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Background: Correlation between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and superinfections has been investigated, but remains to be fully assessed. This multi-centre study reports the impact of the pandemic on bloodstream infections (BSIs)., Methods: This study included all patients with BSIs admitted to four Italian hospitals between 1 January and 30 June 2020. Clinical, demographic and microbiologic data were compared with data for patients hospitalized during the same period in 2019., Results: Among 26,012 patients admitted between 1 January and 30 June 2020, 1182 had COVID-19. Among the patients with COVID-19, 107 BSIs were observed, with an incidence rate of 8.19 episodes per 1000 patient-days. The incidence of BSI was significantly higher in these patients compared with patients without COVID-19 (2.72/1000 patient-days) and patients admitted in 2019 (2.76/1000 patient-days). In comparison with patients without COVID-19, BSI onset in patients with COVID-19 was delayed during the course of hospitalization (16.0 vs 5 days, respectively). Thirty-day mortality among patients with COVID-19 was 40.2%, which was significantly higher compared with patients without COVID-19 (23.7%). BSIs in patients with COVID-19 were frequently caused by multi-drug-resistant pathogens, which were often centre-dependent., Conclusions: BSIs are a common secondary infection in patients with COVID-19, characterized by increased risk during hospitalization and potentially burdened with high mortality., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement None declared., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Background and Aims: Hepatitis E Virus is endemic in Europe with increasing numbers of cases in recent years, also in Italy where this phenomenon has hitherto been modest. The aim of this study was to document the clinical features/natural history of locally acquired hepatitis E in our territory and explore factors which determine adverse outcome., Methods: Retrospective study of patients with locally-acquired HEV (hepatitis E virus) in Marche, Italy (2011-2019)., Results: 1189 patients were tested for HEV with 89 confirmed cases. 81 (6.8%) had locally acquired infection; 54 (66%) were male (mean age 55.5 years) and 32 (39.5%) had active co-morbidities. 41 cases were viraemic (all HEV-3 (HEV genotype 1,2,3,4)); acute infection was found in 79 and chronic infection in 2. Forty-five cases (55%) required admission to hospital, for a total of 785 days. 4 patients developed acute on-chronic liver failure, 6 developed acute kidney injury and 8 died: all had active comorbidities. Univariate analysis showed that bilirubin, INR, immunosuppression, cirrhosis and diabetes were associated with death. On multivariant analysis the only predictor of death was the presence of diabetes (p = 0.04)., Conclusions: Hepatitis E in Marche Italy is mostly locally acquired and caused by HEV-3 that impacts on the morbidity and mortality particularly for fragile patients., (Copyright © 2019 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: This study explores the scope of practice of Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialists in Italy, Belgium and England, in light of the growth of professional and patient mobility within the EU which has raised concerns about a lack of standardisation of medical speciality practice and training., Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 29 obstetricians and gynaecologists from England, Belgium and Italy, exploring training and scope of practice, following a common topic guide. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and coded following a common coding framework in the language of the country concerned. Completed coding frames, written summaries and key quotes were then translated into English and were cross-analysed among the researchers to identify emerging themes and comparative findings., Results: Although medical and specialty qualifications in each country are mutually recognised, there were great differences in training regimes, with different emphases on theory versus practice and recognition of different subspecialties. However all countries shared concerns about the impact of the European Working Time Directive on trainees' skills development. Reflecting differences in models of care, the scope of practice of OBGYN varied among countries, with pronounced differences between the public and private sector within countries. Technological advances and the growth of co-morbidities resulting from ageing populations have created new opportunities and greater links with other specialties. In turn new ethical concerns around abortion and fertility have also arisen, with stark cultural differences between the countries., Conclusion: Variations exist in the training and scope of practice of OBGYN specialists among these three countries, which could have significant implications for the expectations of patients seeking care and specialists practising in other EU countries. Changes within the specialty and advances in technology are creating new opportunities and challenges, although these may widen existing differences. Harmonisation of the training and scope of practice of OBGYN within Europe remains a distant goal. Further research on the scope of practice of medical professionals would better inform future policies on professional mobility., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Treatment of cervical cancer greatly varies according to the stage of the disease. Laparoscopic surgical staging is emerging as a valid approach, compared to clinical and imaging staging, to better identify the treatment plan. Minimally invasive surgery plays the greatest role in the treatment of early cervical carcinoma (ECC). Laparoscopically assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy (LARVH) is an alternative surgical strategy in this subset of patients. Interest has been increasing in using conservative fertility-sparing surgery such as laparoscopic vaginal radical trachelectomy (LVRT) or chemo-conization, options to be preferred in selected patients, with early-stage disease and asking for future fertility. Chemoradiotherapy currently represents the gold standard in the treatment of patient with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). In Italy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by radical surgery is today emerging as a valid alternative to the standard chemoradiation and the paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin (TIP) regimen is one of the most active neoadjuvant chemotherapeutic treatments. Moreover, the combination of different strategies to maximize local control should be considered. Among different approaches to this issue the use of a three-modality treatment, including radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery has been investigated. Our data on a large single-institutional series of LACC patients treated with chemoradiation followed by radical surgery confirm that this three-modality treatment can achieve overall survival (OS) and Disease Free Survival (DFS) rates at least comparable to chemoradiation alone, with an acceptable rate of complications. Tailoring of radical surgery, on the basis of intraoperative findings, such as lympho-nodes status, might play an important role in diminishing the overall rate of complications and eventually improve quality of life (QoL) of these patients. Cervical cancer generally has an aggressive impact on relatively young women and, as we experienced, the relevance of psychosocial aspects in gynaecologic oncology has become a main issue.