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BackgroundThe use of steroid therapy in potentially life-threatening neuroinvasive forms of West Nile infection (WNND) is controversial. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of steroid therapy in reducing intrahospital mortality, length of stay, and neurological sequelae at discharge.MethodsThis was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study conducted in 5 hospitals in Northern Italy, headed by the Fondazione IRCSS Policlinico San Matteo (Pavia). We extracted all patient data with WNND diagnoses, comparing patients who received steroid treatment with patients who did not receive steroid treatment between January 2014 and January 2022. Comparisons between the 2 groups were performed using chi-square tests for categorical variables and Mann-Whitney tests for non-normal continuous data, and a generalized linear model for the binomial family was carried out.ResultsData from 65 WNND patients were extracted. Among these patients, 33 (50.7%) received steroid therapy at any point during their hospitalization. Receiving steroid therapy did not significantly reduce intrahospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.70; 95% CI, 0.3–13.8; P = .89) or neurological sequelae at discharge (OR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.16–1.76; P = .47).ConclusionsSteroid treatment is currently used on a single-case basis in severe WNND. More prospective data are needed to demonstrate a protective effect on mortality and neurological sequelae.

Contains fulltext : 229471.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) OBJECTIVES: To summarize the available evidence on the diagnostic performance for invasive aspergillosis (IA) in non-hematological, non-solid organ transplantation critically ill patients of the following: (i) existing definitions of IA (developed either for classical immunocompromised populations or for non-immunocompromised critically ill patients); (ii) laboratory tests; (iii) radiology tests. METHODS: A systematic review was performed by evaluating studies assessing the diagnostic performance for IA of a definition/s and/or laboratory/radiology test/s vs. a reference standard (histology) or a reference definition. RESULTS: Sufficient data for evaluating the performance of existing definitions and laboratory tests for the diagnosis of IA in critically ill patients is available only for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Against histology/autopsy as reference, the AspICU definition showed a promising diagnostic performance but based on small samples and applicable only to patients with positive respiratory cultures. Studies on laboratory tests consistently indicated a better diagnostic performance of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) galactomannan (GM) than serum GM, and a suboptimal specificity of BALF and serum (1,3)-β-D-glucan. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence stemming from this systematic review will guide the discussion for defining invasive aspergillosis within the FUNDICU project. The project aims to develop a standard set of definitions for invasive fungal diseases in critically ill, adult patients.

To tackle the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, in 2014 the World Health Organization launched the End TB Strategy, which includes action to prevent latent TB infection (LTBI) reactivation. Available preventive treatments (PT) are based on either isoniazid (INH) alone or rifampicin (RIF)-containing regimens. This study aims to assess and compare PT completion rates, the occurrence of adverse events, and the time of dropout among those receiving INH-alone or RIF-containing regimens at Villa Marelli Institute, Milan, Italy, covering the period from 1992 to 2018. A total of 19670 subjects, belonging to various risk groups&mdash, mainly young (median age of 29 years), foreign-born (73.3%), and males (58.8%)&mdash, with presumed LTBI were prescribed PT (79.3% INH-alone and 20.7% RIF-containing regimens). The treatment completion rate was 79.4% on average, with higher rates among those receiving RIF-containing regimens (85.6%) compared to those that were prescribed INH-alone (77.8%) (p &lt, 0.0001). Notably, some of the high-risk groups for progression of LTBI were more likely to complete PT from RIF-containing regimens. These groups included recent TB contact (89.9%, p &lt, 0.0001), healthcare workers (93.5%, p &lt, 0.0001), and homeless people (76.6%, p &lt, 0.0001). Irrespectively of the chosen PT regimen, most of the dropouts occurred between the start of the treatment and the first follow-up visit (14.3%, 15.2% for those on INH-alone vs. 11.1% for those on RIF-containing regimens). Further shortening of the PT regimen is therefore an aim to ensure adherence, even though it might need further efforts to enhance the patient&rsquo, s attitude towards starting and carrying out PT.

Hepatitis A is a self-limiting infection representing the most common cause of viral hepatitis worldwide. Despite being a low incidence region, in the European Union, an increasing number of cases have been reported since summer 2016, resulting in a large outbreak in 2017, involving mainly men who have sex with men (MSM). Some reports described a different clinical course of hepatitis A virus in patients infected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or MSM. We consecutively collected all the hospitalized cases of hepatitis A referred to two tertiary centres in Northern Italy in 2017 and retrospectively analysed the electronic records of the 2009-2016 period (pre-2017). We evaluated demographics data, risk factors, comorbidities and laboratory results to see whether MSM status or HIV infection influenced the disease. Overall, 117 cases were identified in 2017:107 (91%) were male, 78 reported themselves as MSM (66%) and 17 (14.5%) were infected by HIV. For the pre-2017 period, 48 cases were reported: 29 (60%) were male and 3 (6.2%) were infected by HIV. After stratification for HIV infection, MSM status and occurrence period, no differences were found in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase; bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin values, hospitalization length, HIV viral load and CD4+cells count. HIV-positive patients presented a higher number of patients with INR>1.5 at admission. MSM status and HIV infection did not affect neither the clinical course nor the severity of hepatitis A.

Coagulase-negative staphylococci are part of the human skin flora but are frequently responsible for bloodstream infection, especially in the presence of intravascular devices or immunosuppressive conditions. Antibiotic resistance in such bacteria is common, with more than 80% of isolates resistant to methicillin. Among this genus Staphylococcus pettenkoferi is a recently identified organism, reported to be responsible for a growing number of infections. Here we describe a case of sepsis due to methicillin-resistant S. pettenkoferi.

Background Even though malaria incidence is decreasing worldwide, travel-related cases reported in Europe have remained stable in recent years. In Italy, incidence had increased in the 1990s, reaching a peak in 1999; a slow decline was then reported over the subsequent decade. To our knowledge, few published data are available on imported malaria in Italy since 2010. In this article we aimed to analyse trends in imported malaria in the teaching hospital of Brescia, northern Italy, over the last 18 years. Methods All malaria cases diagnosed from 1999 to 2016 in Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, were retrospectively identified. Demographic, clinical and travel-related data were described. Results A total of 1200 cases of imported malaria were diagnosed in Brescia during the study period. Among them, 225 were children. A trend of increasing paediatric cases was identified over the study period, while cases in adults were stable. Most cases were diagnosed between August and October. Patients were most likely exposed in sub-Saharan Africa (87.2%). The main reported travel reason was travelling to visit friends and relatives (66.0%). A significantly higher risk of severe malaria was observed in non-immune patients and children visiting friend and relatives (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). Conclusions Our study reveals a relatively stable incidence in imported malaria cases with a peak during the summertime. A large and increasing paediatric burden of disease was identified. Imported malaria requires attention since in Italy a potential reappearance of autochthonous Plasmodium vivax malaria transmission cannot be excluded. Preventive action and physician awareness should be especially directed to children visiting friends and relatives in endemic countries and to non-immune patients since they both represent high-risk groups for severe malaria.

Due to the increasing number of refugees from East Africa, louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) has become an emergent disease in Europe. No single case of LBRF has been reported in Europe in refugees from other parts of Africa.We report a case of LBRF in a refugee from Mali, likely acquired in Libya, where several migration routes into Europe meet. The disease must be considered in any febrile refugee regardless the country of origin.