Booster-free anti-retroviral therapy for persons living with HIV and multidrug resistance (B-Free): protocol for a multicentre, multistage, randomised, controlled, non-inferiority trial.

Introduction: Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) simplification strategies are needed for treatment-experienced people with HIV (PWH) and multidrug-resistant viruses. These individuals are commonly treated with boosted ART regimens and are thereby at risk for harmful drug-drug interactions (DDI). In this trial, we aim to assess the efficacy of the combination doravirine, dolutegravir and lamivudine (DOR/DTG/3TC) among people with a history of virological failure who receive boosted ART.

Impact of hormonal therapy on HIV-1 immune markers in cis women and gender minorities.

Background: Although sex hormones are recognized to induce immune variations, the effect of hormonal therapy use on immunity is only poorly understood. Here, we quantified how hormonal therapy use affects HIV-1 immune markers in cis women (CW) and trans women and non-binary people (TNBP) with HIV.

Methods: We considered CD4, CD8 and lymphocyte measurements from cis men (CM), CW and TNBP in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Weight, Anthropometric and Metabolic Changes After Discontinuing Antiretroviral Therapy Containing Tenofovir Alafenamide in People With HIV.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-related weight gain is of particular concern in people with HIV (PWH). Although weight gain was observed among PWH receiving tenofovir alafenamide (TAF), little is known about the potential reversibility after TAF discontinuation. We evaluated weight and metabolic changes 12 months after TAF discontinuation in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Deciphering Factors Linked With Reduced Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Susceptibility in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background: Factors influencing susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remain to be resolved. Using data from the Swiss HIV Cohort Study on 6270 people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and serologic assessment for SARS-CoV-2 and circulating human coronavirus (HCoV) antibodies, we investigated the association of HIV-related and general parameters with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: We analyzed SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction test results, COVID-19-related hospitalizations, and deaths reported to the Swiss HIV Cohort Study between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021.

Long-term trends in hepatitis C prevalence, treatment uptake and liver-related events in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

Background And Aims: Treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections changed dramatically in the last decade. We assessed changes in the prevalence of replicating HCV infection, treatment uptake and liver-related morbidity and mortality in persons with HIV (PWH) and hepatitis C in the Swiss HIV cohort study.

Methods: We included all cohort participants between 2002 and 2021.

Association of antimicrobial perioperative prophylaxis with cefuroxime plus metronidazole or amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and surgical site infections in colorectal surgery.

Objective: To compare intravenous (IV) amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (A/CA) to IV cefuroxime plus metronidazole (C + M) for preventing surgical site infections (SSI) in colorectal surgery.

Background: Given their spectra that include most Enterobacterales and anaerobes, C + M is commonly recommended as prophylaxis of SSI in colorectal surgery. A/CA offers good coverage of Enterobacterales and anaerobes as well, but, in contrast to C + M, it also includes Enterococcus faecalis which is also isolated from patients with SSI and could trigger anastomotic leakage.

Burden of disease in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 during the first and second pandemic wave in Switzerland: a nationwide cohort study.

Aim Of The Study: The first and second waves of the COVID-19 pandemic led to a tremendous burden of disease and influenced several policy directives, prevention and treatment strategies as well as lifestyle and social behaviours. We aimed to describe trends of hospitalisations with COVID-19 and hospital-associated outcomes in these patients during the first two pandemic waves in Switzerland.

Methods: In this nationwide retrospective cohort study, we used in-hospital claims data of patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Switzerland between January 1st and December 31st, 2020.

Impact of Integrase Inhibitors on Cardiovascular Disease Events in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Starting Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background: Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) have been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. We investigated the impact of starting INSTI-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) on CVD events among treatment-naïve people with human immunodeficiency virus using a target trial framework, which reduces the potential for confounding and selection bias.

Methods: We included Swiss HIV Cohort Study participants who were ART-naïve after May 2008, when INSTIs became available in Switzerland.

HCV elimination in a Swiss opioid agonist therapy programme - a cohort study.

Background: In opioid agonist therapy (OAT) programmes, chronic hepatitis C is highly prevalent and directly observed therapy guarantees optimal adherence. Since 2017, all patients with chronic hepatitis C in Switzerland can be treated with pangenotypic direct-acting antivirals irrespective of liver fibrosis stage. Until the end of 2021, however, prescription was restricted to infectious disease specialists, gastroenterologists and certain addiction specialists.

Quantifying and Predicting Ongoing Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Transmission Dynamics in Switzerland Using a Distance-Based Clustering Approach.

Background: Despite effective prevention approaches, ongoing human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) transmission remains a public health concern indicating a need for identifying its drivers.

Methods: We combined a network-based clustering method using evolutionary distances between viral sequences with statistical learning approaches to investigate the dynamics of HIV transmission in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study and to predict the drivers of ongoing transmission.

Results: We found that only a minority of clusters and patients acquired links to new infections between 2007 and 2020.

SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination in People with Multiple Sclerosis Treated with Fingolimod: Protective Humoral Immune Responses May Develop after the Preferred Third Shot.

Evidence suggests limited development of protective IgG responses to mRNA-based vaccines in sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR)-modulator treated individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). We studied the extent of the humoral immune response after the preferred third mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in S1PR-modulator treated people with MS (pwMS) and insufficient IgG responses after the standard immunization scheme. Eight pwMS that were treated with fingolimod received a third homologous SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine dose, either the Moderna's mRNA-1273 or Pfizer-BioNTech's BNT162b2 vaccine.

Perception of physicians and nursing staff members regarding outside versus bedside ward rounds: ancillary analysis of the randomised BEDSIDE-OUTSIDE trial.

Background: We recently compared the effects of bedside and outside the room ward rounds on patients' knowledge about their medical care. Here, we report preferences of medical and nursing staff members regarding outside versus bedside ward rounds.

Methods: Within this ancillary project of a large multicentre randomised controlled trial, we prospectively conducted a survey of medical and nursing staff members participating in the weekly consultant ward rounds in the internal medicine division of three Swiss teaching hospitals between July 2017 and October 2019.

HCV RNA quantification in capillary dried blood spots with the Xpert® HCV Viral Load test for diagnosing chronic HCV infection, monitoring treatment and detecting reinfection.

Background: For patients with difficult venous access after long-term intravenous drug use, rapid point-of-care hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA quantification in capillary whole blood with the Xpert® HCV Viral Load Fingerstick (VL FS) test (60 minutes) is a convenient and reliable method for diagnosing chronic HCV infection, monitoring treatment and detecting reinfection. However, an expensive GeneXpert® system must be available on site. In decentralised settings with a low case-load, dried blood spot (DBS) testing might be an alternative.

Humoral Immune Response after the Third SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination in CD20 Depleted People with Multiple Sclerosis.

CD20 depletion is a risk factor for unfavorable outcomes of COVID-19 in people with MS (pwMS). Evidence suggests that protective IgG response to mRNA-based vaccines in B cell-depleted individuals is limited. We studied the seroconversion after the third mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in B cell-depleted pwMS with limited or no IgG response after the standard immunization.

Call, chosen, HAT, ANDC: validation of four severity scores in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose: To externally validate four previously developed severity scores (i.e., CALL, CHOSEN, HAT and ANDC) in patients with COVID-19 hospitalised in a tertiary care centre in Switzerland.

The Role of HbA1c as a Positive Perioperative Predictor of Surgical Site and Other Postoperative Infections: An Explorative Analysis in Patients Undergoing Minor to Major Surgery.

Background: Patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) inhere impaired peripheral insulin action leading to higher perioperative morbidity and mortality rates, with hospital-acquired infections being one important complication. This post hoc, observational study aimed to analyze the impact of surgical and metabolic stress as defined by the surrogate marker hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), in relation to self-reported DM2, on perioperative infection rates in a subcohort of the Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Trial population.

Methods: All patients of the SSI study were screened for HbA1c levels measured perioperatively for elective or emergency surgery and classified according to the American Diabetes Association HbA1c cutoff values.

Long COVID 1 year after hospitalisation for COVID-19: a prospective bicentric cohort study.

AIMS OF THE STUDY: There is increasing interest in better understanding of long COVID, a condition characterised by long-term sequelae — appearing or persisting after the typical convalescence period — of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Herein, we describe long-term outcomes regarding residual symptoms and psychological distress in hospitalised patients 1 year after COVID-19. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included consecutive adult patients hospitalised for confirmed COVID-19 in two Swiss tertiary-care hospitals between March and June 2020.

Comparison of characteristics, predictors and outcomes between the first and second COVID-19 waves in a tertiary care centre in Switzerland: an observational analysis.

Aim Of The Study: To compare admission characteristics, predictors and outcomes of patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalised in a tertiary care hospital in Switzerland during the first and second waves of the pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective observational analysis included adult patients with  severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection confirmed by a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or rapid antigen test and hospitalised at the Cantonal Hospital Aarau from 26 February to 30 April 2020 (first wave) and from 1 October to 31 December 2020 (second wave). The primary endpoint was all-cause in-hospital mortality.

Effect of Bedside Compared With Outside the Room Patient Case Presentation on Patients' Knowledge About Their Medical Care : A Randomized, Controlled, Multicenter Trial.

Background: Although bedside case presentation contributes to patient-centered care through active patient participation in medical discussions, the complexity of medical information and jargon-induced confusion may cause misunderstandings and patient discomfort.

Objective: To compare bedside versus outside the room patient case presentation regarding patients' knowledge about their medical care.

Design: Randomized, controlled, parallel-group trial.

Activation of Vasopressin System During COVID-19 is Associated With Adverse Clinical Outcomes: An Observational Study.

Background: Activation of the vasopressin system plays a key role for the maintenance of osmotic, cardiovascular, and stress hormone homeostasis during disease. We investigated levels of copeptin, the C-terminal segment of the vasopressin prohormone, that mirrors the production rate of vasopressin in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods: We measured levels of copeptin on admission and after days 3/4, 5/6, and 7/8 in 74 consecutive hospitalized adult COVID-19 patients and compared its prognostic accuracy to that of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (n = 876) and acute or chronic bronchitis (n = 371) from a previous study by means of logistic regression analysis.

Association of endothelial activation assessed through endothelin-I precursor peptide measurement with mortality in COVID-19 patients: an observational analysis.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) disease (COVID-19) has been linked to thrombotic complications and endothelial dysfunction. We assessed the prognostic implications of endothelial activation through measurement of endothelin-I precursor peptide (proET-1), the stable precursor protein of Endothelin-1, in a well-defined cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods: We measured proET-1 in 74 consecutively admitted adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 and compared its prognostic accuracy to that of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (n = 876) and viral bronchitis (n = 371) from a previous study by means of logistic regression analysis.

Lung Assessment with Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Respiratory Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19): A Prospective Cohort Study.

Lung ultrasound (LUS) has shown promising diagnostic potential in different pulmonary conditions. We evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of LUS for pulmonary COVID-19. In this prospective cohort study at a Swiss tertiary care center, patients hospitalized with suspected COVID-19 were scanned using a 12-zone protocol.