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Background: Aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of blood-borne chronic viral infections in immigrants living in southern Italy and identify factors associated to viral infections. Methods: A prospective screening program was performed in seven clinical centers operating in Campania, Apulia and Calabria regions in southern Italy, in order to identify immigrants with HBV, HCV or HIV infections. Results: Of 4,125 immigrants observed in the study period, 3,839 (93.0%) agreed to be screened: 381 (9.9%) resulted HBsAg-positive, 136 (3.5%) anti-HCV, 62 (1.6%) anti-HIV and 1,448 (37.7%) HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc-positive. Ongoing or previous HBV infection was observed more frequently in males (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively), whereas HIV infection in females (p = 0.01). Immigrants from western Africa showed a higher rate of HBsAg positivity (p < 0.0001), HBsAg negativity/anti-HBc positivity (p < 0.0001) and anti-HIV positivity (p = 0.004) compared with those from other geographical areas. At multivariate analysis, ongoing HBV infection was associated with male sex (OR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.04–2.14) and origin from western Africa (OR 4.67, 95% CI: 1.70–12.80) and eastern Europe (OR 3.44, 95% CI: 1.17–10.08). HCV infection showed the tendency to be more frequent among males (OR 1.84, 95% CI: 0.99–3.42). HIV infection was associated with an older age (OR 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01–1.06), origin from western Africa (OR 4.09, 95% CI: 1.26–13.29) and female sex (OR 2.38, 95% CI: 1.29–4,39; p = 0.006). Conclusions: The high prevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV infections in our large cohort of immigrants should definitively prompt Italian Healthcare Authorities to develop adequate cost-effective screening policies.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS It is paramount to identify predictors of treatment failure with direct antiviral agents in 'field-practice' patients, including people who inject drugs (PWID). Data on the efficacy of glecaprevir/pibrentasvir (GLE/PIB) in a field-practice scenario are scant. The multicentre MISTRAL study enrolled 1177 patients, including PWID, to assess real-life efficacy and safety of GLE/PIB and to identify the predictive factors for this treatment. METHODS This was a prospective, longitudinal study. The outcome variable was the rate of sustained virological response (SVR) at week 12. RESULTS A total of 123 patients (10%) were infected from hepatitis C virus (HCV) 3. METAVIR fibrosis score was F4 in 104 subjects (9%); 118 patients (10%) were PWID. Overall, 1163/1177 (99%) patients achieved SVR. The baseline clinical factors discriminating between treatment success and treatment failure were age at treatment (P = 0.031) and creatinine level (P = 0.034). SVR rates were not influenced by gender, substance abuse, previous treatment, treatment duration, fibrosis or chronic kidney disease stage. Compared with non-substance users, the 118 PWID exhibited a significantly different genotype pattern distribution (χ2

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of blood-borne chronic viral infections in immigrants in Italy, and identify factors associated. Methods: A prospective screening program was performed in seven clinical centers operating in Campania, Apulia and Calabria in southern Italy, to identify immigrants with HBV, HCV or HIV infections. Findings: Of 4·125 immigrants observed in the study period, 3·839 (93·0%) agreed to be screened: 381 (9·9%) resulted HBsAg, 136 (3·5%) anti-HCV, 62 (1·6%) anti-HIV-positive and 1·448 (37·7%) HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc positive. Ongoing or previous HBV infection was observed more frequently in males (p=0·02 and p

In 2017, a chikungunya outbreak in central Italy later evolved into a secondary cluster in southern Italy, providing evidence of disease emergence in new areas. Officials have taken action to raise awareness among clinicians and the general population, increase timely case detection, reduce mosquito breeding sites, and promote mosquito bite prevention.

Objective: Evaluation of the interaction between alcohol intake and cofactors [hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), body mass index] and coffee consumption on the risk of cirrhosis. Design: Seven hundred and forty-nine consecutive patients with chronic liver disease referring to units for liver or alcohol diseases in Italy during a 6-months period. Teetotalers were excluded. The odds ratios (OR) for cirrhosis were evaluated using chronic hepatitis cases as the control group. Results: An alcohol intake of more than 3 units/day resulted associated with the likelihood of cirrhosis both in males (OR 4.3; 95% CI=2.5–7.3) and in females (OR 5.7; 95% CI=2.3–14.5). A multiplicative interaction on the risk of cirrhosis between risky alcohol intake and HBsAg or HCV-Ab/HCV-RNA positivity was observed. A reduction of cirrhosis risk was observed in subjects consuming more than 3 alcohol units/day with increasing coffee intake. The OR for the association with cirrhosis decreased from 2.3 (95% CI=1.2–4.4) in subjects drinking 0–2 cups of coffee/day to 1.4 (95% CI=0.6–3.6) in those drinking more than 2 cups/day. Conclusions: In subjects with an alcohol intake >3 units/day the coexistence of HBV or HCV multiplies the risk of cirrhosis. Coffee represents a modulator of alcoholic cirrhosis risk.

Tuberculosis is still a global emergency and a major public health problem, in some cases related to the appearance of strains of multi drug resistance (MDR) and extensive drug resistance (XDR) Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.The correct determination of antibiotic sensitivity profiles is therefore crucial to carry out appropriate treatment aimed to decrease the infectivity of each patient and to reduce mortality. The poor adherence to treatment by the patient or the use of therapies based on a single drug, as a result of incorrect requirements, promote the development of drug-resistance. Have some time on the market of molecular diagnostic tests that allow, quickly and directly from biological sample to search for resistance genes some key drugs of anti-TB therapy (Rifampicin and Isoniazid). One of the tests in question is the Genotype MTBDRplus ver 2.0 which can reveal the presence of genes for resistance to Isoniazid (INH) and Rifampin (RMP).The loci analyzed are those corresponding to the rpoB gene for rifampicin, katG and inhA for isoniazid. Our study is based on the analysis of 83 strains of tubercular Mycobacteria identified and isolated from patients with tuberculosis disease and subjected to the tests sensitivity, searching for mutations and phenotypic susceptibility testing for Rifampicin and Isoniazid.The comparison of the results has shown that the results obtained using the Genotype MTBDRplus ver 2.0 test, were similar to the results obtained by the traditional susceptibility testing.