Loa loa in the Vitreous Cavity of the Eye: A Case Report and State of Art.

Loa loa is a filarial nematode responsible for loiasis, endemic to West-Central Africa south of the Sahara and transmitted by flies. This study reports a case of L. loa in the vitreous cavity of the eye of a young patient, along with an in-depth literature review. A 22-year-old woman from Cameroon who migrated from Cameroon to Italy was referred to the Emergency Ophthalmology Department at Policlinico di Bari in July 2021 with the presence of a moving parasite in the subconjunctiva of the left eye. A recent onset of a papular lesion on the dorsal surface of the right wrist and a nodular lesion in the scapular region were detected. L. loa filariasis was diagnosed based on anamnestic data, clinical and paraclinical signs, and a parasitological test confirming the presence of microfilariae in two blood samples collected in the morning of two different days. Because of the unavailability of diethylcarbamazine (DEC), albendazole (ALB) 200 mg twice daily was administered for 21 days. A mild exacerbation of pruritus occurred during treatment, but resolved with the use of an antihistamine. A single dose of 12 mg ivermectin was prescribed at the end of the treatment with albendazole. Unlike other endemic parasite infections, L. loa is not included in the Global Program to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, because it is not mentioned in the WHO and CDC list of neglected tropical diseases. This can result in an overall risk of lack of attention and studies on loiasis, with lack of data on global burden of the disease.

Predictors for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Outcome and Adverse Events in an Italian Referral Hospital: A Nine-Year Retrospective Study (2013-2021).

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has undone years of progress in providing essential TB services and controlling the TB burden. Italy, a low TB burden country, has an incidence of 7.1 cases per 100,000 people. To control the TB spreading in Italy is critical to investigate the characteristics of patients with the worst outcomes and the highest risk of adverse events related to antituberculosis therapy. Therefore, we conducted a large retrospective study in TB patients admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases University of Bari, Italy, in order to describe the clinical presentation and the factors associated with adverse events and outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the patients admitted to the Clinic of Infectious Diseases from January 2013 to 15 December 2021. We stratified our cohort into two groups: <65 years of age and ≥65 years in order to assess any differences between the two groups. Two logistic regression models were implemented considering the dependent variables as: (I) the adverse events; and (II) the unsuccessful treatments. Results: In total, 206 consecutive patients [60% (n = 124) M, median age 39 years, range 16-92] were diagnosed and admitted with TB at Clinic of Infectious Diseases. Of the whole sample, 151 (74%) were <65 years and 55 (26%) were ≥65. Statistically significant differences between the two groups were detected (p-value < 0.05) for nationality (p-value = 0.01), previous contact with TB patient (p-value = 0.00), type of TB (p-value = 0.00), unsuccessful treatment (p-value = 0.00), length of hospitalization (p-value = 0.02) and diagnostic delay (p-value = 0.01). Adverse events related to TB drug regimen were reported in 24% (n = 49). Age < 65 years (O.R. = 3.91; 95% CI 1.72-4.21), non-Italian nationality (O.R. = 4.45; 95% CI 2.22-4.98.), homeless (O.R. = 3.23; 95% CI 2.58-4.54), presence of respiratory symptoms (O.R. = 1.23; 95% CI 1.10-1.90), diagnostic delay (O.R = 2.55; 95% CI 1.98-3.77) resulted associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome (death, failure or lost to follow up). Finally, age < 65 years (O.R. = 1.73; 95% CI 1.31-2.49), presence of pulmonary TB (O.R. = 1.15; 95% CI 1.02-1.35), length of hospitalization (O.R. = 1.82; 95% CI 1.35-2.57) and TB culture positive (O.R. = 1.35; 95% CI 1.12-1.82) were associated with adverse events in our populations. Conclusions: The pharmacological approach alone seems insufficient to treat and cure a disease whose ethiopathogenesis is not only due to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but also to the poverty or the social fragility. Our data suggest that young foreigners, the homeless, and the people with low social and economic status are at higher risk of an unfavorable outcome in low incidence TB countries. Targeted actions to support this highly vulnerable population both in terms of outcome and occurrence of adverse events are needed.

Impact of Vitamin D in Prophylaxis and Treatment in Tuberculosis Patients.

Vitamin D plays a crucial role in many infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis (TB), that remains one of the world's top infectious killers with 1.5 million deaths from TB in 2021. Vitamin D suppresses the replication of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro and showed a promising role in TB management as a result of its connection with oxidative balance. Our review encourages the possible in vivo benefit of a joint administration with other vitamins, such as vitamin A, which share a known antimycobacterial action with vitamin D. However, considering the low incidence of side effects even at high dosages and its low cost, it would be advisable to assess vitamin D level both in patients with active TB and high-risk groups and administer it, at least to reach sufficiency levels.

Immunogenicity and safety of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in PLWH: A monocentric study in Bari, Italy.

In March, people living with HIV infection (PLWH) were included in the risk category of fragile people for severe COVID-19 receiving priority access to vaccination with BNT162b2 vaccine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of the two doses regimen. The antibodies titer for severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was evaluated after 21 days since the first administration (Time 1), 1 (Time 2), and 3 (Time 3) months post-vaccination. Information regarding virological and immunological conditions at baseline, previous SARS-CoV-2 state of infection, other immunodeficiencies, current antiretroviral therapy (ART), comorbidities, and severe adverse events (SAE) to vaccination was collected. Six hundred and ninety-seven patients were tested for quantitative anti-spike antibodies at Time 1, 577 patients had a second detection at Time 2, and 491 patients had the third detection. Baseline characteristics of the study population are reported in Table 1. At the time of vaccine administration, all patients were on ART (except one long-term nonprogressor); 632 (90.7%) patients had undetectable HIV-RNA; 12 (1.7%) patients were immunosuppressed due to chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive drugs; 345 (49.5%) patients had at least one COVID-19 related comorbidity and 155 (22.2%) had two or more comorbidities. No SAEs were reported. Final serological results are available for 694 patients after the first dose, 577 and 491 after the second and third ones, respectively; positive titer (values ≥ 50 AU/ml) was demonstrated in 653 (94.1%), 576 (99.8%), 484 (98.6%) patients, respectively. Only one patient was a nonresponder after completing vaccination, who was a newly diagnosed one for HIV infection. All vaccinations were well tolerated, with no SAEs. BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine was immunogenic and safe in PLWH.

High risk of unsuccessful treatment outcome in migrant population with tuberculosis: Data from three Italian hospitals.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an unresolved global health problem and vulnerable groups such as migrants remain the most affected with a higher risk of worse outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical features, outcomes, and adverse events in migrant and native Italian patients admitted to three Italian hospitals in Southern Italy in order to assess differences and targeted strategies. Methods: We performed a retrospective study on TB patients admitted between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2021, in three Apulia hospitals. Two logistic regression models were used, with the dependent variables being (I) unsuccessful treatment (died, loss to follow-up, and failed treatment) and (II) adverse events. Results: We enrolled 543 consecutive patients admitted at three Italian hospitals with a diagnosis of TB during the study period, of them 323 (59.5%) were migrants and 220 Italian patients. The treatment success rate in the migrant group was 44.9% (137/305), while in the non-migrant group was 97.1% (203/209). Independent factors of unsuccess treatment (death, failure or loss to follow up) were: migrant status (O.R. = 11.31; 95% CI 9.72-14.23), being male (O.R. = 4.63; 95% CI 2.16-6.10), homelessness (O.R. = 3.23; 95% CI 2.58-4.54), having a MDR (Multidrug-resistant) (O.R = 6.44; 95% CI 4.74-8.23), diagnostic delay (O.R. = 3.55; 95% CI 1.98-5.67), and length of hospitalization (O.R. = 3.43; 95% CI 1.88-5.87). While, age >65 ys (O.R. = 3.11; 95% CI 1.42-4.76), presence of extrapulmonary TB (O.R. = 1.51; 95% CI 1.31-2.18), monoresistance (O.R. = 1.45; 95% CI 1.25-3.14) and MDR pattern (O.R. = 2.44; 95% CI 1.74-5.03) resulted associated with adverse events. Conclusion: Migrant population is at high risk of unsuccessful treatment (death, loss to follow-up, and treatment failure). Policies targeted specifically to this group are needed to really impact and improve their health status and also to contain the TB burden.

Potential Role of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E in TB Treatment and Prevention: A Narrative Review.

(1) Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the world's top infectious killers, in fact every year 10 million people fall ill with TB and 1.5 million people die from TB. Vitamins have an important role in vital functions, due to their anti-oxidant, pro-oxidant, anti-inflammatory effects and to metabolic functions. The aim of this review is to discuss and summarize the evidence and still open questions regarding vitamin supplementation as a prophylactic measure in those who are at high risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection and active TB; (2) Methods: We conducted a search on PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and WHO websites starting from March 1950 to September 2021, in order to identify articles discussing the role of Vitamins A, B, C, D and E and Tuberculosis; (3) Results: Supplementation with multiple micronutrients (including zinc) rather than vitamin A alone may be more beneficial in TB. The WHO recommend Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) when high-dose isoniazid is administered. High concentrations of vitamin C sterilize drug-susceptible, MDR and extensively drug-resistant MTB cultures and prevent the emergence of drug persisters; Vitamin D suppresses the replication of mycobacterium in vitro while VE showed a promising role in TB management as a result of its connection with oxidative balance; (4) Conclusions: Our review suggests and encourages the use of vitamins in TB patients. In fact, their use may improve outcomes by helping both nutritionally and by interacting directly and/or indirectly with MTB. Several and more comprehensive trials are needed to reinforce these suggestions.