Human cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus infections occurring early after transplantation are risk factors for antibody-mediated rejection in heart transplant recipients.

Background: Antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) is a serious complication affecting the survival of patients receiving transplantation. Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are common viral infections that occur after transplantation, frequently emerging as viral reactivation in donor grafts or transplant recipients. The present study aimed to investigate the association between CMV and EBV infections and early-onset AMR.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Diabetic Foot Infections, an Epidemiological Study in Northeastern Italy.

This study is a retrospective epidemiological assessment of bacterial species isolated from a cohort of out-patients with diabetic foot infections referred to our "Diabetic Foot Unit" over one year, with particular attention to index pathogens, as identified by the EARS Network. and accounted for 33.5% and 11.

Outcome of a First Episode of Bacterial Infection in Candidates for Liver Transplantation.

Bacterial infection (BI) is a major cause of worsening of liver function and death in patients with cirrhosis who are awaiting liver transplantation (LT). This study aimed to evaluate the outcome of LT candidates after a first episode of BI between January 2006 and December 2014 at Padua University Hospital. Among 876 LT candidates with cirrhosis, 114 (13%) experienced an episode of BI.

Antiviral treatment and virological monitoring of oseltamivir-resistant influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 in a patient with chronic B lymphocytic leukemia.

We report the virological monitoring and the antiviral therapy adopted for the treatment of a patient affected by chronic B lymphocytic leukemia, who experienced a severe pneumonia with long-term shedding of influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09, characterized by an early development of oseltamivir resistance.

Plasmodium knowlesi malaria in a traveller returning from the Philippines to Italy, 2016.

Plasmodium knowlesi is a simian parasite responsible for most human cases of malaria in Malaysian Borneo. A timely recognition of infection is crucial because of the risk of severe disease due to the rapid increase in parasitemia. We report a case of P.

Infection dynamics in a traveller with persistent shedding of Zika virus RNA in semen for six months after returning from Haiti to Italy, January 2016.

We describe the dynamics of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in a man in his early 40s who developed fever and rash after returning from Haiti to Italy, in January 2016. Follow-up laboratory testing demonstrated detectable ZIKV RNA in plasma up to day 9 after symptom onset and in urine and saliva up to days 15 and 47, respectively. Notably, persistent shedding of ZIKV RNA was demonstrated in semen, still detectable at 181 days after onset.

Comparison of cytomegalovirus (CMV) enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot and CMV quantiferon gamma interferon-releasing assays in assessing risk of CMV infection in kidney transplant recipients.

Assessing cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) represents an appealing strategy for identifying transplant recipients at risk of infection. In this study, we compared two gamma interferon-releasing assays (IGRAs), Quantiferon-CMV and CMV enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISPOT), to determine the ability of each test to predict protective CMV-specific T-cell responses. Two hundred twenty-one Quantiferon-CMV and ELISPOT tests were conducted on 120 adult kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), including 100 CMV-seropositive transplant recipients (R+) and 20 CMV-seronegative transplant recipients of a CMV-positive donor (D+/R-).

[CMV and kidney transplant: prophylaxis and therapy].

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is still an important cause of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. Valganciclovir allows prophylaxis and therapy in an outpatient setting in most cases. PV16000, Victor and Impact200 are the double-blind multicenter studies which have introduced valganciclovir in everyday clinical practice.

Human cytomegalovirus-specific T-cell immune reconstitution in preemptively treated heart transplant recipients identifies subjects at critical risk for infection.

Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection represents a major threat for heart transplant recipients (HTXs). CMV-specific T cells effectively control virus infection, and thus, assessment of antiviral immune recovery may have clinical utility in identifying HTXs at risk of infection. In this study, 10 CMV-seropositive (R(+)) pretransplant patients and 48 preemptively treated R(+) HTXs were examined before and after 100 days posttransplant.

Pontocerebellar angle aspergillosis: clinical and radiological findings.

Introduction: Cerebral aspergillosis is a rare and severe condition mostly affecting immunocompromised patients. The lesions are usually intra-axial and supratentorial; several radiologic patterns have been reported.

Case Report: A 65-year-old patient with chronic lymphocytic leukemia presented with fever, headache, and a pontocerebellar syndrome.

Evaluation of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific T cell immune reconstitution revealed that baseline antiviral immunity, prophylaxis, or preemptive therapy but not antithymocyte globulin treatment contribute to CMV-specific T cell reconstitution in kidney transplant recipients.

Background: The ultimate goal of organ transplantation is the reestablishment of organ function and the restoration of a solid immunity to prevent the assault of potentially deadly pathogens. T cell immunity is crucial in controlling cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. It is still unknown how preexisting antiviral T cell levels, prophylaxis, or preemptive antiviral strategies and pharmacological conditioning affect immune reconstitution.

Successful prophylaxis with valaciclovir for relapsing HSV-1 in a girl treated with infliximab for moderate Crohn's disease.

Biological agents such as inhibitors of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha ) are associated with the development of opportunistic infections. Although there are no international recommendations for the management of opportunistic infections, their prevention is a key safety issue for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We report that chemoprophylaxis with oral valaciclovir was effective in preventing Herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) reactivation in a girl treated with infliximab for Crohn's disease.

Torque Teno Virus: any pathological role in liver transplanted patients?

Few studies have been performed on the prevalence of Torque Teno Virus (TTV) infection in liver transplant (LT) recipients. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, viremia and genogroup pattern of TTV among LT patients and to ascertain whether TTV causes liver damage in liver transplanted patients with biochemical and histological changes of unknown origin. Twenty-five patients were evaluated before and after LT; 80 healthy subjects were considered as controls.

Cytomegalovirus in transplantation - challenging the status quo.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients causes both ''direct'' and ''indirect'' effects including allograft rejection, decreased graft and patient survival, and predisposition to opportunistic infections and malignancies. Options for CMV prevention include pre-emptive therapy, whereby anti-CMV agents are administered based on sensitive viral assays, or universal prophylaxis of all at-risk patients. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages in terms of efficacy, costs, and side effects.

Linezolid in the treatment of brain abscess due to Peptostreptococcus.

Brain abscesses can be caused by bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Among bacteria, anaerobic organisms include the Bacteroides species group, Fusobacterium, Peptostreptococcus, and Propionibacterium. In these cases, a 4-week course of parenteral penicillin/cefalosporin and metronidazole is the standard of treatment.

Synercid plus vancomycin for the treatment of severe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci infections: evaluation of 5 cases.

Synercid (quinupristin/dalfopristin), the first semi-synthetic injectable streptogramin, is a promising alternative to glycopeptides against many Gram-positive multiresistant bacteria. Vancomycin is still considered an effective agent for the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections but therapeutic failures with glycopeptides have been observed, even for the treatment of infections caused by S. aureus strains sensitive to vancomycin.