Dalbavancin for treating prosthetic joint infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria: A proposal for a low dose strategy. A retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Gram-positive bacteria are the leading cause of prosthetic joint infection (PJI). Dalbavancin is a lipoglycopeptide with remarkable pharmacokinetic properties and high bactericidal activity against most Gram-positive bacteria. Although clear evidence regarding its effectiveness in bone and joint infections lacks, recent studies suggest a promising role of dalbavancin in PJI. METHODS: From June 1st 2016 to May 1st 2018, all patients diagnosed of PJI and treated with DAL alone or in combination with other drugs were retrospectively evaluated. Dalbavancin susceptibility of every isolate was studied following CLSI criteria. The primary objective was to assess the clinical efficacy and tolerability of the drug in patients with PJI. A cost-analysis was performed following the DALBUSE study methodology. RESULTS: Sixteen patients were treated with dalbavancin, eight with total hip arthroplasty infection (THAi) and eight with total knee arthroplasty infection (TKAi). Staphylococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. were the microorganisms involved. No major side effects were detected. Infection resolved in 12 patients. In 2 patients the treatment failed, and another patient died due to unrelated causes. One patient is currently being treated for hematogenous-spread knee infection secondary to prosthetic aortic arch endocarditis. After discontinuation of dalbavancin, and excluding patients who died or with clinical failure, the median follow up of the cohort was 503 days (interquartile range IQR, 434.5 to 567 days). We calculate that US$ 264,769 were saved. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that dalbavancin treatment for PJI caused by Gram-positive bacteria is a safe and effective option that reduces hospital stay and costs. Future reports are needed to confirm these findings.

[Variability of HIV-1 viral load in patients cared along 4 years]. / Variabilidad de la carga vírica de VIH-1 en individuos atendidos a lo largo de 4 años.

BASIS: Analysis of the variations of HIV-1 viral load (VL) in a cohort of patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was designed for the calculation and analysis of the differences between two consecutive measurements of VL in a cohort of 1,336 patients along a 48 months follow-up. RESULTS: At the beginning of the follow-up period the highest proportion of patients with decreases of VL (54.2% in their first measurement, at 0-75 days) as well as the least proportion of patients both without changes (30.7%) and with increases of their VL (15.1%), were registered. The proportion of patients with decreases was declining along the study period. More than half of the patients did not experience significant variations in the measurements carried out. CONCLUSIONS: The significant decreases of VL appeared in our series at the beginning of the follow-up period, and a growing proportion of individuals showed elevations of the VL along the period studied.

[Observational study on the efficacy of the application of two classical regimens of triple antiretroviral therapy]. / Estudio de campo sobre la eficacia de la aplicación de dos modalidades clásicas de triple terapia antirretroviral.

BACKGROUND: To compare the temporal evolution of viral load and CD4 parameters in two cohorts of HIV infected patients enrolled in classical triple antiretroviral regimens. METHODS: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study of the proportions of patients reaching undetectable levels of viral load (VL) as well as the time necessary to get it. The two cohorts were as follows: 91 HIV patients on triple therapy with zidovudine plus lamivudine and indinavir (cohort A) versus 80 HIV patients with Stavudine plus Didanosine and Indinavir (cohort B). RESULTS: The evolution of the patients in terms of percentages who reach undetectable VL was similar in the two therapeutic cohorts (75.8%for cohort A vs 73.8% for cohort B) along the duration of the study (four years). However, the mean time period needed to reach undetectable VL was different, 209 days (IC 95% 175-243 days) for patients in zidovudine plus lamivudine and indinavir and 330 days (IC 95% 263-396 days) for stavudine plus didanosine and indinavir regimen. The immunological status observed in the patients when reaching his first undetectable VL was significantly different. The proportion of patients with CD4 cells counts >200/mm3 in cohort A was 83.1% while for patients from cohort B was 65.4% (p=0.032). CONCLUSIONS: This observational study from clinical settings seems demonstrate similar efficacy to reach undetectable VL with both classical triple antiretroviral therapies evaluated but a shorter delay of time to reach that virological situation for zidovudine plus lamivudine and indinavir regimen is reported.

Estudio de campo sobre la eficacia de la aplicación de dos modalidades clásicas de triple terapia antirretroviral / Observational study over the efficacy of the application of two classical regimens of triple antiretroviral therapy

Fundamento: Comparar la evolución temporal de los parámetros de carga viral (CV) y CD4 en dos cohortes de pacientes VIH tratados con dos regímenes clásicos de terapia antirretroviral. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo, observacional, y descriptivo del porcentaje de pacientes que alcanzaron cargas virales no detectables y el tiempo que tardaron en lograrlo. Las cohortes fueron: 91 pacientes tratados con zidovudina, lamivudina e indinavir (cohorte A) versus 80 pacientes tratados con estavudina, didanosina e indinavir (cohorte B).Resultados: La evolución de los pacientes fue similar en cuanto al porcentaje de los mismos que alcanzaron CV "no detectables" (75,8 por ciento en la cohorte A y 73,8 por ciento en la cohorte B) a lo largo del tiempo de seguimiento (cuatro años). El tiempo medio transcurrido hasta alcanzar el referido "éxito" fue diferente, 209 días (IC 95 por ciento: 175-243 días) en el caso del régimen A y 330 días (IC 95 por ciento: 263-396 días) para el régimen B. El estado inmunológico en el momento de su primera CV "no detectable" de los pacientes que recibían Zidovudina, Lamivudina e Indinavir se encontraba significativamente más conservado que en el otro grupo (83,1 frente a 65,4 por ciento para cifras de linfocitos CD4/mm3 superiores a 200, respectivamente; p=0,032).Conclusiones: En nuestro estudio si bien la eficiencia de ambas combinaciones terapéuticas resultó equiparable en cuanto a la similitud del porcentaje de individuos que alcanzaron viremias "no detectables" a lo largo del tiempo de seguimiento, aquéllos tratados con Zidovudina, Lamivudina e Indinavir lo lograron antes (AU)

Background: To compare the temporal evolution of viral load and CD4 parameters in two cohorts of HIV infected patients enrolled in classical triple antiretroviral regimens. Methods: Retrospective, observational, descriptive study of the proportions of patients reaching undetectable levels of viral load (VL) as well as the time necessary to get it. The two cohorts were as follows: 91 HIV patients on triple therapy with zidovudine plus lamivudine and indinavir (cohort A) versus 80 HIV patients with Stavudine plus Didanosine and Indinavir (cohort B). Results: The evolution of the patients in terms of percentages who reach undetectable VL was similar in the two therapeutic cohorts (75.8% for cohort A vs 73.8% for cohort B) along the duration of the study (four years). However, the mean time period needed to reach undetectable VL was different, 209 days (IC 95% 175-243 days) for patients in zidovudine plus lamivudine and indinavir and 330 days (IC 95% 263-396 days) for stavudine plus didanosine and indinavir regimen. The immunological status observed in the patients when reaching his first undetectable VL was significantly different. The proportion of patients with CD4 cells counts >200/mm3 in cohort A was 83.1% while for patients from cohort B was 65.4% (p=0.032). Conclusions: This observational study from clinical settings seems demonstrate similar efficacy to reach undetectable VL with both classical triple antiretroviral therapies evaluated but a shorter delay of time to reach that virological situation for zidovudine plus lamivudine and indinavir regimen is reported (AU)