Microbiology of bloodstream infections in Ontario, Canada during COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by a wide range of bacterial and fungal pathogens are associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Based on an estimate in 2017, the number of BSI incidences in Ontario is 150 per 100,000 population. The epidemiology of BSIs may be affected by many factors, including the social and travel restrictions and increased rates of hospitalizations in Ontario during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Trends in the Rates of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Isolated from Urine Cultures during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario, Canada.

Worldwide, extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) rates are increasing at an alarming level with increasing rates of health care exposures, international travel, and antibiotic usage. In this study, we investigated whether enhanced social isolation, travel restrictions, and the reduced use of antibiotics in Ontario, Canada during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had an impact on ESBL rates in urine cultures collected from the community and long-term-care (LTC) facilities across the province. Data from a total of 8.

Secondary Analysis of a Systematic Review: Are Antifungal Noninferiority Trials at Risk of Eroding Effectiveness Because of Biocreep?

Noninferiority randomized controlled trial (RCT) effectiveness may erode when results favor the active control over time and when a decreasingly effective control arm is used in serial trials. We analyzed 32 antifungal noninferiority RCTs (NI-RCTs) for these scenarios in this secondary analysis of a systematic review. Our exploratory analysis suggests that the erosion risk in the effectiveness of antifungal noninferiority trials is uncommon.

pericarditis in a lymphoma patient: Case report and literature review.

We present a case of pericarditis with pericardial effusion secondary to A 56-year-old man presented with signs of acute pericarditis, but with prior chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with stem cell transplantation, chronic graft-versus-host disease, and a recent diagnosis of untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. He developed cardiac tamponade requiring pericardiocentesis. Blood and pericardial cultures grew .

Treatment of urinary tract infections in the era of antimicrobial resistance and new antimicrobial agents.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) caused by antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are a growing concern due to limited treatment options. Knowledge of the common uropathogens in addition to local susceptibility patterns is essential in determining appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy of UTIs. The recommended first-line empiric antibiotic therapy for acute uncomplicated bacterial cystitis in otherwise healthy adult nonpregnant females is a 5-day course of nitrofurantoin, a 3-g single dose of fosfomycin tromethamine, or a 5-day course of pivmecillinam.

Prevalence of antibodies to HHV-8 in the general population and in individuals at risk for sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in Catania, Eastern Sicily.

Human herpes virus 8 (HHV-8) is the putative infectious agent of multifactorial diseases, such as Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), primary effusion lymphoma and multicentric Castleman's disease. However, its exact mode of action as well as its transmission is still under investigation. Besides, little is known about its seroprevalence in the population.

Seminal reservoirs during an HIV type 1 eradication trial.

Despite dramatic reduction of the levels of human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) virions in blood and seminal plasma of infected patients, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) does not eradicate HIV-1. Three patients, with less than 50 copies/ml of plasma viral RNA, were enrolled in this eradication protocol. Didanosine (DDI) and hydroxyurea (HU) were added to their baseline HAART and after a month of therapy, low dose OKT3, followed by a 2-week course of interleukin 2 (IL-2), was administrated.

Peripheral blood Dendritic cells are not a major reservoir for HIV type 1 in infected individuals on virally suppressive HAART.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are potent antigen-presenting cells, and their physiological localization in tissues that interact with the external environment is important as a first barrier against pathogens such as human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1). Several models have been proposed to explain the possible role of DCs as a reservoir for HIV-1 in patients on virally suppressive highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). However, the low yield of cell isolates has made this evaluation a difficult task.