[Campylobacter: a vintage pathogen to the fore].

Campylobacteriosis is caused by Gram bacteria. Most common species are C. jejuni and C. coli. Campylobacteriosis is a rare cause of sepsis, and in some European countries it is more common than salmonellosis, becoming a public health problem. We have treated a 66-year-old patient, hypertensive, ischemic cardiopathic, scheduled for coronary angiography, hospitalized with AKI, in a state of shock after some days of acute diarrhea. Because of the pathogen's seasonal nature and the patient's clinical features, in addition to common coproculture also Campylobacter has been sought, and found. Treated with volume repletion and antibiotics, within one week normal kidney functions were fully restored. He had a coronary angiography a week after being discharged from the hospital.

Migration patterns of HIV-1 subtype B virus in Northern Italy.

Gene flow analysis is used to identify the migration patterns of viruses within a geographical area and /or in different populations. 883 HIV-1 B subtype pol gene sequences were analyzed. The gene analysis among different geographical areas of the Bergamo district and from different transmission risk groups showed 25% of the observed gene flow was from people living in the north valleys to lowland and 40.5% from a heterosexual risk group to injecting drug users. Injecting drug users seem to be the central link, mercenary sex being the common route of transmission (and gene flow) between this group and both heterosexual and homosexual individuals.

Ultrasensitive assessment of residual low-level HIV viremia in HAART-treated patients and risk of virological failure.

BACKGROUND: Low-level viremia (LLV) is measurable, with enhanced assays, in many subjects with HIV RNA levels <50 copies per milliliter. The clinical consequences of LLV are unknown. METHODS: In a prospective study in HIV-1-infected adults, HIV RNA levels were determined with an ultrasensitive test (3 copies/mL) based on a real time polymerase chain reaction. The primary end point was to evaluate LLV prediction of virological failure, defined as a confirmed plasma HIV RNA level >50 copies per milliliter. RESULTS: One thousand two hundred fourteen patients were followed for (mean) 378 days. At baseline, 71.5% were <3 copies per milliliter below the limit of detection (BLD). The risk of failing highly active antiretroviral therapy in the following 4 months for patients BLD was 0.4% compared with a 3.2% risk for those with LLV (P < 0.0001; odds ratio: 7.52). There was a significant (P < 0.0001) linear relationship between the HIV RNA and the risk of virologic failure. LLV receiver operating curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.76 (95% confidence interval: 0.68 to 0.84) that significantly (P < 0.0001) predicted the risk of failure. The risk of an unconfirmed viral blip was higher in patients with LLV (3.9%) than in those BLD (1.1%) (P < 0.0001; odds ratio: 3.56). Longer exposure to antiretrovirals, current use of nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, longer time BLD, and current HIV RNA <3 copies per milliliter were independent predictors of a positive outcome. INTERPRETATION: Viral replication may be the cause of LLV, at least in some patients. A LLV >3 copies per milliliter is linked to a significant increment of risk of virological failure leading to drug resistance. Patients with measurable LLV should be managed to better evaluate, over time, the risk of failure and to limit its consequences.

Incidence of candidaemia and relationship with fluconazole use in an intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: Candida spp. are the most important non-bacterial pathogens in critically ill patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate trends in the incidence of candidaemia and the distribution of Candida albicans and non-albicans over a 9 year period (1999-2007), and to assess their relationship with fluconazole use. METHODS: This was an interventional cross-over study. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) who developed a clinically and microbiologically documented candidaemia were analysed. Fluconazole was used as prophylaxis in critically ill patients until 2002; from January 2003 infectious disease consultants strongly discouraged its use. Fluconazole use, measured as defined daily dose per 1000 patient-days, was calculated. The main outcome of the study is the evaluation of the restriction policy in terms of change in fluconazole use and in incidence of candidaemia. RESULTS: During the 108 month period (January 1999-December 2007), a total of 213 episodes of candidaemia (average incidence 1.42 episodes/10 000 patient-days/year, range 0.36-3.02 episodes) were recorded in a mixed medical and surgical ICU in Italy. C. albicans was the most prevalent isolated species (n = 98, 46%); non-albicans (n = 115, 54%) were mainly represented by Candida parapsilosis (n = 46, 22%) and by Candida glabrata (n = 28, 13%). Segmented regression analysis of the interrupted time series showed that a change in the fluconazole prophylactic strategy resulted in a significant reduction in fluconazole use from the second semester of 2002. A dramatic decrease in the incidence of fungaemia due to C. non-albicans was observed from the second semester of 2003 (intervention effect in the second semester of 2007: -2.31/10 000 patient-days); minor changes in the incidence of C. albicans fungaemia emerged (intervention effect in the second semester of 2007: -0.23/10 000 patient-days). CONCLUSIONS: The study showed a clear correlation between fluconazole use control and decreasing incidence of non-albicans candidaemia. Even if fluconazole remains a first-line treatment option in several cases of invasive candidiasis, its prophylactic use should be carefully evaluated.