Mucocutaneous relapse during late latent syphilis as initial presentation of HIV infection

Syphilis is a re-emerging sexually transmitted infection. According to the definition, latent syphilis is characterized by seroreactivity without clinical manifestations. Here, we reported an atypical case of syphilis in a patient with HIV na & iuml;ve to the antiretroviral treatment characterized by mucocutaneous relapse that occurred in the late latent stage. The patient reported his last sexual intercourse about 18 months ago and had self-healing genital and palmoplantar lesions more than 1 year before the presentation. He denied any other types of sexual relationship. He presented with mucocutaneous scattered lesions on his face, neck, palms, soles, penis, and scrotum. He was compliant with arthralgias, myalgias, asthenia, new onset stypsis, and mild anorectal pain. Testing for Syphilis and HIV returned positive. Opportunistic infections were excluded, and antiretroviral therapy with a bictegravir-based regimen was started. Syphilis was treated successfully with three doses of 2.4 million units of benzathine penicillin

Fever with perinasal and tongue lesions: A diagnostic challenge

The diagnosis may be challenging, and high suspicion index should be maintained in immunosuppressed patients with unusual mucocutaneous lesions, even in non-endemic areas for mucocutaneous leishmaniasis

Cefiderocol Efficacy in a Real-Life Setting: Single-Centre Retrospective Study

The current carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria (CR-GN) treatment guidelines lack strong evidence about cefiderocol (CFD) efficacy against CR-GN, especially CRAB. The study’s purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of CFD in a real-life setting. We made a single-center retrospective study of 41 patients who received CFD in our hospital for several CR-GN infections. Bloodstream infections (BSI) affected 43.9% (18/41) of patients, while CRAB affected 75.6% (31/41) of isolated CR-GN patients. Thirty-days (30-D) all-causes mortality affected 36.6% (15/41) of patients, while end-of-treatment (EOT) clinical cure affected 56.1% (23/41). Finally, microbiological eradication at EOT affected 56.1% (23/41) of patients. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that septic shock is an independent factor associated with mortality. Subgroup analyses showed no difference in CFD effectiveness between monotherapy and combination therapy

Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci from Bloodstream Infections: Frequency of Occurrence and Antimicrobial Resistance, 2018–2021

Background: The abuse of antibiotics during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic might have disrupted efforts to curb the further development and spread of the antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus infection and Staphylococcus spp. coagulase-negative (CoNS) agents of nosocomial bloodstream infections (NBSIs). The purpose of our work was to study the resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus and CoNS through the analysis of blood cultures in hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-positive and SARS-CoV-2-negative patients (pts.). Materials and methods: During the period January 2018–June 2021, a retrospective case–control study was performed on blood cultures positive for Staphylococcus spp. detected in 177 adult pts. (≥18 years old) hospitalized for >48 hours at Sant’Elia Hospital, Caltanissetta. Results: Staphylococcus aureus was isolated in 33.9% of blood culture samples, and among CoNS, the most frequent strains were Staphylococcus capitis (18.6%) and Staphylococcus hominis (18.1%). Patients aged ≥ 65 years, with a greater number of males, comprised the SARS-CoV-2-negative pts. (71.8% vs. 52.2%, p = 0.0154). Among the SARS-CoV-2-positive patients, the significant resistance of Staphylococcus aureus was only observed for erythromycin (57.1%). The oxacillin resistance of Staphylococcus capitis was higher in SARS-CoV-2-positive than in negative pts. (90% and 78.3%, respectively). Comparing the two groups, we found an increase in resistance in SARS-CoV-2-negative patients for the following antibiotics: gentamicin for Staphylococcus aureus (p = 0.007), clindamycin and erythromycin (p = 0.012) for Staphylococcus hominis and oxacillin and rifampicin for Staphylococcus haemoliticus (p = 0.012). Conclusions: Our study confirms the relevance of oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in being responsible for bloodstream infection and draws attention to highly oxacillin-resistant CoNS such as Staphylococcus capitis. The presence of resistant strains of CoNS in hospitals can be worrying, as it limits treatment options and worsens outcomes. The Infection Control Committee (ICC) recommends new treatment strategies to decrease colonization and infections. As part of the implementation of a bloodstream infection prevention program, the authors encourage the introduction of a report on the antimicrobial resistance of hospital bacteremia due to CoNS

Insight from an Italian Delphi Consensus on EVAR feasibility outside the instruction for use: the SAFE EVAR Study

BACKGROUND: The SAfety and FEasibility of standard EVAR outside the instruction for use (SAFE-EVAR) Study was designed to define the attitude of Italian vascular surgeons towards the use of standard endovascular repair (EVAR) for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) outside the instruction for use (IFU) through a Delphi consensus endorsed by the Italian Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (Societa Italiana di Chirurgia Vascolare ed Endovascolare - SICVE). METHODS: A questionnaire consisting of 26 statements was developed, validated by an 18 -member Advisory Board, and then sent to 600 Italian vascular surgeons. The Delphi process was structured in three subsequent rounds which took place between April and June 2023. In the first two rounds, respondents could indicate one of the following five degrees of agreement: 1) strongly agree; 2) partially agree; 3) neither agree nor disagree; 4) partially disagree; 5) strongly disagree; while in the third round only three different choices were proposed: 1) agree; 2) neither agree nor disagree; 3) disagree. We considered the consensus reached when >70% of respondents agreed on one of the options. After the conclusion of each round, a report describing the percentage distribution of the answers was sent to all the participants. RESULTS: Two -hundred -forty-four (40.6%) Italian Vascular Surgeons agreed to participate the first round of the Delphi Consensus; the second and the third rounds of the Delphi collected 230 responders (94.3% of the first -round responders). Four statements (15.4%) reached a consensus in the first rounds. Among the 22 remaining statements, one more consensus (3.8%) was achieved in the second round. Finally, seven more statements (26.9%) reached a consensus in the simplified last round. Globally, a consensus was reached for almost half of the proposed statements (46.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The relatively low consensus rate obtained in this Delphi seems to confirm the discrepancy between Guideline recommendations and daily clinical practice. The data collected could represent the source for a possible guidelines' revision and the proposal of specific Good Practice Points in all those aspects with only little evidence available

Atypical case of monkeypox with multiple bacterial skin superinfection

CORRESPONDENC

Sugar-sweetened Beverage Consumption among Adults, Cook County IL, 2017

This research brief presents information on the frequency of SSB consumption among adults aged 18-64 living in Cook County, Illinois in 2017, including by SSB type for soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, and tea/coffee

VAC therapy to promote wound healing after surgical revascularisation for critical lower limb ischaemia

Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy is a new emerging non-invasive system in wound care, which speeds up wound healing by causing vacuum, improving tissue perfusion and suctioning the exudates, and facilitating the removal of bacteria from the wound. The application of sub-atmospheric pressure on the lesions seems to alter the cytoskeleton of the cells on the wound bed, triggering a cascade of intracellular signals that increase the rate of cell division and subsequent formation of granulation tissue. The aim of this study is to analyse the results of VAC therapy used as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of foot wounds in patients affected by critical limb ischaemia (CLI) (Rutherford 6 class) after distal surgical revascularisation, to promote and accelerate the healing of ulcers. Twenty-nine patients (20 males, 9 females; mean age 68·4) affected by CLI of Rutherford 6 class, after surgical revascularisation of the lower limb, underwent VAC therapy in order to speed up wound healing. Complete wound healing was achieved in 19 patients (65·51%), in an average period of 45·4±25·6days. VAC therapy is a valid aid, after surgical revascularisation, to achieve rapid healing of foot lesions in patients with CLI