Histoplasmosis in Non-HIV Infected Patients: Another Neglected Infection in French Guiana.

(1) Background: Only a few studies on histoplasmosis in immunocompetent patients have been reported in French Guiana. Therefore, we conducted a detailed clinical description of hospitalized patients suffering with histoplasmosis among non-HIV patients. (2) Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective study conducted at Cayenne Hospital Center between 2008 and 2022. (3) Results: Our cohort was composed of 31 (91%) adults (>18 years of age) and 3 (9%) children, with a sex ratio, M:F, of 1:2. The median age was higher among the women than among the men (70 versus 54 years). The collection of respiratory samples constituted the majority of the performed examinations (38%). Fever (>37 °C) was found in 56% of patients. Surprisingly, the histoplasmosis was disseminated in 82% of patients with an overall case fatality rate of 14.7%. However, immunosuppressive conditions were found in 52% (16/31) of the adult patients, including lymphoid hemopathies, diabetes and immunosuppressive drugs. Conclusions: This disease, though rare and usually considered a mostly benign disease in non-HIV patients, presented a relatively high mortality rate in our cohort. Thus, histoplasmosis should be suspected, screened and investigated as a first line of defense in highly endemic areas, even in immunocompetent and non-HIV patients, especially those with fever or chronic respiratory symptoms.

Interest of Absolute Eosinopenia as a Marker of Influenza in Outpatients during the Fall-Winter Seasons 2016-2018 in the Greater Paris Area: The SUPERFLUOUS Study.

INTRODUCTION: Prior to the emergence of COVID-19, when influenza was the predominant cause of viral respiratory tract infections (VRTIs), this study aimed to analyze the distinct biological abnormalities associated with influenza in outpatient settings. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study was conducted among outpatients, with the majority seeking consultation at the emergency department, who tested positive for VRTIs using RT-PCR between 2016 and 2018. Patient characteristics were compared between influenza (A and B types) and non-influenza viruses, and predictors of influenza were identified using two different models focusing on absolute eosinopenia (0/mm3) and lymphocyte count <800/mm3. RESULTS: Among 590 VRTIs, 116 (19.7%) were identified as outpatients, including 88 cases of influenza. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed the following predictors of influenza: in the first model, winter season (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 7.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-45.08) and absolute eosinopenia (aOR 6.16, 95% CI 1.14-33.24); in the second model, winter season (aOR 9.08, 95% CI 1.49-55.40) and lymphocyte count <800/mm3 (aOR 7.37, 95% CI 1.86-29.20). Absolute eosinopenia exhibited the highest specificity and positive predictive value (92% and 92.3%, respectively). CONCLUSION: During the winter season, specific biological abnormalities can aid physicians in identifying influenza cases and guide the appropriate use of antiviral therapy when rapid molecular tests are not readily available.

Superinfection is associated with short-term outcome and mortality in viral respiratory tract infections during the fall-winter seasons 2016-2018 in the Greater Paris area: the SUPERFLUOUS study: outcomes of viral infections.

BACKGROUND: Following a study of predictors of superinfection in viral respiratory tract infections (VRTIs), this study analyzes the predictors of the outcome. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study conducted among adults who tested positive for VRTIs with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. We compared characteristics between influenza virus, Paramyxoviridae, and Pneumoviridae and identified predictors of favorable short-term outcome, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 590 patients had VRTI, including 347 (59%) influenza infections. Mean (SD) patient age was 71.0 (18.3) years, with a sex ratio of 0.91. In multivariate analyses, predictors of favorable short-term outcome were age ≤75 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.38 [95% confidence interval, 1.59-18.2]), absence of respiratory disease (4.94 [1.01-24.37]), and absence of superinfection (aOR 3.91 [1.37-11.13]). The predictors of ICU admission were age ≤75 years (aOR 3.28 [1.71-6.25]), chronic respiratory disease (aOR 2.49 [1.20-5.19]), and procalcitonin level >0.25 ng/mL (aOR 4.25 [1.55-11.67]). Predictors of mortality were use of inhaled corticosteroids (2.49 [1.10-5.63]), influenza infection (2.73 [1.27-5.85]), Charlson score ≥5 (5.35 [1.90-15.05]), superinfection (2.54 [1.05-6.18]), and eosinophil count <50/µL (4.39 [1.19-16.2]). Certainty of superinfection was significantly associated with mortality (2.23 [1.15-4.3]). CONCLUSION: Our study revealed that superinfection was significantly related to the outcome, and that virus species affects mortality. These findings emphasize the need for improving the tools used in daily practice to confirm certainty of superinfection and for broader implementation of vaccination of individuals at risk of VRTIs.

Predictors of Hospitalization and Superinfection in Viral Respiratory Tract Infections Between Influenza and Paramyxoviruses: The SUPERFLUOUS Study.

BACKGROUND: Viral respiratory tract infections (VRTIs) are among the most common diseases, but the risks of superinfection for different virus species have never been compared. METHODS: Multicenter retrospective study conducted among adults who tested positive for VRTIs with reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. We compared characteristics between influenza (A or B) and paramyxoviruses (respiratory syncytial virus, parainfluenza virus types 1 and 3, and human metapneumovirus) and identified predictors of superinfection and hospitalization.s. RESULTS: Five hundred ninety patients had VRTI, including 347 (59%) influenza and 243 paramyxovirus infections with comparable rates of superinfections (53% vs 60%). In multivariate analyses, the predictors of superinfections were age >75 years (adjusted odds ratio, 2.37 [95% confidence interval, 1.65-3.40]), chronic respiratory disease (1.79 [1.20-2.67]), and biological abnormalities, including neutrophil count >7000/µL (1.98 [1.34-2.91)], eosinophil count <50/µL (2.53 [1.61-3.98], and procalcitonin level >0.25ng/mL (2.8 [1.65-4.73]). The predictors of hospitalization were age >75 years old (adjusted odds ratio, 3.49 [95% confidence interval, 2.17-5.63]), paramyxovirus infection (2.28 [1.39-3.75]), long-term use of inhaled corticosteroids (2.49 [1.13-5.49]), and biological abnormalities, including neutrophil count >7000/µL (2.38 [1.37-4.12)] and procalcitonin level >0.25ng/mL (2.49 [1.23-5.02]). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that influenza-infected patients had a higher mortality rate than those with paramyxovirus infections (8.9% vs 4.5%, respectively; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed a high rate of superinfection (56%), not related to viral species. However influenza virus was associated with a poorer prognosis than paramyxoviruses, pleading for a broader and large-scale vaccination of individual at risk of VRTIs.