RESUMO
Norovirus (NoV) is an enteric virus with foodborne transmission. Bivalve shellfish are a main source of infections and outbreaks. In Italy a voluntary based monitoring plan to check the safety of bivalve shellfish was set up at provincial level. This study describes the occurrence and distribution of NoV in the Northern Adriatic Sea and in the Ligurian Sea. From October 2018 to September 2020, 807 bivalve shellfish samples (n = 205 oysters, n = 182 mussels, n = 348 clams, n = 72 other bivalve shellfish) were tested by One-Step Retrotranscription Real-time polymerase chain reaction for NoV GI and GII and quantified according to the ISO 15216-2:2013 and ISO 15216-1:2017. Positive samples were further analyzed to determine genotype by sequencing of the ORF1/ORF2 junction of the viral genome. A total of 126 samples were positive for NoV, mussels, and oysters had the highest probability of being positive and positive samples were found mainly in the colder season. Of these samples, 46% were NoV GII, 13% NoV GI, and 40% carried both genogroups. Thirty-seven samples were typeable (GI n = 12 and GII n = 25) with GI samples belonging to four genotypes and GII samples belonging to five genotypes. GII.3 genotype was the most prevalent, followed by GII.4, particularly Sydney 2012 subtype, a leading cause of infections worldwide, was found in three oysters' and three clams' samples. The phylogenetic analysis revealed a high heterogeneity among the species that are scattered in several clusters. Considering the low infectious dose the overall presence of NoV in edible shellfish, particular those to be eaten raw or undercooked, is moderately high. The presence of genotypes frequently involved in human infections strengthens the need for ongoing monitoring, which should be extended at national level.
Assuntos
Bivalves , Infecções por Caliciviridae , Norovirus , Ostreidae , Animais , Humanos , Genótipo , Norovirus/genética , Filogenia , Frutos do Mar , Itália/epidemiologia , Oceanos e MaresRESUMO
Patients with viral infections are at higher risk to acquire bacterial and fungal superinfections associated with a worse prognosis. We explored this critical point in the setting of patients with severe COVID-19 disease. The study included 1911 patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) during a 2-year study period (March 2020-March 2022). Of them, 713 (37.3%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and 1198 were negative (62.7%). Regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors associated with the presence of bacterial and/or fungal superinfections in SARS-CoV-2 patients and to evaluate predictors of ICU mortality. Of the 713 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 473 (66.3%) had respiratory and/or bloodstream bacterial and/or fungal superinfections, while of the 1198 COVID-19-negative patients, only 369 (30%) showed respiratory and/or bloodstream bacterial and/or fungal superinfections (p < 0.0001). Baseline characteristics of COVID-19 patients included a median age of 66 (interquartile range [IQR], 58-73), a predominance of males (72.7%), and the presence of a BMI higher than 24 (median 26; IQR, 24.5-30.4). Seventy-four percent (527, 73.9%) had one or more comorbidities and 135 (18.9%) of them had received previous antibiotic therapy. Furthermore, most of them (473, 66.3%) exhibited severe radiological pictures and needed invasive mechanical ventilation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that 1 unit increment in BMI rises the risk of bacterial and/or fungal superinfections acquisition by 3% and 1-day increment in ICU stays rises the risk of bacterial and/or fungal superinfections acquisition by 11%. Furthermore, 1-day increment in mechanical ventilation rises the risk of bacterial and/or fungal superinfection acquisition by 2.7 times. Furthermore, patients with both bacterial and fungal infections had a significantly higher mortality rate than patients without superinfections (45.8% vs. 26.2%, p < 0.0001). Therefore, bacterial and fungal superinfections are frequent in COVID-19 patients admitted to ICU and their presence is associated with a worse outcome. This is an important consideration for targeted therapies in critically ill SARS-CoV-2 infected patients to improve their clinical course.
Assuntos
Infecções Bacterianas , COVID-19 , Coinfecção , Micoses , SARS-CoV-2 , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Infecções Bacterianas/epidemiologia , Infecções Bacterianas/mortalidade , Infecções Bacterianas/terapia , COVID-19/complicações , COVID-19/mortalidade , COVID-19/terapia , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva , Micoses/epidemiologia , Micoses/mortalidade , Micoses/terapia , Gravidade do Paciente , Estudos Retrospectivos , Resultado do Tratamento , SARS-CoV-2/fisiologiaRESUMO
Few papers focus their attention on VZV vaccination effectiveness among people living with HIV (PLWH). Flanking the live attenuated vaccine (VZL) available, a newly recombinant vaccine (RZV) was recently introduced and approved for HZ prevention among adults. PLWH represents a population on which a particular attention should be applied, in order to guarantee the vaccine efficacy and safety. We performed a literature search in USNLM, PubMed, PubMed Central, PMC and Cochrane Library. From all the publications found eligible, data were extracted and processed per population, vaccine type, immunogenicity and ADRs. The review of the 13 included studies shows that both RZV and VZL are immunogenic and have an acceptable safety profile in adults and children living with HIV. However, given the lack of research available about vaccine efficacy in preventing VZV and HZ in PLWH, additional studies need to be performed, in order to achieve a full completeness of data.
Assuntos
Infecções por HIV , Vacina contra Herpes Zoster , Herpes Zoster , Vacinas Atenuadas , Vacinas Sintéticas , Humanos , Vacinas Atenuadas/imunologia , Vacinas Atenuadas/efeitos adversos , Vacinas Atenuadas/administração & dosagem , Infecções por HIV/imunologia , Infecções por HIV/prevenção & controle , Vacina contra Herpes Zoster/imunologia , Vacina contra Herpes Zoster/efeitos adversos , Vacina contra Herpes Zoster/administração & dosagem , Vacinas Sintéticas/imunologia , Vacinas Sintéticas/efeitos adversos , Vacinas Sintéticas/administração & dosagem , Herpes Zoster/prevenção & controle , Herpes Zoster/imunologia , Vacinas de Produtos Inativados/imunologia , Vacinas de Produtos Inativados/efeitos adversos , Vacinas de Produtos Inativados/administração & dosagem , Imunogenicidade da Vacina , Eficácia de Vacinas , Herpesvirus Humano 3/imunologia , Adulto , Criança , Vacinação , Vacina contra Varicela/imunologia , Vacina contra Varicela/administração & dosagem , Vacina contra Varicela/efeitos adversosRESUMO
In June 2022, a gastroenteritis outbreak occurred in a town in Northern Italy, possibly associated with the ingestion of norovirus from public drinking water. Noroviruses are highly infectious RNA viruses, with high stability in the environment. They are the primary cause of non-bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide, and despite the fact that the disease is mainly self-limiting, norovirus infection can lead to severe illness in the immunocompromised, the elderly and children. Immediately after the notification of the suspected norovirus outbreak, faecal specimens were collected from hospitalised patients, and water samples were collected from public drinking fountains in the affected area, to confirm the presence of norovirus. Norovirus was detected in 80 % (95 % CI 0.58-0.91) of the faecal specimens, and in 50 % (95 % CI 0.28-0.72) of the water samples using RT (reverse transcription) Real-time PCR. The identification of GII genotype in all samples confirmed public drinking water as the source of norovirus contamination. In addition, in one faeces and one water sample, the co-presence of genotypes GI and GII was detected. The strains were typed by sequencing, with most of them belonging to the genotype GII.3. Immediately after the confirmation of norovirus contamination in public drinking water, the local competent authorities applied safety measures, resulting in a decline in number of cases. Moreover, after the application of disinfection protocols in the water plant, the sampling was repeated with negative results for norovirus in the affected area. However, positive samples were found in the neighbouring area (prevalence 10.00 %, 95 % CI 0.02-0.40) and in the water spring (prevalence 50.00 %, 95 % CI 0.21-0.78), suggesting norovirus persistence and spread from the water source. The prompt identification of the source of contamination, and collaboration with the local authorities guided the implementation of proper procedures to control viral spread, resulting in the successful control of the outbreak.
RESUMO
Europe has faced a massive spread of the varicella-zoster virus through the years. Since the introduction of an effective vaccine, complications and severe forms of chickenpox have been restricted. Nevertheless, among the population, some categories need specific care, such as pregnant women, who present one of the most fragile conditions facing this infection, both for the mother and the fetus. In this review, we highlight how the varicella-zoster virus can be dangerous during pregnancy, underlining the problem of treatment and vaccination, and collect information about the European epidemiology among this particular category of women.
RESUMO
In 2019, SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the cause of an easily transmissible disease that was declared as a world pandemic. Foodborne transmission was never reported. However, early studies suggested that food could be involved in SARS-CoV-2 entry in the human gastrointestinal tract leading to possible infection, and highlighting the importance of further studies to inspect possible issues linked to food consumption. In this perspective, this work aimed at monitoring SARS-CoV-2 presence in some food and mains water samples in Northern Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022). A total of 1806 foods, 112 mains water samples, and 580 swabs on meat and dairy product surfaces were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by Real-time PCR. All the analyzed samples were negative to viral RNA detection with the exception of one vegetable sample. Even if data on foodborne coronavirus transmission suggested a limited importance of this pathway, the impact of the current pandemic in Northern Italy deserved a rigorous investigation to rule out such possibility. Indeed, gaining insight on all SARS-CoV-2 possible transmission pathways, including the foodborne route, seemed of interest to maintain consumers' confidence and trust in food safety, and for the effective management of the current, and future, possible pandemics.
RESUMO
To observe the prevalence of contamination by hepatitis A virus (HAV) and norovirus (NoV) in different food types, 9242 samples were analyzed over a 6-year period (January 2014-December 2019). Samples were from routine official activities by Competent Authorities (CAs) and Food Business Operators, according to Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points plans. Analyses were performed in accordance with European and Italian regulations. Food types were obtained from different production areas of Italy, and ranged from mollusks, ready-to-eat (RTE) and packaged vegetables, frozen berries, tap water, fruit and RTE fruit salads, and processed and preserved foods. No risk management plans were set by the authors' laboratory, because they were still adopted by conferring customers. Analyses were conducted according to ISO/TS 15216-2:2013 (ISO in Part 2: Method for Qualitative Detection. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, 2013). The data showed that 2.25% (95% CI: 2.0-2.6) of samples were contaminated by at least one virus type, and that the most detected pathogen was NoV GII (89.50% of all positives). Mollusks (filter-feeding animals) were the most contaminated category (92.31% of all positives) not only by NoV or HAV individually, but also by multiple HAV/NoV contaminations consisting of 22.59% of all positives. For NoV, there was a significant correlation between shellfish positivity and season, with the autumn-winter period being the most associated with risk. Conversely, berries, drinking water and RTE vegetables, previously linked to several outbreaks, showed a low rate of contamination. These results from data collection have implications for the improvement of sampling plans for HAV and NoV by Italian CAs, and by food-producing and distribution operators. Moreover, these findings obtained by a standardized qualitative method contribute the collection of data aimed at establishing new microbiological criteria not yet foreseen (but advocated) by current European rules.