Efficacy and Safety of Dolutegravir Plus Emtricitabine vs Combined Antiretroviral Therapy for the Maintenance of HIV Suppression: Results Through Week 144 of the SIMPL'HIV Trial.

The SIMPL'HIV study investigated whether switching to dolutegravir (DTG) + emtricitabine (FTC) was noninferior to continuing combined antiretroviral therapy for maintaining HIV-1 suppression at 144 weeks. The study demonstrated that viral suppression, CD4 gains, adverse events, quality of life, and patient satisfaction were comparable between groups, confirming DTG + FTC's safety and efficacy for long-term management of HIV-1 infection.

Identifying high-risk central lines in critically ill children: A novel nurse-driven screening and mitigation intervention to reduce CLABSI.

Background: Despite strong adherence to central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) infection prevention bundles, the CLABSI rate in our academic pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and pediatric cardiac intensive unit (PCICU) remained high.

Methods: We developed a novel screening tool that stratified patients' risk for CLABSI and considered risk mitigation strategies.

Results: Of 1,583 screenings, 30% were classified as high-risk, 27% as moderate-risk, and 43% as low-risk.

Surgical site infections after sarcoma resections in the peripelvic region: do we need perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis?

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSI) are one of the most common complications after extensive sarcoma resections and represent a daily challenge. SSI occur in up to 50% of cases particularly in the peripelvic area. One possible approach to reduce infection rate is perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis.

Endocarditis associated with contamination of cardiovascular bioprostheses with Mycobacterium chelonae: a collaborative microbiological study.

Background: Mycobacterium chelonae is a rare cause of infective endocarditis that is difficult to diagnose and treat. After we found M chelonae in a series of patients, we aimed to investigate its role in cardiovascular prosthesis dysfunction and contamination of bioprostheses as a possible cause of infection.

Methods: In this collaborative microbiological study, we report on nine patients treated in three cardiovascular surgical departments in Germany, who were found to have M chelonae infection after receiving BioIntegral bioprostheses.

Effect of studying abroad on catch-up vaccination in young adults: A study using the Japan Pretravel Consultation Registry.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of studying abroad on catch-up vaccination coverage for measles, rubella, mumps, varicella, and tetanus during the pretravel consultation among young adult travelers.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Japan Pretravel Consultation Registry (J-PRECOR) on individuals aged 18-21 years with childhood vaccination records. Propensity score weighting was used to estimate the average treatment effect on the proportion of participants receiving catch-up vaccination.

: not a typical respiratory pathogen.

is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia among school-aged children and young adults. Infections occur throughout the year but tend to surge during winter months across Europe. A characteristic epidemic cycle, where a substantial surge in the number of infections occurs, is seen approximately every 1-4 years and hypothesized to be driven by changes in immunity and a shift in circulating variants.

Effect of Universal Masking on Non-Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Healthcare-Associated Respiratory Viral Infections.

Background: Respiratory viral infections are common and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. We evaluated the impact of universal masking implemented during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on other healthcare-associated respiratory viral infections (HA-RIs) in an academic medical center.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed among all inpatients aged ≥18 years admitted between 1 May 2019 and 30 June 2022.

Association Between Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) Colonization Status at Time of Hospital Admission and the Subsequent Development of CRE Infection and Mortality in High-Risk Patients.

Purpose: The study aimed to determine the impact of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) colonization status on development of CRE infection and 30-day mortality outcomes in high-risk patients.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from October 2022 to July 2023. It included all patients aged 14 years and older admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), the renal transplant unit and the oncology units who were screened for CRE colonization upon hospital admission.

Impact of respiratory tract infections on spinal muscular atrophy with focus on respiratory syncytial virus infections: a single-centre cohort study.

Aims Of The Study: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a degenerative neuromuscular disorder leading to muscle hypotonia, weakness, and respiratory and bulbar impairment. Infants with SMA have an increased risk of respiratory tract infections (RTI) including severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. Therefore, guidelines for the treatment of SMA recommend RSV prophylaxis with palivizumab for patients aged below two years who have compromised motor functions ("non-sitters").

Rational use of immunoglobulins (IVIgs and SCIgs) in secondary antibody deficiencies.

Immunoglobulins for intravenous use (IVIgs) and subcutaneous use (SCIgs) can prevent recurrent and severe infections in patients with secondary antibody deficiencies that are frequently linked to haematological/oncological malignancies as well as other clinical conditions and their respective treatments. Even so, as IVIgs and SCIgs are costly and their supply is limited, their clinical use must be optimised. The aim of this position paper is to provide structured practical guidance on the optimal use of IVIgs and SCIgs in secondary antibody deficiencies, particularly in haematological and oncological practice.

Swiss COVID-19 hospital surveillance: an in-depth analysis of the factors associated with hospital readmission dynamics in community-acquired COVID-19 cases.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed unprecedented pressure on hospitals worldwide. In such a context of tension in healthcare systems, efficiently allocating hospital resources is a crucial aspect of crisis management. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of readmitted patients and to determine risk factors for hospital readmission using data from the Swiss COVID-19 Hospital-Based Surveillance system (CH-SUR).

Enhancing Stability and Investigating Target Attainment of Benzylpenicillin in Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy: Insights from In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluations.

: Narrow-spectrum beta-lactam antibiotics such as benzylpenicillin and flucloxacillin are increasingly used in outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) programs to mitigate the adverse effects associated with broad-spectrum antibiotics. These beta-lactams require continuous administration via portable infusion devices during OPAT. However, the use of benzylpenicillin in OPAT requires special consideration because of its limited stability at elevated temperatures.

Target Attainment and Population Pharmacokinetics of Cefazolin in Patients with Invasive Infections: A Prospective Cohort Study.

This study aimed to determine cefazolin target attainment in patients with invasive () infections and to develop a population pharmacokinetic (PK) model. Adult patients with invasive infections treated with cefazolin bolus infusions were included. Unbound and total trough and mid-dose cefazolin concentrations were measured, and strain-specific MICs were determined.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Group A Streptococcal Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are often caused by group A (GAS). As the number of invasive GAS infections decreased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions, this study aimed to compare the occurrence of GAS-NSTIs before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients with NSTIs admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, from July 2008 to December 2023.

The implementation of a "safety officer" program: an innovative approach to improve infection prevention and control practices in Ethiopia.

Background: Effective infection prevention and control (IPC) was central to keeping healthcare workers (HCWs) safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as the pandemic continued, the maintenance of high-quality IPC practices waned, placing HCWs at increased risk of infection. A COVID-19 Safety Officer (SO) program was piloted by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Reaching Impact, Saturation and Epidemic Control (RISE) project across two health facilities in Ethiopia, which trained clinical and non-clinical HCWs on IPC protocols to promote safe practices in patient care areas.

Ideal Time to Conduct a Pharmacokinetic Investigation After Delivery to Fully Capture the Effect of Pregnancy on Drug Exposure.

Background: The World Health Organization is pushing to accelerate the study of new human immunodeficiency virus drugs in pregnant women. However, regulatory guidelines do not specify when to conduct pharmacokinetic studies in postpartum women. This knowledge gap carries the potential to jeopardize the outcomes and conclusions of clinical trials aiming to study the effect of pregnancy on drug exposure.

Tolerance of biofilms to disinfectants commonly used in endoscope reprocessing?

Reprocessing failure of endoscopes may result in outbreaks of serious infections in vulnerable patients caused by Gram-negative bacteria. (PSOL) was detected in 6 automated endoscope washer-disinfectors (AEWDs) in two reprocessing units during routine check and probing for quality control. Ten endoscopes were probed yielding the growth of PSOL.