Search results for "INFECTIONS"

Natural and adoptive T-cell immunity against herpes family viruses after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

2011

Reactivated infections with herpes family-related cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus and varicella zoster virus are serious and sometimes life-threatening complications for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The pathogenesis of these infections critically involves the slow and inefficient recovery of antiviral T-cell immunity after transplantation. Although efficient drugs to decrease viral load during this vulnerable period have been developed, long-term control of herpes viruses and protection from associated diseases require the sufficient reconstitution of virus-specific memory T cells. To heal the deficiency by immunotherapeutic means, numerous re…

A Comparison of Aspergillus and Mucorales PCR Testing of Different Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Fractions from Patients with Suspected Invasive Pulmo…

2018

ABSTRACT In patients with hematological malignancies, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) specimens are commonly used for the diagnosis of mold infections. However, it is not clear whether the cell pellet (P) or the supernatant fraction (S) of the BALF specimen is optimal for molecular diagnostic testing. Thus, 99 BALF specimens were collected from 96 hematology patients with or without allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. The cell pellets and supernatants were processed alone and in combination (S/P) for testing by two fungus-specific real-time PCR assays compliant with international recommendations. The results achieved with S/P were revealed to be superior in comparison to thos…

Pefloxacin in the Antibacterial Treatment of Immunodepressed Patients

1990

Pefloxacin 800 to 1200 mg daily was given for 3 to 20 days, orally or intravenously, to 84 immunocompromised patients. Five patients dropped out because of side effects and 2 for other causes. Treatment efficacy was evaluated in 77 patients, 43 men and 34 women, aged 18 to 80 years. Immunodepression resulted from malignancy in 46 patients, LAS/ARC or AIDS in 28, and from unknown causes in 3. Fifty-eight patients had documented infections (respiratory-tract infections 29, urinary-tract infections 13, septicemia 10, other 6) and 19 had a fever of unknown origin (FUO). Cure or significant improvement of symptoms was achieved in 81% of patients with documented infections and in 74% of patients …

Economic evaluation of azoles as primary prophylaxis for the prevention of invasive fungal infections in Spanish patients undergoing allogeneic haema…

2016

Patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) are at risk of developing invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Even with introduction of oral triazole antifungal agents (fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole) IFI-associated morbidity and mortality rates and economic burden remain high. Despite their proven efficacy, it is currently unknown which is the most cost-effective antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) agent. To determine the costs and outcomes associated with AFP, a decision-analytic model was used to simulate treatment in a hypothetical cohort of 1000 patients undergoing alloHSCT from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System. …

Endocarditis due to Abiotrophia defectiva, a biofilm-related infection associated with the presence of fixed braces

2017

Abstract Rationale: Endocarditis with Abiotrophia defectiva represents 4.3% to 6% of all streptococcal endocarditis. The article presents diagnosis issues and the complexity of the treatment. Patient concerns: We present the case of a female white patient, aged 26 years, who developed infectious endocarditis caused by A defectiva, in the last trimester of pregnancy, a biofilm-related infection associated with the presence of fixed braces. Diagnoses: The diagnosis of infectious endocarditis was confirmed by the cardiac ultrasound examination that revealed a voluminous vegetation on the mitral valve, and acute mitral regurgitation caused by chordae tendinae rupture, and also by isolating Abio…

A Trial of Lopinavir–Ritonavir in Covid-19

2020

Invasive meningococcal disease in Italy: from analysis of national data to an evidence-based vaccination strategy

2020

Introduction. Invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) is one of the most severe vaccine-preventable diseases not yet under control. In Italy, although different anti-meningococcal vaccines are available, their offer among regions is heterogeneous. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of IMD in Italy based on analysis of national surveillance data for 2011–2017 to optimize the vaccination strategy. Methods: IMD surveillance data from the Italian National Health Institute were analysed. Microsoft Excel was used to present trend analysis, stratifying by age and serogroups. Results: In Italy, during the period 2011–2017, the incidence of IMD increased from 0.25 cases/100,000 inhab…

Survival in rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis: An international, multicenter ID-IRI study

2022

International audience; BACKGROUND: Mucormycosis is an emerging aggressive mold infection. This study aimed to assess the outcome of hospitalized adults with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis (ROCM). The secondary objective was to identify prognostic factors in this setting. METHODS: This study was an international, retrospective, multicenter study. Patients’ data were collected from 29 referral centers in 6 countries. All qualified as "proven cases" according to the EORTC/MSGERC criteria. RESULTS: We included 74 consecutive adult patients hospitalized with ROCM. Rhino-orbito-cerebral type infection was the most common presentation (n = 43; 58.1%) followed by rhino-orbital type (…

Within subject variability of HDL-cholesterol in HIV-infected patients

2019

Background and objective: Within-subject variability of cardiovascular risk factors may influence the development of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to improve knowledge on HDL-cholesterol variability and its clinical significance in HIV-infected patients, a population at high risk of cardiovascular disease.Methods: This was a cohort study to quantify the variability of HDL-cholesterol between two consecutive visits and to determine factors associated with such variability, in a group of HIV-infected patients.Results: A total of 307 patients were included, mean ± standard deviation of their age was 45.1 ± 8.5 years, and 225 of them (73.3%) were male. The absolute difference (after squaring…

Expression of host defense scavenger receptors in spondylarthropathy

2001

Objective Reactive arthritis (ReA) is postulated to be caused by a defective host defense against gram-negative bacteria. HLA–B27 could play a role in this process, but does not account for the many HLA–B27 negative patients. The objective of this study was to test the expression of 3 macrophage scavenger receptors (SRs) that are responsible for innate immunity against gram-negative bacteria: SR class A type I (SR-AI), SR-AII, and the macrophage receptor with collagenous structure (MARCO). We postulate that defects in such receptors might also contribute to the host risk factors that increase the predisposition to ReA and perhaps other subtypes of spondylarthropathy (SpA). Methods Periphera…