Predictors for choosing doravirine-based versus INSTI-based regimen in ART-naïve and ART-experienced people with HIV in real-world setting: Data from the Icona cohort.

Rationale: Doravirine (DOR) is an attractive new option both for ART-naïve people with HIV (PWH) and those with suppressed HIV-RNA who seek treatment simplification. We used real-world data to examine the pattern of use of DOR-containing regimens in these settings.

Methods: All PWH enrolled in the Icona cohort after January 2020 who initiated a three-drug regimen (3-DR) with DOR or an integrase inhibitor (INSTI)-based regimen as first antiretroviral therapy (ART) or when switching ART, with HIV-RNA ≤50 copies/mL, were included.

Clostridioides difficile infections caused by hypervirulent strains: a single-centre real-life study.

Background And Purpose: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections worldwide, with hypervirulent strains linked to severe disease and higher mortality. This study aims to analyze the epidemiology of CDI at a tertiary-care hospital in Italy and compare clinical outcomes between patients infected with hypervirulent and non-hypervirulent strains.

Methods: A retrospective comparative study was conducted on patients diagnosed with CDI at ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Italy, from January 2015 to June 2023.

Effect of Oral Bisphosphonates on Vertebral Fractures in Males Living with HIV: A Seven Year Study.

Osteoporosis and vertebral fractures (VFs) are frequently observed in males living with HIV (MLWH). While bisphosphonates seem effective on bone mineral density (BMD) in MLWH, data on VFs are lacking. In this real-life longitudinal study performed on 118 MLWH (median age 53) who were followed-up for a median of 7 years, we aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of oral bisphosphonates on VFs in MLWH.

Kinetics of hepatitis B virus replication in anti-HBc positive/HBsAg-negative people with HIV switching to tenofovir sparing therapy.

Objectives: To unravel the still unexplored HBV-replicative kinetics in anti-HBc-positive/HBsAg-negative people-with-HIV (PWH) suspending tenofovir disoproxil-fumarate/tenofovir-alafenamide (TDF/TAF).

Methods: A total of 101 anti-HBc-positive/HBsAg-negative PWH switching to TDF/TAF-sparing therapy were included. Serum HBV-DNA and HBV-RNA were quantified by droplet-digital-PCR at switching (T0), within 12 months (T1) and 12-24 months postswitch (T2).

A Rare Case and Literature Review of Pyelo-Hepatic Abscess in an Immunocompetent Patient: When Effective Source Control and Targeted Antimicrobial Therapy Might Not Be Enough.

Pyelo-hepatic abscess is a rare complication of upper urinary tract infections (UTIs). We describe a case of polymicrobial pyelo-hepatic abscess in an immunocompetent patient. A 71-year-old male patient with a double-J stent for right ureteral lithiasis was admitted in our Infectious Diseases Department for a pyelo-hepatic abscess.

Sexual dysfunction in women living with HIV: an updated narrative review.

Introduction: Female sexual dysfunction is a significant concern for many women worldwide, with chronic health conditions such as HIV infection contributing to its prevalence. However, there is a paucity of studies focusing this subject in the available literature.

Objectives: This narrative review aimed to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the current state of knowledge regarding sexual dysfunction in women living with HIV (WLWH).

Dolutegravir and Folic Acid Interaction during Neural System Development in Zebrafish Embryos.

Dolutegravir (DTG) is one of the most prescribed antiretroviral drugs for treating people with HIV infection, including women of child-bearing potential or pregnant. Nonetheless, neuropsychiatric symptoms are frequently reported. Early reports suggested that, probably in relation to folic acid (FA) shortage, DTG may induce neural tube defects in infants born to women taking the drug during pregnancy.

The Impact of Immune System Aging on Infectious Diseases.

Immune system aging is becoming a field of increasing public health interest because of prolonged life expectancy, which is not paralleled by an increase in health expectancy. As age progresses, innate and adaptive immune systems undergo changes, which are defined, respectively, as inflammaging and immune senescence. A wealth of available data demonstrates that these two conditions are closely linked, leading to a greater vulnerability of elderly subjects to viral, bacterial, and opportunistic infections as well as lower post-vaccination protection.

Immunogenicity and safety of live attenuated and recombinant/inactivated varicella zoster vaccines in people living with HIV: A systematic review.

Few papers focus their attention on VZV vaccination effectiveness among people living with HIV (PLWH). Flanking the live attenuated vaccine (VZL) available, a newly recombinant vaccine (RZV) was recently introduced and approved for HZ prevention among adults. PLWH represents a population on which a particular attention should be applied, in order to guarantee the vaccine efficacy and safety.

Inflammatory Response Associated with West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease: A Systematic Review.

Background: West Nile virus (WNV) infection is a seasonal arbovirosis with the potential to cause severe neurological disease. Outcomes of the infection from WNV depend on viral factors (e.g.

Female Genital Schistosomiasis: A Neglected among the Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected parasitic disease linked to water, posing a global public health concern with a significant burden in sub-Saharan Africa. It is transmitted by spp., causing both acute and chronic effects affecting the urogenital or the hepato-intestinal system.

Finger nodules with a papulovesicular hands and feet eruption: a complicated human Orf virus infection.

Background: Orf virus (ORFV) is the pathogen responsible for Orf, a zoonotic viral infection that can be spread to humans from sheep and goats. Here, we present a case of human Orf complicated by an immune-related reaction, to raise awareness of this under-recognized disease avoiding unnecessary investigations and overtreatment.

Case Report: A 51-year-old woman with no previous medical history presented with a one-week history of three asymptomatic swelling nodules with a grey necrotic center and red outer halo on her index finger.

High frequency of type I interferon auto-antibodies in a group of middle-aged HIV-infected patients: A cross-sectional exploratory study.

Background: Auto-antibodies neutralizing the activity of type I interferons have been recently described in patients infected by SARS-CoV-2. They can be present even before the onset of the infection. Since type I interferons exert a dichotomous role in the pathogenesis of acute versus chronic HIV infection and auto-antibodies are often found in untreated and anti-retroviral treated HIV patients, we investigated whether auto-antibodies anti-type I interferons are present at high prevalence in those HIV patients with concomitant opportunistic infections (OIs).

Knowledge and Attitudes towards HIV and HCV among the Population Attending the Fast-Track Cities Mobile Unit in Brescia, Italy.

The Infectious and Tropical Diseases Department of the University of Brescia organized free rapid screening tests for HIV and HCV as part of the Fast-Track City commitment. A cross-sectional study was conducted, consisting of an anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire that was administered to individuals who underwent the screening or consultation. The study aimed to compare knowledge and attitudes towards HIV and HCV between age groups (18-40 vs.

Is HCV elimination among persons living with HIV feasible? Data from the NoCo study in the setting of the ICONA cohort.

Background And Aims: Whether the HCV test-and-treat strategy impacted on the rate of new HCV infections among PLWH in Italy is unknown.

Methods: Prospective study of PLWH in the ICONA network. At baseline, PLWH were tested for HCV-Ab; HCV-RNA (if HCV-Ab positive) and, if positive, treated with DAA.

Convenience, efficacy, safety, and durability of INSTI-based antiretroviral therapies: evidence from the Italian MaSTER cohort.

Background: Integrase strand transferase inhibitors (INSTI), including raltegravir (RAL), elvitegravir (ELV), and dolutegravir (DTG), have demonstrated better efficacy and tolerability than other combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) classes in clinical trials; however, studies of sustainability of INSTI-containing therapy in the long-term are sparse. The purpose of this study was to provide an epidemiological overview comparing the outcome performance of different INSTI-based regimens longitudinally, including the metrics of efficacy, safety, convenience, and durability among a large, nationally representative cohort of persons living with HIV in Italy.

Methods: We selected subjects in the MaSTER cohort (an Italian multicenter, hospital-based cohort established in the mid-1990s that currently has enrolled over 24,000 PLWH) who initiated an INSTI-based regimen either when naïve or following a regimen switch.

Dalbavancin in Bone and Joint Infections: A Systematic Review.

Background: Approved for acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections, dalbavancin (DBV) has gradually acquired over the years a role as an off-label treatment for several infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria even in other anatomical sites. Osteoarticular (OA) infections are one of the most difficult-to-treat infections and, since the absence of recommendations, clinicians use different and heterogenic DBV dosing schedule regimens for the off-label treatment of osteomyelitis, spondylodiscitis, and septic arthritis. Our aim is to systematically review the current literature to describe DBV administration schedules and their outcome in OA infections.

Comparison of Efavirenz and Doravirine Developmental Toxicity in an Embryo Animal Model.

In the past, one of the most widely used non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTI) in first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) of HIV infection was efavirenz (EFV), which is already used as a cost-effective treatment in developing countries due to its efficacy, tolerability, and availability. However, EFV also demonstrates several adverse effects, like hepatotoxicity, altered lipid profile, neuropsychological symptoms, and behavioral effects in children after in utero exposure. In 2018, another NNRTI, doravirine (DOR), was approved due to its similar efficacy but better safety profile.