Description of an outbreak of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in the southern Jura Mountains, France, in 2021.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to describe the 2021 Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome (HFRS) outbreak in the southern Jura Mountains. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included all laboratory-confirmed cases of HFRS reported between April and September 2021 in the three local hospitals. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients were enrolled in the study: 73 hospitalized and 17 non-hospitalized patients. Transient myopia was only reported in non-hospitalized patients. Forty (44.4 %) patients underwent medical imaging before hantavirus diagnosis. Twenty-one patients (28.8 %) had a plasma creatinine level > 353.6 µmol/L, no patient developed severe metabolic disorder. Only one patient was dialyzed. A pacemaker was implanted before diagnosis of HFRS due to severe bradycardia in one patient. Sudden death was reported in one patient. CONCLUSION: This hantavirus epidemic led to numerous hospitalizations, one dialysis treatment, and one death. Early diagnosis by rapid test could avoid unnecessary investigations.

Recommendations of the AFU Infectious Diseases Committee on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infections of endo-ureteral equipment.

INTRODUCTION: No recent national guidelines exist regarding the management of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the presence of ureteral stent. This situation could lead to discrepancies in clinical management and less opportunity for a favorable patient's outcome. METHODS: All available data published on Medline® between 1998 and 2018 were systematically searched and reviewed. All papers assessing adult patients carrying ureteral stent were included for analysis. After studies critical analysis, national guidelines for clinical management were elaborated in order to answer clinical questions. RESULTS: A total of 451 articles were identified, of which 58 have been included. The prevalence of urinary tract infections in the presence of ureteral stent remains unknown. After 3 months, all endo-ureteral devices were colonized on microbiological study. These patients also presented a positive urine culture in 25 to 70% of the cases, often polymicrobial. Staphylococci, E. coli, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Enterococcus and Candida were the commonest micro-organisms responsible for urinary colonization or infection. The risk of UTI on endo-ureteral devices seemed higher the longer it stayed implanted. There is no justification in the literature to recommend a systematic change of endo-ureteral devices following a urinary tract infection. DISCUSSION: The existing literature is rich but of poor methodological quality, and therefore does not allow to draw robust conclusions. The greatest difficulty faced in this work was to accurately differentiate urinary colonizations from true infections, including clinical symptoms and not only microbiological results. CONCLUSION: These guidelines propose a standardized management of such common clinical situations. Well-designed studies are needed to upgrade the level of evidence of these guidelines.

Electrostatic wipes as simple and reliable methods for influenza virus airborne detection.

The performance of an in-house protocol for virus detection on commercialized electrostatic wipes (EWs) was assessed experimentally by impregnating them with suspensions of cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, and influenza virus, and by determining the recovery efficiency, repeatability, and detection limit of the protocol. The protocol was sensitive enough to detect 4 log10 gene copies of virus. At room temperature, influenza RNA was stable on EWs for at least four days. When EWs were placed high in 32 influenza-infected patients' rooms, influenza RNA was detectable in 75% (N = 24) of EWs, suggesting that EWs are simple and reliable methods for influenza virus airborne detection.

Number, type and cost of microbiological tests during HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: The experience of a French hospital.

BACKGROUND: Microbiological tests are required for individuals on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), but their real-life numbers, types and cost are poorly described. METHODS: Number, type, and results of microbiological tests performed in a Besançon Hospital-associated laboratory, France, from 2016 to 2019, in the setting of PrEP consultations were retrospectively collected. Costs were estimated by the current reimbursement rate set by the French national protection system. RESULTS: 756 consultations for PrEP initiation or follow-up of 135 persons were performed over 4 years. Among 3434 tests performed in the institution-associated laboratory, 1083 and 2351 were virological and bacteriological tests, respectively. Serology was predominant in virology (98% of virological tests), with HIV, HCV, and HBV screening as the 3 more frequent assays, whereas molecular biology was predominant in bacteriology (63.1% of bacteriological tests) with N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis screening as leader assays. Agar-based culture accounted for 1% of bacterial tests. The global cost of microbiological tests was 45,983.20 euros, corresponding to a mean cost of 60.80 euros per consultation. Virological and bacteriological tests accounted for 37.7% and 62.3% of this budget, respectively. No seroconversion was observed for HIV or HCV. N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis were detected at least once in 39.3% and 22.4% of individuals, respectively, with 15% of symptomatic episodes in both cases. Active syphilis infection was detected in 15.4% of individuals. CONCLUSIONS: Since numerous microbiological tests are required during PrEP, the availability of specific technical platforms should not be neglected by centers wishing to set up PrEP consultations.

Does type of immunosupression influence the course of Covid-19 infection?

Coronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19) is a new emerging virus responsible for pandemic and death. High blood pressure, diabetes, obesity have been described as poor prognosis factors. Few data have been reported in patient with immunocompromised status (solid tumor, hematological malignancy, rheumatoid conditions or organ transplant). We evaluated the characteristics of patients, including the outcome, with immunodepression hospitalized in Besancon University hospital (East of France). We wanted to identify if a type of immunosupression influences the course of Covid-19. In a cohort of 80 patients with immunosupression (42 solid tumors, 20 hematological malignancy and 18 non neoplastic immunosupression), poor outcomes (Intensive care unit hospitalization and or deaths) was frequent (38%) and tended to be more frequent in patients with hematological malignancy.

Unconventional diagnostic tests for Lyme borreliosis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Lyme borreliosis (LB) diagnosis currently relies mainly on serological tests and sometimes PCR or culture. However, other biological assays are being developed to try to improve Borrelia-infection diagnosis and/or monitoring. OBJECTIVES: To analyse available data on these unconventional LB diagnostic assays through a systematic literature review. METHODS: We searched PubMed and Cochrane Library databases according to the PRISMA-DTA method and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. We analysed controlled and uncontrolled studies (published 1983-2018) on biological tests for adults to diagnose LB according to the European Study Group for Lyme Borreliosis or the Infectious Diseases Society of America definitions, or identify strongly suspected LB. Two independent readers evaluated study eligibility and extracted data from relevant study reports; a third reader analysed full texts of papers to resolve disagreements. The quality of each included study was assessed with the QUADAS-2 evaluation scale. RESULTS: Forty studies were included: two meta-analyses, 25 prospective controlled studies, five prospective uncontrolled studies, six retrospective controlled studies and two case reports. These biological tests assessed can be classified as: (i) proven to be effective at diagnosing LB and already in use (CXCL-13 for neuroborreliosis), but not enough to be standardized; (ii) not yet used routinely, requiring further clinical evaluation (CCL-19, OspA and interferon-α); (iii) uncertain LB diagnostic efficacy because of controversial results and/or poor methodological quality of studies evaluating them (lymphocyte transformation test, interferon-γ, ELISPOT); (iv) unacceptably low sensitivity and/or specificity (CD57+ natural killer cells and rapid diagnostic tests); and (v) possible only for research purposes (microscopy and xenodiagnoses). DISCUSSION: QUADAS-2 quality assessment demonstrated high risk of bias in 25/40 studies and uncertainty regarding applicability for 32/40, showing that in addition to PCR and serology, several other LB diagnostic assays have been developed but their sensitivities and specificities are heterogeneous and/or under-evaluated or unassessed. More studies are warranted to evaluate their performance parameters. The development of active infection biomarkers would greatly advance LB diagnosis and monitoring.

Functional signs in patients consulting for presumed Lyme borreliosis.

INTRODUCTION: Little is known about the functional symptoms associated with Lyme borreliosis (LB) in Europe. We aimed to assess functional symptoms associated with presumed LB and to compare patients with and without confirmed LB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective monocenter study. Patients consulting for presumed LB were included. RESULTS: Between November 2015 and June 2018, 355patients were included (mean age: 51years, 52% of women) of which 48had LB: erythema migrans (42%), early disseminated LB (50%; 35% of neuroborreliosis cases), and late disseminated LB (8%). The most frequently reported functional symptoms were neuropathic pain (23%), arthralgia (23%), and asthenia (17%). Other functional symptoms were rare (≤10%). Three hundred and seven (86%) patients did not have LB. Patients with confirmed LB reported fewer functional symptoms than patients without LB (1.8 (±1.7) vs. 3.6 (±2.5), P<0.001) with a shorter duration of symptoms (< 3 months in 48% vs. 16% of cases, P<0.001). They less often reported asthenia (17% vs. 59%, P<0.001), widespread pain (10% vs. 31%, P=0.003), myalgia (10% vs. 32%, P=0.002), memory disorders (4% vs. 16%, P=0.03), irritability (2% vs. 23%, P±0.001), and sadness (0% vs. 16%, P=0.003). CONCLUSION: In patients consulting for presumed LB, patients diagnosed with LB had fewer and shorter functional symptoms than patients without LB.

Lyme borreliosis and other tick-borne diseases. Guidelines from the French scientific societies (II). Biological diagnosis, treatment, persistent symptoms after documented or suspected Lyme borreliosis.

The serodiagnosis of Lyme borreliosis is based on a two-tier strategy: a screening test using an immunoenzymatic technique (ELISA), followed if positive by a confirmatory test with a western blot technique for its better specificity. Lyme serology has poor sensitivity (30-40%) for erythema migrans and should not be performed. The seroconversion occurs after approximately 6 weeks, with IgG detection (sensitivity and specificity both>90%). Serological follow-up is not recommended as therapeutic success is defined by clinical criteria only. For neuroborreliosis, it is recommended to simultaneously perform ELISA tests in samples of blood and cerebrospinal fluid to test for intrathecal synthesis of Lyme antibodies. Given the continuum between early localized and disseminated borreliosis, and the efficacy of doxycycline for the treatment of neuroborreliosis, doxycycline is preferred as the first-line regimen of erythema migrans (duration, 14 days; alternative: amoxicillin) and neuroborreliosis (duration, 14 days if early, 21 days if late; alternative: ceftriaxone). Treatment of articular manifestations of Lyme borreliosis is based on doxycycline, ceftriaxone, or amoxicillin for 28 days. Patients with persistent symptoms after appropriate treatment of Lyme borreliosis should not be prescribed repeated or prolonged antibacterial treatment. Some patients present with persistent and pleomorphic symptoms after documented or suspected Lyme borreliosis. Another condition is eventually diagnosed in 80% of them.

Lyme borreliosis and other tick-borne diseases. Guidelines from the French Scientific Societies (I): prevention, epidemiology, diagnosis.

Lyme borreliosis is transmitted en France by the tick Ixodes ricinus, endemic in metropolitan France. In the absence of vaccine licensed for use in humans, primary prevention mostly relies on mechanical protection (clothes covering most parts of the body) that may be completed by chemical protection (repulsives). Secondary prevention relies on early detection of ticks after exposure, and mechanical extraction. There is currently no situation in France when prophylactic antibiotics would be recommended. The incidence of Lyme borreliosis in France, estimated through a network of general practitioners (réseau Sentinelles), and nationwide coding system for hospital stays, has not significantly changed between 2009 and 2017, with a mean incidence estimated at 53 cases/100,000 inhabitants/year, leading to 1.3 hospital admission/100,000 inhabitants/year. Other tick-borne diseases are much more seldom in France: tick-borne encephalitis (around 20 cases/year), spotted-fever rickettsiosis (primarily mediterranean spotted fever, around 10 cases/year), tularemia (50-100 cases/year, of which 20% are transmitted by ticks), human granulocytic anaplasmosis (<10 cases/year), and babesiosis (<5 cases/year). The main circumstances of diagnosis for Lyme borreliosis are cutaneous manifestations (primarily erythema migrans, much more rarely borrelial lymphocytoma and atrophic chronic acrodermatitis), neurological (<15% of cases, mostly meningoradiculitis and cranial nerve palsy, especially facial nerve) and rheumatologic (mostly knee monoarthritis, with recurrences). Cardiac and ophtalmologic manifestations are very rarely encountered.

Review of European and American guidelines for the diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial disease with polymorphic clinical manifestations (cutaneous, rheumatological, and neurological). In recent years the issue of the diagnosis of this infection has been highly publicized on the Internet and other media in Europe and America. Some patients and physicians may share the perception that the diagnosis of the infection is not reliable in France. We reviewed current European and American guidelines on Lyme disease and performed a methodological evaluation of all guidelines. We retrieved 16 guidelines from seven countries. Our analysis revealed a global consensus regarding diagnosis at each stage of the infection. All guidelines indicate that the diagnosis is currently based on a two-tier serology at all stages of the infection, except for the early localized dermatological presentation known as Erythema migrans. One text of so-called guidelines has discordant recommendations when compared with the other guidelines, possibly explained by its low quality score. Contrary to the intense debate taking place on the Internet and in the European and American media, our analysis shows that the great majority of medical scientific guidelines with a high quality score, agree on the clinical diagnostic methods of Lyme disease.

Clonal complex 398 methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections are associated with high mortality.

Within the last decade, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus belonging to clonal complex 398 (CC398) has become a worldwide threat associated with livestock. More recently, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) belonging to CC398 have been increasingly reported as a cause of invasive infections in patients without livestock contact. We investigated risk factors associated with CC398 bloodstream infections (BSIs) compared with non-CC398 BSIs with a case-control study in a French university Hospital. From January 2010 to December 2014, nonduplicate Staphylococcus aureus (SA) isolates responsible for BSIs in adult patient were typed to identify those belonging to CC398. Each adult patient with a CC398 SA BSI (cases) was matched with 2 non-CC398 SA BSI controls randomly selected on the basis of the time at risk, the unit of hospitalization and susceptibility to methicillin. We retrospectively extracted the clinical information from electronic medical records and used conditional logistic regression for univariate and multivariate analyses. We identified 67 CC398 isolates among the 770 SA responsible for BSI in adult patients. All CC398 isolates were susceptible to methicillin. The proportion of CC398 among MSSA increased steadily from 4.6% in 2010 to 15.1% in 2013 and then stabilized at 13.8% in 2014. Factors significantly associated with CC398 MSSA BSIs were healthcare-associated infection (odds ratio (OR) 3.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-7.63), history of neurologic disease (OR 2.51, 95% CI 1.13-5.65) and 30-day mortality (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.23-4.85).

Severe cardiomyopathy revealing antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-negative eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare form of systemic vasculitis in which cardiac involvement is frequent and severe, and accounts for half of EGPA-related deaths. ANCA-positive EGPA differs from ANCA-negative EGPA in that the former is significantly associated with renal involvement, peripheral neuropathy and biopsy proven vasculitis, whereas the latter is associated with cardiac involvement. Herein, we report a case of EGPA with myocarditis in a woman, who was successfully treated with steroids and cyclophosphamide. This report highlights the importance of diagnosing cardiac involvement in EGPA early, especially in ANCA-negative patients.