Characteristics and Prevalence of Vancomycin-variable Enterococcus faecium bacteremia in southern Taiwan.

Background: Vancomycin-variable enterococci (VVE) are vanA-carrying Enterococcus faecium that are phenotypically susceptible to vancomycin and can only be detected using molecular methods, leading to the possibility of treatment failure and posing threats to infection control. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of VVE and its associated clinical risk factors.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in two hospitals in southern Taiwan.

Enhancing indicator condition-guided HIV testing in Taiwan: a nationwide case-control study from 2009 to 2015.

Background: Although indicator condition (IC)-guided HIV testing (IC-HIVT) is effective at facilitating timely HIV diagnosis, research on IC categories and the related HIV risk in Taiwan is limited. To improve the adoption and spread of IC-HIVT in Taiwan, this study compared the IC categories of people living with HIV (PLWH) and non-HIV controls and investigated delays in the diagnosis of HIV infection.

Methods: This nationwide, retrospective, 1:10-matched case-control study analyzed data from the Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System and National Health Insurance Research Database to evaluate 42 ICs for the 5-year period preceding a matched HIV diagnostic date from 2009 to 2015.

Trends and the associated factors of optimal immunological response and virological response in late anti-retroviral therapy initiation HIV cases in Taiwan from 2009 to 2020.

Background: Late cART initiation (CD4 count ≤200 cells/μL or AIDS-defining opportunistic illnesses [AOIs] at cART initiation) impedes CD4 count recovery and virologic suppression after cART initiation. However, studies to evaluate trends of and modifiable factors for optimal immunological response (IR) and virological response (VR) in people living with HIV (PLWH) with late cART initiation with the current HIV treatment strategies are limited.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 475 PLWH with late cART initiation in 2009-2020.

The Beneficial Role of Photobiomodulation in Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Photobiomodulation (PBM), also known as Low-level Laser Therapy (LLLT), involves the use of light from a laser or light-emitting diode (LED) in the treatment of various disorders and it has recently gained increasing interest. Progressive neuronal loss with attendant consequences such as cognitive and/or motor decline characterize neurodegenerative diseases. The available therapeutic drugs have only been able to provide symptomatic relief and may also present with some side effects, thus precluding their use in treatment.

Effect of immunological non-response on incidence of Non-AIDS events in people living with HIV: A retrospective multicenter cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: People living with HIV (PLWH) are susceptible to non-AIDS-related events, particularly those with immunological nonresponses (INRs) to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). This study assessed the association of INRs with incident non-AIDS-related events among PLWH.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled PLWH who had newly diagnosed stage 3 HIV and received HAART between January 1, 2008, and December 31, 2019.

Emergence of a predominant sequence type ST7363 and the increasing trend of resistance to cefixime and ceftriaxone in Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Southern Taiwan, 2019-2021.

Background/purpose: Multi-drug resistance and the presence of epidemic lineages of Neisseria gonorrhoeae locally and globally were important clinical and public health issues. We aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology and the antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of N. gonorrhoeae in Southern Taiwan.

COVID-19 associated mold infections: Review of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis.

COVID-19-associated mold infection (CAMI) is defined as development of mold infections in COVID-19 patients. Co-pathogenesis of viral and fungal infections include the disruption of tissue barrier following SARS CoV-2 infection with the damage in the alveolar space, respiratory epithelium and endothelium injury and overwhelming inflammation and immune dysregulation during severe COVID-19. Other predisposing risk factors permissive to fungal infections during COVID-19 include the administration of immune modulators such as corticosteroids and IL-6 antagonist.

Recommendations and guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) associated bacterial and fungal infections in Taiwan.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that has rapidly evolved into a pandemic to cause over 600 million infections and more than 6.6 million deaths up to Nov 25, 2022. COVID-19 carries a high mortality rate in severe cases.

Comparison of Virological Efficacy of DTG/ABC/3TG and B/F/TAF Regimens and Discontinuation Patterns in Persons Living with Advanced HIV in the Era of Rapid ART: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study.

Introduction: International treatment guidelines recommend the rapid initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) with bictegravir (B)/emtricitabine (F)/tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens for treatment-naïve persons living with HIV (PLWH) irrespective of their disease stage. However, we lack evidence of the virological efficacy, virological failure, and tolerability of coformulated B/F/TAF and DTG/ABC/3TC regimens in persons living with advanced HIV (PLWAH; defined as persons with a CD4 count of < 200 cells/μL or an AIDS-related opportunistic illness [AOI] at or before ART initiation) in the era of rapid ART.

Methods: This retrospective multicenter study enrolled treatment-naïve PLWAH initiating ART with coformulated DTG/ABC/3TC or B/F/TAF in 2019-2020.

Switching to coformulated bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide maintained viral suppression in adults with historical virological failures and K65N/R mutation.

Objectives: Real-world experience with coformulated bictegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir alafenamide (BIC/FTC/TAF) is sparse as a switch regimen among people living with HIV (PLWH) having achieved viral suppression after previous virologic failures with the emergence of K65N/R.

Methods: In this retrospective study, PLWH aged ≥20 years who had previous virologic failures with emergent K65N/R were included for switching to BIC/FTC/TAF after having achieved plasma HIV RNA load (PVL) <200 copies/ml for ≥3 months. PLWH were excluded if integrase inhibitor resistance-associated mutations were detected.

Care cascade of tuberculosis infection treatment for people living with HIV in the era of antiretroviral therapy scale-up.

Testing and treatment of tuberculosis infection (TBI) are recommended for people living with HIV (PLWH). We aimed to evaluate the care cascade of TBI treatment among PLWH in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale-up. This retrospective study included adult PLWH undergoing interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA)-based TBI screening during 2019-2021.

Real-world effectiveness of direct-acting antivirals in people living with human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus genotype 6 infections.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 6 (HCV-6) infection is prevalent predominantly in Southeast Asia, and the data on the virologic response of HCV-6 to direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) are sparse in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH).

Aim: To assess the virologic response of HCV-6 to DAAs in PLWH.

Methods: From September 2016 to July 2019, PLWH coinfected with HCV-6 initiating DAAs were included.

Late cART Initiation Consistently Driven by Late HIV Presentation: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study in Taiwan from 2009 to 2019.

Introduction: Late initiation (LI) of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-defined as having a CD4 count of < 200 cells/μL or an AIDS-defining disease at cART initiation-has detrimental outcomes but remains prevalent worldwide, with LI trends and etiologies following the implementation of various HIV policies remaining underinvestigated. We assessed key concerns, characterized the determinants of various statuses at cART initiation, and evaluated the effects of those statuses on all-cause mortality after cART initiation.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective cohort study enrolled 1198 patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection during 2009-2019 who were grouped by status at cART initiation: those without LI (non-LI group, 56.

High prevalence of HIV-1 transmitted drug resistance and factors associated with time to virological failure and viral suppression in Taiwan.

Background: Integrase strand transfer inhibitor (InSTI)-based regimens have become the major first-line treatment for HIV-1-infected patients in Taiwan. Transmitted drug resistance (TDR) and several clinical characteristics are associated with time to virological failure or viral suppression; however, these have not been investigated in Taiwan.

Objectives: To determine the impact of several factors on treatment outcomes in HIV-1-infected patients in Taiwan.

Different Trends of Distinct Time Points of AIDS Events Following HIV Diagnosis in Various At-risk Populations: A Retrospective Nationwide Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Introduction: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) events at distinct time points after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) diagnosis require various AIDS prevention strategies. However, no nationwide epidemiological surveillance studies have been conducted to explore the trends of distinct AIDS event time points in various at-risk populations. The aim of this study was to explore the issues and characterize the determinants of AIDS status after HIV diagnosis.

Screening for Cryptococcal Antigenemia and Burden of Cryptococcosis at the Time of HIV Diagnosis: A Retrospective Multicenter Study.

Introduction: Screening for cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) is recommended for people living with HIV (PLWH) who present with low CD4 lymphocyte counts. Real-world experience is important to identify gaps between the guidelines and clinical practice. We investigated the trends of CrAg testing and prevalence of cryptococcal antigenemia among PLWH at the time of HIV diagnosis and the related mortality in Taiwan from 2009 to 2018.

Changing Pattern of Chemsex Drug Use Among Newly Diagnosed HIV-Positive Taiwanese from 2015 to 2020 in the Era of Treat-All Policy.

Chemsex drug use (CDU) is a frequent, yet neglected issue in the era of treat-all policy. We evaluated the temporal pattern of CDU, factors associated with CDU, and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between chemsex drugs and initial antiretroviral therapy (ART) by surveying 621 Taiwanese individuals (mean age: 29.7 years; 99.

Real-World Experience with Coformulated Ledipasvir and Sofosbuvir for HIV-Positive Patients with HCV Genotype 2 Infection: A Multicenter, Retrospective Study.

Introduction: While coformulated ledipasvir (90 mg)/sofosbuvir (400 mg) (LDV/SOF) is approved for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 (GT2) infection in Taiwan, Japan, and New Zealand, data regarding its use for HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)-positive patients infected with HCV GT2 are sparse. We aimed to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of LDV/SOF for HIV-positive patients with HCV GT2 coinfection.

Methods: From January 2019 to July 2020, consecutive HIV-positive Taiwanese patients infected with HCV GT2 who received LDV/SOF were retrospectively included for analysis.

Cascade Analysis of Anonymous Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Among Patients with HIV Infection in Taiwan.

Despite successful implementation of anonymous voluntary human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counseling and testing (aVCT) in Taiwan, the trend of late HIV presentation in sexually active populations has remained unchanged in Taiwan over the past decade. We evaluated the effect and acceptance of an aVCT cascade program among Taiwanese individuals by surveying 572 participants (mean age: 29.6 years; 99.

Ongoing transmission of Entamoeba histolytica among newly diagnosed people living with HIV in Taiwan, 2009-2018.

Recent outbreaks of enterically transmitted infections, including acute hepatitis A and shigellosis, have raised the concerns of increasing Entamoeba histolytica infection (EHI) among people living with HIV (PLWH) in Taiwan. This study investigated the prevalence of EHI, its temporal trends, and associated factors among newly diagnosed PLWH in Taiwan. Medical records of newly diagnosed PLWH at six medical centers in Taiwan between 2009 and 2018 were reviewed.

Determining the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors for the outcomes of Japanese encephalitis in adults: A multicenter study from southern Taiwan.

Background: In Southeast Asia, Japanese encephalitis (JE) is an important cause of viral encephalitis which may cause severe neurological sequelae. JE affects mostly children; therefore, clinical presentations and prognosis of adult JE patients are seldom addressed. This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors for the outcome of adult JE patients.