Risk of Invasive Fungal Infections in Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated With Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors: A Case-Control Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

Background: Prior reports have suggested a possible increase in the frequency of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) with use of a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) for treatment of chronic lymphoid malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), but precise estimates are lacking. We aim to characterize the prevalence of IFIs among patients with CLL, for whom a BTKi is now the first-line recommended therapy. Methods: We queried TriNetX, a global research network database, to identify adult patients with CLL using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code (C91.1) and laboratory results. We performed a case-control propensity score-matched analysis to determine IFIs events by BTKi use. We adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, and clinical risk factors associated with an increased risk of IFIs. Results: Among 5358 matched patients with CLL, we found an incidence of 4.6% of IFIs in patients on a BTKi versus 3.5% among patients not on a BTKi at 5 years. Approximately 1% of patients with CLL developed an IFI while on a BTKi within this period. Our adjusted IFI event analysis found an elevated rate of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) (0.5% vs 0.3%, P = .02) and invasive candidiasis (3.5% vs 2.7%, P = .012) with the use of a BTKi. The number needed to harm for patients taking a BTKi was 120 and 358 for invasive candidiasis and PJP, respectively. Conclusions: We found an adjusted elevated rate of PJP and invasive candidiasis with BTKi use. The rates are, however, low with a high number needed to harm. Additional studies stratifying other IFIs with specific BTKis are required to identify at-risk patients and preventive, cost-effective interventions.

Coccidioidomycosis in Oklahoma: A retrospective case series.

BACKGROUND: Coccidioidomycosis is a systemic fungal disease endemic to arid regions of the Western Hemisphere. In the south-western US, Coccidioides spp. may account for up to 20%-25% of all cases of community acquired pneumonia. Clinical manifestations vary widely, from asymptomatic infection to life-threatening disease, especially in immunocompromised hosts. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the study was to characterise cases of coccidioidomycosis in an area of the United States not considered traditionally endemic for the disease. METHODS: We performed a single-centre retrospective study of all cases of coccidioidomycosis from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2020, in the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Medical Center. RESULTS: A total of 26 patients were included for analysis. The central nervous system (CNS) and the lungs were the sites most frequently involved. Twenty (77%) had travelled to a coccidioidomycosis endemic region. Most were male (81%) with a median age of 42 years (range: 3-78 years). The majority (46%) were Caucasians, 19% were African American, 19% Hispanic, and 12% Native American. The most common comorbidities were diabetes mellitus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, identified in 27% and 23% of patients, respectively. Patients on immunosuppressive therapy accounted for 12% of all cases. CONCLUSION: Our study is one of the largest single-centre case series of coccidioidomycosis from a non-endemic area. Diabetes mellitus was the most frequent comorbidity. Compared to other case series of coccidioidomycosis, our patient population had higher rates of immunosuppression and had both a higher rate of disseminated disease and overall mortality.

Chagas disease in the United States: a call for increased investment and collaborative research.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is a highly overlooked parasitic infection within the United States. It affects an estimated 300,000 individuals, often remaining asymptomatic for years before triggering severe complications such as cardiomyopathy in 30-40% of cases. While many contract the disease in Latin America, its transmission by local vectors in the southern U.S. presents a significant challenge. Unfortunately, limited access to diagnosis and treatment persists, alongside unresolved gaps in healthcare systems and disease pathogenesis. In this viewpoint, we discuss the need for focused research and public health initiatives, with U.S. research institutions playing a crucial role in developing new treatments and identifying biomarkers. Furthermore, investigating the genetic variations of T. cruzi between North and South America is vital for improving diagnostic and treatment strategies. Urgent action is required to implement national and local programs, bolstering healthcare responses and advancing research efforts.Q4As per journal style section heading 'Introduction' is mandatory, hence we have introduced the heading. Please check, and correct if necessary.ResolvedQ5If there are any drug dosages in your article, please verify them and indicate that you have done so by initialing this query.ResolvedQ6Please supply the year of publication.ResolvedFootnoteView Edit Log9.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and the noncytomegalovirus herpesviruses.

Although hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and other cellular therapies have significantly improved outcomes in the management of multiple hematological and nonhematological malignancies, the resulting impairment in humoral and cellular response increases the risk for opportunistic infection as an undesirable side effect. With their ability to establish latent infection and reactivate when the host immune system is at its weakest point, the Herpesviridae family constitutes a significant proportion of these opportunistic pathogens. Despite recent advancements in preventing and managing herpesvirus infections, they continue to be a common cause of significant morbidity and mortality in transplanted patients. Herein, we aim to provide and update on herpesvirus other than cytomegalovirus (CMV) affecting recipients of HSCT and other cellular therapies.

Migrants in transit across Central America and the potential spread of chloroquine resistant malaria-a call for action.

Human migration has shaped the distribution and patterns of infectious diseases transmission throughout history. Migration is one of the contributing factors that has played an important role in the dissemination of drug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Central America and Mexico are important transit points of an increasing migrant flow originating from countries where chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum and vivax are prevalent. Surveillance systems, as well as detection and diagnostic capacities in the Central American region, are limited. The additional challenges imposed by the increasingly mobile population in the region are creating the perfect scenario for the emergence or re-emergence of infectious diseases, such as the introduction of chloroquine-resistant malaria. The development and implementation of transborder, collaborative, and ethical migrant health initiatives in the region are urgently needed. The health of migrant people in transit during their migratory route is of our collective interest and responsibility; their exclusion from health programs based on their legal status contradicts international human rights treaties and is inconsistent with ethical global public health practice.

Chagas Disease and Domestic Medical Screening Guidance for Newly Arrived Individuals Under a Humanitarian-Based Immigration Status: A Call for Action.

Chagas disease is considered one of the most important neglected tropical diseases in the Western Hemisphere, given its morbidity, mortality, and societal and economic burden. The United States has the fifth highest global burden of Chagas disease. Every year, thousands of migrant people from Latin America and throughout the globe travel to the U.S.- Mexico border searching for asylum. The U.S. CDC's Guidance for the U.S. Domestic Medical Examination for Newly Arriving Refugees provides recommendations to safeguard the health of individuals who enter the United States with a humanitarian-based immigration status as defined by the CDC's guidance under Key Considerations and Best Practices. We encourage the inclusion of Trypanosoma cruzi infection screening recommendations in this guidance as an important step toward understanding the risk and burden of Chagas disease in this vulnerable population, strengthening their access to care and contributing to the 2030 objectives of the WHO's neglected tropical diseases road map.

Chagas disease in Oklahoma.

Chagas disease, caused by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is one of the leading public health problems in the Western Hemisphere. The parasite is mainly transmitted by contact with infected insect vectors but other forms of transmission are important in endemic areas. In the United States, while the disease is largely restricted to immigrants from endemic countries in Latin America, there is some risk of local acquisition. T. cruzi circulates in a sylvatic cycle between mammals and local triatomine insects in the southern half of the country, where human residents may be at risk for incidental infection. There are several reported cases of locally-acquired Chagas disease in the United States, but there is a paucity of information in Oklahoma. We present a brief summary of the available data of Chagas disease in Oklahoma to raise awareness and serve as a foundation for future research.

Burden of serious fungal infections in Honduras.

BACKGROUND: The burden of serious fungal infections in Honduras is unknown. The diagnosis of fungal diseases relies on almost exclusively on microscopy and culture limiting an accurate estimate of the burden of disease. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of the study was to estimate the burden of serious fungal infections in Honduras using previously described methods. METHODS: National and international demographic data on population, HIV, tuberculosis, asthma, COPD and cancer were obtained. A thorough literature search was done for all epidemiological studies and case series of serious fungal diseases. Using these risk populations and whatever incidence and prevalence could be found that was most pertinent to Honduras, a burden estimate was derived. RESULTS: The estimated number of serious fungal infection was estimated to be between 178,772 and 179,624 with nearly 2300 cases of these representing opportunistic infections in people living with HIV. The incidence of histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis in people living with HIV is high and estimated to be 4.3 and 4.6 cases per 100,000 population respectively. Approximately 12,247-13,099 cases of aspergillosis and 164,227 of other serious fungal infections were estimated to occur each year. CONCLUSION: An accurate estimate of the burden of serious fungal infections in Honduras is unknown but based on our results, likely significant. Serious fungal infections represent an important public health problem in Honduras affecting approximately 1.8% of the population. There is a clear need for better access to diagnostic tools and antifungals to conduct research to better understand the impact of fungal diseases in Honduras.

An update on prevention of malaria in travelers.

Malaria, a parasitic disease caused by protozoa belonging to the genus Plasmodium, continues to represent a formidable public health challenge. Despite being a preventable disease, cases reported among travelers have continued to increase in recent decades. Protection of travelers against malaria, a potentially life-threatening disease, is of paramount importance, and it is therefore necessary for healthcare professionals to be up to date with the most recent recommendations. The present review provides an update of the existent measures for malaria prevention among travelers.

Pulmonary cannonballs in a patient with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) remains one of the most common and life-threatening complications in patients with AIDS. PJP typically presents subacutely with a dry cough, shortness of breath with exertion, fever, and bilateral ground-glass opacities on imaging. However, atypical imaging findings have been reported including cysts, isolated lymphadenopathy, and small to large nodules. This case highlights the importance of considering unusual presentations of a relatively common entity in order to prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment.

Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis Secondary to Ehrlichia Chaffeensis in Adults: A Case Series From Oklahoma.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a syndrome of pathologic immune activation that occurs as either a familial disorder or as a sporadic condition in association with a variety of triggers. Infections are the most common cause of HLH in adults and should be searched for as early treatment usually results in a favorable outcome. Human monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (HME) is a very rare cause of HLH. Failure to consider ehrlichiosis can result in misdiagnosis and an increased length of hospitalization and healthcare cost as described in our report. Treatment for secondary HLH is aimed at reducing hypercytokinemia and eradicating inflammatory and infected cells. It is important to promptly initiate doxycycline when tick-borne diseases are being entertained as a possible trigger, as the antibiotic is effective, safe and inexpensive.

A Quality Improvement Project Using Microlearning to Increase Provider Adherence to Extragenital Sexually Transmitted Infection Screening Guidelines in Men Who Have Sex With Men.

ABSTRACT: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend screening men who have sex with men who are living with HIV for sexually transmitted infections at appropriate extragenital contact sites for bacterial sexually transmitted infections. In an effort to increase provider adherence to CDC recommended guidelines at a Ryan White Clinic, microlearning educational sessions were used. A quality improvement project was designed to determine the rate of provider adherence to CDC guidelines pre/post microlearning sessions. Student t-test was used to compare the number of patients who received urine and extragenital screening to those who received urine-only screening, to before and after the microlearning sessions. The rate of extragenital screening significantly increased after the microlearning sessions (4/460 vs. 70/507, p < .0001). The rate of urine screening remained unchanged (p = 1). Although extragenital screening significantly increased, it remained low. A decision tree in the electronic medical record to prompt providers to screen was developed.

Cerebral Cystic Echinococcosis.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a neglected helminthic disease and major public health problem in several regions of the world. The zoonosis is caused by the larval stage of different cestode species belonging to the genus Echinococcus. CE can affect any organ with the liver and lungs being most commonly involved. The brain is involved in less than 2% of the cases. We report a case of a CE1 echinococcal cyst of the brain in an Iranian patient.

Phylogeography and Genetic Diversity of Human Hydatidosis in Bordering the Caspian Sea, Northern Iran by Focusing on Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Stricto Complex.

BACKGROUND: Human Echinococcosisis a cyclo-zoonotic infection caused by tapeworms of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto complex. The detection of mitochondrial genome data of genus Echinococcus can reflect the taxonomic status, genetic diversity, and population structure genetics. METHODS: Totally, 52 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from patients with histologically confirmed CE were collected from Mazandaran province, Iran in the period of Mar 1995 to May 2018. All extracted DNAs from (FFPE) tissue samples were subjected to amplify by polymerase chain reactions method targeting cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. All PCR amplicons were sequenced to phylogenetic analysis and genetic diversity. RESULTS: Molecular analysis showed that 50(96.1%) and 2 (3.84%) isolates were identified as G1 andG3 E. granulosus genotypes, respectively. DNA sequence analyses indicated a high gene diversity for G1 (Haplotype diversity: 0.830) and G3 genotypes (Hd: 1.00). Based on multiple sequence alignment analyses, 7 (13.46%; G1 genotype) and 2 (3.84%; G3 genotype) new haplotypes were unequivocally identified. CONCLUSION: G3 genotype (Buffalo strain) was identified from two human hydatidosis isolates in the region. Present study strengthens our knowledge about taxonomic status, transmission patterns of Echinococcus parasite to human and heterogeneity aspects of this parasite in clinical CE isolates of Northern Iran.

Strongyloides Hyperinfection in a Renal Transplant Patient: Always Be on the Lookout.

We present a case of a 71-year-old Vietnamese man with chronic kidney disease secondary to adult polycystic kidney disease. He had been a prisoner of war before undergoing a successful cadaveric renal transplant in the United States. He presented to clinic one year after the transplant with gross hematuria, productive cough, intermittent chills, and weight loss. Long standing peripheral eosinophilia of 600-1200/µL triggered further evaluation. A wet mount of stool revealed Strongyloides stercoralis larvae. A computed tomography (CT) of chest showed findings suggestive of extension of the infection to the lungs. The patient was treated with a three-week course of ivermectin with complete resolution of signs, symptoms, peripheral eosinophilia, and the positive IgG serology. Strongyloides infection in renal transplant patient is very rare and often presents with hyperinfection, associated with high mortality rates. The American Transplant Society recommends pretransplant screening with stool examination and Strongyloides stercoralis antibody in recipients and donors from endemic areas or with eosinophilia. It is imperative that healthcare professionals involved in the care of these individuals be cognizant of these recommendations as it is a very preventable and treatable entity.

Cystic Echinococcosis.

Echinococcosis is one of the 17 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) recognized by the World Health Organization. The two major species of medical importance are Echinococcus granulosus and Echinococcus multilocularis. E. granulosus affects over 1 million people and is responsible for over $3 billion in expenses every year. In this minireview, we discuss aspects of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis or cystic hydatid disease caused by E. granulosus.

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections.

Skin and soft tissue infections result from microbial invasion of the skin and its supporting structures. Management is determined by the severity and location of the infection and by patient comorbidities. Infections can be classified as simple (uncomplicated) or complicated (necrotizing or nonnecrotizing), or as suppurative or nonsuppurative. Most community-acquired infections are caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and beta-hemolytic streptococcus. Simple infections are usually monomicrobial and present with localized clinical findings. In contrast, complicated infections can be mono- or polymicrobial and may present with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The diagnosis is based on clinical evaluation. Laboratory testing may be required to confirm an uncertain diagnosis, evaluate for deep infections or sepsis, determine the need for inpatient care, and evaluate and treat comorbidities. Initial antimicrobial choice is empiric, and in simple infections should cover Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species. Patients with complicated infections, including suspected necrotizing fasciitis and gangrene, require empiric polymicrobial antibiotic coverage, inpatient treatment, and surgical consultation for debridement. Superficial and small abscesses respond well to drainage and seldom require antibiotics. Immunocompromised patients require early treatment and antimicrobial coverage for possible atypical organisms.