Infectious Disease Reports最新文献

{"title":"Characterization of <i>Lophomonas</i> spp. Infection in a Population of Critical Care Patients.","authors":"Francisco das Neves Coelho, João Borralho, Teresa Baptista-Fernandes, Cristina Toscano, Maria Eduarda Carmo","doi":"10.3390/idr16010006","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr16010006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Lophomonas</i> are flagellated protozoa that have been increasingly associated with upper and lower airway infection in humans. The prevalence and characterization of this disease in the critically ill remains poorly understood. We present a series of eleven ICU patients with confirmed <i>Lophomonas</i> spp. identification in respiratory samples.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"16 1","pages":"83-92"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10888071/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139931007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Management of Cytomegalovirus Infections in the Era of the Novel Antiviral Players, Letermovir and Maribavir.","authors":"Jocelyne Piret, Guy Boivin","doi":"10.3390/idr16010005","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr16010005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections may increase morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Until recently, standard antiviral drugs against CMV were limited to viral DNA polymerase inhibitors (val)ganciclovir, foscarnet and cidofovir with a risk for cross-resistance. These drugs may also cause serious side effects. This narrative review provides an update on new antiviral agents that were approved for the prevention and treatment of CMV infections in transplant recipients. Letermovir was approved in 2017 for CMV prophylaxis in CMV-seropositive adults who received an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Maribavir followed four years later, with an indication in the treatment of adult and pediatric transplant patients with refractory/resistant CMV disease. The target of letermovir is the CMV terminase complex (constituted of pUL56, pUL89 and pUL51 subunits). Letermovir prevents the cleavage of viral DNA and its packaging into capsids. Maribavir is a pUL97 kinase inhibitor, which interferes with the assembly of capsids and the egress of virions from the nucleus. Both drugs have activity against most CMV strains resistant to standard drugs and exhibit favorable safety profiles. However, high-level resistance mutations may arise more rapidly in the <i>UL56</i> gene under letermovir than low-grade resistance mutations. Some mutations emerging in the <i>UL97</i> gene under maribavir can be cross-resistant with ganciclovir. Thus, letermovir and maribavir now extend the drug arsenal available for the management of CMV infections and their respective niches are currently defined.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"16 1","pages":"65-82"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10801527/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139512349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"An Epidemic Model with Infection Age and Vaccination Age Structure","authors":"Glenn Webb, Xinyue Evelyn Zhao","doi":"10.3390/idr16010004","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16010004","url":null,"abstract":"A model of epidemic dynamics is developed that incorporates continuous variables for infection age and vaccination age. The model analyzes pre-symptomatic and symptomatic periods of an infected individual in terms of infection age. This property is shown to be of major importance in the severity of the epidemic, when the infectious period of an infected individual precedes the symptomatic period. The model also analyzes the efficacy of vaccination in terms of vaccination age. The immunity to infection of vaccinated individuals varies with vaccination age and is also of major significance in the severity of the epidemic. Application of the model to the 2003 SARS epidemic in Taiwan and the COVID-19 epidemic in New York provides insights into the dynamics of these diseases. It is shown that the SARS outbreak was effectively contained due to the complete overlap of infectious and symptomatic periods, allowing for the timely isolation of affected individuals. In contrast, the pre-symptomatic spread of COVID-19 in New York led to a rapid, uncontrolled epidemic. These findings underscore the critical importance of the pre-symptomatic infectious period and the vaccination strategies in influencing the dynamics of an epidemic.","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"83 13","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139440811","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Different Approaches to Antimicrobial Therapy with Cefmetazole and Meropenem on the Time to Defervescence in Non-Severe Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> Bacteremia.","authors":"Takanobu Hoshi, Satoshi Fujii, Kei Watanabe, Yuta Fukumura, Koji Miyazaki, Madoka Takahashi, Sakae Taniguchi, Shingo Kimura, Arisa Saito, Naoki Wada, Masaji Saijo, Kazunori Yamada, Kuninori Iwayama, Marie Itaya, Hideki Sato","doi":"10.3390/idr16010003","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr16010003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Carbapenems are antimicrobial agents commonly used to treat extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria. Although cefmetazole (CMZ) is considered effective for ESBL-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ESBL-EC) bacteremia, previous studies showed its limitations, including the influence of the initial antimicrobial agent. Here, we examined the effects of different approaches to antimicrobial therapy with CMZ and meropenem (MEPM) on the time to defervescence in ESBL-EC bacteremia. Notably, the influence of previous antimicrobial agents was excluded. Inpatients with ESBL-EC detected in blood cultures between April 2018 and March 2023 were included and assigned to CMZ (<i>n</i> = 14), MEPM (<i>n</i> = 8), de-escalation to CMZ (dCMZ; <i>n</i> = 9), or escalation to MEPM (eMEPM; <i>n</i> = 11) groups. The median time to defervescence was 3.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 days in the CMZ, MEPM, dCMZ, and eMEPM groups, respectively, with no significant differences. Cox proportional hazards analysis showed a significant difference in the hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.378 (0.145-0.984) for the time to defervescence with CMZ versus MEPM (<i>p</i> = 0.046). The extent of a delayed time to defervescence is greater with early CMZ administration than with MEPM administration in patients with non-severe ESBL-EC bacteremia.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"16 1","pages":"26-34"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10801497/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139512348","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Urea/Creatinine Ratio’s Correlation with Creatine Kinase Normalization in Pediatric COVID-19 Patients with Myositis: Evaluating Prognostic and Predictive Value","authors":"Francesco Pizzo, Andrea Marino, A. Di Nora, Serena Spampinato, Giovanni Cacciaguerra, Giuseppe Costanza, Federica Scarlata, Arturo Biasco, M.C. Consentino, Riccardo Lubrano, B. Cacopardo, G. Nunnari, Martino Ruggieri, Piero Pavone","doi":"10.3390/idr16010002","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16010002","url":null,"abstract":"Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been chiefly linked with substantial respiratory complications. However, emerging studies have brought attention to the occurrence of severe muscle inflammation (myositis) related to COVID-19, potentially leading to multi-organ failure and increased mortality. Myositis is generally characterized by heightened serum creatine kinase (CK) levels. Acute myositis is characterized by an infiltration of viruses into calf muscle fibers, which may cause a subsequent inflammatory response leading to calf muscle pain. Symptomatic and supportive management, along with explanation and reassurance, is all that is required in managing this condition. While the association between myositis and severe outcomes has been recognized in adults, it remains less understood in the pediatric population. The current retrospective study, conducted at Policlinico San Marco University Hospital in Catania, aimed to analyze clinical and laboratory factors associated with myositis in pediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Between January 2022 and January 2023, ten pediatric patients diagnosed with myositis and SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated. The study highlighted clinical manifestations such as fever, calf muscle pain, and abnormal gait. Lab results showed elevated CK levels among other findings. All patients underwent treatment, with the majority recovering without complications. A notable correlation was observed between CK levels, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and the urea/creatinine ratio (UCR). The study also discusses potential pathophysiological mechanisms behind SARS-CoV-2’s impact on skeletal muscles, emphasizing an indirect inflammatory response. Our findings underscore that while myositis in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection appears to follow a benign and self-limiting trajectory, it is crucial to monitor specific markers for early intervention and management. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and improve clinical outcomes.","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"261 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139159169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Trends and Spatiotemporal Patterns of Avian Influenza Outbreaks in Italy: A Data-Driven Approach","authors":"Francesco Branda, Sandra Mazzoli, Massimo Pierini, Massimo Ciccozzi","doi":"10.3390/idr16010001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/idr16010001","url":null,"abstract":"In recent years, the unprecedented spread of the Avian Influenza Viruses (AIVs) among birds and mammals has caused devastation in animal populations, including poultry, wild birds, and some mammals, damaging farmers’ livelihoods and the food trade. Given the urgency of the situation, it is particularly important that scientists and the public can access research results and data as soon as possible. The main aim of this study is to present a global open-access dataset of Avian Influenza outbreaks to enable researchers and policymakers (i) to rapidly detect, and respond to animal outbreaks as the first line of defense; (ii) to conduct epidemiological and virological investigations around animal outbreaks and human infections; and (iii) to communicate the risk. We show the potential use of this dataset to the research community by analyzing the most updated information on past and current Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in domestic poultry and wild birds over the period from October 2021 to July 2023 in Italy. In addition, we applied indices borrowed from Economics (such as Homogeneity, Specialization, and Location Index) to the wild birds dataset to show their possible usage in epidemiology.","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"123 27","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138959016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Persisting Shadows: Unraveling the Impact of Long COVID-19 on Respiratory, Cardiovascular, and Nervous Systems.","authors":"Christina-Michailia Sideratou, Christos Papaneophytou","doi":"10.3390/idr15060072","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15060072","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), instigated by the zoonotic Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), rapidly transformed from an outbreak in Wuhan, China, into a widespread global pandemic. A significant post-infection condition, known as 'long- COVID-19' (or simply 'long- COVID'), emerges in a substantial subset of patients, manifesting with a constellation of over 200 reported symptoms that span multiple organ systems. This condition, also known as 'post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection' (PASC), presents a perplexing clinical picture with far-reaching implications, often persisting long after the acute phase. While initial research focused on the immediate pulmonary impact of the virus, the recognition of COVID-19 as a multiorgan disruptor has unveiled a gamut of protracted and severe health issues. This review summarizes the primary effects of long COVID on the respiratory, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. It also delves into the mechanisms underlying these impacts and underscores the critical need for a comprehensive understanding of long COVID's pathogenesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"15 6","pages":"806-830"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10742861/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138829630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bacterial Pneumonia and Cryptogenic Pleuritis after Probable Monkeypox Virus Infection: A Case Report.","authors":"Hubert Dawid Ciepłucha, Mateusz Bożejko, Paweł Piesiak, Sylwia Serafińska, Bartosz Szetela","doi":"10.3390/idr15060071","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15060071","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A large number of monkeypox (MPOX) cases have been reported in Europe and North America in 2022, and a new outbreak of this disease was declared. We describe a case of a patient with probable monkeypox during the height of this epidemic in Poland. The patient's symptoms resolved within two weeks, but over the next two months, he developed community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization and, subsequently, non-specific pleuritis. The simultaneous occurrence of such severe infections in a previously healthy young man is not typical and suggests a potential underlying cause. We believe the potential association of these diseases with probable monkeypox virus infection is very likely. Cases of monkeypox pneumonia, both viral and secondary bacterial, have already been reported in the literature. Cases of viral pleuritis in the course of MPOX in animals have also been described; however, to our knowledge, no similar cases have been described in humans to date. Our case indicates that it is important to monitor patients after MPOX in order to respond promptly to potentially life-threatening but, as of yet, not fully understood complications.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"15 6","pages":"795-805"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10742663/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138829626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bictegravir/Tenofovir Alafenamide/Emtricitabine: A Real-Life Experience in People Living with HIV (PLWH).","authors":"Anna Gidari, Sara Benedetti, Sara Tordi, Anastasia Zoffoli, Debora Altobelli, Elisabetta Schiaroli, Giuseppe Vittorio De Socio, Daniela Francisci","doi":"10.3390/idr15060069","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15060069","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Bictegravir (BIC), a recently introduced integrase inhibitor, is available in a single tablet regimen with tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and emtricitabine (FTC) (BIC-STR). This study aimed to describe a real-life experience with BIC-STR.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively analyzed the data of people living with HIV (PLWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with BIC-STR followed by the Clinic of Infectious Diseases of Perugia (Perugia, Italy) from September 2019 to February 2023.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>270 PLWH were enrolled with a median follow-up time on BIC-STR of 2.2 years (IQR 1.2-2.7). In the overall population, in treatment-experienced (N = 242), in treatment-naïve (N = 28), and in population with age > 60 years old (N = 86), we observed that CD4 cell count improved in absolute number, percentage and CD4/CD8 ratio, under BIC-STR. Patients with viremia < 50 cp/mL increased in all groups. In the overall population, previous ART with TAF and nadir CD4 cell count favored immunological recovery. In the ART-experienced group, time in therapy with BIC-STR was associated with HIV-RNA undetectability. In the older group, previous opportunistic infection and advanced age were associated with lower CD4 count.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>BIC-STR was demonstrated, in real-life, to be a valid option for a switch, such as initial ART.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"15 6","pages":"766-777"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10742537/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138829627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of COVID-19-Associated Infection Control on the Pattern of Infections Imported by German Soldiers and Police Officers Returning from Predominantly Tropical Deployment Sites.","authors":"Dorothea Franziska Wiemer, Matthias Halfter, Ulrich Müseler, Marius Schawaller, Hagen Frickmann","doi":"10.3390/idr15060070","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr15060070","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, German public health authorities launched various infection control procedures. In line with this, anti-pandemic infection control was also implemented for German military and police deployments. The presented study assessed the impact of this increased infection control effort on deployment-associated infections in a holistic approach. To do so, the results of post-deployment assessments offered to German soldiers and police officers at the Department of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases of the Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg obtained during the pandemic period were compared to the results recorded during the pre-pandemic period in an exploratory, hypothesis-forming comparative study. In total, data from 1010 military deployments and 134 police deployments, predominantly to the African or the Eastern Mediterranean WHO regions, were included in the analyses. In the main results, a significant decrease in gastroenteritis in deployed soldiers (20.1% versus 61.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.0001) and at least a trend in the same direction in deployed police officers (25.7% versus 35.4%, <i>p</i> = 0.4026) were shown for the pandemic period, while no consistent tendency into the one or the other direction was detectable for febrile illness on deployment. In contrast to the finding of less frequently reported deployment-associated gastroenteritis, the detection rates of enteric microorganisms after deployment, including poor hygiene-related colonization with apathogenic protozoa, remained unchanged. Regarding non-enteric infections, the numbers of serologically confirmed malaria cases on deployment and as expected, due to increased airway protection, <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>-specific immune-conversion dropped significantly with <i>p</i> = 0.0037 and <i>p</i> = 0.009, respectively. As a side finding, soldiers and police officers with post-deployment medical assessments were more likely to be older and male during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. In summary, only minor changes in deployment-associated infection and colonization rates were seen in response to the increased infection control procedures during the pandemic period, apart from respiratory infections. In particular, the clinical finding of less gastroenteritis on deployment was not matched by a concordant decline in poor hygiene-related enteric colonization with apathogenic protozoa in the soldiers' guts, indicating that the fecal-oral transmission risk remained basically the same.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"15 6","pages":"778-794"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10743252/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138829628","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}