Non-cholera Vibrio spp. invasive infections in the summer following May 2023 flood disaster in Romagna, Italy: a case series.

Non-cholera Vibrio spp. includes ubiquitous organisms living in aquatic environments. Their occurrence is associated with global warming and meteorological disasters.

Containment of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales colonisations and infections: Results from an integrated infection control intervention in a large hospital trust of northern Italy.

Purpose: We describe the results of an infection control intervention, implemented in 4 tertiary hospitals in Romagna, Italy, aiming at containing the spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE).

Methods: The intervention consisted of rectal screening in patients at risk for CRE; pre-emptive contact precaution waiting for screening results; timely notification of CRE identification and concomitant computerized alert; contact precaution for confirmed CRE-positive patients. We performed an interrupted time series analysis to compare the incidence of CRE bacteraemia, of other CRE infections, and CRE-positive rectal swabs in the pre and postintervention period (January 2015-July 2017 and August 2017-June 2020, respectively).

Efficacy of bezlotoxumab in preventing the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection: an Italian multicenter cohort study.

Objectives: Bezlotoxumab (BEZ) is a promising tool for preventing the recurrence of Clostridioides difficile infection (rCDI). The aim of the study was to emulate, in a real-world setting, the MODIFY trials in a cohort of participants with multiple risk factors for rCDI treated with BEZ in addition to the standard of care (SoC) versus SoC alone.

Methods: A multicenter cohort study was conducted including 442 patients with Clostridioides difficile infection from 2018 to 2022, collected from 18 Italian centers.

Debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR): An effective treatment option for early prosthetic joint infections.

Introduction: Debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) is an attractive treatment option for prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). However, reported success rates and predictors of DAIR failure vary widely. The primary aim of this study is to report the outcome of DAIR in patients with hip and knee PJIs receiving short course of antibiotic therapy.

How relevant is the HIV low level viremia and how is its management changing in the era of modern ART? A large cohort analysis.

Background: It is still unclear what might be the best management of people living with HIV (PLWHIV) with low level viremia (LLV) despite being on antiretroviral treatment (ART).

Objectives: Aim of our study is to describe the clinical management of PLWHIV with LLV followed in a large cohort.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Prevalence and clinical impact of VIral Respiratory tract infections in patients hospitalized for Community-Acquired Pneumonia: the VIRCAP study.

Prevalence and clinical impact of viral respiratory tract infections (VRTIs) on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) has not been well defined so far. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and the clinical impact of VRTIs in patients with CAP. Prospective study involving adult patients consecutively admitted at medical wards for CAP and tested for VRTIs by real-time PCR on pharyngeal swab.

A Global View to HBV Chronic Infection: Evolving Strategies for Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention in Immunocompetent Individuals.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a significant public health challenge. Around 250 million people live with chronic HBV infection. With a global approach to this issue, we focus on new perspective in diagnosis, management and prevention of HBV chronic infection.

Epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in a pediatric hospital in a country with high endemicity.

Background: Little is known about epidemiology of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) in children. Aim of this study was to describe CPE epidemiology in a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Italy that admits patients coming from geographic areas with high diffusion of CPE.

Methods: Prospective evaluation of the proportion and rates per 100,000 hospital discharges (D) or hospitalization-days (HD) of invasive infections due to CPE from 2013 to 2017 and of CPE infections and colonizations from 2014 to 2017.

Visceral leishmaniasis in hematopoietic cell transplantation: Case report and review of the literature.

Visceral leishmaniasis has been recognized as an opportunistic infection affecting people with cellular-immunity impairment, including hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) recipients. We describe the case of a young Italian man with Hodgkin lymphoma, who developed visceral leishmaniasis after multiple lines of chemotherapy and allogenic HCT. Literature review of visceral leishmaniasis in HCT recipients was also performed.

Improvement of lipid profile after switching from efavirenz or ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitors to rilpivirine or once-daily integrase inhibitors: results from a large observational cohort study (SCOLTA).

Background: Dyslipidemia represents a significant non-infectious comorbidity among people living with HIV. The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact on lipid profile of switches from an efavirenz (EFV) or protease inhibitor/ritonavir (PI/r)-based regimen to a rilpivirine (RPV) or a once-daily integrase inhibitor-based regimen.

Methods: We analyzed data from SCOLTA prospective database.

Predictors of attrition from care at 2 years in a prospective cohort of HIV-infected adults in Tigray, Ethiopia.

Introduction: Ethiopia has experienced rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, as long-term retention in ART therapy is key for ART effectiveness, determinants of attrition need to be identified so appropriate interventions can be designed.

Methods: We used data from the 'Cohort of African people Starting Antiretroviral therapy' (CASA) project, a prospective study of a cohort of HIV-infected patients who started ART in seven health facilities (HFs).

Epidemiology of invasive fungal diseases in children with solid tumours undergoing autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a 10-year experience in a tertiary Italian centre.

The objective of the study was to determine the incidence of invasive fungal disease (IFD) in children undergoing autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auHSCT) for solid tumours (ST). Retrospective study on auHSCT was performed in children with ST (January 2006-December 2015). Data on the number of patient-days at risk (pdr) during the first 30 and 90 days after auHSCT and cases of proven/probable IFDs were collected.

Good tolerability of high dose colistin-based therapy in patients with haematological malignancies.

Purpose: Colistin is usually the only drug fully active against multi-drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria, but its nephrotoxicity might limit its use. Recent pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data suggest that high dose of colistin, preceded by a loading dose, are needed to maximize its antibacterial effect. The aim of this study was to determine the safety of high doses colistin, in haematology population.

Estimation of mean number of daily hand hygiene procedures per patient can represent an effective and easy understandable method to evaluate adherence experience in a tertiary care pediatric hospital of Northern Italy.

Introduction: Hand decontamination with alcohol-based antiseptic agents is considered the best practise to reduce healthcare associated infections. We present a new method to monitor hand hygiene, introduced in a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Northern Italy, which estimates the mean number of daily hand decontamination procedures performed per patient.

Methods: The total amount of isopropyl alcohol and chlorhexidine solution supplied in a trimester to each hospital ward was put in relation with the number of hospitalization days, and expressed as litres/1000 hospitalization-days (World Health Organization standard method).

Multidrug-resistant bacteria in hematology patients: emerging threats.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, particularly Gram negatives, such as Enterobacteriaceae resistant to third-generation cephalosporins or carbapenems and MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are increasingly frequent in hematology patients. The prevalence of different resistant species varies significantly between centers. Thus, the knowledge of local epidemiology is mandatory for deciding the most appr-opriate management protocols.

HIV-1 RNA quantification in CRF02_AG HIV-1 infection: too easy to make mistakes.

The number of patients newly infected by HIV-1 non-B subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) is increasing worldwide, including in the western countries. We report on a primary HIV-1 infection in a Caucasian patient. A routine quantitative assay (Nuclisens EasyQ HIV-1 2.

Bloodstream infections in HIV-infected patients.

In the combined antiretroviral therapy era, HIV-infected patients remain a vulnerable population for the onset of bloodstream infections (BSI). Worldwide, nontyphoid salmonellae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase negative staphylococci are the most important pathogens. Intravenous catheter associated infection, skin-soft tissue infection and endocarditis are associated with Gram-positive bacteremia.

Initial serum (1,3)-β-D-glucan as a predictor of mortality in proven candidaemia: findings from a retrospective study in two teaching hospitals in Italy and Brazil.

A retrospective study was conducted to assess the role of initial serum (1,3)-β-d-glucan (BDG) values in predicting mortality in proven candidaemia. The study was conducted in two large teaching hospitals in Italy and Brazil. From January 2009 to June 2014, all patients with proven candidaemia who underwent a BDG test within 96 hours before or after the first positive blood culture were included in the study.

Guillain-Barré syndrome following chickenpox: a case series.

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute, immune-mediated polyradiculoneuropathy, usually triggered by an infectious episode, mostly of viral origin. Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a rare cause of GBS, mainly in the case of latent infection reactivation. We report on three adult patients who developed GBS following chickenpox, after a short period of latency.

Trend of eGFR in an Italian cohort of mother-to-child HIV-infected patients exposed to tenofovir for at least 2 years.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study is to describe longitudinal changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a cohort of mother-to-child HIV-infected adolescents exposed to tenofovir dixoproxil fumarate (TDF) for at least 2 years. We retrospectively examined eGFR at starting TDF (T0), at 24 months (T2) and at the final assessment (T3). Twenty-nine patients were studied.

Potential role of raltegravir-based therapy to induce rapid viral decay in highly viraemic HIV-infected neonates.

We report safety and tolerability of raltegravir (RAL) as a forth HIV agent in two highly viraemic newborns. Raltegravir (6 mg/kg) was given orally twice daily. The other antiretrovirals were assumed according to standard dose for newborns.

Efficacy of daptomycin lock therapy in the treatment of bloodstream infections related to long-term catheter.

Background: Concomitant systemic and intracatheter antibiotic therapy is a therapeutic option for catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) in patient fitted with long-term intravenous central catheters. CRBSI are mainly caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Daptomycin (DPT) is an antibiotic active against Gram-positive bacteria with high bactericidal activity and good biofilm penetration.