Consensus document on controversial issues in the diagnosis and treatment of bloodstream infections and endocarditis.

Summary Background The treatment of severe bloodstream infections (sepsis, endocarditis, and infections of vascular prostheses) caused by Gram-positive microorganisms is made even more difficult by the emergence of resistant strains. The introduction of new antibiotics with activity against these strains has created new opportunities, but many controversial issues remain. Controversial issues The aim of this GISIG (Gruppo Italiano di Studio sulle Infezioni Gravi) working group – a panel of multidisciplinary experts – was to define recommendations for some controversial issues using an evidence-based and analytical approach. The controversial issues concerned the duration of therapy and role of aminoglycosides and teicoplanin in the treatment of Gram-positive bacterial endocarditis, the optimal use of the new antibiotics in the treatment of bloodstream infections caused by resistant Gram-positive strains, and the use of microbiological techniques (i.e., bactericidal serum testing and synergy testing) and of pharmacokinetic data (e.g., monitoring of plasma levels of antibiotics) in the treatment of difficult-to-treat Gram-positive bloodstream infections. Methods A systematic literature search of randomized controlled trials and/or non-randomized studies was performed mainly using the MEDLINE database. A matrix was created to extract evidence from original studies using the CONSORT method to evaluate randomized clinical trials and the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for non-randomized studies. The GRADE method for grading the quality of evidence and strength of recommendation was applied

Community-Acquired Acinetobacter radioresistens Bacteremia in an HIV-Positive Patient

We describe the first case of community-acquired bacteremia caused by Acinetobacter radioresistens; the patient was a 32-year-old HIV-positive neutropenic woman. Ambiguous Gram staining and poor biochemical reactivity of blood culture isolates misguided early diagnosis and therapy. Bacterial identification was based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis. A. radioresistens can be considered as a cause of opportunistic infection in immunodeficient patients

Additional file 1: of Probiotics and infective endocarditis in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: a clinical case and a review of the literature

Microbiology. Description of methods used to identify the microorganism isolated from blood culture, both by standard microbiology culture and by genetic analysis; minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antibiotics used for testing. (DOCX 11 kb

QTc interval prolongation in HIV-infected patients: a case--control study by 24-hour Holter ECG recording.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to assess QTc interval by a 24-hour ECG recording in a group of HIV-infected individuals with a basal prolonged QTc. The risk factors associated with QTc prolongation and the indices of cardiovascular autonomic control were also evaluated. METHODS: A case--control study was performed using as cases 32 HIV-infected patients with prolonged (>440 msec) QTc interval as assessed by Holter ECG, and as controls 64 HIV-infected subjects with normal QTc interval. Autonomic function was evaluated by heart rate variability analysis during 24-hour recording. RESULTS: Duration of HIV disease was significantly longer among cases than among controls (p=0.04). Waist/hip ratio was also higher among cases than among controls (p=0.05). Frequency domain analysis showed the absence of physiologic decrease of low frequency (LF) in the night period in both cases and controls. The LF night in cases showed a statistically significant reduction when compared with controls (p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: In our study group, QTc interval prolongation was associated with a longer duration of HIV infection and with a greater waist/hip ratio. HIV patients with QTc interval prolongation and with a longer duration of HIV infection were more likely to have an impairment of parasympathetic and sympathetic cardiac component. Source: PubMe

Vaccine-Induced Subacute Thyroiditis (De Quervain’s) after mRNA Vaccine against SARS-CoV-2: A Case Report and Systematic Review

De Quervain’s thyroiditis, sometimes referred to as subacute thyroiditis (SAT), is the most common granulomatous disease of the thyroid, typically found after a viral infection in middle-aged women. The mRNA encoding for the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor is expressed in follicular thyroid cells, making them a potential target for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Besides infection, SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have also been implicated in SAT pathogenesis. We present a case of a woman developing SAT following vaccination with Comirnaty by Pfizer Inc. (New-York, USA). We performed a systematic review of similar cases available in the literature to provide a better understanding of the topic. We searched the databases PubMed and Embase and followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Patient records were then sorted according to the type of administered vaccine and a statistical analysis of the extracted data was performed. No statistically significant difference between mRNA vaccines and other vaccines in inducing SAT was found, nor was any found in terms of patient demographics, symptoms at presentation, initial, or follow-up blood tests. In our case report, we described the possible association between SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-based vaccine Comirnaty and SAT

Simplification to co-formulated rilpivirine/emtricitabine/tenofovir in virologically suppressed patients: Data from a multicenter cohort

Background: To assess efficacy and safety of treatment simplification to co-formulated Rilpivirine/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir (RPV/FTC/TDF) in virologically suppressed patients. Materials and Methods: Endpoints of the analysis were: (a) treatment discontinuation of RPV/FTC/TDF for any reasons and (b) occurrence of virological failure (VF) defined as confirmed HIV-RNA >50 cp/mL). Results: Overall, 508 patients from five Italian reference centres were included: male gender 71.9%; median age 47 years (IQR 40–52); IVDU as HIV risk 17.7%; HCV-AB positive 23.4%; CDC-C stage 17.5%; median CD4 cells/µL at switch 655 (IQR: 487–843); median number of previous regimens three (IQR 2–7). In a median follow-up of 196 days (IQR: 84–287), 31 patients discontinued RPV/FTC/TDF (virological failure n=5, hypersensitivity reaction n=2, GI-toxicity n=6, liver toxicity n=1, CNS-toxicity n=4, kidney toxicity n=5, patient's decision/lost in follow-up n=10). Moreover, VF occurred in eight patients (five discontinued regimen, while three remained on RPV/FTC/TDF). At survival analysis, the probabilities of treatment discontinuation or VF were 5.5% and 1.2% at 6 months, 13.2% and 2.8% at 12 months, respectively (Figure 1). At adjusted Cox model, factors associated with discontinuation were: <200 CD4 cells/µL at switch (HR 5.3, 95% CI 1.1–25.9, p=0.038), number of pre-switch regimens (for each extra regimen: HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01–1.10, p=0.024), male gender (HR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2–0.9, p=0.032). Only the number of pre-switch regimens was associated with VF (HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.06–1.21, p=0.001). Type of pre-switch regimen was not associated with discontinuation or failure, but no VF was observed if switching from co-formulated Efavirenz/FTC/TDF or from Raltegravir containing regimens. Switching to RPV/FTC/TDF led to significant improvement in fasting lipids levels: the decrease in cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides was observed switching from any regimen, but was more marked from boosted PI. In contrast, a moderate increase in transaminase (switching from all regimens except NNRTI-containing) and creatinine (except from TDF-containing regimens) were observed. Conclusions: Our data suggest that switching to RPV/FTC/TDF in virologically suppressed patients could be a good strategy with low risk of virological failure or treatment discontinuation; the switch is also associated with significant improvement in lipid profile