Federal and State Action Needed to End the Infectious Complications of Illicit Drug Use in the United States: IDSA and HIVMA's Advocacy Agenda.

In response to the opioid crisis, IDSA and HIVMA established a working group to drive an evidence- and human rights-based response to illicit drug use and associated infectious diseases. Infectious diseases and HIV physicians have an opportunity to intervene, addressing both conditions. IDSA and HIVMA have developed a policy agenda highlighting evidence-based practices that need further dissemination. This paper reviews (1) programs most relevant to infectious diseases in the 2018 SUPPORT Act; (2) opportunities offered by the "End the HIV Epidemic" initiative; and (3) policy changes necessary to affect the trajectory of the opioid epidemic and associated infections. Issues addressed include leveraging harm reduction tools and improving integrated prevention and treatment services for the infectious diseases and substance use disorder care continuum. By strengthening collaborations between infectious diseases and addiction specialists, including increasing training in substance use disorder treatment among infectious diseases and addiction specialists, we can decrease morbidity and mortality associated with these overlapping epidemics.

Pathways to Leadership: Reflections of Recent Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) Leaders During Conception and Launch of the Inclusion, Diversity, Access, and Equity Movement Within the IDSA.

Opportunities for leadership in the specialty of infectious diseases (ID) have markedly increased over the last decade, including in newly recognized areas. Commensurate with the expansion of opportunities in ID, pathways to leadership positions within the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) are expanding as the Society seeks to advance the field for IDSA members. Acknowledging both the importance of diverse leaders to organizational success and shortfalls in diverse representation within IDSA leadership led to concentrated efforts to enhance transparency and opportunities for members to participate broadly in the work of IDSA. Herein, IDSA leaders reflect on their paths to IDSA leadership, hoping to help guide members seeking to partner with the Society. Features identified as important to individual success include mentorship, networking, participation in ID and IDSA volunteer experiences, passion for ID, and working with IDSA staff to advance the programs and initiatives of IDSA on behalf of members.

Hospital Pharmacy in the multidisciplinary team of COVID inpatient units.

Since the implementation of the Antimicrobial Therapy Optimization Programme, hospital pharmacy specialists have collaborated with infectious disease specialists on a regular basis in most hospitals in Spain.  Cooperation between these professionals ensures the integrated management of patients with infectious diseases and the appropriate use of antimicrobials in  hospitals. The COVID-19 pandemic forced hospital pharmacists to abruptly  suspend all their structured activities and concentrate on the health crisis.  Realtime information sharing between different medicine specialties is an  effective strategy to generate and maintain treatment protocols adapted to each center, with continuous evidence-based modifications as new publications appear. Hospital pharmacies had to reorganize their activities to  respond to the pandemic. On the one side were patients with COVID-19, and on  the other were routine hospital pharmacy tasks, with the added difficulty of  adapting to individual protection measures. New communication and  collaboration strategies were adopted. Protocols were established for the  management of COVID-19 patients, with continuous changes; special  medications had to be prepared and distributed; circuits were designed for the  home- or institution-based care of patients; internal circuits were created to  minimize the movements of hospital staff and professionals caring for COVID-19  patients. The most effective antiviral drug and anti inflammatory therapy  remains elusive. In this scenario, hospital pharmacists emerge as a key player,  as they have a deep understanding of the mechanisms of action of drugs and  potential interactions. In a setting where experimental drugs preferably tested in clinical trials are being used, the role of hospital pharmacists in interdisciplinary  teams has become essential for the optimization of clinical outcomes.

La colaboración entre los especialistas en farmacia hospitalaria y enfermedades infecciosas está implantada en la mayoría de los hospitales españoles desde 2012, a raíz de los Programas de Optimización de  Antibióticos. Los objetivos principales de esta colaboración son el abordaje integral de los pacientes con enfermedades infecciosas y el uso  adecuado de los antimicrobianos en el hospital. Las actividades estructuradas y  organizadas que los farmacéuticos tenían dentro de los grupos se vieron  truncadas por la pandemia por SARS­CoV-2, que requirió una alta dedicación. El  intercambio de información en tiempo real entre las especialidades ha sido una  vía efectiva para generar y mantener protocolos de tratamiento adaptados a  cada centro, con continuas modificaciones basadas en las publicaciones que iban apareciendo. Los servicios de farmacia se tuvieron que reorganizar para dar  respuesta, por un lado, a los pacientes que ingresaban por esta infección, y por otro, para continuar con las actividades anteriores, con las dificultades  añadidas que exigían las normativas para la protección del personal sanitario. Hubo que reinventarse para establecer otros sistemas de comunicación y de colaboración, protocolizando el tratamiento farmacológico de estos  pacientes, con modificaciones continuas, gestión de medicamentos a través de  medicamentos especiales, diseño de circuitos para tratar a pacientes en su  domicilio y en centros sociosanitarios y modificación de circuitos internos para  minimizar los desplazamientos de los profesionales en el hospital, así como del  personal que atendía a pacientes con SARS-CoV-2. A día de hoy, se desconoce el mejor fármaco antiviral y el mejor tratamiento antiinflamatorio, pero la  colaboración del farmacéutico hospitalario es fundamental, pues dispone del  conocimiento de los mecanismos de acción de fármacos tan diferentes y de las  interacciones que pueden ocasionar. La urgente necesidad de utilizar fármacos  experimentales, preferiblemente dentro de ensayos clínicos, coloca al  farmacéutico en un papel clave dentro del equipo interdisciplinario  imprescindible para conseguir los mejores resultados.

Report of the first international workshop on onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Recently, several epidemiological studies performed in Onchocerca volvulus-endemic regions have suggested that onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) may constitute an important but neglected public health problem in many countries where onchocerciasis is still endemic. MAIN TEXT: On October 12-14th 2017, the first international workshop on onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) was held in Antwerp, Belgium. The workshop was attended by 79 participants from 20 different countries. Recent research findings strongly suggest that O. volvulus is an important contributor to epilepsy, particularly in meso- and hyperendemic areas for onchocerciasis. Infection with O. volvulus is associated with a spectrum of epileptic seizures, mainly generalised tonic-clonic seizures but also atonic neck seizures (nodding), and stunted growth. OAE is characterised by an onset of seizures between the ages of 3-18 years. Multidisciplinary working groups discussed topics such as how to 1) strengthen the evidence for an association between onchocerciasis and epilepsy, 2) determine the burden of disease caused by OAE, 3) prevent OAE, 4) improve the treatment/care for persons with OAE and affected families, 5) identify the pathophysiological mechanism of OAE, and 6) deal with misconceptions, stigma, discrimination and gender violence associated with OAE. An OAE Alliance was created to increase awareness about OAE and its public health importance, stimulate research and disseminate research findings, and create partnerships between OAE researchers, communities, advocacy groups, ministries of health, non-governmental organisations, the pharmaceutical industry and funding organizations. CONCLUSIONS: Although the exact pathophysiological mechanism underlying OAE remains unknown, there is increasing evidence that by controlling and eliminating onchocerciasis, OAE will also disappear. Therefore, OAE constitutes an additional argument for strengthening onchocerciasis elimination efforts. Given the high numbers of people with epilepsy in O. volvulus-endemic regions, more advocacy is urgently needed to provide anti-epileptic treatment to improve the quality of life of these individuals and their families.

Sunday in the Park with Infectious Disease: Workforce Mismatch in a Colorful Universe of Possibilities.

The decline in applications for infectious diseases (ID) fellowships has been an area of active introspection for the leadership of the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA). This prompted actions to address the problem, including surveys of current and former fellows. Ironically, the decline in applications to ID programs is occurring at a time when the need for ID providers has never been greater and the excitement and variety in the practice of ID has never been higher. Data regarding the current ID workforce are presented here, along with perspectives about the future of the profession in the decades to come.

Executive Summary: Implementing an Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Evidence-based guidelines for implementation and measurement of antibiotic stewardship interventions in inpatient populations including long-term care were prepared by a multidisciplinary expert panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The panel included clinicians and investigators representing internal medicine, emergency medicine, microbiology, critical care, surgery, epidemiology, pharmacy, and adult and pediatric infectious diseases specialties. These recommendations address the best approaches for antibiotic stewardship programs to influence the optimal use of antibiotics.

Implementing an Antibiotic Stewardship Program: Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America.

Evidence-based guidelines for implementation and measurement of antibiotic stewardship interventions in inpatient populations including long-term care were prepared by a multidisciplinary expert panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. The panel included clinicians and investigators representing internal medicine, emergency medicine, microbiology, critical care, surgery, epidemiology, pharmacy, and adult and pediatric infectious diseases specialties. These recommendations address the best approaches for antibiotic stewardship programs to influence the optimal use of antibiotics.

[What place and what future for the pathology of infectious and tropical diseases in France?]. / Quelle place et quel avenir pour l'anatomo-cyto-pathologie des maladies infectieuses et tropicales en France?

The management of tissues and cellular samples by the pathologists in the infectious and tropical diseases pathology field in 2014 needs a strong knowledge of both morphological and molecular domains which includes the good control: (i) of the taxonomy of infectious and tropical diseases pathology leading to the pathogens identification and (ii) of the ancillary methods which can be used in fixed samples in order to detect or better identify these pathogens. There is a recent paradox in France concerning the frequency of infectious diseases to be diagnosed in pathology laboratories and the progressive loss of pathologist's expertise in this domain. Different reasons could explain this statement including the omnipresence of the tumour lesions to be managed in a pathology laboratory as well as the recent constraints associated with the different biomarkers that are mandatory to be detected by immunohistochemistry and/or by molecular biology. Even if the microbiologists play a pivotal role for identifying the different pathogens as well as for the assessment of their sensitivity to the anti-microbial drugs, a large number of infectious diseases can be diagnosed only on fixed tissue and/or cells by the pathologists. The purpose of this review is to describe the current and future issues of infectious and tropical diseases diagnoses in pathology laboratories, in particular in France.

Use of a United States-based laboratory as a hematopathology reference center for a developing country: logistics and results.

INTRODUCTION: With proper logistical support and sponsorship, a laboratory in an industrialized nation might be able to act as a reference laboratory for clinicians based in a developing country. METHODS: We built on previous experience in the clinical laboratory to see whether a specialized histopathology service (hematopathology) could be provided to a developing country without the expertise or experience to do it in country. RESULTS: Over an 13-year period, 582 cases from 579 individuals were analyzed. Principal pathologic findings included acute leukemia in 84 cases (14%), dyspoiesis in one or more of the hematopoietic lineages in 65 cases (11%, including three cases with high-grade myelodysplasia), 23 cases (4%) with findings suspicious for a chronic myeloproliferative disorder, 35 cases (6%) with findings suspicious for a lymphoproliferative disorder, and infectious organisms (presumably Leishmania in most instances) in 9 (1%) of cases. Specimens from 45 cases (8%) were unsatisfactory owing to extreme hemodilution and/or specimen degeneration. CONCLUSION: With proper support, a medical laboratory in an industrialized nation may serve as a reference facility for a developing nation. The use of existing infrastructure may be remarkably effective to achieve optimal turnaround time. Although the lack of ancillary studies and follow-up biopsies limit the ability to achieve a definitive diagnosis in many cases, this must be viewed in the context of the limited ability to diagnose or manage hematopoietic neoplasia in developing nations.

An antibiotic stewardship program in a French teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVES: An antibiotic stewardship program was implemented in our teaching hospital in 1999, and strengthened in 2005. We report its organization and impact on antibiotic use. METHODS: This observational study was conducted during a 10-year period (2002-2011). RESULTS: Many interventions were implemented: Infectious Diseases Specialists (IDS) led systematic ward rounds in several departments (1999); nominative antibiotic order form (2005); documentation of IDS advice in the patient's electronic medical record (2007); IDS advice triggered by the pharmacist (formulary restriction, 2007) or because of positive blood cultures (2009); automated weekly extraction of advice given into a database (2011). Seven thousand two hundred and five pieces of advice were recorded between 2007 and 2011: 63% following physician request, 26% triggered by the pharmacist and 9% because of positive blood cultures. Advice was provided by IDS in 95% of cases (63% by phone). The number of antibiotic prescriptions remained stable since 2005 at around 400 defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 patient-days. Documenting, sharing, and choice of action were improved due to the database. CONCLUSIONS: Our antibiotic stewardship program is well accepted by physicians and allows controlling antibiotic use in our hospital.

[Bacteremia and French computerized disease surveillance system: financial valorisation of an infectious diseases specialist in a hospital]. / Bactériémies et Programme de médicalisation des systèmes d'information : valorisation financière de l'infectiologue à l'hôpital.

OBJECTIVE: Bacteremia surveillance is a mission assumed by the referent person for antimicrobial therapy. We propose an original financial valorization of this activity, using the computerized disease surveillance system (CDSS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A database collecting community-acquired and care-associated bacteremia was created on January 1, 2009 at the Bethune Hospital, France, using EPI-Info software (EPI Data). This database was used to complete missing data (presence of bacteremia, origin [community-acquired or care-associated], site of infection) in CDSS codes of patients hospitalized in surgical and medical wards (410 beds) during 2009. Financial benefit was assessed by the difference of funds allocated on the basis of CDSS, before and after completion of the missing data. RESULTS: In 2009, 383 out of the 35,000 patients presented with bacteremia. When missing CDSS codes were added, a financial gain of 229,291 euros was obtained, concerning 64 patients. CONCLUSION: Bacteremia surveillance is a transversal task based on quality of care, which may have a positive financial impact. This study may be helpful for clinicians with transversal activities, for whom financial valorization is difficult to implement in the CDSS, particularly without hospitalization beds. The lack of complete notification in the CDSS may cause a substantial financial loss.

Improving antibiotic use in the hospital: Focusing on positive blood cultures is an effective option.

OBJECTIVES: The unsolicited and systematic evaluation of positive blood cultures (pBC) after laboratory report by a single infectious disease specialist (IDS) was evaluated during one year, using a computer-generated alert by the laboratory. The main objectives of IDS counselling were to improve antibiotic use for bloodstream infection (i.e., initiating or modifying therapy) and to stop unjustified therapy for contaminated pBC. METHODS: During the first part of the study (4 months), all pBC in patients from ICUs, medical and surgical wards were analyzed. After an interim analysis, only pBC from medical and surgical wards were evaluated during the second part (8 months). RESULTS: Overall, 1090 episodes of pBC (representing 866 patients) were evaluated and classified as bloodstream infection (65.5%), contamination (29%) or undetermined (5.5%). Forty-three percent of episodes prompted IDS counselling, including initiation (5%), modification (27.5%), withdrawal (3.5%) and diagnosis workup (5%). Restricting the evaluation to medical and surgical wards increased the rate of counselling (61.2% vs. 27.7%, P<0.0001), notably for de-escalating (20% vs. 8%, P<0.0001), initiating (9% vs. 2%, P<0.0001), oral switch (6% vs. 2%, P<0.0001), withdrawing (5% vs. 2%, P=0.002) or reducing the duration of therapy (5% vs. 2%, P=0.002). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In complement to the laboratory report, a computer-generated alert used by the IDS was useful for the management of pBC in hospital. The impact of IDS counselling was more effective when the evaluation was restricted to medical and surgical wards.

[Imported and non-imported diseases in the immigrant population. A decade of experience from an infectious diseases unit]. / Enfermedades importadas y no importadas en la población inmigrante. Una década de experiencia desde una unidad de enfermedades infecciosas.

INTRODUCTION: Immigration is an inexorable process. Immigrants may suffer infectious diseases commonly seen in our environment, or those more exotic or more prevalent in their own environment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study was performed including all immigrants see in an Infectious Diseases Unit of a general hospital from June 2001 to May 2010. RESULTS: We studied 1,071 patients from Latin America (n=405, 37.8%), Northern Africa (n=281, 26.2%), Eastern Europe (n=186, 17.4%), sub-Saharan Africa (n=178, 16.6%), and Asia (21, 2.0%). Transmissible infectious diseases were the leading cause of consultation (53.8%), and they were more common among people coming from Northern Africa (61.6%) and Eastern Europe (69.4%) (P=.001). The second reason for consultation was for common infectious diseases (29%). Tropical infectious diseases were diagnosed in 16.4% of the patients, particularly from sub-Saharan Africa (36%), and Latin America (25.9%) (P<.001). The most common diagnoses were latent tuberculous infection (20.8%) [most common in those from Eastern Europe (27.4%) (P=.004)], respiratory tract infection (12.5%), sexually transmitted infections (10.6%) [most common in patients from Northern Africa (17.1%) (P=.004)], chronic hepatitis (10.4%) [most common in patients from Eastern Europe (26.3%) (P<.001) and sub-Saharan Africa (16.9%) (P=.004)], and active tuberculosis (8.7%) [most common in sub-Saharan Africa patients (15.7%) (P=.001)]. CONCLUSIONS: The spectrum of infectious diseases in the immigrant population in our area is broad, and includes a wide variety of tropical and communicable diseases, but also of common infections. While communicable diseases are the leading cause of consultation, common infections constitute an important part of health care activity.

[Clinical and economic analysis of an internal medicine-infectious disease department at a university general hospital (2005-2006)]. / Valoración clinicoeconómica de un servicio de medicina interna-infecciosas en un hospital general universitario (2005-6).

OBJECTIVES: Comparative study in patients with infectious diseases admitted to a specialized Internal Medicine-Infectious Diseases Department (IMID) versus those admitted to other medical departments in a university general hospital, investigating quality and cost-effectiveness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Analysis of patients in 10 principle diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) of infectious diseases admitted to the IMID were compared to those admitted to other medical departments (2005-2006). The DRG were divided in 4 main groups: respiratory infections (DGR 88, 89, 90, 540), urinary infections (DRG 320, 321), sepsis (DRG 416, 584), and skin infections (DRG 277, 278). For each group, quality variables (mortality and readmission rate), efficacy variables (mean hospital stay and mean DRG-based cost per patient) and complexity variables (case mix, relative weight, and functional index) were analyzed. RESULTS: 542 patients included in the 10 main infectious disease DRGs were admitted to IMID and 2404 to other medical departments. After adjusting for DRG case mix (case mix 0.99 for IMID and 0.89 for others), mean hospital stay (5.11 days vs. 7.65 days), mortality (3.5% vs. 7.9%) and mean DRG-based economic cost per patient (1521euro/patient vs. 2952euro/patient) was significantly lower in the group of patients hospitalized in IMID than the group in other medical departments (p<0.05). The readmission rate was similar in the 2 groups (5.5% and 6.5%, respectively). The results per each DRG group were similar to the overall results. CONCLUSIONS: For a similar case mix, hospitalization in IMID departments had a positive influence on the variables analyzed as compared to hospitalization in other departments, with a shorter mean stay, lower mortality, and lower mean DRG-based economic cost per patient. Creation and development of IMID departments should be an essential objective to improve healthcare quality and respond to social demands.