Gender differences and influenza-associated mortality in hospitalized influenza A patients during the 2018/19 season.

BACKGROUND: In this study we analyzed gender differences in the clinical presentation of patients with molecular confirmed influenza A. Additionally, we tried to identify predictors of influenza-associated mortality. MATERIALS/METHODS: In this prospective observational multi-center-study we included all influenza-positive patients ≥ 18 years who were hospitalized and treated on flu-isolation-wards in three hospitals in Vienna during the 2018/19 influenza season. Diagnoses were made via Cobas® Liat® POCT. RESULTS: 490 Patients (48.8% female) tested positive for influenza A. Female patients were older (median age 76 years vs. 70 years, p < 0.001). Male patients had a higher rate of chronic liver disease in history (8.8% vs. 2.9%, p = 0.006), myositis (11.7% vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001) and ICU admissions (9.6% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.03). The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.3% and increased to 9.5% during the 90-day follow-up period. Female patients > 75 years had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate than ≤ 75-year-old females (9.2% vs. 1.7%, p = 0.019). This effect was not observed in male patients (5.4% vs. 1.9%, p = ns). Age > 75 years (OR 5.49, 95% CI 1.10-27.43), acute heart failure (OR 3.56, 95% CI 1.03-12.05) and ICU admission (OR 6.1, 95% CI 0.98-37.91) were predictors for in-hospital mortality for female patients, while any malignancy (OR 9.4, 95% CI 1.90-46.54) and ICU admission (OR 7.05, 95% CI 1.44-34.55) were predictors in male patients. CONCLUSIONS: Gender is associated with differences in clinical presentation and complications of influenza A virus infection. Women with acute heart failure or aged > 75 years have an increased risk of influenza associated in-hospital mortality, while ICU admission and any malignancy are predictors for male patients. Mortality rates in patients > 75 years are 5-10 times higher compared to their non-hospitalized influenza-negative Austrian counterparts.

High HIV prevalence among children presenting for general consultation in rural Cameroon.

Data on the HIV-prevalence children presenting to health care facilities in sub-Saharan Africa are scant in general, and the debate about opportunities for paediatric HIV screening is ongoing. Nine hundred and eighty-one children with unknown HIV-status presenting to a large general paediatric outpatient department in rural Cameroon were tested using the Determine HIV-1/2 rapid test (Abbott), and positive results were confirmed with the Hexagon HIV rapid test (Human Diagnostics). In children younger than 18 months, HIV infection was confirmed by PCR testing. Median age was 1.3 years and 52.8% were of male gender. In 514 children below 18 months of age, 16 (3.1%) tested positive. Of those, HIV-1 PCR was available for 11 children, of whom 6 had a positive PCR result. HIV prevalence was highest in the age group 5-9 years, being 8.8%. Malnutrition (33.3 vs 5.2%, p < 0.001) was associated with HIV infection. Our study results indicate that HIV testing should be offered to all children at possible entry points to medical care, irrespective of symptoms, in order to reduce HIV-associated mortality through timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy.

Intestinal Kaposi's sarcoma may mimic gastrointestinal stromal tumor in HIV infection.

Diffuse intestinal Kaposi's sarcoma shares macroscopic and histopathologic features with gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Correct diagnosis may pose a clinical challenge. We describe the case of a young HIV-1-infected African lady without advanced immunodeficiency, who presented with a diffuse spindle cell tumor of the gut. Initial diagnosis was of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, based on endoscopy and histopathology. Further evaluation revealed evidence for human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) and the diagnosis had to be changed to diffuse intestinal Kaposi's sarcoma. Antiretroviral triple therapy together with chemotherapy was commenced, and has led to the rapid remission of intestinal lesions. With a background of HIV infection, the presence of HHV8 as the causative agent of Kaposi's sarcoma should be determined, as distinct treatment is indicated.