Infectious Disease Reports最新文献

{"title":"Fulminant <i>Fusobacterium necrophorum</i> Meningoencephalitis Secondary to Frontal Sinusitis in a Previously Healthy Young Adult: A Case Report.","authors":"Amir Hossein Pirasteh, Katrin Streubel, Sabine Wagner, Jorge Hugo Coello Alvarez, Christopher Nimsky, Sabrina Viktoria Kirchleitner","doi":"10.3390/idr18050097","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18050097","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Fusobacterium necrophorum</i> is an anaerobic Gram-negative organism classically associated with severe head and neck infections and Lemierre syndrome. Central nervous system involvement is uncommon but may be rapidly progressive and fatal, particularly when associated with sinusitis, intracranial empyema, cerebritis, or brain abscess.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>We report the case of a previously healthy 18-year-old male who presented after four days of high fever up to 41.5 °C, severe holocranial headache, vomiting, and acute hyperactive delirium. On admission, he had meningismus, markedly elevated inflammatory markers, and concomitant <i>Influenza A</i> infection. The initial cranial computer tomography showed a left frontal hypodense lesion with hemorrhagic transformation and perfusion deficit. The cranial magnetic resonance tomography demonstrated left frontopolar cerebritis, intracranial empyema along the falx and tentorium, intraspinal extension, and extensive bilateral frontal, maxillary, and ethmoidal sinusitis, suggesting sinogenic intracranial spread. The patient underwent emergency bilateral pansinus surgery, placement of an external ventricular drain, left hemicraniectomy with evacuation of empyema, repeat evacuation of subdural empyema and frontal abscess drainage, and posterior fossa decompression with C1 laminectomy. <i>Fusobacterium necrophorum</i> was detected in anaerobic blood cultures and the operative intracranial samples. Despite aggressive interdisciplinary management, the patient developed septic multiorgan failure and died on hospital day 4.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This case illustrates a rare but potentially fatal sinogenic <i>Fusobacterium necrophorum</i> infection of the central nervous system in a young adult. By providing a detailed report, we intend to increase awareness of this rare yet fatal clinical presentation.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13600018/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149030354","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":"Powassan Virus in the United States: An AI-Integrative One Health Scoping Review of Ecological Drivers, Zoonotic Interactions, Symptom Profiles, and Public Health Implications.","authors":"Sarah P Maxwell, Connie L McNeely, James R Harrington, Kevin C Thomas","doi":"10.3390/idr18050096","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18050096","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Powassan virus (POWV) is the only tick-borne encephalitis-group flavivirus endemic to the United States (U.S.) and is an increasingly serious public health threat. Reported U.S. cases remain relatively few but have grown steadily-from fewer than two annually before 2005 to a record 60 in 2024-and neuroinvasive disease carries a 10-15% case fatality with lasting neurological sequelae in roughly half of the survivors. Examining POWV through a One Health lens, we conducted a scoping review of its ecological and zoonotic drivers, its interactions with co-circulating tick-borne pathogens, its full clinical spectrum, and its distinction from other tick-borne diseases.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidance, we searched PubMed/MEDLINE, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance databases, state health-department publications, and vetted public-health news through early 2026. The review was conducted as an AI-integrative partnership among the authors, the Global Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Online Network (GIDEON) database, and Claude (Anthropic), enabling a synthesis of human-curated archival records collected over six years alongside the published literature; this yielded over 200 sources, almost half unavailable through an AI search alone.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>POWV is maintained in a sylvatic cycle involving <i>I. scapularis</i> ticks, small-mammal reservoirs, and incidental human spillover. Its clinical spectrum spans asymptomatic seroconversion to fatal meningoencephalitis; prodromal fever, headache, vomiting, and fatigue may progress to encephalitis, seizures, aphasia, cranial-nerve palsies, paralysis, and ataxia-the most severe neurological syndrome among U.S. tick-borne diseases. Cases cluster in the northeastern and Great Lakes states, with older males disproportionately affected, while viral evidence extends to the mid-Atlantic, southern, and western regions. POWV is distinguished by its flaviviral etiology, short (as little as 15 min) transmission window, absence of a characteristic rash, and complete antibiotic resistance. Of the 48 states surveyed, only 7 published POWV data.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>POWV is an escalating One Health threat driven by expanding vector tick ranges, land-use and climate change, and wildlife-human interface dynamics. Enhanced cross-sector surveillance integrating human, animal, and environmental monitoring, alongside improved public-health data reporting, is urgently needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13600135/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149030402","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":"<i>Mycobacterium marinum</i> Hand Infection in a Kidney Transplant Recipient: A Diagnostic Challenge.","authors":"Mariantonia Braile, Giusy Corvino, Rosamaria Abate, Mariano Conticelli","doi":"10.3390/idr18050095","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18050095","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong><i>Mycobacterium marinum</i> is a slow-growing nontuberculous mycobacterium associated with aquatic environments and may cause chronic skin and soft-tissue infections following minor skin trauma. Diagnosis can be delayed because clinical manifestations may mimic conventional bacterial infections. We report an unusual case in a kidney transplant recipient with a positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold test and subsequent <i>M. marinum</i> infection of the hand.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 53-year-old man with a history of kidney transplantation and long-term immunosuppressive therapy developed progressive swelling, pain, erythema, and functional impairment of the right third finger. After independently discontinuing tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and prednisone following a positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold test, he developed a progressive hand infection despite empirical ciprofloxacin therapy. He reported repeated exposure to a domestic freshwater aquarium and frequent contact with aquarium water and filtration equipment, with minor skin abrasions. Surgical exploration revealed dense, whitish, caseous-appearing material. Histopathology demonstrated chronic granulomatous inflammation, while Ziehl-Neelsen staining showed acid-fast bacilli. Culture yielded slow-growing photochromogenic colonies at 28-32 °C, and species-specific PCR confirmed <i>M. marinum</i>. No antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. Following surgical drainage and six days of empirical ciprofloxacin, no targeted antimycobacterial therapy was administered. The patient achieved complete clinical resolution, and immunosuppressive therapy was gradually reintroduced approximately four weeks after surgery.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This case highlights the importance of considering <i>M. marinum</i> in persistent or treatment-refractory hand infections, particularly in patients with aquarium exposure and impaired immunity. Early tissue sampling, appropriate culture conditions, and molecular identification are essential for diagnosis. A positive QuantiFERON-TB Gold result should be interpreted cautiously because cross-reactivity with <i>M. marinum</i> is possible. The favorable outcome observed after surgical source control and a short empirical course of ciprofloxacin is unusual and should not be interpreted as evidence supporting short-course monotherapy for deep <i>M. marinum</i> infection. Because antimicrobial susceptibility testing and serial follow-up cultures were unavailable, the contribution of ciprofloxacin to microbiological clearance cannot be determined.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13600029/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149030435","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":"Ebola Virus Disease in the Era of One Health and Global Preparedness: Evolving Epidemiology, Genomic Surveillance, and Future Challenges.","authors":"Francesco De Maria, Francesco Branda, Ivailo Alexiev, Dong Keon Yon, Ayşe Banu Demir, Giancarlo Ceccarelli, Fabio Scarpa, Massimo Ciccozzi, Alessandro Russo","doi":"10.3390/idr18050094","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18050094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Ebola virus disease (EVD) remains one of the most severe viral hemorrhagic fevers, with recurrent outbreaks challenging global healthcare systems. This narrative review traces the evolving epidemiology of EVD from the first recognized outbreaks in 1976 to the ongoing 2026 Bundibugyo virus public health emergency in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda. Over nearly five decades, the recognized range of Ebola outbreak contexts and amplification mechanisms has broadened considerably: rural zoonotic spillovers remain the predominant mode of emergence, but the scale and reach of subsequent transmission increasingly depend on where introductions occur, on delays in detection, on population mobility, on ecological disruption, on armed conflict, on healthcare-associated transmission, and on viral persistence in survivors. Major advances in molecular epidemiology and genomic surveillance have improved outbreak investigation, enabling real-time transmission reconstruction and detection of survivor-linked resurgence. Vaccination, particularly ring vaccination with rVSV-ZEBOV, has shown high effectiveness against Zaire ebolavirus, yet vaccine equity gaps and the absence of licensed vaccines for Sudan virus and Bundibugyo virus remain critical vulnerabilities, though new candidate vaccines and therapeutics for Bundibugyo virus entered clinical evaluation in mid-2026. Artificial intelligence and digital technologies, including AI-assisted early warning systems, portable sequencing, drones, blockchain, and mobile health platforms, offer promising tools for outbreak preparedness, but robust evidence of their real-world operational impact during filovirus outbreaks remains limited, and their deployment in low-resource settings faces substantial barriers related to infrastructure, literacy, data costs, and governance. Integrated preparedness frameworks that combine ecological surveillance, resilient healthcare systems, community engagement, and international coordination under a One Health umbrella are increasingly viewed as a strategic necessity. The 2026 Bundibugyo outbreak reaffirms that despite decades of lessons, structural weaknesses in surveillance, response timeliness, and community trust continue to recur. Sustainable, multi-year financing, diversified vaccine platforms, regional manufacturing, and local co-design of digital tools are essential to translate lessons into lasting change. Preparedness is best understood as a continuous process rather than a reactive state.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13600140/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149030369","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":"Mixed <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> Serogroup Infection in a Single Patient: Case Report and Literature Review.","authors":"Bram Vanmechelen, Fedoua Echahidi, Stijn Jonckheere, Patricia Vandecandelaere, Ines Malysse, Oriane Soetens, Charlotte Michel","doi":"10.3390/idr18050093","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18050093","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Legionnaires' disease (LD) is most often described as caused by a single <i>Legionella pneumophila</i> (Lp) serogroup (SG), typically SG1. However, mixed infections involving multiple SGs or even different <i>Legionella</i> species can occur within a single host. Such cases remain underrecognized and pose challenges for diagnosis, clinical management, and outbreak investigation.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 61-year-old woman developed acute fever, malaise, and productive cough after visiting a wellness spa in France, with radiological findings consistent with a lower respiratory tract infection. The urinary antigen test (UAT) for Lp was negative, but respiratory multiplex PCR was weakly positive. Subsequent testing at the Belgian National Reference Centre (NRC) for <i>Legionella</i> revealed an unexpected discordance between an in-house SG1-specific PCR and culture-based findings. Further analysis identified co-infection with two distinct Lp strains, SG1 (sequence type, ST146) and SG10 (ST1267), using a combination of direct sequence-based typing (SBT) and culture with serogrouping of multiple colonies. The patient improved rapidly after treatment with oral levofloxacin.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Mixed Lp SG infections are likely underrecognized in routine practice, as neither UAT, commercial molecular assays, nor characterization of a single cultured isolate may adequately capture within-host strain diversity. Comprehensive diagnostic approaches combining culture with analysis of multiple colonies and molecular tests are essential for accurate case detection and source attribution. Referral to NRCs is recommended when advanced typing methods are unavailable. This first reported Belgian case illustrates the potential implications for patient management and epidemiological investigations, underscoring the need for broader diagnostic strategies.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13600221/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149030388","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":"Tricuspid Valve Infective Endocarditis in People Who Inject Drugs: A Single-Center Retrospective Observational Study of Percutaneous Mechanical Aspiration and a Surgical Approach.","authors":"Lauren Bernard, Juliana S Sherchan, Nazary Nebeluk, David Zapata, Murtaza Dawood, Douglas Anderson, Ramon A Riojas, Shivakumar Narayanan","doi":"10.3390/idr18050092","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18050092","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People who inject drugs (PWID) comprise the majority of patients with native tricuspid valve (TV) infective endocarditis (IE). Many patients require surgical repair or replacement of their TV, but some may be deemed ineligible for surgical management due to high operative risk or patient preference. Vacuum-assisted percutaneous mechanical aspiration (PMA) has emerged as a potential alternative to surgical management in this population. The objective of this study was to describe real-world patient characteristics and clinical outcomes in PWID who underwent PMA or surgical management of TV IE.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively reviewed PWID hospitalized with endocarditis at a single tertiary care center (2016-2025) who underwent an isolated PMA or surgical TV repair/replacement (TVR). Baseline demographic, clinical, microbiologic, and echocardiographic characteristics were described. Clinical outcomes were compared descriptively between groups, recognizing imbalances in treatment selection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 40 PWID met inclusion criteria; 17 underwent PMA and 23 underwent surgical TVR. There was substantial baseline clinical heterogeneity between the two groups. Procedural success was numerically higher with surgery than with PMA (95.7% vs. 88.2%). Clinical success, a composite of procedural success, treatment completion, and lack of need for reintervention, was numerically higher in the TVR group (73.9% vs. 52.9%). One-year mortality was similar between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>In this single-center retrospective observational cohort of PWID with isolated TV IE, there was no statistical difference in composite clinical or procedural success between patients who underwent PMA or TVR. PMA may be a feasible source-control strategy for select patients not eligible for immediate surgery; however, larger prospective studies are needed to define optimal patient selection factors and comparative effectiveness.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13600112/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149030438","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":"Outpatient Treatment with Isavuconazole for Recurrent Chronic Cavitary Pulmonary Aspergillosis in a Residual Post-Lobectomy Cavity: A Case Report.","authors":"Marialuisa Valente, Giovanni Fumagalli, Valentina Caputo, Niccolò Riccardi, Lucia Allavena, Maurizio Ferrarese, Luigi Ruffo Codecasa","doi":"10.3390/idr18040091","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18040091","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is a slowly progressive pulmonary fungal disease, predominantly caused by <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i>, which develops in patients with pre-existing structural lung abnormalities. Chronic cavitary pulmonary aspergillosis (CCPA), the most common form of CPA, is characterized by one or more pulmonary cavities, with or without intracavitary fungal balls (aspergillomas), and requires prolonged oral triazole therapy. Long-term treatment may be limited by adverse events, drug-drug interactions, and the need for therapeutic drug monitoring with conventional azoles.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 69-year-old former smoker with a history of breast cancer and right upper lobectomy for pulmonary adenocarcinoma presented with fever, productive cough, hyporexia, sarcopenia, and an unintentional 6 kg weight loss over three months. Two years earlier, she had undergone atypical pulmonary resection for an <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> aspergilloma and had been treated with amphotericin B followed by voriconazole for six months. HRCT revealed a recurrent intracavitary fungal lesion within a residual post-surgical cavity with extensive inflammatory consolidation. Bronchoalveolar lavage demonstrated a positive galactomannan index (4.74) and septate fungal hyphae on cytology, supporting the diagnosis of recurrent CCPA. Treatment with oral isavuconazole resulted in clinical recovery, weight gain, and complete radiological resolution after six months, without treatment-related adverse events or QTc abnormalities.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This case highlights the successful outpatient management of CCPA developing within a persistent post-lobectomy cavity despite previous surgical resection and antifungal therapy. The favourable clinical response, excellent tolerability, and absence of treatment-related toxicity support the growing evidence that isavuconazole may represent a valuable therapeutic option for selected patients with recurrent CCPA.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13513544/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148827762","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":"The Impact of Hospital-Based Fidaxomicin Use Criteria on <i>Clostridioides difficile</i> Recurrence: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Study.","authors":"Song Kwon, Rachel Gabor, Philip Whitfield","doi":"10.3390/idr18040090","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18040090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong><i>Clostridioides difficile</i> infection (CDI) is associated with substantial morbidity and high recurrence rates. Current guidelines recommend fidaxomicin over oral vancomycin due to reduced recurrence; however, its high acquisition cost limits widespread adoption. Our health system implemented criteria restricting fidaxomicin to patients with the highest risk for recurrence. This study evaluated the impact of this strategy on CDI recurrence and antimicrobial expenditures.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a multicenter, retrospective matched cohort study across a rural health system from January 2023 through March 2026. The fidaxomicin criteria for use (intervention) went into effect on 1 January 2025. Adult hospitalized patients with an initial CDI episode treated with oral vancomycin and/or fidaxomicin were included. Patients with severe CDI or prior CDI episodes were excluded. A 2:1 matching algorithm based on key recurrence risk factors was used to compare pre-implementation (before criteria for use) and post-implementation (after criteria for use) cohorts. The primary outcomes were 28-day and 90-day CDI recurrences. Secondary outcomes included antimicrobial utilization and annualized expenditures.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 144 matched patients were analyzed (96 control and 48 intervention). Fidaxomicin use decreased from 40.6% to 8.3% following implementation (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Annualized fidaxomicin expenditures declined by 54.7%. CDI recurrence rates were similar between groups: 28-day recurrence was 5.2% in the control group versus 6.2% in the intervention group, and 90-day recurrence was 7.3% versus 10.4%, respectively, with statistical non-inferiority at 28 days (<i>p</i> = 0.014).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Implementation of risk-based fidaxomicin use criteria significantly reduced utilization and costs without a statistically significant increase in CDI recurrence. These findings support a targeted stewardship approach to optimize resource use while maintaining comparable clinical outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13513588/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148827848","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":"Global Burden of Upper Airway Infections: Epidemiology, Current Challenges and Future Perspectives.","authors":"Pierre Guarino, Francesco Chiari, Luigi La Via, Andrea Marino, Jerome Rene Lechien, Mario Lentini, Salvatore Lavalle, Giuseppe Nunnari, Salvatore Maira, Carmelo Giancarlo Botto, Salvatore Ferlito, Antonino Maniaci","doi":"10.3390/idr18040089","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18040089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Upper airway tract infections (UATIs) are among the most common infectious diseases worldwide, accounting for an estimated 12.8 billion episodes annually and more than 8 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Despite their generally self-limiting nature, their cumulative clinical, socioeconomic, and public health burden remains substantial, particularly in children, older adults, and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a structured narrative review of the peer-reviewed literature and reports from major international health organizations to summarize the current evidence on the epidemiology, etiology, clinical impact, socioeconomic burden, prevention strategies, and future challenges associated with UATIs. Particular attention was given to the influence of antimicrobial resistance, vaccination policies, and lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>UATIs remain one of the leading causes of healthcare utilization worldwide. Children experience the highest incidence, averaging 6-8 episodes annually, whereas vulnerable populations are at increased risk of complications and hospitalization. Marked geographical disparities persist, with LMICs experiencing a disproportionate burden due to limited healthcare access, lower vaccination coverage, and higher complication rates. Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing continues to accelerate antimicrobial resistance, while the COVID-19 pandemic profoundly altered the epidemiology of respiratory infections and demonstrated the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical interventions. Advances in vaccination, antimicrobial stewardship, rapid diagnostics, and novel therapeutic strategies offer promising opportunities to reduce disease burden.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Reducing the global burden of UATIs requires integrated public health strategies combining equitable vaccine access, effective antimicrobial stewardship, strengthened healthcare systems, and sustained surveillance. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic provide a unique opportunity to improve preparedness for future respiratory outbreaks while addressing persistent regional inequalities in prevention and care.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13512024/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148827828","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":"First Case Report of <i>Salmonella enterica</i> Serovar Haifa in a Patient from Mysore, Karnataka, India.","authors":"Chinchana Shylaja Eshwarappa, Mahadevaiah Neelambike Sumana, Yogeesh D Maheshwarappa, Morubagal Raghavendra Rao, Vidyavathi B Chitharagi, Neetha S Murthy, Supreeta R Shettar, Veerabhadra Swamy G S, G K Megha, Shruthishree S C","doi":"10.3390/idr18040088","DOIUrl":"10.3390/idr18040088","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Salmonellosis is a major global public health concern, commonly caused by serovars such as <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Typhimurium and <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Enteritidis. Rare serovars, however, may represent underrecognized links between environmental reservoirs and human infection. <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Haifa is a sporadic serotype primarily associated with livestock and environmental sources and has previously been reported in Indian poultry but not in human clinical cases to date.</p><p><strong>Case presentation: </strong>A 70-year-old male with a history of type 2 diabetes, presented with acute watery diarrhea and dehydration. One week prior to symptom onset, the patient reported direct contact with cattle and poultry in a rural setting. Laboratory investigations revealed leucopenia and elevated procalcitonin (3.73 ng/mL). Stool culture yielded non-lactose fermenting colonies on MacConkey agar and H₂S-producing colonies on Hektoen enteric agar. The isolate was identified via VITEK 2 and confirmed as <i>Salmonella enterica</i> serovar Haifa by the National Institute for Research in Bacterial Infections (NIRBI). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) revealed that the isolate showed resistance to ampicillin, ceftriaxone, and ciprofloxacin. The patient was successfully treated with a three-day course of intravenous Azithromycin (1 g) and achieved rapid clinical recovery.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the first reported human infection caused by <i>S. Haifa</i> in India. The finding highlights the potential zoonotic risk of rare non-typhoidal <i>Salmonella</i> serovars and emphasizes the importance of surveillance, routine serotyping, and antimicrobial resistance monitoring within a One Health framework.</p>","PeriodicalId":13579,"journal":{"name":"Infectious Disease Reports","volume":"18 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2026-08-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13513591/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148827813","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}