Aseptic Barriers Allow a Clean Contact for Contaminated Stethoscope Diaphragms.

Objective:To determine whether a single-use stethoscope diaphragm barrier surface remains aseptic when placed on pathogen-contaminated stethoscopes. Methods:From May 31 to August 5, 2019, we tested 2 separate barriers using 3 different strains of 7 human pathogens, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium. Results:For all diaphragms with either of the 2 barriers tested, no growth was recorded for any of the pathogens. Stethoscopes with aseptic barriers remained sterile for up to 24 hours. These single-use barriers also provided aseptic surfaces when stethoscope diaphragms were inoculated with human specimens, including saliva, stool, urine, and sputum. Conclusion:Disposable aseptic diaphragm barriers may provide robust and efficient solutions to reduce transmission of pathogens via stethoscopes

Reliability and predictive validity of a hepatitis-related symptom inventory in HIV-infected individuals referred for Hepatitis C treatment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We aimed to determine the reliability and validity of a hepatitis symptom inventory and to identify predictors of hepatitis C (HCV) treatment initiation in a cohort of HIV-infected patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prospective clinic based study that enrolled patients referred for HCV therapy consideration. A hepatitis symptom inventory and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) were administered to HIV/HCV individuals. The symptom inventory was factor analyzed and subscale reliability estimated with Cronbach's alpha. Predictive validity was evaluated using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Predictors of HCV treatment were identified using logistic regression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Between April 2008 to July 2010, 126 HIV/HCV co-infected patients were enrolled in the study. Factor analysis using data from 126 patients yielded a three-factor structure explaining 60% of the variance for the inventory. Factor 1 (neuropsychiatric symptoms) had 14 items, factor 2 (somatic symptoms) had eleven items, and factor 3 (sleep symptoms) had two items, explaining 28%, 22% and 11% of the variance, respectively. The three factor subscales demonstrated high intrinsic consistency reliability. GEE modeling of the 32 patients who initiated HCV therapy showed that patients developed worsening neuropsychiatric and somatic symptoms following HCV therapy with stable sleep symptoms. Bivariate analyses identified the following as predictors of HCV therapy initiation: lower HIV log₁₀RNA, lower scores for neuropsychiatric, somatic and sleep symptoms, lower CES-D scores and white ethnicity. In stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis, low neuropsychiatric symptom score was the strongest independent predictor of HCV therapy initiation and HIV log₁₀RNA was inversely associated with a decision to initiate HCV treatment.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A 41-item hepatitis-related symptom inventory was found to have a clinically meaningful 3-factor structure with excellent internal consistency reliability and predictive validity. In adjusted analysis, low neuropsychiatric symptom scores and controlled HIV infection were independent predictors of HCV treatment initiation. The usefulness of the HCV symptom inventory in monitoring HCV treatment should be evaluated prospectively.</p

The role of barriers to care on the propensity for hepatitis C virus nonreferral among people living with HIV.

: Twenty-five percent of HIV/HCV co-infected patients were not referred for HCV treatment despite unrestricted access in California to direct-acting antivirals (DAA) in 2018. Having unstable housing and ongoing drug use directly affected HCV treatment non-referral. However, psychiatric history and alcohol use impacted HCV treatment non-referral through the mediation of not being engaged in HIV care. Achieving HCV elimination requires DAA treatment outside conventional health settings, including substance rehabilitation centers, mental health crisis houses, and homeless shelters

Sphingomonas paucimobilis Bloodstream Infections Associated with Contaminated Intravenous Fentanyl1

Compounding pharmacies should be required to follow good manufacturing practices, including end-product sterility testing

Updated guidance on the management of COVID-19:from an American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society coordinated International Task Force (29 July 2020)

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2. Consensus suggestions can standardise care, thereby improving outcomes and facilitating future research. METHODS: An International Task Force was composed and agreement regarding courses of action was measured using the Convergence of Opinion on Recommendations and Evidence (CORE) process. 70% agreement was necessary to make a consensus suggestion. RESULTS: The Task Force made consensus suggestions to treat patients with acute COVID-19 pneumonia with remdesivir and dexamethasone but suggested against hydroxychloroquine except in the context of a clinical trial; these are revisions of prior suggestions resulting from the interim publication of several randomised trials. It also suggested that COVID-19 patients with a venous thromboembolic event be treated with therapeutic anticoagulant therapy for 3 months. The Task Force was unable to reach sufficient agreement to yield consensus suggestions for the post-hospital care of COVID-19 survivors. The Task Force fell one vote shy of suggesting routine screening for depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The Task Force addressed questions related to pharmacotherapy in patients with COVID-19 and the post-hospital care of survivors, yielding several consensus suggestions. Management options for which there is insufficient agreement to formulate a suggestion represent research priorities.status: Published onlin

Acute HIV infection presenting as fulminant meningoencephalitis with massive CSF viral replication

A 22-year-old man presented to the emergency department with 10 days of malaise, generalized rash, sore throat, oral ulcers, headache, nausea, and vomiting. On examination he had fever (101.5°F), hepatosplenomegaly, generalized maculopapular rash, and lymphadenopathy. He rapidly became obtunded, requiring intubation. Initial laboratory studies showed mild transaminitis, increased lactate dehydrogenase, and 4,600 leukocytes per μL with 61% bands and 18% lymphocytes. Bacterial and fungal blood cultures were negative as well as a rapid HIV test, additional serologies (including rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination), quantitative PCRs (for viruses other than HIV), and urine and blood toxicology. CSF, on hospital day 4, showed a lymphocytic pleocytosis (total leukocytes: 100), high protein, borderline hypoglycorrhachia, and negative Gram stain and culture. Brain MRI revealed no meningeal enhancement or masses. EEG revealed no epileptiform activity. Flow cytometry on bone marrow biopsy and CSF found no evidence of malignancy; neither did an excisional lymph node biopsy (figure 1). An immunofluorescent assay test for HIV returned inconclusive and a Western blot detected HIV gp120/gp160 bands. Quantitative HIV RNA PCR was 1.4 × 10(6) copies/mL in plasma and in CSF exceeded the upper limit of quantitation (10(7) copies/mL) (figure 2)

Acute HIV infection presenting as fulminant meningoencephalitis with massive CSF viral replication

A 22-year-old man presented to the emergency department with 10 days of malaise, generalized rash, sore throat, oral ulcers, headache, nausea, and vomiting. On examination he had fever (101.5°F), hepatosplenomegaly, generalized maculopapular rash, and lymphadenopathy. He rapidly became obtunded, requiring intubation. Initial laboratory studies showed mild transaminitis, increased lactate dehydrogenase, and 4,600 leukocytes per μL with 61% bands and 18% lymphocytes. Bacterial and fungal blood cultures were negative as well as a rapid HIV test, additional serologies (including rapid plasma reagin and Treponema pallidum particle agglutination), quantitative PCRs (for viruses other than HIV), and urine and blood toxicology. CSF, on hospital day 4, showed a lymphocytic pleocytosis (total leukocytes: 100), high protein, borderline hypoglycorrhachia, and negative Gram stain and culture. Brain MRI revealed no meningeal enhancement or masses. EEG revealed no epileptiform activity. Flow cytometry on bone marrow biopsy and CSF found no evidence of malignancy; neither did an excisional lymph node biopsy (figure 1). An immunofluorescent assay test for HIV returned inconclusive and a Western blot detected HIV gp120/gp160 bands. Quantitative HIV RNA PCR was 1.4 × 106 copies/mL in plasma and in CSF exceeded the upper limit of quantitation (107 copies/mL) (figure 2)

Annual N95 respirator fit-testing: an unnecessary burden on healthcare.

US regulations mandate annual N95 mask fit testing for healthcare workers, but the optimal testing interval is unknown. In our study using data from 12,565 healthcare workers, the probability of survival free from fit-test failure after 3 years was 99.4%, suggesting that less frequent fit testing every 3 years would be safe