Search results for "INFECTIONS"
showing 10 items of 2671 documents
Prevalence of cervical human papillomavirus infection and types among women immigrated to Sicily, Italy.
2009
We determined the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical infection and HPV genotypes among 115 women immigrating to Sicily (Italy), with regard to abnormal cytology and socio-behavioral characteristics in a cross-sectional, observational study. Information was collected with the help of cultural mediators/translators. HPV-DNA was assayed by the INNOLiPA HPV assay and a nested PCR/sequencing method. Sixty (52.2%) women came from sub-Saharan Africa and 55 (47.8%) from Eastern Europe. HPV infection was found in 55 (47.8%) women. The most frequent types were the oncogenic types HPV-16 (7.8%), HPV-18 and 51 (6.0% each), HPV-52 (5.2%), 31, 53, and 68 (4.3% each). Twenty-seven (23.5%) w…
Infections of the Central Nervous System after Unrelated Donor Umbilical Cord Blood Transplantation or Human Leukocyte Antigen–Matched Sibling Transp…
2016
We analyzed the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognostic factors, and outcome of central nervous system (CNS) infections in consecutive patients with receiving umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) (n = 343) or HLA-matched sibling donor stem cell transplantation (MST) (n = 366). Thirty-four CNS infections were documented at a median time of 116 days after transplantation (range, 7 to 1161). The cumulative incidence (CI) risk of developing a CNS infection was .6% at day +30, 2.3% at day +90, and 4.9% at 5 years. The 5-year CI of CNS infection was 8.2% after UCBT and 1.7% after MST (P .001). The causative micro-organisms of CNS infections were fungi (35%), virus (32%), Toxoplasm…
Kinetics of Torque Teno virus DNA in stools may predict occurrence of acute intestinal graft versus host disease early after allogeneic hematopoietic…
2020
Torque Teno virus (TTV) DNA load in blood may act as a marker of immune competence after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients (allo-HSCT). Conflicting data have been reported as to the value of this biomarker for anticipating acute Graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) occurrence. Here, we hypothesized that quantitation of TTV DNA load in stool specimens early after allo-HSCT could be used to identify patients at high risk of acute intestinal graft-versus-host disease (aIGvHD). In this prospective two-center study we recruited a total of 83 non-consecutive adult patients undergoing allo-HSCT. The study period comprised the first 120 days after allo-HSCT. TTV DNA was quantita…
Missed opportunities for tuberculosis investigation in a municipal hospital in Ghana: evidence from patient exit interviews
2020
Abstract Background We assessed coverage of symptom screening and sputum testing for tuberculosis (TB) in hospital outpatient clinics in Ghana. Methods In a cross-sectional study, we enrolled adults (≥18 years) exiting the clinics reporting ≥1 TB symptom (cough, fever, night sweats or weight loss). Participants reporting a cough ≥2 weeks or a cough of any duration plus ≥2 other TB symptoms (per national criteria) and those self-reporting HIV-positive status were asked to give sputum for testing with Xpert MTB/RIF. Results We enrolled 581 participants (median age 33 years [IQR: 24–48], 510/581 [87.8%] female). The most common symptoms were fever (348, 59.9%), chest pain (282, 48.5%) and coug…
Ceftolozane Pharmacokinetics in a Septic Critically Ill Patient under Different Extracorporeal Replacement Therapies
2019
Ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T), a novel fifth-generation cephalosporin/β-lactamase inhibitor combination active against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract
Cytomegalovirus DNA load monitoring in stool specimens for anticipating the occurrence of intestinal acute graft‐versus‐host disease following alloge…
2020
Background Data have been published suggesting a bidirectional interaction between cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and acute graft-versus-host disease (aGvHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) recipients. Here, we hypothesized that prospective CMV DNA monitoring in stool specimens may be useful for predicting subsequent occurrence of intestinal aGvHD (IaGvHD). Methods This two-center study enrolled 121 consecutive adult patients undergoing any modality of allo-HSCT. A total of 1,009 stool specimens were collected (a median of 7 specimens/patient; range, 1-18). CMV DNA monitoring in stools and plasma was performed using real-time PCR assays. Results CMV DNA was det…
The use of computer-assisted video image analysis for the quantification of CD8+ T lymphocytes producing tumor necrosis factor alpha spots in respons…
1997
Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) analysis is a sensitive technique for the detection and quantification of single T lymphocytes forming cytokine spots after antigen contact in vitro. Herein computer-assisted video image analysis (CVIA) was applied to automatically determine the number and size of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) spots formed by single blood-derived CD8+ T cells after contact with peptide-loaded target cells. With CVIA and TNF-alpha ELISPOT analysis we quantified CD8+ T cells responsive to HLA-A2.1-binding tyrosinase and influenza matrix peptides in healthy donors. We followed the course of the virus-specific T cell response in two HLA-A2-positive patients with reac…
Healthcare-associated infections over an eight year period in a large university hospital in Sicily (Italy, 2011–2018)
2021
Background: Up to 7% of hospitalised patients acquire at least one healthcare-associated infection (HAI). The aim of the present study was to quantify the burden of HAIs in an Italian hospital, identifying involved risk factors. Methods: Prevalence point study carried out from 2011 to 2018. For each recruited patient, a data entry form was compiled including information on demographics, hospital admission, risk factors, antimicrobial treatment, and infection if present. Results: A total of 2844 patients were included and 218 (7.03%) reported an infection. HAI prevalence rates showed a significant increase (average annual per cent change (AAPC) +33.9%; p=0.018) from 2011 to 2014 whereas from…