HIV/AIDS-Pneumonia Codynamics Model Analysis with Vaccination and Treatment.

In this paper, we proposed and analyzed a realistic compartmental mathematical model on the spread and control of HIV/AIDS-pneumonia coepidemic incorporating pneumonia vaccination and treatment for both infections at each infection stage in a population. The model exhibits six equilibriums: HIV/AIDS only disease-free, pneumonia only disease-free, HIV/AIDS-pneumonia coepidemic disease-free, HIV/AIDS only endemic, pneumonia only endemic, and HIV/AIDS-pneumonia coepidemic endemic equilibriums. The HIV/AIDS only submodel has a globally asymptotically stable disease-free equilibrium if ℛ 1 < 1. Using center manifold theory, we have verified that both the pneumonia only submodel and the HIV/AIDS-pneumonia coepidemic model undergo backward bifurcations whenever ℛ 2 < 1 and ℛ 3 = max{ℛ 1, ℛ 2} < 1, respectively. Thus, for pneumonia infection and HIV/AIDS-pneumonia coinfection, the requirement of the basic reproduction numbers to be less than one, even though necessary, may not be sufficient to completely eliminate the disease. Our sensitivity analysis results demonstrate that the pneumonia disease transmission rate ß 2 and the HIV/AIDS transmission rate ß 1 play an important role to change the qualitative dynamics of HIV/AIDS and pneumonia coinfection. The pneumonia infection transmission rate ß 2 gives rises to the possibility of backward bifurcation for HIV/AIDS and pneumonia coinfection if ℛ 3 = max{ℛ 1, ℛ 2} < 1, and hence, the existence of multiple endemic equilibria some of which are stable and others are unstable. Using standard data from different literatures, our results show that the complete HIV/AIDS and pneumonia coinfection model reproduction number is ℛ 3 = max{ℛ 1, ℛ 2} = max{1.386, 9.69 } = 9.69 at ß 1 = 2 and ß 2 = 0.2 which shows that the disease spreads throughout the community. Finally, our numerical simulations show that pneumonia vaccination and treatment against disease have the effect of decreasing pneumonia and coepidemic disease expansion and reducing the progression rate of HIV infection to the AIDS stage.

HIV prevalence and TB in migrant miners communities of origin in Gaza Province, Mozambique: The need for increasing awareness and knowledge.

BACKGROUND: As part of ongoing efforts to generate evidence needed on HIV and tuberculosis (TB) to inform policies and programs aimed to improve the health outcomes of migrants and communities affected by migration and mining, a preliminary investigation was conducted through a biological and behavioral (BBS) approach related to HIV and TB in two communities of origin of migrant mineworkers in Gaza Province. The main objective was to determine the prevalence of HIV and the rates of asymptomatic infection by TB, and the social and behavioral risk factors associated. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May to June 2017 using a simple random sampling methodology. Eligible participants were individuals who were living in the community at the time the survey was conducted, which included adult mine workers and members of their families aged 18 and above. A socio-behavioral questionnaire was administered, blood specimens were collected for HIV testing (Determine/Unigold) and sputum for TB (GeneXpert MTB/RIF) was collected. The statistical analysis was performed using the R studio software to produce means, proportion and odds ratio at 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: A total of 1012 participants were enrolled, 75.2% were females, with a median age of 34. The overall prevalence of HIV found in the two communities was 24.2% (CI: 21.6-27.0) and was higher in the rural community (31.6%; 95% CI: 27.0-35.3). The prevalence of active TB was found to be 0.3% (n = 3) while 7.5% of the participants self-reported to have been previously diagnosed with TB at some point in their life. Only 2.8% of participants had knowledge of the basic principles of TB transmission. Condom use at last sexual intercourse with a regular partner was low among both sexes (17.3% male and 12.6% female). A considerable proportion of participants had not been aware of their HIV positive serostatus(31.1% female and 25.0% male). About 1/3 of the participants had had a history of STIs. CONCLUSION: The results of this survey confirm a high prevalence of HIV in communities of origin of migrant miners in Gaza province. Findings also demonstrated low levels of awareness/ knowledge and prevention of TB and HIV. It is important to strengthen strategies that encourage regular HIV testing and TB screening. Appropriate communication interventions on methods of transmission and prevention of HIV and TB in these communities must be intensified, as well as ensuring ongoing linkage to TB and HIV social and healthcare services.

Directriz para reducir el riesgo de transmisión de mycobacterium abscessus durante la práctica clínica odontológica / Guideline to reduce the risk of transmission of mycobacterium abscessusin clinical dental practice

Las medidas de bioseguridad están predestinadas a reducir el riesgo de transmisión de microorganismos a partir de fuentes de infección reconocidas o no reconocidas en clínicas dentales vinculadas con lacontaminación de los materiales, aparatos y/o instrumentos. Un microorganismo reemergente es el Mycobacterium abscessus, que es unabacteria ambiental que puede ocasionar problemas de salud muy serios, por lo que debe ser controlada y prevenida su transmisión.

Biosafety measures are designed to reduce the risk of transmission ofmicroorganisms from recognized or unrecognized sources of infectionin dental procedures associated with the contamination of materials,apparatus, and/or instruments. One reemerging microorganism isMycobacterium abscessus, which is an environmental bacterium thatcan cause serious health problems and therefore needs to be controlledand prevented.

Transmission of Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: Drug-resistant tuberculosis threatens recent gains in the treatment of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection worldwide. A widespread epidemic of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculosis is occurring in South Africa, where cases have increased substantially since 2002. The factors driving this rapid increase have not been fully elucidated, but such knowledge is needed to guide public health interventions. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study involving 404 participants in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, with a diagnosis of XDR tuberculosis between 2011 and 2014. Interviews and medical-record reviews were used to elicit information on the participants' history of tuberculosis and HIV infection, hospitalizations, and social networks. Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates underwent insertion sequence (IS)6110 restriction-fragment-length polymorphism analysis, targeted gene sequencing, and whole-genome sequencing. We used clinical and genotypic case definitions to calculate the proportion of cases of XDR tuberculosis that were due to inadequate treatment of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (i.e., acquired resistance) versus those that were due to transmission (i.e., transmitted resistance). We used social-network analysis to identify community and hospital locations of transmission. RESULTS: Of the 404 participants, 311 (77%) had HIV infection; the median CD4+ count was 340 cells per cubic millimeter (interquartile range, 117 to 431). A total of 280 participants (69%) had never received treatment for MDR tuberculosis. Genotypic analysis in 386 participants revealed that 323 (84%) belonged to 1 of 31 clusters. Clusters ranged from 2 to 14 participants, except for 1 large cluster of 212 participants (55%) with a LAM4/KZN strain. Person-to-person or hospital-based epidemiologic links were identified in 123 of 404 participants (30%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of cases of XDR tuberculosis in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, an area with a high tuberculosis burden, were probably due to transmission rather than to inadequate treatment of MDR tuberculosis. These data suggest that control of the epidemic of drug-resistant tuberculosis requires an increased focus on interrupting transmission. (Funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and others.).

[The treatment of tuberculosis]. / Die Behandlung der Tuberkulose.

The incidence of tuberculosis decreases. However, clinical cases frequently raise questions, mainly in the context of contact tracing or when antimicrobial resistance is suspected. Empiric standard treatment consists of rifampin, isoniazid, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. This initial regimen aims to reduce the number of pathogenic germs while the consolidation therapy should eradicate the remaining pathogens. Treatment duration and adherence are crucial for cure. For the treatment of latent tuberculosis the traditional 6 to 9 months isoniazid regimen is still the treatment of choice. In complex cases such as tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients or if resistant tuberculosis is suspected, patients should be referred to a specialized center.

Recent Outbreaks of Meningococcal Disease among Men Who Have Sex with Men.

Meningococcal disease outbreaks recently have occurred in several U.S. cities among men who are HIV-infected and who have had sex with other men. This article describes the first similar case of meningococcal meningitis serogroup C in Minnesota, which was confirmed this summer. It also offers vaccination guidance for physicians who care for patients who may be at high risk for the disease.

Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in adults, including pregnant women, with HIV: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis is used to reduce morbidity and mortality in people with HIV. We systematically reviewed three topics related to co-trimoxazole prophylaxis to update WHO guidelines: initiation, discontinuation, and dose. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, WHO Global Index Medicus, and clinical trial registries in November, 2013, for randomised controlled trials and observational studies including co-trimoxazole prophylaxis and a comparator group. Studies were eligible if they reported death, WHO clinical stage 3 or 4 events, admittance to hospital, severe bacterial infections, tuberculosis, pneumonia, diarrhoea, malaria, or treatment-limiting adverse events. Infant mortality, low birthweight, and placental malaria were additional outcomes for the comparison of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis and intermittent preventive treatment for malaria in pregnant women (IPTp). We compared a dose of 480 mg co-trimoxazole once a day with one of 960 mg co-trimoxazole once a day. We used a 10% margin for non-inferiority and equivalence analyses. We used random-effects models for all meta-analyses. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42014007163. FINDINGS: 19 articles, published from 1995 to 2014 and including 35 328 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis reduced rates of death (hazard ratio [HR] 0·40, 95% CI 0·26-0·64) when started at CD4 counts of 350 cells per µL or lower with antiretroviral therapy (ART) worldwide. Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis started at higher than 350 cells per µL without ART reduced rates of death (0·50, 0·30-0·83) and malaria (0·25, 0·10-0·57) in Africa. Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis was non-inferior to IPTp with respect to infant mortality (risk difference [RD] -0·05, 95% CI -0·12 to 0·02), low birthweight (0·00, -0·07 to 0·07), and placental malaria (0·00, -0·10 to 0·10). Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis continuation after ART-induced recovery with CD4 counts higher than 350 cells per µL reduced admittances to hospital (HR 0·42, 95% CI 0·22-0·80), pneumonia (0·73, 0·61-0·88), malaria (0·03, 0·01-0·10), and diarrhoea (0·61, 0·48-0·78) in Africa. A dose of 480 mg co-trimoxazole prophylaxis once a day did not reduce treatment-limiting adverse events compared with 960 mg once a day (RD -0·07, 95% CI -0·52 to 0·39). INTERPRETATION: Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis should be given with ART in people with CD4 counts of 350 cells per µL or lower in low-income and middle-income countries. Co-trimoxazole prophylaxis should be provided irrespective of CD4 count in settings with a high burden of infectious diseases. Pregnant women with HIV in Africa should use co-trimoxazole rather than IPTp to prevent malaria complications in infants. Further research is needed to inform dose optimisation and co-trimoxazole use in the context of expanded ART in different epidemiological settings. FUNDING: None.

Mortality in children and adolescents vertically infected by HIV receiving care at a referral hospital in Vitoria, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Daily throughout 2011, about 900 new HIV infections occurred in children and 630 children died as a result of AIDS-related complications worldwide. Late diagnosis, mortality trends, causes of and risk factors for death were evaluated in vertically HIV-infected children. METHODS: A retrospective 11-year study was conducted with Brazilian vertically HIV-infected children and adolescents using patients' charts. Medical records, death certificates and the Ministry of Health's mortality database were verified for mortality and cause of death. Diagnoses were made according to the CDC Revised Classification System for HIV infection. RESULTS: Of 177 patients included, 97 were female (54.8%). Median age at admission was 30 months (IQR: 5-72 months). Median follow-up was 5 years (IQR: 2-8 years). After 11 years, 132 (74,6%) patients continued in follow-up, 11 (6.2%) had been transferred and 8 (4.5%) were lost to follow-up. Twenty-six deaths occurred (14,7%), the majority (16/26; 61.5%) in children<3 years of age. Death cases decreased over time and the distribution of deaths was homogenous over the years of evaluation. In 17/26 (65.4%) of the children who died, diagnosis had been made as the result of their becoming ill. Beginning antiretroviral therapy before 6 months of age was associated with being alive (OR=2.86; 95% CI: 1.12-7.25; p=0.027). The principal causes of death were severe bacterial infections (57%) and opportunistic infections (33.3%). CONCLUSIONS: In most of the HIV-infected children, diagnosis was late, increasing the risk of progression to AIDS and death due to delayed treatment. The mortality trend was constant, decreasing in the final two years of the study. Bacterial infections remain as the major cause of death. Improvements in prenatal care and pediatric monitoring are mandatory.

Shigella flexneri serotype 1 infections in men who have sex with men in Vancouver, Canada.

OBJECTIVES: Outbreaks of shigellosis have been documented in men who have sex with men (MSM), associated with interpersonal transmission and underlying HIV infection. We observed a rise in Shigella flexneri isolates identified in a downtown tertiary-care hospital laboratory located within the city centre community health area (CHA-1) of Vancouver, Canada. The objectives of this study were to evaluate clinical outcomes of shigellosis cases among MSM admitted to hospital and to evaluate trends in Shigella cases within Vancouver, Canada. METHODS: Adult rates of shigellosis were analysed by gender and health region, from 2005 to 2011, followed by retrospective chart review of all hospital laboratory-identified S. flexneri cases from 2008 to 2012. Serotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed on these isolates. RESULTS: Although shigellosis rates in men within CHA-1 did not change from 2005 to 2011 (range 33.4-68.5 per 100 000; P = 0.74), they were significantly higher than in other regions within the city of Vancouver (P ≤ 0.001) and the province of British Columbia (P ≤ 0.001). Shigella flexneri rates in men within CHA-1 increased significantly (range 2.3-51.4 per 100 000; P < 0.001), starting in 2008, and were higher than in other regions within Vancouver (P ≤ 0.01). Seventy-nine isolates of S. flexneri from 72 patients were identified by a single hospital laboratory. All patients were male and predominantly MSM (91.7%) and HIV-infected (86.1%), with most (92.6%) demonstrating CD4 counts ≥ 200 cells/µL. In total, 38.0% required hospitalization. Most (87.3%) had S. flexneri serotype 1 infection, with 72.9% of these representing a single PFGE pattern. CONCLUSIONS: We identified high levels of transmission of a primarily clonal strain of S. flexneri serotype 1 in our local MSM population, resulting in a substantial burden of illness and health care resource use secondary to hospital admissions.

Congenital and postnatal CMV and EBV acquisition in HIV-infected Zimbabwean infants.

BACKGROUND: HIV-infected infants in sub-Saharan Africa have rapid disease progression. We hypothesized that co-infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) or Epstein Barr virus (EBV) increases mortality in HIV-infected infants. METHODS: 257 antiretroviral therapy-naïve HIV-infected Zimbabwean infants were tested for CMV and EBV at 6 weeks of age by real-time PCR; if positive, birth samples were retrieved where available to distinguish congenital and postnatal infection. The impact of co-infection on mortality through 6 months was estimated using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods. RESULTS: At 6 weeks, 203/257 (79%) HIV-infected infants were CMV-positive; 27 (11%) had congenital CMV, 108 (42%) postnatal CMV and 68 (26%) indeterminate timing of infection. By 6 months, 37/108 (34%) infants with postnatal CMV versus 16/54 (30%) CMV-negative infants died (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.1 [95%CI 0.6, 2.2]). At 6 weeks, 33/257 (13%) HIV-infected infants had EBV co-infection; 6 (2%) had congenital EBV, 18 (7%) postnatal EBV and 9 (4%) indeterminate timing of infection. By 6 months, 5/18 (28%) infants with postnatal EBV versus 72/224 (32%) EBV-negative infants died (aHR 0.8 [95%CI 0.3, 2.3]). CONCLUSIONS: The vast majority of HIV-infants had acquired CMV by 6 weeks, and EBV co-infection occurred earlier than expected, with one in eight HIV-infected infants positive for EBV by 6 weeks. There was a high prevalence of congenital CMV infection and we identified 6 infants with congenital EBV infection, which has not previously been reported in Africa or in the context of HIV infection. Neither CMV nor EBV co-infection was associated with increased mortality.

Optimizing the protection of research participants and personnel in HIV-related research where TB is prevalent: practical solutions for improving infection control.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death among persons with HIV globally. HIV-related research in TB endemic areas raises some unique and important ethical issues in infection control related to protecting both research participants and personnel. To address such concerns, this article provides practical guidance to help research teams develop strategies to prevent TB transmission in studies involving persons with HIV in TB endemic settings.

Spectrums of opportunistic infections and malignancies in HIV-infected patients in tertiary care hospital, China.

BACKGROUND: HIV-related opportunistic infections (OIs) and malignancies continued to cause morbidity and mortality in Chinese HIV-infected individuals. The objective for this study is to elucidate the prevalence and spectrums of OIs and malignancies in HIV-infected patients in the Beijing Ditan Hospital. METHODS: The evaluation of the prevalence and spectrums of OIs and malignancies was conducted by using the clinical data of 834 HIV-infected patients admitted in the Beijing Ditan hospital from January 1, 2009, to November 30, 2012. RESULTS: The prevalence and spectrums of OIs and malignancies varied contingent on geographic region, transmission routes, and CD4 levels. We found that tuberculosis was most common OI and prevalence was 32.5%, followed by candidiasis(29.3%), Pneumocystis pneumonia(PCP)(22.4%), cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection(21.7%), other fungal infections(16.2%), mycobacterium avium complex(MAC)(11.3%), cryptococcosis(8.0%), progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy(PML)(4.4%), Cerebral Toxoplasmosis(3.5%) and Penicillium marneffei infection(1.4%); while Lymphoma(2.9%), Kaposi's sarcoma(0.8%) and cervix carcinoma(0.3%) were emerged as common AIDS-defining malignancies. Pulmonary OI infections were the most prevalent morbidity and mortality in patients in the AIDS stage including pulmonary tuberculosis (26.6%) and PCP (22.4%). CMV infection(21.7%) was most common viral infection; Fungal OIs were one of most prevalent morbidity in patients in the AIDS stage, including oral candidiasis (29.3%), other fungal infection (16.2%), Cryptococcosis (8.0%) and Penicillium marneffei infection (1.4%). We found the low prevalence of AIDS-defining illnesses in central neural system in this study, including progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (4.4%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (3.5%), tuberculosis meningitis (3.2%), cryptococcal meningitis (2.4%) and CMV encephalitis (1.1%). In-hospital mortality rate was 4.3 per 100 person-years due to severe OIs, malignancies, and medical cost constraints. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and spectrums of OIs, malignancies and co-infections were discussed in this study. It would help increase the awareness for physicians to make a diagnosis and empirical treatment sooner and plan good management strategies, especially in resource limited regions.

[If it's not only itching or burning: management of sexually transmitted infections (part 1)]. / Wenn's nicht nur juckt oder brennt: klinik und behandlung sexuell übertragbarer erkrankungen (teil 1).

Current clinical aspects of genital ulcer diseases, urethritis and genital warts are reviewed. In the first part we focus on the commonest sexually transmitted pathogens associated with urethritis, including Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoea; and we provide an overview about human papilloma virus related genital infections. Diagnostic and treatment approaches are based on the most recent internationally published guidelines and should help practitioners managing their patients, preventing irreversible complications and further transmission.

Au vu leur nombre croissant les maladies sexuellement transmissibles sont revues dans ce travail. Les brûlures à la miction et les démangeaisons génitales ne sont pas les seuls troubles qui doivent faire effectuer un examen pour une maladie vénérienne. Dans la première partie l'accent est sur l'urétrite et les verrues génitales, la description des principaux pathogènes en fonction de leurs caractéristiques, leurs manifestations cliniques et leurs diagnostics différentiels. Le deuxième partie s'occupe de l'ulcère génital comprenant l'herpès simplex virus, la syphilis et le lymphogranulome vénérien. Le diagnostic d'une maladie vénérienne demande un test de l'HIV. En plus, il est essentiel de traiter le partenaire pour prévenir des recontaminations. Le diagnostic et la prise en charge thérapeutique se basent sur les dernières directives.

Oral human papillomavirus infection and head and neck cancers in HIV-infected individuals.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: HIV-infected individuals are living longer due to effective antiretroviral therapy and may therefore have a greater opportunity to develop human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated malignancies. This review describes the risk factors and burden of oral HPV infection and HPV-associated head and neck cancer (HNC) among HIV-infected individuals. RECENT FINDINGS: Oral HPV infection is commonly detected in HIV-infected individuals and is elevated among those with a higher number of lifetime oral sexual partners, current tobacco use and immunosuppression. There are limited data on the natural history of oral HPV, but initial studies suggest that the majority of infections clear within 2 years. Although HIV-infected individuals are at a much higher risk of most HPV-associated cancers than the general population, studies suggest HIV-infected individuals have a more modest 1.5-4-fold greater risk for HPV-associated HNC. SUMMARY: HIV-infected individuals are living longer, have a high prevalence of oral HPV infection and have many of the currently determined risk factors for HPV-associated HNC.

[Current aspects of Chlamydia trachomatis infection]. / Actualités sur l'infection à Chlamydia trachomatis.

The number of detection and diagnosis of urogenital infections with Chlamydia trachomatis is increasing among both men and women. Three-quarters involve young people between 15 and 24 years. Infection, often asymptomatic, is more common in women. It is necessary to identify it to avoid complications.The number of rectal lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) is also growing. The affected patients are homo/bisexuel men frequently co-infected with HIV. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are the tests of choice to the diagnosis of C. trachomatis infection regardless of the clinical situation. Most of tests simultaneously detect C. trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The recommended treatment regimens for a non-complicated infection to C. trachomatis is azithromycin 1g orally in a single dose or doxycyline 100 mg orally twice a day for 7 days. Doxycyclin for 21 days remains the treatment of choice for LGV. Patients should be instructed to refer their sex partners for treatment.