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Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream (SAB) infection is a common and severe infectious disease, with a 90-day mortality of 15%–30%. Despite this

Randomized clinical trials are the most reliable approaches to evaluating the effects of new treatments and vaccines. During the 2014-2015 West African Ebola epidemic, many argued that such trials were neither ethical nor feasible in an environment of limited health infrastructure and severe disease with a high fatality rate. Consensus among the numerous organizations providing help to the affected areas was never achieved, resulting in fragmented collaboration, delayed study initiation, and ultimately failure to provide definitive evidence on the efficacy of treatments and vaccines. Randomized trials were in fact approved by local ethics boards and initiated, demonstrating that randomized trials, even in such difficult circumstances, are feasible. Improved planning and collaboration among research and humanitarian organizations, and affected communities, in the interepidemic periods are needed to ensure that questions regarding the efficacy of vaccines and treatments can be definitively answered during future public health emergencies.

Background. The significance of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) without hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) is unclear. Methods. This cohort study included men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort to determine clinical and laboratory predictors of isolated anti-HBc. Results. A total of 2286 subjects (51% human immunodeficiency virus [HIV]–infected) were followed over 3.9 years. Overall, 16.9% (387) had at least 1 visit with isolated anti-HBc. The isolated anti-HBc pattern was stable 84% of the time, and transitioned to or from a pattern of past infection (anti-HBc and anti-HBs). Isolated anti-HBc was associated with HIV infection (odds ratio [OR], 2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.73–2.79) and hepatitis C virus (HCV; OR, 4.21; 95% CI; 2.99–5.91). The HCV association was stronger for chronic HCV infection (OR, 6.76; 95% CI, 5.08–8.99) than for cleared HCV (OR, 3.03; 95% CI, 1.83–5.03). HIV infection, chronic HCV, and cleared HCV infection all remained associated with isolated anti-HBc in multivariable models (OR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.33–2.29; OR, 6.24; 95% CI, 4.62–8.42; and OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.65–4.66, respectively). Among HIV-infected subjects, highly active antiretroviral therapy was negatively associated (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, .66–.95) with isolated anti-HBc. Conclusions. Isolated anti-HBc is associated with HIV and HCV coinfection, especially active HCV replication, and most commonly occurs as a transition to or from the pattern of natural immunity (anti-HBc and anti-HBs). The isolated anti-HBc pattern likely represents resolved HBV infection with low or undetected anti-HBs.

No method currently exists to predict which patients with acute AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis can be effectively treated with fluconazole. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship of cryptococcal susceptibility to fluconazole, along with clinical variables, to the risk of treatment failure for patients with acute AIDS-associated cryptococcal meningitis. Results of in vitro fluconazole susceptibility testing of cryptococcal isolates and data from two clinical trials were analyzed. Susceptibility to fluconazole was determined by means of both microtiter and macrobroth (M27-P) dilution methods. Treatment was defined as successful if the patient was alive at 10 weeks and if a cerebrospinal fluid culture was sterile at that time. Seventy-six patients receiving fluconazole:±: flucytosine were included; therapy failed for 19. Patients whose therapy failed were more likely to have a positive blood and urine culture and a higher titer in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of cryptococcal antigen, and the MIC of fluconazole against their isolates (as determined by the microtiter method) was more likely to be higher; they were less likely to have received flucytosine. Logistic regression modeling revealed that a negative blood culture, a low MIC of fluconazole (per the microtiter method), and treatment with flucytosine were factors independently associated with successful treatment. Cryptococcal meningitis is the most common life-threatening fungal infection in patients with AIDS, occurring in up to 10% of patients with AIDS in the United States [1-3]. Standard therapy for acute cryptococcal meningitis consists of adminis­ tration of amphotericin B alone or in combination with flucy­ tosine; this regimen is curative for 75%-85% of patients who