Chagas Disease in the Non-Endemic Area of Rome, Italy: Ten Years of Experience and a Brief Overview.

Chagas disease (CD) is a parasitic infection endemic in Latin America and also affects patients in Western countries due to migration flows. This has a significant impact on health services worldwide due to its high morbidity and mortality burden. This paper aims to share our experience at the National Institute for Infectious Diseases "Lazzaro Spallanzani", IRCCS, in Rome, Italy, where to date, a total of 47 patients-mainly Bolivian women-diagnosed with CD have received treatment with benznidazole, with all but one presenting with chronic disease.

MPXV DNA kinetics in bloodstream and other body fluids samples.

Since spring 2022, the global epidemiology of the monkeypox virus (MPXV) has changed. The unprecedented increase of human clade II MPXV cases worldwide heightened concerns about this emerging zoonotic disease. We analysed the positivity rates, viral loads, infectiousness, and persistence of MPXV DNA for up to 4 months in several biological samples from 89 MPXV-confirmed cases.

A case of severe Plasmodium ovale malaria with acute respiratory distress syndrome and splenic infarction in a male traveller presenting in Italy.

Background: Plasmodium ovale malaria is usually considered a tropical infectious disease associated with low morbidity and mortality. However, severe disease and death have previously been reported.

Case Presentation: A case of severe P.

A machine learning approach for early identification of patients with severe imported malaria.

Background: The aim of this study is to design ad hoc malaria learning (ML) approaches to predict clinical outcome in all patients with imported malaria and, therefore, to identify the best clinical setting.

Methods: This is a single-centre cross-sectional study, patients with confirmed malaria, consecutively hospitalized to the Lazzaro Spallanzani National Institute for Infectious Diseases, Rome, Italy from January 2007 to December 2020, were recruited. Different ML approaches were used to perform the analysis of this dataset: support vector machines, random forests, feature selection approaches and clustering analysis.

Pharyngo-tonsillar involvement of Mpox in a cohort of men who have sex with men (MSM): A serious risk of missing diagnosis.

During the 2022-outbreak, peculiar clinical presentations of Mpox have been described, some of which can make the diagnosis of the disease extremely challenging. Here we report a case series of fourteen patients with Mpox pharynogotonsillar involvement (PTI) seen at National Institute for Infectious Diseases, "Lazzaro Spallanzani", in Rome, Italy from May to September 2022. All included patients were men who have sex with men (median age 38 years) reporting unprotected sex within three weeks from symptoms onset.

Dynamic Evolution of Humoral and T-Cell Specific Immune Response to COVID-19 mRNA Vaccine in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Followed until the Booster Dose.

This study characterizes antibody and T-cell immune responses over time until the booster dose of COronaVIrus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines in patients with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) undergoing different disease-modifying treatments (DMTs). We prospectively enrolled 134 PwMS and 99 health care workers (HCWs) having completed the two-dose schedule of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine within the last 2-4 weeks (T0) and followed them 24 weeks after the first dose (T1) and 4-6 weeks after the booster (T2). PwMS presented a significant reduction in the seroconversion rate and anti-receptor-binding domain (RBD)-Immunoglobulin (IgG) titers from T0 to T1 ( < 0.

Aero-Medical Evacuation during SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: Extraordinary Measure or Emerging Treatment Option?

Aero-medical evacuation has been considered as a feasible and safe treatment option during COVID pandemic, particularly when the needs of affected patients exceed what local clinics and hospitals are supposed to provide. In this article, we analyzed the clinical course of 17 patients medically evacuated to the "L. Spallanzani" Institute in Rome, Italy from foreign countries, mainly Africa and Eastern Europe, who had COVID-19 pneumonia with, or without, coinfections such as malaria, HIV, tuberculosis and microbiologically confirmed sepsis syndrome.

Telemedicine During COVID-19 Pandemic: Lesson Learned from the Lazio Region Infectious Diseases and Emergency Department Network.

Telemedicine and teleconsultation can be powerful and useful tools for patients to hamper the physical barriers to access to health care services during COVID-19 pandemic. We describe the teleconsultation (TC) model in the Lazio Region. It uses a hub-and-spoke network system on geographic regional basis using a web based digital platform, termed ADVICE with the aim to connect regional Emergency Departments (EDs) and Infectious Diseases (ID) acute and critical care settings for patients with acute ID syndrome.

Non-COVID-19 respiratory viral infection.

Unlabelled: Implemented control measures brought about by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have changed the prevalence of other respiratory viruses, often relegating them to a secondary plan. However, it must not be forgotten that a diverse group of viruses, including other human coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumoviruses, parainfluenza and influenza, continue to be responsible for a large burden of disease. In fact, they are among the most common causes of acute upper and lower respiratory tract infections globally.

Monoclonal Antibodies for Pre- and Postexposure Prophylaxis of COVID-19: Review of the Literature.

Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system's ability to fight off harmful microorganisms, including viruses such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medical Agency (EMA) have already authorized monoclonal antibodies of anti-SARS-CoV-2 to treat mild to moderate CoronaVIrus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) in patients at risk of developing severe disease. More recently, monoclonal antibodies anti-SARS-CoV-2 have been authorized for primary and secondary prophylaxis in patients at high risk of severe disease for background comorbidity.

Coordinated innate and T-cell immune responses in mild COVID-19 patients from household contacts of COVID-19 cases during the first pandemic wave.

Objective: To better define the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19, the present study aims to characterize the early immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection in household contacts of COVID-19 cases. In particular, innate, T- and B-cell specific responses were evaluated over time.

Methods: Household contacts of COVID-19 cases screened for SARS-CoV-2 infection by nasopharyngeal swab for surveillance purposes were enrolled (T0, n=42).

Interpatient variability in the pharmacokinetics of remdesivir and its main metabolite GS-441524 in treated COVID-19 subjects.

Background: Remdesivir is the first antiviral drug against SARS-CoV-2 approved for use in COVID-19 patients.

Objectives: To study the pharmacokinetic inter-individual variability of remdesivir and its main metabolite GS-441524 in a real-world setting of COVID-19 inpatients and to identify possible associations with different demographic/biochemical variables.

Methods: Inpatients affected by SARS-CoV-2 infections, undergoing standard-dose remdesivir treatment, were prospectively enrolled.

Systematic analysis of direct antiglobulin test results in post-artesunate delayed haemolysis.

Background: Post-artesunate delayed haemolysis (PADH) is common after severe malaria episodes. PADH is related to the "pitting" phenomenon and the synchronous delayed clearance of once-infected erythrocytes, initially spared during treatment. However, direct antiglobulin test (DAT) positivity has been reported in several PADH cases, suggesting a contribution of immune-mediated erythrocyte clearance.

16S rRNA gene sequencing of rectal swab in patients affected by COVID-19.

COronaVIrus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic respiratory infection caused by a new betacoronavirus, the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-CoronaVirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Few data are reported on the gut microbiota in COVID-19 patients. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed to reveal an altered composition of the gut microbiota in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) (i-COVID19), or in infectious disease wards (w-COVID19) as compared to controls (CTRL).

Virological Characterization of the First 2 COVID-19 Patients Diagnosed in Italy: Phylogenetic Analysis, Virus Shedding Profile From Different Body Sites, and Antibody Response Kinetics.

Background: The pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains unclear. We report the detection of viral RNA from different anatomical districts and the antibody profile in the first 2 COVID-19 cases diagnosed in Italy.

Methods: We tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA clinical samples, either respiratory and nonrespiratory (ie, saliva, serum, urine, vomit, rectal, ocular, cutaneous, and cervico-vaginal swabs), longitudinally collected from both patients throughout the hospitalization.

Artemisinin resistance surveillance in African Plasmodium falciparum isolates from imported malaria cases to Italy.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum (P. falciparum) malaria is a significant public health problem in returning travellers, and artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) remains the first choice for treatment. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the P.

pneumonia: increased risk after COVID-19 lockdown? Italy, May to June 2020.

We report a case of pneumonia in a dishwasher of a restaurant in Rome, Italy, just after the end of the lockdown that was in place to control the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. The case highlights the importance of strict monitoring of water and air systems immediately before reopening business or public sector buildings, and the need to consider infections among the differential diagnosis of respiratory infections after lockdown due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Pharmacokinetics of remdesivir and GS-441524 in two critically ill patients who recovered from COVID-19.

Background: Remdesivir is a prodrug of the nucleoside analogue GS-441524 and is under evaluation for treatment of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the pharmacokinetics of remdesivir and GS-441524 in plasma, bronchoalveolar aspirate (BAS) and CSF in two critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Methods: Remdesivir was administered at 200 mg loading dose on the first day followed by 12 days of 100 mg in two critically ill patients.

COVID-19: viral-host interactome analyzed by network based-approach model to study pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Background: Epidemiological, virological and pathogenetic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection are under evaluation. A better understanding of the pathophysiology associated with COVID-19 is crucial to improve treatment modalities and to develop effective prevention strategies. Transcriptomic and proteomic data on the host response against SARS-CoV-2 still have anecdotic character; currently available data from other coronavirus infections are therefore a key source of information.

National Institute for the Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", IRCCS. Recommendations for COVID-19 clinical management.

On January 9 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the identification, by Chinese Health authorities, of a novel coronavirus, further classified as SARS-CoV-2 responsible of a disease (COVID-19) ranging from asymptomatic cases to severe respiratory involvement. On March 9 2020, WHO declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Italy is the second most affected country by COVID-19 infection after China.