.7% (M=F) and 65.4% (S=F) and at 96 weeks in 88.5%, 78.9% and 61.6%, respectively. CD4 increased +246 (p<0.001) and +292 (p<0.001) cells/uL after 48 and 96 weeks, respectively. One or more drugs of the regimen were discontinued in 33 (42.3%) patients. In 15 (19.2%) patients (13 NVP, 2 ABC/3TC) therapy was stopped due to toxicity after a median of one month (in only two cases after six months of follow up): 80% of them had rash/liver toxicity. Six (7.7%) patients discontinued ART due to virologic failure, five (6.4%) because of other reasons and seven (9%) were lost to follow-up. ALT but not AST significantly increased (+0.07 ukat/L at 96 weeks, p=0.033). A significant increase of 25%, 26% and 42% in total cholesterol, LDLc and HDLc, respectively, and a significant decrease in TC/HDL ratio (6%, p=0.008) was observed after 96 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a considerable proportion of patients had to stop therapy due to toxicity (most associated with NVP), those initially tolerating this regimen presented a high virologic and immunologic response after 96 weeks, as well as a favourable lipid profile. ABC/3TC/NVP may be a suitable alternative first regimen, mainly in countries with economic constraints.