Novel UL23 and UL30 substitutions in HSV1 and HSV2 viruses related to polymorphism or drug resistance.

Data on herpes simplex virus (HSV) polymorphism as well as acyclovir (ACV) and foscarnet (FOS) resistance mutations are not exhaustive and may hinder accurate diagnosis by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Here, we report novel UL23 and UL30 substitutions for HSV1 and HSV2 identified in immunocompromised patients treated for hematological malignancies during the last 6 years of HSV resistance surveillance at the University Hospital of Lyon. For HSV1, 35 novel UL23 substitutions and 52 novel UL30 substitutions were identified. For HSV2, 2 novel UL23 substitutions and 12 novel UL30 substitutions were identified. These results allow to complete the database of HSV1 and HSV2 substitutions, related either to polymorphism or to ACV and FOS resistance.

What progress has been made in treatment of immunocompromised COVID-19 patients?

While immunocompromised patients are at very high risk of developing severe COVID 19, few of them have been enrolled in studies aimed at evaluating treatments. In the early stages of research on this disease, glucocorticoid therapy became the standard of care for patients requiring oxygen supplementation. It has been demonstrated that the neutralizing monoclonal antibody combination of Casirivimab and Imdevimab reduced (by 28 days) mortality in COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital who were seronegative at baseline, but not in those who were seropositive. There is still a need to determine the place of available various antivirals (Molnupiravir or Nirmatrelvir plus Ritonavir) and passive immunotherapies (Sotrovimab…) as well as convalescent plasma therapy in immunocompromised settings.

Cerebral aspergillosis in the era of new antifungals: The CEREALS national cohort study Nationwide CEREbral Aspergillosis Lesional study (CEREALS).

BACKGROUND: Cerebral aspergillosis (CA) is a life-threatening disease for which diagnosis and management remain challenging. Detailed analyses from large cohorts are lacking. METHODS: We included 119 cases of proven (n = 54) or probable (n = 65) CA diagnosed between 2006 and 2018 at 20 French hospitals. Data were collected at baseline and during follow-up. Cerebral imaging was reviewed centrally by two neuroradiologists. RESULTS: The most frequent underlying conditions were hematological malignancy (40%) and solid organ transplantation (29%). Galactomannan was detected in the serum of 64% of patients. In 75% of cases, at least one of galactomannan, Aspergillus PCR, and ß-d-glucan was positive in the cerebrospinal fluid. Six-week mortality was 45%. Two distinct patterns of disease were identified according to presumed route of dissemination. Presumed haematogenous dissemination (n = 88) was associated with a higher frequency of impaired consciousness (64%), shorter time to diagnosis, the presence of multiple abscesses (70%), microangiopathy (52%), detection of serum galactomannan (69%) and Aspergillus PCR (68%), and higher six-week mortality (54%). By contrast, contiguous dissemination from the paranasal sinuses (n = 31) was associated with a higher frequency of cranial nerve palsy (65%), evidence of meningitis on cerebral imaging (83%), macrovascular lesions (61%), delayed diagnosis, and lower six-week mortality (30%). In multivariate analysis and in a risk prediction model, haematogenous dissemination, hematological malignancy and the detection of serum galactomannan were associated with higher six-week mortality. CONCLUSION: Distinguishing between hematogenous and contiguous dissemination patterns appears to be critical in the workup for CA, as they are associated with significant differences in clinical presentation and outcome.

[Functional immunoassays in the setting of infectious risk and immunosuppressive therapy of non-HIV immunocompromised patients]. / Place des tests immunitaires fonctionnels dans la prise en charge du risque infectieux et de la gestion des thérapies immunosuppressives chez les patients immunodéprimés non-VIH.

The holistic approach of the human immune system is based on the study of its components collectively driving a functional response to an immunogenic stimulus. To appreciate a specific immune dysfunction, a condition is mimicked ex vivo and the immune response induced is assessed. The application field of such assays are broad and expanding, from the diagnosis of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies, immunotherapy for cancer to the management of patients at-risk for infections and vaccination. These assays are immune monitoring tools that may contribute to a personalised and precision medicine. The purpose of this review is to describe immune functional assays available in the setting of non-HIV acquired immune deficiency. First, we will address the use of theses assays in the diagnosis of opportunistic infections such as viral reactivation. Secondly, we will report the usefulness of these assays to assess vaccine efficacy and to manage immunosuppressive therapies.

Cerebral empyema and abscesses due to Cutibacterium acnes.

INTRODUCTION: Cutibacterium acnes is a commensal bacterium of the skin, frequently reported in prosthetic shoulder or spinal implant infections, but rarely in cranial and intracranial infections. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients with intracranial samples positive to Cutibacterium acnes managed in the neurosurgical units of our hospital of Lyon, France, between 2008-2016. RESULTS: We included 29 patients, of whom 23 had empyema (with or without abscess), 17 had cranial osteomyelitis, and six only had abscess. Prior neurosurgery was reported in 28 patients, and the remaining patient had four spontaneous abscesses. Twelve patients had polymicrobial infections, including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus in 11 cases. The clinical diagnosis was difficult because of indolent and delayed symptoms: a CT scan or MRI was required. Thirteen patients (52%) had material at the infection site. All patients with bone flap implant or bones from biological banks had a bone flap-associated infection. Drainage was surgically performed in 25 cases or by CT scan-guided aspiration in four cases. All patients received an adapted antibiotic therapy (from three weeks to six months). The outcome was favorable in 28 patients. Three patients relapsed during the antibiotic therapy, requiring further surgery. CONCLUSION: Cutibacterium acnes can be responsible for postoperative empyema and cerebral abscesses, with particular indolent forms, which make their diagnosis difficult. They are often polymicrobial and associated with bone flap osteomyelitis. Their outcome is favorable after drainage and adapted antibiotic therapy.

A practical approach to tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in liver transplant recipients in a low-prevalence area.

Solid organ transplant candidates/recipients are at risk of mycobacterial infections. Although guidelines on the management of latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis are available for solid organ transplant recipients, limited guidance focuses on end-stage liver disease or liver transplant recipients who require management in a referral center. Therapeutic challenges arise from direct antituberculosis drug-related hepatotoxicity, and substantial metabolic interactions between immunosuppressive and antituberculosis drugs. Another issue is the optimal timing of therapy with regards to the time of transplantation. This review focuses on the importance of tuberculosis screening with immunological tests, challenges in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis, as well as risk assessment for active tuberculosis in the critical peri-liver transplantation period. We detail therapeutic adjustments required for the management of antituberculosis drugs in latent tuberculosis infection and active tuberculosis, particularly when concomitantly using rifampicin and immunosuppressive drugs.

Diagnosis and management of Aspergillus diseases: executive summary of the 2017 ESCMID-ECMM-ERS guideline.

The European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, the European Confederation of Medical Mycology and the European Respiratory Society Joint Clinical Guidelines focus on diagnosis and management of aspergillosis. Of the numerous recommendations, a few are summarized here. Chest computed tomography as well as bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in patients with suspicion of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis (IA) are strongly recommended. For diagnosis, direct microscopy, preferably using optical brighteners, histopathology and culture are strongly recommended. Serum and BAL galactomannan measures are recommended as markers for the diagnosis of IA. PCR should be considered in conjunction with other diagnostic tests. Pathogen identification to species complex level is strongly recommended for all clinically relevant Aspergillus isolates; antifungal susceptibility testing should be performed in patients with invasive disease in regions with resistance found in contemporary surveillance programmes. Isavuconazole and voriconazole are the preferred agents for first-line treatment of pulmonary IA, whereas liposomal amphotericin B is moderately supported. Combinations of antifungals as primary treatment options are not recommended. Therapeutic drug monitoring is strongly recommended for patients receiving posaconazole suspension or any form of voriconazole for IA treatment, and in refractory disease, where a personalized approach considering reversal of predisposing factors, switching drug class and surgical intervention is also strongly recommended. Primary prophylaxis with posaconazole is strongly recommended in patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia or myelodysplastic syndrome receiving induction chemotherapy. Secondary prophylaxis is strongly recommended in high-risk patients. We strongly recommend treatment duration based on clinical improvement, degree of immunosuppression and response on imaging.

Chronic disseminated candidiasis and acute leukemia: Impact on survival and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation agenda.

OBJECTIVES: To study the management of chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) in patients presenting with acute leukemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Single-center retrospective study of acute leukemia patients (2006-2015) to investigate three aspects of CDC: its impact on the time interval between diagnosis and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, when required (non-parametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test); its impact on overall survival (Cox proportional hazard regression model); antifungal therapeutic strategies implemented. RESULTS: A total of 639 patients presenting with acute leukemia were included; 144 were transplanted and 29 developed CDC. CDC did not significantly increase the time interval between diagnosis and transplantation, nor did it impact the overall survival of recipients. An improved overall survival was observed in non-transplanted acute leukemia patients presenting with CDC. CONCLUSION: CDC should not postpone transplantation if antifungal treatment is optimized.

Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy: Evaluation of practices and limits of use in rural areas in France.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) practices in a French rural area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive study assessing knowledge, practices, and limitations of OPAT use among hospital practitioners (HP), family physicians (FP), and private nurses (PN). RESULTS: OPAT (mainly ceftriaxone and penicillins) was used by 69.6%, 73.3%, and 97.7% of the 23 HPs, 45 FPs, and 46 PNs mostly for respiratory or urinary tract infections, bacteremia, and/or multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Overall, 65.2% of HPs and 37.8% of FPs were in contact with an infectious disease specialist. Knowledge of OPAT benefits and risks was lower for FPs than HPs. The main obstacles were the patient's geographic isolation (HPs), the availability of a venous catheter, the lack of training (FPs), and the expected OPAT-associated overwork (PNs). CONCLUSION: OPAT practice is weak in rural areas. Declared obstacles constitute fields of improvement for its essential expansion.

A matched case-control study of toxoplasmosis after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: still a devastating complication.

Toxoplasmosis (TXP) is a life-threatening complication of allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Little is known about the risk factors and there is no consensus on prophylactic measures. To investigate the risk factors, we conducted a single-centre, retrospective matched case-control study among adults who underwent AHSCT from January 2006 to March 2015 in our hospital. TXP cases were identified from the prospectively maintained hospital's database. The 1:2 control population consisted of the two patients who received an AHSCT immediately before and after each case with similar donor relationship (related, unrelated) but who did not develop TXP. Risk factors were identified by conditional logistic regression. Clinical features and outcome of TXP were examined. Twenty-three (3.9%) cases of TXP (20 diseases, three infections) were identified among 588 AHSCT recipients. Twenty (87%) cases had a positive pre-transplant Toxoplasma gondii serology. In comparison with 46 matched control patients, risk factors were the absence of effective anti-Toxoplasma prophylaxis (odds ratio (OR) 11.95; 95% CI 3.04-46.88; p <0.001), high-grade (III-IV) acute graft-versus-host-disease (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.04-9.23; p 0.042) and receipt of the tumour necrosis factor-α blocker etanercept (OR 12.02; 95% CI 1.33-108.6; p 0.027). Mortality attributable to TXP was 43.5% (n = 10). Non-relapse mortality rates during the study period of cases and controls were 69.6% (n = 16) and 17.4% (n = 8), respectively. Lung involvement was the dominant clinical feature (n = 14). Two cases were associated with graft failure, one preceded by haemophagocytic syndrome. Given TXP-related morbidity and attributable mortality, anti-Toxoplasma prophylaxis is essential for optimized management of seropositive AHSCT recipients.

Actinomycosis after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation despite penicillin prophylaxis.

Actinomycosis is a rare chronic and multifaceted disease caused by Actinomyces species frequently mimicking malignancy or other chronic granulomatous lung diseases. We report 4 original presentations of actinomycosis arising under supposed penicillin prophylaxis in allogeneic stem cell transplantation recipients.

[Children exposed to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis: How should we manage? Analysis of 46 child contacts and review of the literature]. / Enfants au contact d'individus atteints d'une tuberculose multi-résistante : quelles stratégies adopter ? Analyse de 46 enfants contacts et revue de la littérature.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis-related morbidity and mortality remain important. Emergence and diffusion of multidrug-resistance tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a global public health concern. Cases of MDR-TB in children are a sentinel event indicating the spread of a mycobacterial strain within a community. Latent TB precedes MDR-TB and screening and follow-up of contact individuals are key points of TB infection control. METHODS: We performed the case-investigation of 20 adult cases of MDR-TB managed in our institution. RESULTS: Forty-six pediatric contact individuals were identified. A high proportion of these children were lost to follow-up (80% at 12 months), showing that monitoring this reservoir population with migrant history is challenging. Five (11%) children presented a secondary infection: one child was diagnosed with active TB infection (positive tuberculin skin test associated with abnormalities on chest computer tomography [CT] scan). Four children were diagnosed with latent TB infection (isolated positive tuberculin skin test with normal CT scan). Two of these children received a treatment adjusted to the strain of the index case. DISCUSSION: In the setting of emerging MDR-TB, tuberculin skin test may be likely replaced by specific interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA), independent of prior BCG vaccination. In addition, chest CT scan is preferred to chest X-ray to detect TB lesions. The management of latent TB infection is controversial: immediate treatment with second-line anti-TB drugs adapted to the index case strain or, consistently with WHO guidelines, a simple follow-up with subsequent treatment in case of active TB.

Combined medico-surgical strategy for invasive sino-orbito-cerebral breakthrough fungal infection with Hormographiella aspergillata in an acute leukaemia patient.

Hormographiella aspergillata is a rare causative agent of invasive filamentous breakthrough infection, mostly arising after echinocandin exposure. We report a neutropenic patient who developed a severe sino-orbito-cerebral H. aspergillata infection while receiving empirical caspofungin, successfully controlled by an aggressive strategy associating surgical debridement and combined high-dose regimen of antifungal drugs.

Management of emerging multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in a low-prevalence setting.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) is an emerging concern in communities with a low TB prevalence and a high standard of public health. Twenty-three consecutive adult MDR TB patients who were treated at our institution between 2007 and 2013 were reviewed for demographic characteristics and anti-TB treatment management, which included surgical procedures and long-term patient follow-up. This report of our experience emphasizes the need for an individualized approach as MDR TB brings mycobacterial disease management to a higher level of expertise, and for a balance to be found between international current guidelines and patient-tailored treatment strategies.

High burden of BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

BK virus (BKV) reactivation has been increasingly associated with the occurrence of late-onset hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) after allogeneic hematopoietic SCT (allo-HSCT) resulting in morbidity and sometimes mortality. We investigated the incidence, risk factors and outcome of BKV-HC in 323 consecutive adult patients undergoing allo-HSCT over a 5-year period. BK viremia values for HC staging were evaluated, as well as the medico-economic impact of the complication. Forty-three patients developed BKV-HC. In univariate analysis, young age (P=0.028), unrelated donor (P=0.0178), stem cell source (P=0.0001), HLA mismatching (P=0.0022) and BU in conditioning regimen (P=0.01) were associated with a higher risk of developing BKV-HC. In multivariate analysis, patients receiving cord blood units (CBUs) (P=0.0005) and peripheral blood stem cells (P=0.011) represented high-risk subgroups for developing BKV-HC. BK viremia was directly correlated to HC severity (P=0.011) with a 3 to 6-log peak being likely associated with grades 3 or 4 HC. No correlation was found between BKV-HC and acute graft versus host disease or mortality rate. Patients with BKV-HC required a significantly longer duration of hospitalization (P<0.0001), more RBC (P=0.0003) and platelet transfusions (P<0.0001). Over the 5-year study period, the financial cost of the complication was evaluated at \[euro]2 376 076 ($3 088 899). Strategies to prevent the occurrence of late-onset BKV-HC after allo-HSCT are urgently needed, especially in CBU and peripheral blood stem cell recipients. BK viremia correlates with the severity of the disease. Prospective studies are required to test prophylactic approaches.