{"title":"From diagnosis to management: current perspectives on congenital cytomegalovirus infection.","authors":"Markus Buchfellner, Shannon Ross","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001023","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001023","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Congenital CMV (cCMV) infection is the most common infection of newborns and a leading cause of hearing loss and other neurologic disabilities in children. This review focuses on the diagnosis, presentation and management of cCMV infection.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Cytomegalovirus is one of the leading causes of sensorineural hearing loss in children. It also leads to neurodevelopmental disabilities and learning problems throughout childhood in both symptomatic and asymptomatic newborns. Urine and saliva PCR testing are the preferred methods of testing newborn infants for cCMV. In recent years, newborn-targeted and universal screening programs have been implemented in several states and major medical centers with the goal of identifying infected infants at risk for hearing loss. Treatment for infants diagnosed with cCMV infection should be limited to those who are moderately to severely symptomatic at birth with cCMV infection, though treatment may be beneficial for children who are asymptomatic with isolated sensorineural hearing loss.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>As more children with cCMV are being identified through newborn screening, understanding the clinical presentation and sequelae is important for appropriate management of children with cCMV.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"232-237"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140944442","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Climate change and resilience for antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention.","authors":"Shira R Abeles, Ahnika Kline, Pamela Lee","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001032","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>This review covers recent research regarding the challenges posed by climate change within the areas of antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention, and ways to build resiliency in these fields.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Infectious disease patterns are changing as microbes adapt to climate change and changing environmental factors. Capacity for testing and treating infectious diseases is challenged by newly emerging diseases, which exacerbate challenges to antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention.Antimicrobial resistance is accelerated due to environmental factors including air pollution, plastic pollution, and chemicals used in food systems, which are all impacted by climate change.Climate change places infection prevention practices at risk in many ways including from major weather events, increased risk of epidemics, and societal disruptions causing conditions that can overwhelm health systems. Researchers are building resilience by advancing rapid diagnostics and disease modeling, and identifying highly reliable versus low efficiency interventions.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Climate change and associated major weather and socioeconomic events will place significant strain on healthcare facilities. Work being done to advance rapid diagnostics, build supply chain resilience, improve predictive disease modeling and surveillance, and identify high reliability versus low yield interventions will help build resiliency in antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention for escalating challenges due to climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"270-276"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141283230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Viral infections and inborn errors of immunity.","authors":"Anne Ewing, Rebecca Pellett Madan","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001021","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001021","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>The purpose of this focused review is to discuss unusual presentations of viral infections in the context of specific inborn errors of immunity. We will discuss hyper immunoglobulin E (IgE) syndromes, epidermodysplasia verruciformis, and X-linked agammaglobulinemia as examples of inborn errors of immunity associated with specific presentations of viral infection and disease.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Advances in both genetic and viral diagnostics have broadened our understanding of viral pathogenesis in the setting of immune dysfunction and the variable phenotype of inborn errors of immunity. Dedicator of cytokinesis 8 (DOCK8) deficiency is now recognized as an inborn error of immunity within the hyper IgE syndrome phenotype and is associated with unusually aggressive cutaneous disease caused by herpes simplex and other viruses. Studies of patients with epidermodysplasia verruciformis have proven that rarely detected human papillomavirus subtypes may cause malignancy in the absence of adequate host defenses. Finally, patients with X-linked agammaglobulinemia may remain at risk for severe and chronic viral infections, even as immune globulin supplementation reduces the risk of bacterial infection.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Susceptibility to viral infections in patients with inborn errors of immunity is conferred by specific, molecular defects. Recurrent, severe, or otherwise unusual presentations of viral disease should prompt investigation for an underlying genetic defect.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"227-231"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140921726","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Resource sustainability and challenges in the supply chain: implications for infection prevention.","authors":"Preeti Mehrotra, Angel Desai","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001033","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001033","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Infection prevention and control practices remain the bedrock of healthcare associated infection prevention and outbreak and epidemic control efforts. However, issues in supply chain management can hinder these efforts, as exemplified by various public health emergencies. This review explores the key role of supply chains in infection prevention and explores specific challenges.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>In all of the critical components of infection prevention and control - hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, sterile supplies, environmental disinfection, and waste management - disruptions in supply chains have led to limited availability and dissemination.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Strategies to mitigate these resource constraints in the inter-epidemic period will also be highlighted. The infection prevention workforce is well poised to inform supply chain dynamics. Without robust and adequate supply chains, infection prevention and control efforts suffer which perpetuates healthcare-associated infections, clusters, and epidemics.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"277-281"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141283231","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J Gonzalo Acevedo-Rodriguez,Carmen A Contreras,Theresa J Ochoa
{"title":"Viral diarrheas - newer advances in diagnosis and management.","authors":"J Gonzalo Acevedo-Rodriguez,Carmen A Contreras,Theresa J Ochoa","doi":"10.1097/qco.0000000000001053","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/qco.0000000000001053","url":null,"abstract":"PURPOSE OF REVIEWViruses are the most common etiological agents of diarrhea in children. Despite rotavirus vaccine introduction, rotavirus remains as the leading cause of death globally, followed by norovirus, which represents a diagnostic challenge. Here, we describe new advances in the diagnosis and management of viral diarrheas.RECENT FINDINGSAlthough immunoassays are widely used for their fast turnaround time and low cost, molecular techniques have become the most reliable diagnostic method due to their high sensitivity and capacity to analyze multiple pathogens in gastrointestinal panels. Isothermal nucleic acid amplification assays (LAMP and RPA) are promising techniques since they do not require sophisticated equipment and can be used as point-of-care testing. CRISPR/Cas nucleic acid detection systems are new diagnostic methods with great potential. Several recent published articles describe the role of human intestinal enteroids to characterize norovirus infection, to test new drugs, and for vaccine development. The interaction between the human gut microbiota and gastrointestinal viral infections has been extensively reviewed and offers some innovative mechanisms for therapeutic and preventive measures.SUMMARYAlthough important advances have been made, more research is needed to address remaining challenges and further improve diagnostic capabilities and better management strategies for this critical infectious disease.","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":"19 1","pages":"385-391"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142211884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Postexposure prophylaxis for occupational exposure to selected pathogens for healthcare personnel.","authors":"Alison Han, David K Henderson","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001029","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001029","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Timely postexposure prophylaxis is important after an occupational exposure. Here we review select organisms, exposure opportunities in the healthcare setting, and postexposure prophylaxis regimens.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Needlestick injuries pose a risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, such as HIV, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C. Risk mitigation strategies should be reexamined in light of newer vaccines and therapeutics. Increased vaccine hesitancy and vaccine denialisms may foster the re-emergence of some infections that have become extremely uncommon because of effective vaccines. With increasing occurrences of zoonotic infections and the ease of global spread as evidenced by COVID-19 and mpox, healthcare exposures must also consider risks related to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Early recognition and reporting of occupational exposures to pathogens with available postexposure prophylaxis is key to mitigating the risk of transmission. Providers should be able to evaluate the exposure and associated risks to provide prompt and appropriate postexposure prophylaxis.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"296-303"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11213494/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141426573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Endemic viral infections in immunocompromised hosts: Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika.","authors":"Marcia Garnica, Jessica Fernandes Ramos, Clarisse Martins Machado","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001026","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001026","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Arbovirus infections are a challenge for immunocompromised hosts who travel to or live in endemic regions or who receive organs or tissues from donors who travel or live in such areas. This review addresses Dengue (DENV), Chikungunya (CHIKV), and Zika (ZIKV) infections in hematological patients, hematopoietic cell or solid organ transplant recipients, and people with HIV (PWH).</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Transmission is mainly due through Aedes mosquito bite. DENV and ZIKV may also be transmitted through blood, tissues or donor grafts. Clinical manifestations are quite similar and diagnosis requires laboratory confirmation to provide appropriate management. The best diagnostic method is PCR since serology may present false negative results in immunocompromised patients, or cross-reactivity as in the case of DENV and ZIKV. There is no specific treatment for any of these infections.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Educational and preventive measures are the best strategy: vector control, knowledge of the vector's habits, protection against mosquito bites, avoiding travel to endemic areas or with a current epidemic, and avoiding nonvector transmission according to local recommendations for donor deferral. Vaccination, currently only available for DENV, has not yet been studied in immunocompromised patients and is not currently recommended.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"238-244"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141260436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Navigating the future: machine learning's role in revolutionizing antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention and control.","authors":"John J Hanna, Richard J Medford","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001028","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001028","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>This review examines the current state and future prospects of machine learning (ML) in infection prevention and control (IPC) and antimicrobial stewardship (ASP), highlighting its potential to transform healthcare practices by enhancing the precision, efficiency, and effectiveness of interventions against infections and antimicrobial resistance.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>ML has shown promise in improving surveillance and detection of infections, predicting infection risk, and optimizing antimicrobial use through the development of predictive analytics, natural language processing, and personalized medicine approaches. However, challenges remain, including issues related to data quality, model interpretability, ethical considerations, and integration into clinical workflows.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Despite these challenges, the future of ML in IPC and ASP is promising, with interdisciplinary collaboration identified as a key factor in overcoming existing barriers. ML's role in advancing personalized medicine, real-time disease monitoring, and effective IPC and ASP strategies signifies a pivotal shift towards safer, more efficient healthcare environments and improved patient care in the face of global antimicrobial resistance challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"290-295"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11211045/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141184149","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Reexploring cytomegalovirus serology in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.","authors":"Léna Royston, Dionysios Neofytos","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001025","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Discuss the recent evidence on cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology in allogeneic hematopoeic cell transplant (HCT) recipients.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Whereas the role CMV-specific cellular mediated immunity has recently emerged as an important factor of CMV DNAemia posttransplant, the value of CMV serology has remained unchanged through decades, associated with donor selection and posttransplant prophylactic and monitoring strategies. In this review, we describe and discuss the emerging reports on the association between the magnitude of pretransplant CMV immunoglobulin G (IgG) titer and the posttransplant incidence of CMV DNAemia, as CMV IgG titer could become an additional tool in CMV risk assessment in the future.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Pretransplant recipient CMV serology may have significant implications in posttransplant CMV reactivation in allogeneic HCT recipients.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"264-269"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11213497/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141300288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lars Haukali Omland, Henrik Nielsen, Jacob Bodilsen
{"title":"Update and approach to patients with brain abscess.","authors":"Lars Haukali Omland, Henrik Nielsen, Jacob Bodilsen","doi":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001014","DOIUrl":"10.1097/QCO.0000000000001014","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>The epidemiology of brain abscess has changed in recent decades. Moreover, acute and long-term management remains challenging with high risks of mortality and neurological sequelae. This review describes recent advances in epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of brain abscess.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>The incidence of brain abscess is increasing, especially among elderly individuals. Important predisposing conditions include dental and ear-nose-throat infections, immuno-compromise, and previous neurosurgery. Molecular-based diagnostics have improved our understanding of the involved microorganisms and oral cavity bacteria including anaerobes are the predominant pathogens. The diagnosis relies upon a combination of magnetic resonance imaging, neurosurgical aspiration or excision, and careful microbiological examinations. Local source control by aspiration or excision of brain abscess combined with long-term antimicrobials are cornerstones of treatment. Long-term management remains important and should address neurological deficits including epilepsy, timely diagnosis and management of comorbidities, and potential affective disorders.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>A multidisciplinary approach to acute and long-term management of brain abscess remains crucial and source control of brain abscess by neurosurgery should be pursued whenever possible. Numerous aspects regarding diagnosis and treatment need clarification. Nonetheless, our understanding of this complicated infection is rapidly evolving.</p>","PeriodicalId":10880,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases","volume":" ","pages":"211-219"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140317871","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}