Coronary Plaque in People With HIV vs Non-HIV Asymptomatic Community and Symptomatic Higher-Risk Populations.

Background: People with HIV (PWH) have a high burden of coronary plaques; however, the comparison to people without known HIV (PwoH) needs clarification.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine coronary plaque burden/phenotype in PWH vs PwoH.

Methods: Nonstatin using participants from 3 contemporary populations without known coronary plaques with coronary CT were compared: the REPRIEVE (Randomized Trial to Prevent Vascular Events in HIV) studying PWH without cardiovascular symptoms at low-to-moderate risk (n = 755); the SCAPIS (Swedish Cardiopulmonary Bioimage Study) of asymptomatic community PwoH at low-to-intermediate cardiovascular risk (n = 23,558); and the PROMISE (Prospective Multicenter Imaging Study for Evaluation of Chest Pain) of stable chest pain PwoH (n = 2,291).

Advancing Health Equity: The Role of a Community-Academic-Public Health-Practice (CAPP) Partnership in Addressing COVID-19 Disparities in Louisiana.

We assessed the impact of an innovative Louisiana community-academic-public health-practice (CAPP) partnership in addressing COVID-19-associated Black-White vaccination disparities over 19 months. Initially (April 2021), the cumulative vaccinations for Black versus White Louisianans were 54 542 per 100 000 versus 62 435 per 100 000, respectively. By October 2022, cumulative vaccinations for Black versus White Louisianans were 142 437 per 100 000 versus 132 488 per 100 000, respectively.

Retrospective cohort study comparing two versus three blood culture sets in people who inject drugs.

Background: The current standard of drawing two vs three blood culture sets lacks adequate guidance. Because people who inject drugs are at higher risk for bacteraemia and life-threatening infection, consideration of a third blood culture becomes more important.

Aim: To investigate the risks and benefits of obtaining two versus three blood culture sets.

Let's Join the Lane: The Role of Infectious Diseases Physicians in Preventing Gun Violence.

On November 7, 2018, the National Rifle Association (NRA) issued a tweet advising "self-important anti-gun doctors to stay in their lane." The tweet has galvanized physicians to share their experiences with gun violence through the grassroots #ThisISOurLane campaign. Infectious diseases physicians are regularly called upon to manage complications such as infected wounds and osteomyelitis in gunshot victims.

Risk Factors for Low CD4+ Count Recovery Despite Viral Suppression Among Participants Initiating Antiretroviral Treatment With CD4+ Counts > 500 Cells/mm3: Findings From the Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Therapy (START) Trial.

Background: Low CD4 recovery among HIV-positive individuals who achieve virologic suppression is common but has not been studied among individuals initiating treatment at CD4 counts of >500 cells/mm.

Setting: United States, Africa, Asia, Europe and Israel, Australia, Latin America.

Methods: Among participants randomized to immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Strategic Timing of AntiRetroviral Therapy trial, low CD4 recovery was defined as a CD4 increase of <50 cells/mm from baseline after 8 months despite viral load of ≤200 copies/mL.

IKBKG (NEMO) 5' Untranslated Splice Mutations Lead to Severe, Chronic Disseminated Mycobacterial Infections.

Four patients with adult-onset, disseminated mycobacterial infection had 5' UTR mutations in IKBKG without clear physical stigmata of NEMO deficiency. These mutations caused decreased levels of NEMO protein and Toll-like receptor driven cytokine production. Three patients died from disseminated disease.

AQ-13, an investigational antimalarial, versus artemether plus lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a randomised, phase 2, non-inferiority clinical trial.

Background: Chloroquine was used for malaria treatment until resistant Plasmodium falciparum was identified. Because 4-aminoquinolines with modified side chains, such as AQ-13, are active against resistant parasites, we compared AQ-13 against artemether plus lumefantrine for treatment of uncomplicated P falciparum malaria.

Methods: We did a randomised, non-inferiority trial.

Nocardia exalbida blebitis: a case report.

Purpose: To report the first documented case of Nocardia exalbida blebitis.

Methods: A 57-year-old immunocompetent African American man with a long-standing history of open-angle glaucoma in both eyes treated with trabeculectomy presented with a diffusely hyperemic, thin, cystic, leaky bleb with no discharge in his left eye. The patient underwent bleb revision using an amniotic membrane patch graft followed by 1 month of antibiotics.

MSG-01: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of caspofungin prophylaxis followed by preemptive therapy for invasive candidiasis in high-risk adults in the critical care setting.

Background: Invasive candidiasis is the third most common bloodstream infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with morbidity and mortality. Prophylaxis and preemptive therapy are attractive strategies for this setting.

Methods: We conducted a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of caspofungin as antifungal prophylaxis in 222 adults who were in the ICU for at least 3 days, were ventilated, received antibiotics, had a central line, and had 1 additional risk factor (parenteral nutrition, dialysis, surgery, pancreatitis, systemic steroids, or other immunosuppressants).

Successful transplantation of HIV patients: the Louisiana experience.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositivity has historically been an absolute contraindication for solid organ transplantation. However, the successful application of HAART (highly active anti-retroviral therapy) drug regimens has greatly prolonged the life expectancy of HIV-positive patients. Therefore, it has become appropriate to consider this patient population for transplantation.

The modern day masquerader: a rare case of acute HIV infection with neurologic complications and a review of the literature.

Our case demonstrates a rare presentation of acute HIV infection (AHI) with myoclonus, rhabdomyolysis, and aseptic meningitis. It is imperative for primary care physicians to consider AHI. In this patient, laboratory findings demonstrated infection three to four months before presentation.

Tetanus: a review.

Tetanus is a preventable illness occurring worldwide with a high mortality, mostly affecting neonates in developing countries. Effects are toxin mediated and the diagnosis is clinical. Antibiotics, antitoxin, immunoglobulin and wound care are the mainstays of management.

Gender differences in HIV drug resistance mutations and virological outcome.

Background: Previous studies have shown that female gender has higher odds of developing HIV drug resistance mutations. We aimed to evaluate the gender differences in HIV drug resistance mutation patterns and outcomes in a cohort of an HIV-infected population who underwent genotype resistance testing (GRT).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study from January 2004 to April 2007 of patients >12 years of age who underwent GRT in the HIV Outpatient Program Clinic (HOP) at the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans.

Final report of the Lyme disease review panel of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

In April 2008, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) entered into an agreement with Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to voluntarily undertake a special review of its 2006 Lyme disease guidelines. This agreement ended the Attorney General's investigation into the process by which the guidelines were developed. The IDSA agreed to convene an independent panel to conduct a one-time review of the guidelines.

Klebsiella pneumoniae endophthalmitis secondary to liver abscess presenting as acute iridocyclitis.

A 51-year-old man presented with acute iridocyclitis with no evidence of vitritis on B-scan that progressed to endogenous endophthalmitis. Systemic work-up revealed a large liver abscess. Urine, blood, liver abscess, and vitreous aspirate cultures all grew Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Antibiotic dosing in slow extended daily dialysis.

Slow extended daily dialysis (SLEDD) is the newest form of dialysis that is being used increasingly to replace continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD) for critically ill patients; it is less expensive to administer and has similar safety for patients who are prone to hemodynamic instability. Unfortunately, there are limited data regarding the appropriate dosing of antimicrobial agents for patients undergoing SLEDD. Furthermore, many nonnephrologists are not familiar with the differences between SLEDD, other continuous renal replacement therapies--for example, CVVHD--and routine hemodialysis.

A case of laryngeal histoplasmosis mimicking carcinoma with a review of the literature.

Histoplasma capsulatum is endemic to the Ohio and Mississippi River valley regions of the United States. Infection with this fungus produces a broad range of clinical and pathologic manifestations. We report a case of laryngeal histoplasmosis, mimicking carcinoma, presenting as a manifestation of chronic disseminated histoplasmosis.

Randomized dose-ranging controlled trial of AQ-13, a candidate antimalarial, and chloroquine in healthy volunteers.

Objectives: To determine: (1) the pharmacokinetics and safety of an investigational aminoquinoline active against multidrug-resistant malaria parasites (AQ-13), including its effects on the QT interval, and (2) whether it has pharmacokinetic and safety profiles similar to chloroquine (CQ) in humans.

Design: Phase I double-blind, randomized controlled trials to compare AQ-13 and CQ in healthy volunteers. Randomizations were performed at each step after completion of the previous dose.

Head and neck manifestations in HIV infection.

Diseases of the head and neck often are the first sign of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. As current treatment increases the survival time of HIV-positive patients, the physician may encounter patients with a greater variety and number of diseases related to the primary HIV infection. Some entities are harbingers of HIV infection, such as Kaposi's sarcoma and parotid cystic enlargement.