Multiple abscesses of the left brain hemisphere due to Listeria monocytogenes in an immunocompromised patient: a case report.

We describe a case of brain abscesses in a cirrhotic and diabetic 57-year-old woman showing fever, aphasia, right hemiparesis and seizures. Neuroradiological investigation revealed unilateral cerebritis evolving in multiple abscesses. From blood and surgical drainage samples Listeria monocytogenes grew in pure culture.

Hepatitis C virus infection in an endemic area of Southern Italy 14 years later: evidence for a vanishing infection.

Background: In a 1996 survey, prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV) in a southern Italian town was 12.6%.

Aims: To identify changes in the epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Natural history and clinical response: "it's the virus, stupid, or is it the host?".

A major goal of modern medicine is the application of personalized therapies, consisting of decisions and practices tailored to the individual patient. Information about genetic variants, either mutant or polymorphic, represents the basis for the development of this clinical approach. Recently, several independent genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the IL28B locus associated with HCV containment, spontaneous clearance, treatment response, and disease progression.

The impact of a vaccination campaign against hepatitis B on the further decrease of hepatitis B virus infection in a southern Italian town over 14 years.

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection has decreased in Italy. The aims of this study were to identify changes, if any, in the epidemiological pattern of HBV infection in a southern Italian town first surveyed in 1996 and to assess the effectiveness of vaccination campaign against hepatitis B.

Methods: In 2010, subjects were selected from the census by a systematic 1:4 random sampling procedure.

Muscular damage during telbivudine treatment in a chronic hepatitis B patient.

Muscle tissue damage might be related to metabolic and mechanical factors. Certain drugs have been associated with increased blood levels of creatin phospho kinase (CPK) and myoglobin that are biochemical markers of musculoskeletal damage. An increase of CPK plasma levels might suggest severe rhabdomyolysis with possible resulting renal failure.

Current practice of hepatitis C treatment in Southern Italy.

Background: Only a small proportion of subjects referring to hospitals for hepatitis C virus (HCV) positivity receives antiviral therapy.

Aim: To evaluate the rate of antiviral treatment and the causes for no treatment in HCV-RNA positive subjects seen in hospital settings.

Patients And Methods: A prospective study enrolling over a 6-month period (February-July 2009) all consecutive anti-HCV positive subjects initially referred (naïve patients) to 12 liver units in Southern Italy for HCV treatment.

Effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary standardized management model in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C in drug addicts engaged in detoxification programmes.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of a multi-disciplinary standardized management model on the efficacy of pegylated (Peg)-interferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin treatment of chronic hepatitis C in drug addicts undergoing substitutive or antagonist therapy.

Design: Observational prospective multi-centre study.

Setting: Six clinical infectious disease centres in collaboration with 11 drug dependency units (DDU) in five Italian regions.

An unusual case of brain abscess by Gemella morbillorum.

A case of deep brain abscess by Gemella morbillorum is described. Due to high fever, lethargy, severe headache, and the risk of intraventricular rupture of the suppurative lesion, a CT-guided stereotactic aspiration of the abscess was successfully performed. The patient responded well to a 6-week course of meropenem, metronidazole, and fluconazole.

Pegylated interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin in the retreatment of interferon-ribavirin nonresponder patients.

Background & Aims: Inadequate data are available about retreatment of nonresponders to interferon (IFN) and ribavirin. Thus, this study evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of a 48-week therapy with pegylated IFN-alpha-2b plus high-dose ribavirin in patients who have failed to respond to the combination. Treatment up to 48 weeks also in patients who have failed to clear hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by week 24 was also evaluated.

Differences between semen and plasma of nucleoside reverse transcriptase resistance mutations in HIV-infected patients, using a rapid assay.

The emergence of HIV-resistant strains generally occurs during treatment failure. A high rate of viral replication, low patient adherence to therapy, poor drug absorption or increased drug metabolism may be related to treatment failure and favour the onset of resistance. Recently, despite the absence of detectable HIV viral load in plasma, the importance of the persistence of HIV replication in other reservoirs has been underlined.

Changes in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 4 in Calabria, Southern Italy.

The aim of this study was to assess changes in the prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes, focusing on genotype 4, by surveying population of chronic hepatitis C patients within an area of Southern Italy. HCV-RNA was detected in serum using two commercial hepatitis C RNA PCR assays (Amplicor Roche Diagnostic System, and AmpliSensor HCV, Nuclear Laser Medicine). PCR products were analyzed for genotyping using a reverse hybridization of the amplified product by a line probe assay (INNO LIPA, Innogenetics).