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Candida lipolytica is an uncommon Candida species causing invasive fungemia. This yeast is mainly associated with the colonisation of intravascular catheters, complicated intra-abdominal infections, and infections in the paediatric population. Here, we report a case of C. lipolytica bloodstream infection in a 53-year-old man. He was admitted for an alcohol withdrawal syndrome and mild COVID-19. Among the primary risk factors for candidemia, only the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials was reported. The empiric treatment was commenced with caspofungin and then targeted with intravenous fluconazole. Infective endocarditis was ruled out using echocardiography, and PET/TC was negative for other deep-seated foci of fungal infection. The patient was discharged after blood culture clearance and clinical healing. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of C. lipolytica candidemia in a patient with COVID-19 and alcohol use disorder. We performed a systematic review of bloodstream infections caused by C. lipolytica. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of C. lipolytica bloodstream infections in patients with alcohol use disorder, especially in a COVID-19 setting.

An alarming increase of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) isolates was detected in an Italian referral hospital subjected to policies of infection control validated by the Joint Commission International. Analysis of the population structure of 122 consecutive, nonreplicate VREfm isolates collected over an 18-month period identified a single major clone that spread around the whole hospital, rapidly establishing an endemic state. It belonged to sequence type (ST) 17 and showed a highly multidrug-resistant phenotype, being resistant to all antimicrobial classes for the carriage of several resistance determinants. Furthermore, some strains with decreased susceptibility to daptomycin were detected. Eighteen out of the 122 isolates did not group in the major clone. They showed a low spreading potential inside the hospital wards, even if most of them displayed a multidrug-resistant phenotype and belonged to a hospital-adapted lineage. Causes that led to the VREfm endemic state have not been fully elucidated. However, it is conceivable that the increase in systemic antibiotic consumption and the use of selective digestive tract decontamination, including vancomycin in critically ill patients during the period before 2014, may have played a role in the ST17 clone dissemination, but additional traits conferring high fitness in hospital environment cannot be excluded.

Problem To determine the best method to detect semen in human vaginal secretions. Method of study Vaginal secretions from 302 pregnant women at mean 11.8 weeks’ gestation were analyzed. Semen detection was assessed with: (i) measurement of total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), (ii) acid phosphatase activity, (iii) microscopic measurement of spermatozoa on Gram stain, and (iv) self-reported sexual intercourse in the past 2 days. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each technique in comparison with PSA levels. Results A total of 119 (39.4%) women had a detectable PSA. Compared with measurable PSA, the sensitivity and specificity for other methods were: acid phosphatase (26.9%, 98.4%), Gram stain (36.1%, 98.4%), and self-report of intercourse in the past 48 hr (41.9%, 88.8%). Conclusion Compared with PSA levels, commonly used assays for recent semen exposure are inaccurate. This inaccuracy may affect the results of studies, which measure vaginal immune factors like cytokines or retrieve DNA from vaginal specimens.

To determine the best method to detect semen in human vaginal secretions.Vaginal secretions from 302 pregnant women at mean 11.8 weeks' gestation were analyzed. Semen detection was assessed with: (i) measurement of total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), (ii) acid phosphatase activity, (iii) microscopic measurement of spermatozoa on Gram stain, and (iv) self-reported sexual intercourse in the past 2 days. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each technique in comparison with PSA levels.A total of 119 (39.4%) women had a detectable PSA. Compared with measurable PSA, the sensitivity and specificity for other methods were: acid phosphatase (26.9%, 98.4%), Gram stain (36.1%, 98.4%), and self-report of intercourse in the past 48 hr (41.9%, 88.8%).Compared with PSA levels, commonly used assays for recent semen exposure are inaccurate. This inaccuracy may affect the results of studies, which measure vaginal immune factors like cytokines or retrieve DNA from vaginal specimens.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of third-generation oral contraceptives on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) homocysteine and lipids levels in a population of young fertile nonobese women. Blood markers were evaluated in 277 healthy white women (mean age 23 years and mean body-mass index 21 kg/m2). Seventy-seven oral contraceptive users were compared with 200 non-oral contraceptive users. Progressive cutoffs of high-sensitivity CRP and homocysteine levels were examined. Levels of high-sensitivity CRP posing a high risk of cardiovascular disease (3.0 to less than 10.0 mg/L) were found in 27.3% of oral contraceptive users and in 8.5% of non-oral contraceptive users (odds ratio 4.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.99-8.18). Levels of high-sensitivity CRP at intermediate risk (1.0 to less than 3.0 mg/L) were found in 32.5% of oral contraceptive users and in 11.0% of non-oral contraceptive users (odds ratio 3.89; 95% CI 2.03-7.46). Notably non-oral contraceptive users were 8.65 (95% CI 4.39 -17.1) times as likely to demonstrate a protective level of high-sensitivity CRP (less than 0.5 mg/L) compared with oral contraceptive users. Oral contraceptive use increased serum triglycerides (P less than .001) and total cholesterol P = .001); however high-density lipoprotein not low-density lipoprotein contributed to this increase. A decreased ratio of low-density lipoprotein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed in oral contraceptive users compared with nonusers (P = .016). Oral contraceptive use did not affect homocysteine levels. Third-generation oral contraceptive use increases low-grade inflammatory status measured by high-sensitivity CRP concentrations. Alteration of inflammatory status in oral contraceptive users could affect the risk of venous thromboembolism cardiovascular disease and other oral contraceptive-associated adverse conditions in young women. (authors)

We evaluated the effects of regular physical exercise on anemia and iron status in young non-professional female athletes. A total of 191 healthy white Italian women (23.5 +/- 4.68 years) were analyzed; 70 were non-professional athletes performing 11.1 +/- 2.63 h week(-1) exercise and 121 were sedentary controls. Blood markers of anemia and iron status-hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cells (RBC), serum ferritin, iron, transferrin (Tf), transferrin saturation (TfS), soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR), and the sTfR/log ferritin ratio (sTfR-F index)-were evaluated. Anemia threshold was Hb < 120 g l(-1). Ferritin concentrations < 12 microg l(-1) were considered as iron deficiency (ID). Frequency of anemia (15.7 versus 10.7%, P = 0.32), ID (27.1 versus 29.8%, P = 0.70), and ID anemia (8.6 versus 5.8%, P = 0.46) was not different in athletes and controls. However, athletes were threefold more likely than controls (17.1 versus 5.8%) to have serum iron < 50 microg dl(-1) [odds ratio (OR) 3.37, P = 0.012]. Low-TfS (1.76 mg l(-1)) was found in 24.3% of athletes and in 12.4% of controls, OR 2.27, P = 0.034. Regular non-professional sport activity does not cause an increased rate of anemia or of iron deficiency in fertile women. However, physical exercise has an impact on iron status as it reduces serum iron and transferrin saturation, and elevates sTfR. Nearly one fifth of recreational athletes have anemia and a third have iron deficit, these conditions can decrease their physical performance.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to explore the mechanisms of local innate immunity induction and modulation in pregnant women with bacterial vaginosis (BV). STUDY DESIGN: A total of 200 singleton pregnant women in early gestation (12 4 weeks) with BV (Nugent 7-10) without concurrent vaginal infections with Trichomonas vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, syphilis, and yeast. Concentrations of vaginal interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-8, the number of neutrophils, and the levels of sialidase and prolidase hydrolytic enzymes were determined in vaginal fluid. RESULTS: Concentrations of vaginal IL-1 had a strong positive correlation with levels of sialidase (P .001) and prolidase (P .001). Conversely, such enzymes were negatively correlated with the ratio of IL-8/IL-1 (both P .001) and were not significantly associated with concentrations of IL-8. Notably, the number of vaginal neutrophils had a negative correlation with sialidase (P .007). CONCLUSION: The strong induction of IL-1 in BV-positive women appears to be associated with the production of the hydrolytic enzymes sialidase and prolidase by BV-associated bacteria. However, these 2 enzymes may inhibit the expected amplification of the proinflammatory IL-1 cascade as evaluated by the down-regulation of the IL-8/IL-1 ratio. A blunted response to IL-1 signals may cause the poor rise of neutrophils, which is peculiar to BV. This impairment of local defense may contribute to increased susceptibility to adverse outcomes in BVpositive pregnant women.