Single-center experience with use of letermovir for CMV prophylaxis or treatment in thoracic organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common in thoracic organ transplant recipients. Valganciclovir and ganciclovir are used for both prophylaxis and treatment of this infection, but intolerance and treatment failure are common. Letermovir has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of CMV infection when used for prophylaxis in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. However, there are no data on its efficacy in thoracic organ transplantation. METHODS: We examined the use of letermovir for either CMV prophylaxis (primary and secondary) or treatment in heart and lung transplant recipients at our institution from February 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018. RESULTS: Nine total patients received letermovir at our institution (8 lung transplant, 1 heart transplant) during the study period. Letermovir was prescribed for CMV prophylaxis in eight patients (primary prophylaxis in two patients and secondary prophylaxis in 6 patients), and for treatment of CMV DNAemia in two cases. One patient received letermovir for both secondary prophylaxis and treatment on separate occasions. Three out of 8 (37.5%) patients receiving letermovir for prophylaxis developed CMV DNAemia during prophylaxis. One patient treated for CMV disease had clinical failure with a sharp rise in serum CMV DNA PCR. The other patient treated for low-grade CMV DNAemia initially had a slight rise in CMV DNA PCR, but has since had a sustained response. No major side effects were experienced, and 2 patients reported minor side effects. CONCLUSION: Letermovir was well tolerated with only minor side effects reported; however, the rate of development of CMV DNAemia on prophylaxis was considerable. Further study of the dosing and efficacy of letermovir for CMV prophylaxis or treatment in thoracic organ transplant recipients is warranted.

The Impact of Short-Chain Fatty Acids on Neonatal Regulatory T Cells.

Over the first weeks of life, the neonatal gastrointestinal tract is rapidly colonised by a diverse range of microbial species that come to form the 'gut microbiota'. Microbial colonisation of the neonatal gut is a well-established regulator of several physiological processes that contribute to immunological protection in postnatal life, including the development of the intestinal mucosa and adaptive immunity. However, the specific microbiota-derived signals that mediate these processes have not yet been fully characterised. Accumulating evidence suggests short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), end-products of intestinal bacterial metabolism, as one of the key mediators of immune development in early life. Critical to neonatal health is the development of regulatory T (Treg) cells that promote and maintain immunological tolerance against self and innocuous antigens. Several studies have shown that SCFAs can induce the differentiation and expansion of Tregs but also mediate pathological effects in abnormal amounts. However, the exact mechanisms through which SCFAs regulate Treg development and pathologies in early life remain poorly defined. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge surrounding SCFAs and their potential impact on the neonatal immune system with a particular focus on Tregs, and the possible mechanisms through which SCFAs achieve their immune modulatory effect.

2015 Beers criteria medication review in assisted living facilities.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The elderly population is expected to double by 2050 with falls and hospitalizations due to adverse drug events having a major effect on health and quality of life. With the release of the revised 2015 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers criteria, usage of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) should be studied to determine their effect on falls and hospitalizations in frail populations such as those in assisted living facilities. METHODS: This quality improvement project used a retrospective chart review on residents from a purposive sample of two assisted living facilities in Northern Virginia. Residents were aged ≥65 and lived at the facility for at least 6 months and were not enrolled in hospice and/or palliative care or living in the dementia unit. The 2015 AGS Beers criteria were used to evaluate the effect of PIMs on falls and hospitalization rates. CONCLUSIONS: This project did not find statistical significance between PIMs and falls (p = .276). A favorable, but not statistically significant trend, was noted between PIMs and hospitalizations (p = .079). IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Understanding the effect of PIMs on falls and hospitalizations could help providers improve prescribing practices for the elderly population who are at the greatest risk for potential adverse effects from polypharmacy.