Safety of ceftobiprole in patients with impaired renal, hepatic or immune function: a multinational retrospective hospital chart review (RETRACE study).

Ceftobiprole, an advanced-generation cephalosporin with broad bactericidal activity, is approved for community-acquired and hospital-acquired pneumonia (excluding ventilator-associated pneumonia). We aimed to evaluate, in a real-world setting, the safety profile of ceftobiprole in patients with risk conditions (severe renal impairment, hepatic impairment, and immunocompromised status), groups excluded from clinical trials. In this retrospective study (NCT04170309), 396 consecutive charts of patients treated with ceftobiprole during 2016-2022 in 15 centers in France, Italy, and Spain were analyzed: 62 had severe renal impairment, 51 had hepatic impairment, 120 were immunocompromised, and 203 had no predefined risk condition (controls).

Effectiveness of the AZD1222 vaccine against COVID-19 hospitalization in Europe: final results from the COVIDRIVE test-negative case-control study.

Marketing authorization holders of vaccines typically need to report brand-specific vaccine effectiveness (VE) to the regulatory authorities as part of their regulatory obligations. COVIDRIVE (now id. DRIVE) is a European public-private partnership for respiratory pathogen surveillance and studies of brand-specific VE with long-term follow-up.

Infective endocarditis caused by penicillin-resistant viridans group streptococci: a series of nine cases from a Spanish cohort.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by viridans and gallolyticus group streptococci (VGS-GGS) resistant to penicillin (PEN-R; minimum inhibitory concentration ≥4 mg/L) is rare but poses therapeutic challenges.

Objectives: To describe the characteristics of patients with IE caused by PEN-R VGS-GGS, focusing on antimicrobial management.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of a prospective cohort of definite IE caused by PEN-R VGS-GGS between 2008 and 2023 in 40 Spanish hospitals.

Use of teicoplanin monotherapy for the treatment of enterococcal infective endocarditis: a retrospective and comparative study at a referral centre.

Objectives: Clinical experience in the use of teicoplanin for treating enterococcal infective endocarditis (EIE) is scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients with EIE treated with teicoplanin monotherapy compared to standard therapy with ampicillin plus ceftriaxone.

Methods: All consecutive adult patients diagnosed with EIE between January 2018 and September 2022 at a referral centre were reviewed.

Antibiotic Efficacy against Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms on Synthetic and Biological Vascular Grafts.

Background: Biofilm formation is one of the greatest challenges encountered in vascular graft infections. Our aim is to compare the efficacy of 5 antibiotics against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) biofilms on the surface of 4 vascular grafts.

Methods: In vitro study of 2 clinical MSSA strains (MSSA2 and MSSA6) and 4 vascular grafts (Dacron, Dacron-silver-triclosan (DST), Omniflow-II, and bovine pericardium).

New developments in infective endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis is a continually evolving disease. Present-day patients differ significantly from those treated a few decades ago: they tend to be older and have more comorbidities and health care-related episodes, while new groups of patients have emerged with new types of endocarditis, such as those affecting patients with percutaneous valve prostheses. There have also been changes in diagnostic techniques.

Use of oxazolidinones (linezolid or tedizolid) for the treatment of breast infections. A case series from a tertiary referral hospital.

Objectives: Mastitis is mainly caused by Gram-positive bacteria and usually involves treatment with beta-lactam antibiotics and clindamycin. Oxazolidinones show good results in the treatment of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) due to its pharmacokinetic characteristics. We aimed to describe clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who received oxazolidinones for the treatment of SSTIs of the mammary tissue.

Inhaled NO at a crossroads in cardiac surgery: current need to improve mechanistic understanding, clinical trial design and scientific evidence.

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has been used in pediatric and adult perioperative cardiac intensive care for over three decades. NO is a cellular signaling molecule that induces smooth muscle relaxation in the mammalian vasculature. Inhaled NO has the unique ability to exert its vasodilatory effects in the pulmonary vasculature without any hypotensive side-effects in the systemic circulation.

Phenotypes of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically develops as a consequence of liver cirrhosis, but HCC epidemiology has evolved drastically in recent years. Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis, has emerged as the most common chronic liver disease worldwide and a leading cause of HCC. A substantial proportion of MASLD-associated HCC (MASLD-HCC) also can develop in patients without cirrhosis.

Protection against COVID-19 hospitalisation conferred by primary-series vaccination with AZD1222 in non-boosted individuals: first vaccine effectiveness results of the European COVIDRIVE study and meta-regression analysis.

Background: Vaccine effectiveness (VE) studies with long-term follow-up are needed to understand durability of protection against severe COVID-19 outcomes conferred by primary-series vaccination in individuals not receiving boosters. COVIDRIVE is a European public-private partnership evaluating brand-specific vaccine effectiveness (VE). We report a prespecified interim analysis of primary-series AZD1222 (ChAdOx1 nCoV-19) VE.

Integrative and Collaborative Approach in the Chronic Management of Obesity in Primary and Tertiary Care Setting: Vall Hebron-SAP Muntanya Healthcare Route.

Introduction: In the context of obesity pandemic, the health care providers involved in the primary care should have a significant role. Several guidelines for the management of obesity in primary care were proposed recently. In general lines, these guidelines include recommendation on the baseline assessment, therapy, and algorithm for referral to specialized obesity clinic and follow-up.

Strengths and limitations of patient registries in infective endocarditis.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious albeit relatively infrequent disease. Given the paucity of cases, particularly in non-referral centres, patient registries have progressively gained relevance to inform about the epidemiology, clinical presentation, and natural history of IE in the last two decades. Although they have become key to advancing knowledge of IE, registries also have shortcomings that lead to relevant consequences that are often overlooked.

NAFLD as the metabolic hallmark of obesity.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become the most common chronic liver disease worldwide, associated with a high risk of progression to NASH, liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. Its prevalence is closely related to obesity (understood as adipose-based disease and insulin resistance), which makes that at present NAFLD can be considered a metabolic dysfunction hallmark, regardless of the body mass index. Despite being such a prevalent condition, with such severe consequences, at present there are no reliable biomarkers for its diagnosis or specific treatment.

Risk of infections in patients with NAFLD and Type 2 Diabetes under treatment with SGLT2 inhibitors and relationship with liver outcomes: A retrospective case-control study.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease in developed countries, with its incidence growing parallel to the epidemics of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are becoming a cornerstone in the management of cardiovascular health and some studies suggest the potential role in NAFLD. However, patients under treatment with SGLT2i are at risk of developing genitourinary fungal infections (GFIs).

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the care and outcomes of people with NAFLD-related cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major negative impact on health systems and many chronic diseases globally. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the first year of the pandemic on the outcomes of people with NAFLD cirrhosis.

Methods: We conducted a before-after study in four University hospitals in Catalonia, Spain.

Applying an equity lens to liver health and research in Europe.

Liver disease is a major cause of premature death and disability in Europe. However, morbidity and mortality are not equally distributed in the population. In spite of this, there are few studies addressing the issue of health inequalities in Europe.

Non-Invasive Tests of Liver Fibrosis Help in Predicting the Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma among Patients with NAFLD.

Background: The potential role of non-invasive tests (NITs) for liver fibrosis for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prediction remains poorly known. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a NAFLD cohort from a single university hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Incidence rates and cumulative incidence for the overall cohort, as well as cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients were calculated.