Use and Efficacy of I-gel in Complicated Intubations in Newborn Infants: A Review of Case Reports in the Literature.

Introduction: Current guidelines for neonatal resuscitation suggest the use of a laryngeal mask when ventilation with both facemask and endotracheal tube has failed in newborns weighing >2000 g or delivered ≥ 34 weeks of gestation age. Paediatric I-gel is one of the latest supraglottic airway management devices suitable for children and newborns. I-gel use was effective in guaranteeing adequate ventilation in patients with anatomic abnormalities in case of respiratory impairment or during surgical procedures after the induction of anaesthesia.

Immediate implants with buccal defects filled with bone from the tuberosity or a xenograft: 1-year randomized trial.

The aim of this study was to compare the use of autologous bone from tuberosity (TUBER) and deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) in immediate implants with buccal bone defects. A total of 31 patients with one single tooth in the upper anterior region indicated for extraction presenting tomographic buccal bone defect were analyzed. Immediate implantation was conducted for all patients.

Undefined/non-malignant hepatic nodules are associated with early occurrence of HCC in DAA-treated patients with HCV-related cirrhosis.

Background & Aim: An unexpected early increase in incidence, recurrence and clinical aggressiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been reported (and refuted) in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment. To address this controversy, we performed a prospective multicenter study on consecutively enrolled cirrhotic patients, with or without a history of HCC, undergoing DAA therapy.

Patients And Methods: A total of 1,161 HCC-free cirrhotics (group 1) and 124 cirrhotics who had received a curative treatment for an HCC (group 2) were enrolled.

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and pulmonary tuberculosis in a patient treated with infliximab for Crohn's disease.

We report a case of concurrent development of active pulmonary tuberculosis and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in a patient who received therapy with infliximab for Crohn's disease. He has been treated with antitubercular therapy and liposomal amphotericin B for 8 weeks. His clinical course was complicated by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation requiring maintenance therapy with amiodarone, respiratory failure due both to pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing and pleural effusion requiring chest drainage.

Use of colistin in adult patients: A cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess colistin use in a country endemic for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB).

Methods: Colistin prescription patterns were evaluated in 22 Italian centres. Factors associated with use of colistin in combination with other anti-MDR-GNB agents were also assessed.

Hepatitis C screening in the Emergency Department of a large hospital in southern Italy: results of a pilot study.

Around 71 million people worldwide are chronically infected with hepatitis C. HCV prevalence among individuals born in the United States between 1945 and 1965 is estimated to be about 3%. In Italy, about 2% of the population is chronically infected with HCV.

Treatment with direct-acting antivirals improves the clinical outcome in patients with HCV-related decompensated cirrhosis: results from an Italian real-life cohort (Liver Network Activity-LINA cohort).

Background: Direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are safe and effective for the treatment of HCV infection. However, data regarding their efficacy in patients with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis are scarce and their capability in improving liver function is debated. The aim of our study was to assess the clinical benefits of treatment with DAA in subjects with Child-Pugh B cirrhosis.

Epidemiology and Microbiology of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: Preliminary Results of a National Registry.

Skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) represent a wide range of clinical conditions characterized by a considerable variety of clinical presentations and severity. Their aetiology can also vary, with numerous possible causative pathogens. While other authors previously published analyses on several types of SSTI and on restricted types of patients, we conducted a large nationwide surveillance programme on behalf of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases to assess the clinical and microbiological characteristics of the whole SSTI spectrum, from mild to severe life-threatening infections, in both inpatients and outpatients.

Bacterial and CMV pneumonia in a patient treated with alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis.

Alemtuzumab (a drug highly active in multiple sclerosis) is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting the surface molecule CD52. It causes a rapid depletion of innate and adaptive immune cells with a peak during the first month after infusion. Infection rates in alemtuzumab-treated patients with multiple sclerosis in clinical trials were higher in than in interferon beta-treated patients.

Current evidence on the management of hepatitis B in pregnancy.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the main public health problems across the globe, since almost one third of the world population presents serological markers of contact with the virus. A profound impact on the epidemiology has been exerted by universal vaccination programmes in many countries, nevertheless the infection is still widespread also in its active form. In the areas of high endemicity (prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen positivity > 7%), mother-to-child transmission represents the main modality of infection spread.

Prevalence of HSV1/2 Congenital Infection Assessed Through Genome Detection on Dried Blood Spot in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

Background/aim: Etiopathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) remains to be elucidated. Congenital infections, particularly viral infections, have repeatedly been associated with the onset of such disorders. Our study aimed at assessing the prevalence of herpes simplex type 1 and 2 (HSV1/2) congenital infections in patients with ASD.

Current and emerging pharmacotherapy for the treatment of bacterial peritonitis.

Introduction: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is the quintessential model of bacterial infection in cirrhotic patients. In these particularly frail subjects, infections clearly worsen prognosis increasing substantially mortality. Furthermore, treatment of SBP has become more challenging because of the growing impact of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria.

Prevalence and risk factors of erectile dysfunction in patients with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus or chronic liver disease: results from a prospective study.

Unlabelled: Background Approximately 300million people are affected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection worldwide. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a frequent condition that impairs the quality of life and can be associated with several chronic disorders (type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, depression). Few studies have evaluated the prevalence of ED in patients with HBV and HCV chronic infection.

Forecasting Hepatitis C liver disease burden on real-life data. Does the hidden iceberg matter to reach the elimination goals?

Background & Aims: Advances in direct-acting antiviral treatment of HCV have reinvigorated public health initiatives aimed at identifying affected individuals. We evaluated the possible impact of only diagnosed and linked-to-care individuals on overall HCV burden estimates and identified a possible strategy to achieve the WHO targets by 2030.

Methods: Using a modelling approach grounded in Italian real-life data of diagnosed and treated patients, different linkage-to-care scenarios were built to evaluate potential strategies in achieving the HCV elimination goals.

Risk of opportunistic infections in patients treated with alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis.

Introduction: Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal anti CD-52 antibody recently approved for use in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis(MS). Given that the targeted antigen is primarily expressed on B and T lymphocytes, the administration of this biological drug is associated with rapid but protracted peripheral lymphopenia.

Areas Covered: The impact on infective risk of this immune impairment is still to be fully understood.