Asymptomatic lymphogranuloma venereum is commonly found among men who have sex with men in Austria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Serovar L1-L3 of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) causes lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). A surge in LGV-cases has been observed among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Discrimination between LGV and non-LGV is pivotal since it has major treatment implications. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of LGV among CT-infections. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All CT-positive results from 04/2014-12/2021 at the four largest Austrian HIV and STI clinics were evaluated. Disease characteristics and patient demographics were analyzed. RESULTS: Overall, n  =  2,083 infections of CT were documented in n  =  1,479 individual patients: median age was 31.4 years, 81% were male, 59% MSM, 44% HIV-positive, 13% on HIV pre-exposure-prophylaxis. Available serovar analyses (61% [1,258/2,083]) showed L1-L3 in 15% (192/1,258). Considering only MSM with rectal CT-infection, LGV accounted for 23% (101/439). Cases of LGV vs. other CT-infections were primarily MSM (92% [177/192] vs. 62% [1,179/1,891], p < 0.001), more often HIV-positive (64% [116/180] vs. 46% [631/1,376]; p < 0.001) and had frequently concomitant syphilis infection (18% [32/180] vs. 7% [52/749]; p < 0.001). LGV commonly manifested as proctitis (38% [72/192]) whereas 45% (87/192) were asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphogranuloma venereum accounted for 23% of rectal CT-infections in MSM. Furthermore, 45% of all LGV-cases were asymptomatic. In the absence of CT-serovar analysis, a high LGV prevalence should be considered in risk-populations and guide empiric treatment selection.

Spectrum of ichthyoses in an Austrian ichthyosis cohort from 2004 to 2017.

BACKGROUND: Ichthyoses are a heterogeneous disease group, which makes clinical classification challenging. An ichthyosis cohort at a center for genodermatoses is presented in detail. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with clinically and/or genetically confirmed ichthyosis seen from 2004 to 2017 and listed in a database were included. Disease onset, phenotype, histology, comorbidities and family history were described in detail. In genetically tested patients, the prevalence of various ARCI genes, ARCI phenotypes and syndromic ichthyoses, as well as genotype-phenotype correlation and year/method of genetic testing was assessed. RESULTS: Of all 198 patients who were included in the cohort, 151 were genetically tested. 81 had ichthyosis vulgaris, 43 X-linked ichthyosis, 38 autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI), 9 keratinopathic ichthyosis (KPI) and one exfoliative ichthyosis. 26 individuals suffered from syndromic ichthyoses. A good genotype-phenotype correlation was observed for common ichthyoses and KPI; the correlation was less good in syndromic ichthyoses. In 91 % of ARCI patients an accurate diagnosis was obtained by genetic testing. In only 33 % of syndromic ichthyoses was the definitive diagnosis suspected before genetic testing, which revealed a causative mutation in 86 % of cases. CONCLUSION: This study describes the spectrum of ichthyoses in a center of expertise and shows that genetic testing should become a diagnostic standard for this disease group.

Spektrum der Ichthyosen in einer österreichischen Ichthyosekohorte von 2004-2007.

HINTERGRUND: Ichthyosen sind eine heterogene Gruppe von Krankheiten, deren klinische Klassifizierung schwierig ist. Hier wird die Ichthyosekohorte eines Expertisezentrums für Genodermatosen im Detail beschrieben. PATIENTEN UND METHODIK: Eingeschlossen wurden Patienten mit klinisch oder genetisch bestätigter Ichthyose, die zwischen 2004 und 2017 untersucht und in einer Datenbank aufgenommen wurden. Krankheitsbeginn, Phänotyp, Histologie, Komorbiditäten und Familienanamnese wurden detailliert beschrieben. Bei den genetisch getesteten Patienten wurden Jahr und Methode der genetischen Testung protokolliert und die Prävalenz der unterschiedlichen Autosomal-rezessive-kongenitale Ichthyose (ARCI)-Gene und -Phänotypen, die Prävalenz der syndromalen Ichthyosen und die Genotyp-Phänotyp-Korrelationen analysiert. ERGEBNISSE UND METHODIK: Von den insgesamt 198 eingeschlossenen Patienten wurden 151 genetisch getestet. 81 Patienten hatten eine Ichthyosis vulgaris (IV), 43 eine X-chromosomale Ichthyose (XLI), 38 eine ARCI, 9 eine keratinopathische Ichthyose (KPI) und ein Patient eine Exfoliative Ichthyose. 26 Patienten litten an einer syndromalen Ichthyose. Im Vergleich zu den syndromalen Ichthyosen wurde bei den häufigen Ichthyosen (IV, XLI) und KPI eine gute Phänotyp-Genotyp-Korrelation beobachtet. In 91 % der ARCI-Patienten konnte die exakte Diagnose durch genetische Testung gestellt werden. Lediglich bei 33 % der Patienten mit syndromaler Ichthyose bestand vor der genetischen Testung ein Verdacht auf die tatsächliche Diagnose. In 86 % der Fälle wurde eine kausale Mutation nachgewiesen. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: Die Arbeit beschreibt das Spektrum der Ichthyosen an einem Expertisezentrum und zeigt, dass für diese Gruppe die genetische Testung von Genodermatosen ein diagnostischer Standard werden sollte.

Pyogenic spondylodiscitis in HIV-positive patients under antiretroviral therapy: A case series.

Background: The incidence of pyogenic spondylodiscitis has been increasing in countries of Europe and North America, probably due to an increasing number of persons with risk factors for this infection. It is unclear whether HIV infection in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the risk for spondylodiscitis. Method: We present 7 cases of pyogenic spondylodiscitis of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine in six individuals living with HIV under ART with suppressed viral load. Results: All patients presented with severe non-radicular pain and elevated inflammatory markers. Diagnosis was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and isolation of the pathogen. Staphylococcus aureus was the causative pathogen in five patients. One patient suffered from an infection with Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by a mixed infection with Cutibacterium acnes and Bacillus circulans 18 months later. All patients needed surgical intervention, and the mean duration of antibiotic treatment was 17 weeks (range 12-26). Five patients recovered fully, including two persons who also suffered from endocarditis. One patient died from multi-organ failure. Conclusion: Spondylodiscitis may be seen more frequently in persons living with HIV as they grow older and suffer from comorbidities which put them at risk for this infection. HIV physicians should be aware of the infection and its risk factors.

CRP/Neopterin Ratio and Neuropsychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Different Forms of Pneumonia: Results of a Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Pneumonia is one of the most common infectious diseases, mostly caused by viruses or bacteria. In response to bacteria or viruses which are different but which also are partly overlapping, innate and adaptive immune responses are induced, which can be quantified using the determination of specific biomarkers. Among these, C-reactive protein (CRP) has been established as a marker of innate immune function, whereas Neopterin, which is mainly produced upon stimulation with interferon-gamma, reflects cellular immune activation. AIM: We investigated inflammation markers in patients with microbiologically confirmed viral or bacterial pneumonia, and studied the potential of CRP, Neopterin, and the CRP/Neopterin ratio to distinguish between viral and bacterial pathogenesis. Furthermore, we examined, how often neuropsychiatric symptoms occur in patients suffering from different kinds of pneumonia. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A total of 194 patients diagnosed with either coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) (n = 63), bacterial pneumonia (n = 58), Influenza infection (n = 10), Influenza and a bacterial superinfection (n = 9), and COVID-19 patients with a bacterial superinfection (n = 54) were included in our pilot study. Clinical as well as laboratory parameters were determined shortly after admission. RESULTS: We found significantly higher CRP/Neopterin ratios in patients with bacterial pneumonia (median: 0.34) and lower CRP/Neopterin ratios in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection (median: 0.03; p < 0.001). Both in men and in women, the CRP/Neopterin ratio was able to distinguish between viral and bacterial pathogens, but also was able to detect bacterial super-infection (BSI) in subjects with initial viral pneumonia (p < 0.001). Patients with BSI presented with significantly lower CRP/Neopterin ratios (median 0.08) than patients with bacterial infection only (median 0.34; p < 0.001). Interestingly, COVID-19 patients had a decreased physical functioning (as reflected in the ECOG score) and a higher frequency of fatigue (84.1%) and neurological symptoms (54.8%) than patients with pneumonia, due to other underlying pathogens. Patients that reported fatigue during viral and bacterial pneumonia presented with lower CRP concentrations than patients without it. CONCLUSIONS: The CRP/Neopterin ratio is useful to differentiate between viral and bacterial pathogenesis. The occurrence of neuropsychiatric symptoms in pneumonia appears to depend on the kind of pathogen causing the infection. Lower CRP concentrations at admission appear to be related to fatigue during acute viral and bacterial infection.

[Postoperative wound care with custom-made wound dressings for hidradenitis suppurativa : Wound care after radical excision with secondary wound closure]. / Postoperative Wundversorgung mit individuell angefertigten Wundauflagen bei Hidradenitis suppurativa : Wundversorgung nach radikaler Exzision mit sekundärem Wundverschluss.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic, recurrent, autoinflammatory skin disease of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands in intertriginous skin areas. Treatment is based on clinical severity (typically classified according to Hurley stage). In advanced stages, radical excision of affected skin areas with secondary wound closure remains first-line treatment. Postoperative care in this setting should comprise nonadhesive wound dressings. The purpose of this article is to illustrate postoperative wound care after radical excision with secondary wound closure using nonadhesive, absorbent dressings for economical and effective care.

Successful intra-class switching among IL-17 antagonists: a multicentre, multinational, retrospective study.

IL-17 blockers are among the newer anti-psoriatic treatment options and little is known about the interclass switching. We have thus initiated a multi-center, multi-national, retrospective study to assess the treatment response of patients who were switched from one IL-17 blocker to another. Analysis consisted of data from patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis who did not respond satisfactorily to one of the available IL-17 blockers (secukinumab, ixekizumab, brodalumab) and were subsequently switched to another drug of this class. After 12 weeks of treatment, patients' PASIs were evaluated. Treatment success was defined as reaching PASI 75 after 12 weeks. Topical treatment was allowed and used in all patients. 26 patients were included (13 male, 13 female) and 29 switches were evaluated. Overall, 29 switches in 21 patients were evaluated. 18 patients changed their therapy from secukinumab to ixekizumab, or in 7 cases to brodalumab. Brodalumab was used in 3 cases after failure of treatment with ixekizumab. Only in one case, non-response of brodalumab resulted in a therapy switch to secukinumab. In 15 (52%) cases, PASI 75 was reached. In 6 (20%) patients, the switch led to a PASI 50 response. No success of treatment was seen among 8 (28%) participants. When patients fail to respond or do not tolerate an IL-17 blocker, switching to another anti-IL-17A/RA is a promising viable option. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results.