Older age does not influence CD4 cell recovery in HIV-1 infected patients receiving Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of HIV infection is recently occurring with increasing frequency in middle-aged and in older individuals. As HAART became available, a minimal beneficial effect on immunological outcome in older in respect of younger subjects has been reported. In fact, both the intensity and the rapidity of the immunological response appeared to be reduced in elderly subjects. On the contrary, only few reports have indicated a similar immunological outcome both in older and younger HIV-positive subjects. Interestingly, older age did not seem to significantly affect the long-term virological outcome of HAART treated subjects. METHODS: To characterise epidemiological and clinical features of older HIV+ subjects, a prospective case-control study was performed: 120 subjects ≥ 50 and 476 between 20 and 35 years were initially compared. Subsequently, to better define the impact of HAART on their viro-immunological response, 81 older were compared with 162 younger subjects. RESULTS: At baseline cases presented significantly lower TCD4+ cell number and were more frequently affected by comorbid conditions. Under HAART a statistically significant increase in TCD4+ cell number was observed in cases and controls. At multivariate analysis, there was no statistically significant difference between cases and controls regarding viro-immunological response. CONCLUSIONS: Although older subjects present a more severe HIV infection, they can achieve, under HAART, the same viro-immunological success as the younger individuals

Management of acute diverticulitis with pericolic free gas (ADIFAS). an international multicenter observational study

Background: There are no specific recommendations regarding the optimal management of this group of patients. The World Society of Emergency Surgery suggested a nonoperative strategy with antibiotic therapy, but this was a weak recommendation. This study aims to identify the optimal management of patients with acute diverticulitis (AD) presenting with pericolic free air with or without pericolic fluid. Methods: A multicenter, prospective, international study of patients diagnosed with AD and pericolic-free air with or without pericolic free fluid at a computed tomography (CT) scan between May 2020 and June 2021 was included. Patients were excluded if they had intra-abdominal distant free air, an abscess, generalized peritonitis, or less than a 1-year follow-up. The primary outcome was the rate of failure of nonoperative management within the index admission. Secondary outcomes included the rate of failure of nonoperative management within the first year and risk factors for failure. Results: A total of 810 patients were recruited across 69 European and South American centers; 744 patients (92%) were treated nonoperatively, and 66 (8%) underwent immediate surgery. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Hinchey II-IV on diagnostic imaging was the only independent risk factor for surgical intervention during index admission (odds ratios: 12.5, 95% CI: 2.4-64, P =0.003). Among patients treated nonoperatively, at index admission, 697 (94%) patients were discharged without any complications, 35 (4.7%) required emergency surgery, and 12 (1.6%) percutaneous drainage. Free pericolic fluid on CT scan was associated with a higher risk of failure of nonoperative management (odds ratios: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.2-19.9, P =0.023), with 88% of success compared to 96% without free fluid ( P <0.001). The rate of treatment failure with nonoperative management during the first year of follow-up was 16.5%. Conclusion: Patients with AD presenting with pericolic free gas can be successfully managed nonoperatively in the vast majority of cases. Patients with both free pericolic gas and free pericolic fluid on a CT scan are at a higher risk of failing nonoperative management and require closer observation

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Mobilizações na rede social: o partido espanhol Podemos e o cenário eleitoral brasileiro

The article aims to map and analyze the messages conveyed about the Brazilian political scenario on the Podemos party's twitter, in order to unveil the narrative adopted by the Spanish party, during the period extending to the former president's arrest decree Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), from April 5 to October 28, 2018, the date of the end of the second round of presidential elections. The party's demonstrations are already recurring Podemos party on Twitter about the troubled Brazilian political scene, with frequent criticism of the impeachment process that culminated with the arrival of President Michel Temer (MDB) to power. After the issuance of the arrest warrant of former President Lula (PT) by the Federal Court, the contrary inferences intensified. The theoretical framework that the research intends is the potential that social networks embrace to broaden political dialogue and consolidate a party-political support network beyond the national sphere. The research will seek to reflect on the mobilization capacity of the new political agents born from networks and digital communication. Content analysis will be used as a methodology (BARDIN, 2011).O artigo tem por objetivo mapear e analisar as mensagens veiculadas sobre o cenário político brasileiro no Twitter do Partido Podemos, com o intuito de desvelar a narrativa adotada pelo partido espanhol, durante o período que se estende ao decreto de prisão do ex-presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), em 05 de abril até 28 de outubro de 2018, data do final do segundo turno das eleições presidenciais. Já é recorrente as manifestações do partido Podemos no Twitter sobre o conturbado cenário político brasileiro, com criticas freqüentes ao processo de impeachment que culminou com a chegada do Presidente Michel Temer (MDB) ao poder. Após a expedição do mandato de prisão do ex-presidente Lula (PT) pela Justiça Federal as inferências contrárias se intensificaram. O marco teórico que tenciona a pesquisa é o potencial que as redes sociais abarcam no sentido de ampliar o diálogo político e consolidar uma rede de apoio político-partidário para além da esfera nacional. A pesquisa buscará refletir sobre a capacidade de mobilização dos novos agentes políticos que nasceram das redes e da comunicação digital. Será utilizada a análise de conteúdo como metodologia (BARDIN, 2011)

Mobilizations in the social network: the spanish party Podemos and the brazilian electoral scenario

Producción CientíficaO artigo tem por objetivo mapear e analisar as mensagens veiculadas sobre o cenário político brasileiro no Twitter do Partido Podemos, com o intuito de desvelar a narrativa adotada pelo partido espanhol, durante o período que se estende ao decreto de prisão do ex-presidente Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), em 05 de abril até 28 de outubro de 2018, data do final do segundo turno das eleições presidenciais. Já é recorrente as manifestações do partido Podemos no Twitter sobre o conturbado cenário político brasileiro, com criticas freqüentes ao processo de impeachment que culminou com a chegada do Presidente Michel Temer (MDB) ao poder. Após a expedição do mandato de prisão do ex-presidente Lula (PT) pela Justiça Federal as inferências contrárias se intensificaram. O marco teórico que tenciona a pesquisa é o potencial que as redes sociais abarcam no sentido de ampliar o diálogo político e consolidar uma rede de apoio político-partidário para além da esfera nacional. A pesquisa buscará refletir sobre a capacidade de mobilização dos novos agentes políticos que nasceram das redes e da comunicação digital. Será utilizada a análise de conteúdo como metodologia (BARDIN, 2011).The article aims to map and analyze the messages conveyed about the Brazilian political scenario on the Podemos party’s twitter, in order to unveil the narrative adopted by the Spanish party, during the period extending to the former president’s arrest decree Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), from April 5 to October 28, 2018, the date of the end of the second round of presidential elections. The party’s demonstrations are already recurring Podemos party on Twitter about the troubled Brazilian political scene, with frequent criticism of the impeachment process that culminated with the arrival of President Michel Temer (MDB) to power. After the issuance of the arrest warrant of former President Lula (PT) by the Federal Court, the contrary inferences intensified. The theoretical framework that the research intends is the potential that social networks embrace to broaden political dialogue and consolidate a party-political support network beyond the national sphere. The research will seek to reflect on the mobilization capacity of the new political agents born from networks and digital communication. Content analysis will be used as a methodology (BARDIN, 2011)

Burden of pneumococcal disease among adults in Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece): a systematic review and meta-analysis

The aim was to summarize pneumococcal disease burden data among adults in Southern Europe and the potential impact of vaccines on epidemiology. Of 4779 identified studies, 272 were selected. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence was 15.08 (95% CI 11.01–20.65) in Spain versus 2.56 (95% CI 1.54–4.24) per 100,000 population in Italy. Pneumococcal pneumonia incidence was 19.59 (95% CI 10.74–35.74) in Spain versus 2.19 (95% CI 1.36–3.54) per 100,000 population in Italy. Analysis of IPD incidence in Spain comparing pre-and post- PCV7 and PCV13 periods unveiled a declining trend in vaccine-type IPD incidence (larger and statistically significant for the elderly), suggesting indirect effects of childhood vaccination programme. Data from Portugal, Greece and, to a lesser extent, Italy were sparse, thus improved surveillance is needed. Pneumococcal vaccination uptake, particularly among the elderly and adults with chronic and immunosuppressing conditions, should be improved, including shift to a higher-valency pneumococcal conjugate vaccine when available

Bloodstream Infections Caused by Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae: Risk Factors, Molecular Epidemiology, and Clinical Outcome

Bloodstream infections caused by extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates are a major concern for clinicians, since they markedly increase the rates of treatment failure and death. One hundred forty-seven patients with K. pneumoniae bloodstream infections were identified over a 5-year period (January 1999 to December 2003). The production of ESBLs in bloodstream isolates was evaluated by molecular methods. A retrospective case-case-control study was conducted to identify risk factors for the isolation of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae or non-ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates in blood cultures. Forty-eight cases infected with ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates and 99 cases infected with non-ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates were compared to controls. Risk factors for isolation of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates were exposure to antibiotic therapy (odds ratio [OR], 11.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.72 to 51.08), age (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.08 to 1.21), and length of hospitalization (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.16). Independent determinants for isolation of non-ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae were previous urinary tract infection (OR, 8.50; 95% CI, 3.69 to 19.54) and length of hospitalization (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.10). When the initial response was assessed at 72 h after antimicrobial therapy, the treatment failure rate for the ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae-infected group was almost twice as high as that of the non-ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae-infected group (31% versus 17%; OR, 2.19; 95% CI, 0.98 to 4.89). The 21-day mortality rate for all patients was 37% (54 of 147); it was 52% (25 of 48) for patients with ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae bloodstream infections and 29% (29 of 99) for patients with non-ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae bloodstream infections (OR, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.28 to 5.35). In summary, this investigation identifies epidemiological characteristics that distinguish ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae infections from non-ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae ESBL bloodstream infections

Invasive meningococcal disease epidemiology and vaccination strategies in four Southern European countries: a review of the available data

Introduction Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is a major health concern which can be prevented through vaccination. Conjugate vaccines against serogroups A, C, W, and Y and two protein-based vaccines against serogroup B are currently available in the European Union. Areas covered We present epidemiologic data for Italy, Portugal, Greece, and Spain using publicly available reports from national reference laboratories and national or regional immunization programs (1999–2019), aiming to confirm risk groups, and describe time trends in overall incidence and serogroup distribution, as well as impact of immunization. Analysis of circulating MenB isolates in terms of the surface factor H binding protein (fHbp) using PubMLST is discussed as fHbp represents an important MenB vaccine antigen. Predictions of potential reactivity of the two available MenB vaccines (MenB-fHbp and 4CMenB) with circulating MenB isolates are also provided as assessed using the recently developed MenDeVAR tool. Expert opinion Understanding dynamics of IMD and continued genomic surveillance are essential for evaluating vaccine effectiveness, but also prompting proactive immunization programs to prevent future outbreaks. Importantly, the successful design of further effective meningococcal vaccines to fight IMD relies on considering the unpredictable epidemiology of the disease and combining lessons learnt from capsule polysaccharide vaccines and protein-based vaccines

Increased Risk of Hospitalization for Pneumonia in Italian Adults from 2010 to 2019: Scientific Evidence for a Call to Action

Background: Understanding trends in pneumonia-associated hospitalizations can help to quantify the burden of disease and identify risk conditions and at-risk populations. This study evaluated characteristics of hospitalizations due to pneumonia that occurred in Italy in a 10-year period from 2010 to 2019. Methods: All hospitalizations with a principal or secondary diagnosis of pneumonia over the 10-year period were included, which were identified by hospital discharges for all-cause pneumonia and pneumococcal pneumonia in the anonymized hospital discharge database of the Italian Health Ministry. Results: A total of 2,481,213 patients were hospitalized for pneumonia between 2010 and 2019; patients aged 75–86 years accounted for 30.1% of hospitalizations. Most hospitalizations (88.1%) had an unspecified pneumonia discharge code. In-hospital death was recorded in 13.0% of cases. The cumulative cost for pneumonia hospitalizations of the 10-year period were EUR 11,303,461,591. Over the observation period, the incidence rate for hospitalized all-cause pneumonia in any ages increased from 100 per 100,000 in 2010 to over 160 cases per 100,000 per year in 2019 (p < 0.001). Overall, there was a significant increase in annual percent changes in hospitalization rates (+3.47 per year), in-hospital death (+4.6% per year), and costs (+3.95% per year) over the 10-year period. Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that hospitalizations for pneumonia are increasing over time in almost all age groups, especially in the elderly. Given the substantial burden of pneumonia in terms of mortality, healthcare resources, and economic costs, greater public health efforts should thus be made to promote vaccinations against influenza and pneumococcus, particularly in high-risk groups

Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Bloodstream Infections Caused by Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae: Importance of Inadequate Initial Antimicrobial Treatment▿

Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms markedly increase the rates of treatment failure and death. We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis to identify risk factors for mortality in adult in-patients with BSI caused by ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-BSI). Particular attention was focused on defining the impact on the mortality of inadequate initial antimicrobial therapy (defined as the initiation of treatment with active antimicrobial agents >72 h after collection of the first positive blood culture). A total of 186 patients with ESBL-BSI caused by Escherichia coli (n = 104), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 58), or Proteus mirabilis (n = 24) were identified by our microbiology laboratory from 1 January 1999 through 31 December 2004. The overall 21-day mortality rate was 38.2% (71 of 186). In multivariate analysis, significant predictors of mortality were inadequate initial antimicrobial therapy (odds ratio [OR] = 6.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.18 to 12.42; P < 0.001) and unidentified primary infection site (OR = 2.69; 95% CI = 1.38 to 5.27; P = 0.004). The inadequately treated patients (89 of 186 [47.8%]) had a threefold increase in mortality compared to the adequately treated group (59.5% versus 18.5%; OR = 2.38; 95% CI = 1.76 to 3.22; P < 0.001). The regimens most commonly classified as inadequate were based on oxyimino cephalosporin or fluoroquinolone therapy. Prompt initiation of effective antimicrobial treatment is essential in patients with ESBL-BSI, and empirical decisions must be based on a sound knowledge of the local distribution of pathogens and their susceptibility patterns