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Fredy Chaparro-Rojas, Kathleen M MullaneDepartment of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USAAbstract: The epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) has evolved during the last decades, with an increase in the reported incidence, severity of cases, and rate of mortality and relapses. These increases have primarily affected some special populations including the elderly, patients requiring concomitant antibiotic therapy, patients with renal failure, and patients with cancer. Until recently, the treatment of CDI was limited to either metronidazole or vancomycin. New therapeutic options have emerged to address the shortcomings of current antibiotic therapy. Fidaxomicin stands out as the first-in-class oral macrocyclic antibiotic with targeted activity against C. difficile and minimal collateral damage on the normal colonic flora. Fidaxomicin has demonstrated performance not inferior to what is considered the “gold standard” available therapy for CDI, vancomycin, in two separate Phase III clinical trials, but with significant advantages, including fewer recurrences and higher rates of sustained clinical cures. Fidaxomicin constitutes an important development in targeted antibiotic therapy for CDI and must be considered as a first-line agent for patients with risk factors known to portend relapse and severe infection.Keywords: fidaxomicin, Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea, CDAD, Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), vancomycin, metronidazole

We report a fatal case of Legionella feeleii endocarditis in a post-lung transplant patient. The diagnosis was delayed, as routine microbiological testing of nonrespiratory specimens does not account for extrapulmonary Legionella, and urine antigen testing only reliably detects Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1. This case also illustrates the utility of molecular sequencing for blood culture-negative endocarditis., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of American Society for Clinical Pathology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Individuals who receive allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT) are immunocompromised and at high risk of pneumococcal infections, especially in the months following transplant. This study evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of V114 (VAXNEUVANCE; Merck, Sharp & Dohme LLC, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA), a 15-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), when given to allo-HCT recipients., Methods: Participants received 3 doses of V114 or PCV13 (Prevnar 13; Wyeth LLC) in 1-month intervals starting 3-6 months after allo-HCT. Twelve months after HCT, participants received either PNEUMOVAX 23 or a fourth dose of PCV (if they experienced chronic graft vs host disease). Safety was evaluated as the proportion of participants with adverse events (AEs). Immunogenicity was evaluated by measuring serotype-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) geometric mean concentrations (GMCs) and opsonophagocytic activity (OPA) geometric mean titers (GMTs) for all V114 serotypes in each vaccination group., Results: A total of 274 participants were enrolled and vaccinated in the study. The proportions of participants with AEs and serious AEs were generally comparable between intervention groups, and the majority of AEs in both groups were of short duration and mild-to-moderate intensity. For both IgG GMCs and OPA GMTs, V114 was generally comparable to PCV13 for the 13 shared serotypes, and higher for serotypes 22F and 33F at day 90., Conclusions: V114 was well tolerated in allo-HCT recipients, with a generally comparable safety profile to PCV13. V114 induced comparable immune responses to PCV13 for the 13 shared serotypes, and was higher for V114 serotypes 22F and 33F. Study results support the use of V114 in allo-HCT recipients. Clinical Trials Registration. clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03565900) and European Union at EudraCT 2018-000066-11., Competing Interests: Potential conflicts of interest. M. W., Q. C., C. D., K. G., G. T., T. Sterling, S. M. P., T. Shekar, and U. K. B. are employees of MSD, and may hold stock in Merck & Co, Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA. L. M. was an employee of MSD at the time of the study and may hold stock in Merck & Co, Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA. L. M. is a co-inventor of a dozen patents related to the development of several pneumococcal conjugate vaccines, including the one being evaluated in this study. O. A. C. reports grants or contracts from Amplyx, Basilea, BMBF, Cidara, DZIF, EU-DG RTD (101037867), F2G, Gilead, Matinas, MedPace, MSD, Mundipharma, Octapharma, Pfizer, and Scynexis (payments all made to the University Hospital of Cologne); consulting fees from Abbvie, Amplyx, Biocon, Biosys, Cidara, Da Volterra, Gilead, IQVIA, Janssen, Matinas, MedPace, Menarini, Molecular Partners, MSG-ERC, Noxxon, Octapharma, Pardes, Pfizer, PSI, Scynexis, and Seres (all payments to the author); honoraria for lectures from Abbott, Abbvie, Al-Jazeera Pharmaceuticals, Astellas, Gilead, Grupo Biotoscana/United Medical/Knight, Hikma, MedScape, MedUpdate, MSD, Mylan, Noscendo, Pfizer, and Shionogi (all payments to the author); payment for expert testimony from Cidara; participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board from Actelion, Allecra, Cidara, Entasis, IQVIA, Janssen, MedPace, Paratek, PSI, Pulmocide, Shionogi, and The Prime Meridian Group; a patent at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DE 10 2021 113 007.7: German patent [“Geschlossene Inkubationssysteme mit verbessertem Atemwegszugang für Untersuchungsvorrichtungen”] filed by the University of Cologne and the listing author as 1 of 3 inventors); and stocks from CoRe Consulting and stock or stock options from EasyRadiology. O. A. C. also reports other financial or nonfinancial interests with DGHO, DGI, ECMM, EHA, ISHAM, MSG-ERC, and Wiley (Chair Infectious Diseases Working Party [DGHO], Chair SWG Infections in Hematology [EHA], Advisory Committee Member [DGI], Educational Officer [ECMM], Treasurer [ISHAM], Board of Directors Member [MSG-ERC], Editor-in-Chief for Mycoses [Wiley]). R. D. has received grants/research support from Pfizer, MSD, and Medimmune (to Ben Gurion University); has been a scientific consultant for Pfizer, MeMed, MSD, and Biondvax (Pfizer and MSD fees to ISRAVAX); has served on advisory boards of Pfizer, MSD, and Biondvax; has been a speaker for Pfizer, MSD, Sanofi Pasteur, and GSK (payment or honoraria to ISRAVAX); and reports payment for expert testimony from Pfizer to ISRAVAX. P. R. has served on vaccine advisory boards for MSD (Pneumococcal Vaccine Scientific Advisory Board March 2020, ongoing; institutional payments; no personal remuneration and RSV Monoclonal Antibody Scientific Advisory Board May 2022–February 2023; institutional payments; no personal remuneration), Pfizer (Meningococcal Vaccine Advisory Board November 2020, ongoing; institutional payments; no personal remuneration; and RSV Vaccine Advisory Board December 2022; institutional payments; no personal remuneration), and GlaxoSmithKline (RSV Scientific Advisory Board May 2021; institutional payments, no personal remuneration; and Meningococcal Vaccines Advisory Boards March 2021 to May 2023; institutional payments, no personal remuneration); received institutional grant funding from GlaxoSmithKline and MSD outside the submitted work (MSD: investigator-initiated research grants to Institution 2021 on RSV and pneumococcal diseases, no personal remuneration); and reports payment or honoraria from GlaxoSmithKline for lectures on meningococcal disease and vaccines October 2021 to October 2022; institutional payments, no personal remuneration; support to attend the International Society for Pneumococci and Pneumococcal Diseases Conference, Toronto, Canada, June 2022, to present at the Pneumonia Symposium from GlaxoSmithKline and to attend the Meningococcal Advisory Board meeting, Madrid, Spain, November 2022, from Pfizer. U. K. B. reports support for attending meetings and/or travel as an employee of MSD. P. L. reports consulting fees paid to their institution from Moderna; payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speaker’s bureaus, manuscript writing, or educational events from Moderna and MSD (payment to institution); and participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for MSD for a completely different topic (CMV) (paid to the author). J. M. reports consulting fees from Gilead Sciences, Mundipharma, F2G, and Pfizer, Inc (paid to the author); payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speaker’s bureaus, manuscript writing, or educational events; and support for attending meetings and/or travel from Gilead Sciences, Mundipharma, and F2G (paid to the author). K. M. M. reports grants or contracts and payment for honoraria for lectures, presentations, speaker’s bureaus, manuscript writing, or educational events from MSD; and participation on a Data Safety Monitoring Board or Advisory Board for Micrologics (purchased by Ferring Pharmaceuticals). S. N. reports consulting fees from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Kite, Janssen, Lilly, Roche; payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speaker’s bureaus, manuscript writing, or educational events from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Kite, Takeda, Janssen, Novartis, and MSD; support for attending meetings and/or travel from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Kite, Janssen, and Novartis. M. W. reports support for attending meetings and/or travel as an employee of MSD. All other authors report no potential conflicts. All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

The Practice Guidelines Committee of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy partnered with its Transplant Infectious Disease Special Interest Group to update its 2009 compendium-style infectious disease guidelines for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). A completely new approach was taken with the goal of better serving clinical providers by publishing each standalone topic in the infectious disease series as a concise format of frequently asked questions (FAQ), tables, and figures. Adult and pediatric infectious disease and HCT content experts developed and then answered FAQs and finalized topics with harmonized recommendations that were made by assigning an A through E strength of recommendation paired with a level of supporting evidence graded I through III. This fifth guideline in the series focuses on Clostridioides difficile infection with FAQs that address the prevalence, incidence, clinical features, colonization versus infection, clinical complications, diagnostic considerations, pharmacological therapies for episodic or recurrent infection, and the roles of prophylactic antibiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation., (Copyright © 2022 The American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The mRNA-1273 vaccine for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) demonstrated 93.2% efficacy in reduction of symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in the blinded portion of the Phase 3 Coronavirus Efficacy (COVE) trial. While mRNA-1273 demonstrated high efficacy in prevention of COVID-19, including severe disease, its effect on the viral dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 infections is not understood. Here, in exploratory analyses, we assessed the impact of mRNA-1273 vaccination in the ongoing COVE trial (number NCT04470427) on SARS-CoV-2 copy number and shedding, burden of disease and infection, and viral variants. Viral variants were sequenced in all COVID-19 and adjudicated COVID-19 cases (n = 832), from July 2020 in the blinded part A of the study to May 2021 of the open-label part B of the study, in which participants in the placebo arm started to receive the mRNA-1273 vaccine after US Food and Drug Administration emergency use authorization of mRNA-1273 in December 2020. mRNA-1273 vaccination significantly reduced SARS-CoV-2 viral copy number (95% confidence interval) by 100-fold on the day of diagnosis compared with placebo (4.1 (3.4-4.8) versus 6.2 (6.0-6.4) log 10 copies per ml). Median times to undetectable viral copies were 4 days for mRNA-1273 and 7 days for placebo. Vaccination also substantially reduced the burden of disease and infection scores. Vaccine efficacies (95% confidence interval) against SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in the United States during the trial assessed in this post hoc analysis were 82.4% (40.4-94.8%) for variants Epsilon and Gamma and 81.2% (36.1-94.5%) for Epsilon. The detection of other, non-SARS-CoV-2, respiratory viruses during the trial was similar between groups. While additional study is needed, these data show that in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals, vaccination reduced both the viral copy number and duration of detectable viral RNA, which may be markers for the risk of virus transmission., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Remdesivir (RDV) is US FDA approved for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but not recommended in severe renal impairment (SRI, Creatinine clearance <30mL/min or requiring renal replacement therapy). Few studies have evaluated RDV in patients with SRI., Methods: Hospitalized patients who received RDV between 1 May 2020 and 31 October 2020 were analyzed in a retrospective chart review. We compared incident adverse events (AEs) in patients with and without SRI, including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, any reported AE, mortality, and length of stay., Results: Of a total of 135 patients, 20 had SRI. Patients with SRI were significantly older (70 vs 54 years, P = .0001). The incidence of possible AEs was 30% among those with SRI vs 11% without (P = .06). Liver function test (LFT) elevations occurred in 10% vs 4% (P = .28), and serum creatinine (SCr) elevations in 27% vs 6% (P = .02) of patients with SRI vs without, respectively. LFT and SCr elevations were not attributed to RDV in either group. Mortality and length of stay were consistent with historical controls., Conclusions: RDV AEs occurred infrequently and overall were not significantly different between those with and without SRI. While more of patients with SRI experienced SCr elevations, 3 (75%) patients had acute kidney injury prior to RDV. The use of RDV in this small series of patients with SRI appeared to be relatively safe, and the potential benefit outweighed the theoretical risk of liver or renal toxicity. Additional studies are needed to confirm this finding., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Few options are available for cytomegalovirus (CMV) treatment in transplant recipients resistant, refractory, or intolerant to approved agents. Letermovir (LET) is approved for prophylaxis in hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients, but little is known about efficacy in CMV infection. We conducted an observational study to determine the patterns of use and outcome of LET treatment of CMV infection in transplant recipients., Methods: Patients who received LET for treatment of CMV infection were identified at 13 transplant centers. Demographic and outcome data were collected., Results: Twenty-seven solid organ and 21 HCT recipients (one dual) from 13 medical centers were included. Forty-five of 47 (94%) were treated with other agents prior to LET, and 57% had a history of prior CMV disease. Seventy-seven percent were intolerant to other antivirals; 32% were started on LET because of resistance concerns. Among 37 patients with viral load < 1000 international units (IU)/ml at LET initiation, two experienced >1 log rise in viral load by week 12, and no deaths were attributed to CMV. Ten patients had viral load > 1000 IU/ml at LET initiation, and six of 10 (60%) had a CMV viral load < 1000 IU/ml at completion of therapy or last known value. LET was discontinued in two patients for an adverse event., Conclusions: Patients treated with LET with viral load < 1000 IU/ml had good virologic outcomes. Outcomes were mixed when LET was initiated at higher viral loads. Further studies on combination therapy or alternative LET dosing are needed., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Remdesivir is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and has been shown to shorten time to recovery and improve clinical outcomes in randomized trials., Methods: This was the final day 28 comparative analysis of data from a phase 3, randomized, open-label study comparing 2 remdesivir regimens (5 vs 10 days, combined for this analysis [remdesivir cohort]) and a real-world retrospective longitudinal cohort study of patients receiving standard-of-care treatment (nonremdesivir cohort). Eligible patients, aged ≥18 years, had confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), oxygen saturation ≤94% on room air or required supplemental oxygen, with pulmonary infiltrates. Propensity score matching (up to 1:10 ratio) was used to ensure comparable populations. We assessed day 14 clinical recovery (determined using a 7-point ordinal scale) and day 28 all-cause mortality (coprimary endpoints)., Results: A total of 368 (remdesivir) and 1399 (nonremdesivir) patients were included in the matched analysis. The day 14 clinical recovery rate was significantly higher among the remdesivir versus the nonremdesivir cohort (65.2% vs 57.1%; odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.90; P  = 0.002). The day 28 mortality rate was significantly lower in the remdesivir cohort versus the nonremdesivir cohort (12.0% vs 16.2%; OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.47-.95; P  = .03)., Conclusions: Remdesivir was associated with significantly higher rates of day 14 clinical recovery, and lower day 28 mortality, compared with standard-of-care treatment in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. These data, taken together, support the use of remdesivir to improve clinical recovery and decrease mortality from SARS-CoV-2 infection., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: Presatovir significantly reduced nasal viral load, signs, and symptoms of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in a human challenge study. We evaluated presatovir in hematopoietic-cell transplant (HCT) recipients with RSV lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI)., Methods: Patients with confirmed RSV in upper and lower respiratory tract and new chest X-ray abnormalities were randomized (1:1), stratified by supplemental oxygen and ribavirin use, to receive oral presatovir 200 mg or placebo every 4 days for 5 doses. The primary endpoint was time-weighted average change in nasal RSV viral load through day 9. Secondary endpoints included supplemental oxygen-free days, incident respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, and all-cause mortality., Results: From January 31, 2015, to March 20, 2017, 60 patients from 17 centers were randomized (31 presatovir, 29 placebo); 59 received study treatment (50 allogeneic, 9 autologous HCT). In the efficacy population (29 presatovir, 28 placebo), presatovir treatment did not significantly reduce time-weighted average change in viral load (-1.12 vs -1.09 log10 copies/mL; treatment difference -0.02 log10 copies/mL, 95% confidence interval: -.62, .57; P = .94), median supplemental oxygen-free days (26 vs 28 days, P = .84), incident respiratory failure (10.3 vs 10.7%, P = .98), or all-cause mortality (0 vs 7.1%, P = .19) versus placebo. Adverse events were similar between arms (presatovir 80%, placebo 79%). Resistance-associated substitutions in RSV fusion protein emerged in 6/29 presatovir-treated patients., Conclusions: Presatovir treatment was well tolerated in HCT patients with RSV LRTI but did not improve virologic or clinical outcomes versus placebo., Clinical Trials Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02254421; EudraCT, #2014-002475-29., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: Hematopoietic-cell transplant (HCT) recipients are at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. We evaluated the RSV fusion inhibitor presatovir in a randomized, double-blind, Phase II trial in HCT recipients with RSV upper respiratory tract infections., Methods: Patients were stratified by lymphopenia (<200/µL) and ribavirin use; were randomized, stratified by lymphopenia (<200/μL) and ribavirin use, to receive oral presatovir at 200 mg or a placebo on Days 1, 5, 9, 13, and 17, and were followed through Day 28. The coprimary efficacy endpoints were the time-weighted average change in the nasal RSV viral load between Days 1 and 9 and the proportion of patients developing lower respiratory tract complications (LRTCs) through Day 28., Results: From 23 January 2015 to 16 June 2017, 189 patients were randomly assigned to treatment (96 to presatovir and 93 to the placebo). Presatovir treatment, compared with the placebo treatment, did not significantly affect (prespecified α = 0.01) a time-weighted average decline in the RSV viral load from Day 1 to 9 (treatment difference, -0.33 log10 copies/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI] -.64 to -.02 log10 copies/mL; P = .040) or the progression to LRTC (11.2% vs 19.5%, respectively; odds ratio, 0.50; 95% CI, .22-1.18; P = .11). In a post hoc analysis among patients with lymphopenia, presatovir decreased LRTC development by Day 28 (2/15 [13.3%] vs 9/14 [64.3%], respectively; P = .008), compared with the placebo. Adverse events were similar for patients receiving presatovir and the placebo., Conclusions: Presatovir had a favorable safety profile in adult HCT recipients with RSV but did not achieve the coprimary endpoints. Exploratory analyses suggest an antiviral effect among patients with lymphopenia., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT02254408; EUDRA-CT#2014-002474-36., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: Remdesivir is an RNA polymerase inhibitor with potent antiviral activity in vitro and efficacy in animal models of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19)., Methods: We conducted a randomized, open-label, phase 3 trial involving hospitalized patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, oxygen saturation of 94% or less while they were breathing ambient air, and radiologic evidence of pneumonia. Patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive intravenous remdesivir for either 5 days or 10 days. All patients received 200 mg of remdesivir on day 1 and 100 mg once daily on subsequent days. The primary end point was clinical status on day 14, assessed on a 7-point ordinal scale., Results: In total, 397 patients underwent randomization and began treatment (200 patients for 5 days and 197 for 10 days). The median duration of treatment was 5 days (interquartile range, 5 to 5) in the 5-day group and 9 days (interquartile range, 5 to 10) in the 10-day group. At baseline, patients randomly assigned to the 10-day group had significantly worse clinical status than those assigned to the 5-day group (P = 0.02). By day 14, a clinical improvement of 2 points or more on the ordinal scale occurred in 64% of patients in the 5-day group and in 54% in the 10-day group. After adjustment for baseline clinical status, patients in the 10-day group had a distribution in clinical status at day 14 that was similar to that among patients in the 5-day group (P = 0.14). The most common adverse events were nausea (9% of patients), worsening respiratory failure (8%), elevated alanine aminotransferase level (7%), and constipation (7%)., Conclusions: In patients with severe Covid-19 not requiring mechanical ventilation, our trial did not show a significant difference between a 5-day course and a 10-day course of remdesivir. With no placebo control, however, the magnitude of benefit cannot be determined. (Funded by Gilead Sciences; GS-US-540-5773 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04292899.)., (Copyright © 2020 Massachusetts Medical Society.)

Importance: Remdesivir demonstrated clinical benefit in a placebo-controlled trial in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but its effect in patients with moderate disease is unknown., Objective: To determine the efficacy of 5 or 10 days of remdesivir treatment compared with standard care on clinical status on day 11 after initiation of treatment., Design, Setting, and Participants: Randomized, open-label trial of hospitalized patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and moderate COVID-19 pneumonia (pulmonary infiltrates and room-air oxygen saturation >94%) enrolled from March 15 through April 18, 2020, at 105 hospitals in the United States, Europe, and Asia. The date of final follow-up was May 20, 2020., Interventions: Patients were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive a 10-day course of remdesivir (n = 197), a 5-day course of remdesivir (n = 199), or standard care (n = 200). Remdesivir was dosed intravenously at 200 mg on day 1 followed by 100 mg/d., Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end point was clinical status on day 11 on a 7-point ordinal scale ranging from death (category 1) to discharged (category 7). Differences between remdesivir treatment groups and standard care were calculated using proportional odds models and expressed as odds ratios. An odds ratio greater than 1 indicates difference in clinical status distribution toward category 7 for the remdesivir group vs the standard care group., Results: Among 596 patients who were randomized, 584 began the study and received remdesivir or continued standard care (median age, 57 [interquartile range, 46-66] years; 227 [39%] women; 56% had cardiovascular disease, 42% hypertension, and 40% diabetes), and 533 (91%) completed the trial. Median length of treatment was 5 days for patients in the 5-day remdesivir group and 6 days for patients in the 10-day remdesivir group. On day 11, patients in the 5-day remdesivir group had statistically significantly higher odds of a better clinical status distribution than those receiving standard care (odds ratio, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.09-2.48; P = .02). The clinical status distribution on day 11 between the 10-day remdesivir and standard care groups was not significantly different (P = .18 by Wilcoxon rank sum test). By day 28, 9 patients had died: 2 (1%) in the 5-day remdesivir group, 3 (2%) in the 10-day remdesivir group, and 4 (2%) in the standard care group. Nausea (10% vs 3%), hypokalemia (6% vs 2%), and headache (5% vs 3%) were more frequent among remdesivir-treated patients compared with standard care., Conclusions and Relevance: Among patients with moderate COVID-19, those randomized to a 10-day course of remdesivir did not have a statistically significant difference in clinical status compared with standard care at 11 days after initiation of treatment. Patients randomized to a 5-day course of remdesivir had a statistically significant difference in clinical status compared with standard care, but the difference was of uncertain clinical importance., Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04292730.

Background: In phase 3 trials, inactivated varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine (ZV IN ) was well tolerated and efficacious against herpes zoster (HZ) in autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (auto-HSCT) recipients and patients with solid tumor malignancies receiving chemotherapy (STMc) but did not reduce HZ incidence in patients with hematologic malignancies (HMs). Here, we describe ZV IN immunogenicity from these studies., Methods: Patients were randomized to ZV IN or placebo (4 doses). Immunogenicity was assessed by glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (gpELISA) and VZV interferon (IFN)-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay in patients receiving all 4 doses without developing HZ at the time of blood sampling., Results: Estimated geometric mean fold rise ratios (ZV IN /placebo) by gpELISA and IFN-y ELISPOT ~28 days post-dose 4 were 2.02 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.53-2.67) and 5.41 (95% CI, 3.60-8.12) in auto-HSCT recipients; 1.88 (95% CI, 1.79-1.98) and 2.10 (95% CI, 1.69-2.62) in patients with STMc; and not assessed and 2.35 (95% CI, 1.81-3.05) in patients with HM., Conclusions: ZV IN immunogenicity was directionally consistent with clinical efficacy in auto-HSCT recipients and patients with STMc even though HZ protection and VZV immunity were not statistically correlated. Despite a lack of clinical efficacy in patients with HM, ZV IN immunogenicity was observed in this population. Immunological results did not predict vaccine efficacy in these 3 populations., Clinical Trial Registration: NCT01229267, NCT01254630., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: The incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is reportedly higher and the cure rate lower in individuals with cancer vs those without cancer. An exploratory post hoc analysis of the MODIFY I/II trials (NCT01241552/NCT01513239) investigated how bezlotoxumab affected the rate of CDI-related outcomes in participants with cancer., Methods: Participants received a single infusion of bezlotoxumab (10 mg/kg) or placebo during anti-CDI antibacterial treatment. A post hoc analysis of CDI-related outcomes was conducted in subgroups of MODIFY I/II participants with and without cancer., Results: Of 1554 participants in the modified intent-to-treat (mITT) population, 382 (24.6%) were diagnosed with cancer (bezlotoxumab 190, placebo 192). Of participants without cancer, 591 and 581 received bezlotoxumab and placebo, respectively. In the placebo group, initial clinical cure (ICC) was achieved by fewer cancer participants vs participants without cancer (71.9% vs 83.1%; absolute difference, -11.3%; 95% CI, -18.6% to -4.5%); however, CDI recurrence (rCDI) rates were similar in cancer (30.4%) and noncancer (34.0%) participants. In participants with cancer, bezlotoxumab treatment had no effect on ICC rate compared with placebo (76.8% vs 71.9%), but resulted in a statistically significant reduction in rCDI vs placebo (17.8% vs 30.4%; absolute difference, -12.6%; 95% CI, -22.5% to -2.7%)., Conclusions: In this post hoc analysis of participants with cancer enrolled in MODIFY I/II, the rate of rCDI in bezlotoxumab-treated participants was lower than in placebo-treated participants. Additional studies are needed to confirm these results., Clinical Trial Registration: MODIFY I (NCT01241552), MODIFY II (NCT01513239)., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Infectious Diseases Society of America.)

Background: Patients who are immunocompromised because of malignancy have an increased risk of herpes zoster and herpes zoster-related complications. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of an inactivated varicella zoster virus (VZV) vaccine for herpes zoster prevention in patients with solid tumour or haematological malignancies., Methods: This phase 3, two-arm, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial with an adaptive design was done in 329 centres across 40 countries. The trial included adult patients with solid tumour malignancies receiving chemotherapy and those with haematological malignancies, either receiving or not receiving chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive four doses of VZV vaccine inactivated by γ irradiation or placebo approximately 30 days apart. The patients, investigators, trial site staff, clinical adjudication committee, and sponsor's clinical and laboratory personnel were masked to the group assignment. The primary efficacy endpoint was herpes zoster incidence in patients with solid tumour malignancies receiving chemotherapy, which was assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population (defined as all randomly assigned patients who received at least one dose of inactivated VZV vaccine or placebo). The primary safety endpoint was serious adverse events up to 28 days after the fourth dose in patients with solid tumour malignancies receiving chemotherapy. Safety endpoints were assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of inactivated VZV vaccine or placebo and had follow-up data. This trial is registered (NCT01254630 and EudraCT 2010-023156-89)., Findings: Between June 27, 2011, and April 11, 2017, 5286 patients were randomly assigned to receive VZV vaccine inactivated by γ irradiation (n=2637) or placebo (n=2649). The haematological malignancy arm was terminated early because of evidence of futility at a planned interim analysis; therefore, all prespecified haematological malignancy endpoints were deemed exploratory. In patients with solid tumour malignancies in the modified intention-to-treat population, confirmed herpes zoster occurred in 22 of 1328 (6·7 per 1000 person-years) VZV vaccine recipients and in 61 of 1350 (18·5 per 1000 person-years) placebo recipients. Estimated vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster in patients with solid tumour malignancies was 63·6% (97·5% CI 36·4 to 79·1), meeting the prespecified success criterion. In patients with solid tumour malignancies, serious adverse events were similar in frequency across treatment groups, occurring in 298 (22·5%) of 1322 patients who received the vaccine and in 283 (21·0%) of 1346 patients who received placebo (risk difference 1·5%, 95% CI -1·7 to 4·6). Vaccine-related serious adverse events were less than 1% in each treatment group. Vaccine-related injection-site reactions were more common in the vaccine group than in the placebo group. In the haematological malignancy group, VZV vaccine was well tolerated and estimated vaccine efficacy against herpes zoster was 16·8% (95% CI -17·8 to 41·3)., Interpretation: The inactivated VZV vaccine was well tolerated and efficacious for herpes zoster prevention in patients with solid tumour malignancies receiving chemotherapy, but was not efficacious for herpes zoster prevention in patients with haematological malignancies., Funding: Merck & Co, Inc., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

These updated guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice address the prevention and management of Clostridium difficile infection in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Clostridioides (formerly Clostridium) difficile infection (CDI) is among the most common hospital acquired infections. In SOT recipients, the incidence of CDI varies by type and number or organs transplanted. While a meta-analysis of published literature found the prevalence of postoperative CDI in the general surgical population to be approximately 0.51%, the prevalence of CDI that is seen in the solid organ transplant population ranges from a low of 3.2% in the pancreatic transplant population to 12.7% in those receiving multiple organ transplants. There are no randomized, controlled trials evaluating the management of CDI in the SOT population. Herein is a review and summary of the currently available literature that has been synthesized into updated treatment guidelines for the management of CDI in the SOT population., (© 2019 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Despite advances in preventive strategies, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a major complication in solid organ and hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. CMV infection may fail to respond to commercially available antiviral therapies, with or without demonstrating genotypic mutation(s) known to be associated with resistance to these therapies. This lack of response has been termed "resistant/refractory CMV" and is a key focus of clinical trials of some investigational antiviral agents. To provide consistent criteria for future clinical trials and outcomes research, the CMV Resistance Working Group of the CMV Drug Development Forum (consisting of scientists, clinicians, regulatory officials, and industry representatives from the United States, Canada, and Europe) has undertaken establishing standardized consensus definitions of "resistant" and "refractory" CMV. These definitions have emerged from the Working Group's review of the available virologic and clinical literature and will be subject to reassessment and modification based on results of future studies., (© The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In this trial, we randomized adult CMV-seropositive HCT recipients without CMV viremia at screening 2:1 to receive brincidofovir or placebo until week 14 post-HCT. Randomization was stratified by center and risk of CMV infection. Patients were assessed weekly through week 15 and every third week thereafter through week 24 post-HCT. Patients who developed clinically significant CMV infection (CS-CMVi; CMV viremia requiring preemptive therapy or CMV disease) discontinued the study drug and began anti-CMV treatment. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with CS-CMVi through week 24 post-HCT; patients who discontinued the trial or with missing data were imputed as primary endpoint events. Between August 2013 and June 2015, 452 patients were randomized at a median of 15 days after HCT and received study drug. The proportion of patients who developed CS-CMVi or were imputed as having a primary endpoint event through week 24 was similar between brincidofovir-treated patients and placebo recipients (155 of 303 [51.2%] versus 78 of 149 [52.3%]; odds ratio, .95 [95% confidence interval, .64 to 1.41]; P = .805); fewer brincidofovir recipients developed CMV viremia through week 14 compared with placebo recipients (41.6%; P < .001). Serious adverse events were more frequent among brincidofovir recipients (57.1% versus 37.6%), driven by acute graft-versus-host disease (32.3% versus 6.0%) and diarrhea (6.9% versus 2.7%). Week 24 all-cause mortality was 15.5% among brincidofovir recipients and 10.1% among placebo recipients. Brincidofovir did not reduce CS-CMVi by week 24 post-HCT and was associated with gastrointestinal toxicity., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) is common during hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We evaluated fidaxomicin for prevention of CDAD in HSCT patients., Methods: In this double-blind study, subjects undergoing HSCT with fluoroquinolone prophylaxis stratified by transplant type (autologous/allogeneic) were randomized to once-daily oral fidaxomicin (200 mg) or a matching placebo. Dosing began within 2 days of starting conditioning or fluoroquinolone prophylaxis and continued until 7 days after neutrophil engraftment or completion of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis/clinically-indicated antimicrobials for up to 40 days. The primary endpoint was CDAD incidence through 30 days after study medication. The primary endpoint analysis counted confirmed CDAD, receipt of CDAD-effective medications (for any indication), and missing CDAD assessment (for any reason, including death) as failures; this composite analysis is referred to as "prophylaxis failure" to distinguish from the pre-specified sensitivity analysis, which counted only confirmed CDAD (by toxin immunoassay or nucleic acid amplification test) as failure., Results: Of 611 subjects enrolled, 600 were treated and analyzed. Prophylaxis failure was similar in fidaxomicin and placebo recipients (28.6% vs 30.8%; difference 2.2% [-5.1, 9.5], P = .278). However, most failures were due to non-CDAD events. Confirmed CDAD was lower in fidaxomicin vs placebo recipients (4.3% vs 10.7%; difference 6.4% [2.2, 10.6], P = .0014). Drug-related adverse events occurred in 15.0% of fidaxomicin recipients and 20.0% of placebo recipients., Conclusions: While no difference was demonstrated between arms in the primary analysis, results of the sensitivity analysis demonstrated that fidaxomicin significantly reduced the incidence of CDAD in HSCT recipients., Clinical Trials Registration: NCT01691248.

Data regarding treatment of rare invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are scarce. We documented the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole for treatment of uncommonly diagnosed IFDs. VITAL was a single-arm, international, open-label study evaluating the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole (200 mg orally or intravenously every 8 hours for 48 hours, then once daily). The primary outcome was overall response at Day 42; key secondary outcomes were overall responses at Day 84 and end of treatment (EOT), mortality at Days 42 and 84, and safety. This analysis includes patients with IFD caused by rare or unidentified pathogens. Twenty-six patients with IFDs caused by rare moulds (n = 17), non-Candida yeasts (n = 2), or unidentified moulds (n = 7) were enrolled (median treatment duration [range], 114.5 [1-496]) days. Overall treatment success was observed in 11/26 (42.3%), 10/26 (38.5%), and 15/26 (57.7%) patients at Days 42, 84, and EOT, respectively. All-cause mortality rates were 2/26 patients (7.7%) at Day 42 and 4/26 patients (15.4%) at Day 84; another two patients died after Day 84. All patients had ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE); 15 patients (57.7%) had serious TEAEs, and TEAEs led to discontinuation of isavuconazole in four patients (15.4%). Isavuconazole may be efficacious for treatment of a range of rare IFDs., (© 2018 The Authors. Mycoses Published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

The optimal approach to treat invasive fungal disease (IFD) caused by more than one fungal species is unknown. We documented the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole for treatment of IFDs caused by more than one fungal species. VITAL was a single-arm, international, open-label study evaluating the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole (200 mg orally or intravenously every 8 hours for 48 hours, then once daily) for treatment of rare IFDs. The primary outcome was the overall response at Day 42; key secondary outcomes were overall responses at Day 84 and end of treatment (EOT), mortality at Days 42 and 84, and safety. This analysis includes patients with IFD caused by multiple fungal species. Fifteen patients were included in this analysis (including Aspergillus spp., n = 11; without Aspergillus spp., n = 4); median treatment duration was 97 days [range, 6-544] days). Overall treatment success was observed in 2/15 patients (13.3%) at Days 42 and 84, and 2/14 (14.3%) at EOT. All-cause mortality was 2/15 (13.3%) at Day 42 and 4/15 (26.7%) at Day 84. All patients had ≥1 treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE); 12 patients (80.0%) had serious TEAEs; TEAEs led to discontinuation of isavuconazole in two patients (13.3%). Isavuconazole may be useful to treat some IFDs caused by multiple fungal species., (© 2018 The Authors. Mycoses Published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) confers a substantial risk for morbidity and mortality to immunocompromised patients. Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most common IFD caused by moulds but the prevalence of other rare mould diseases, such as mucormycosis, hyalohyphomycosis and phaeohyphomycosis, may be increasing. Treatments are available for IA, but evidence to support efficacy and safety of antifungal agents for rare IFDs, or for IFDs in special patient populations, is limited or lacking. The VITAL trial was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole for the treatment of patients with IA and renal impairment, or with IFDs caused by rare moulds, yeasts or dimorphic fungi. These patients stand to benefit most from a new treatment option but are unlikely to be included in a randomised, controlled trial. In this article, we review the challenges faced in the design and conduct of the VITAL trial. We also review the findings of VITAL, which included evidence of the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole. Finally, we consider the importance of trials such as VITAL to inform therapeutic decision making for clinicians faced with the challenge of treating patients with rare IFDs and as one paradigm of how to determine efficacy and safety of new drugs for rare and resistant infections without a suitable comparator., (© 2018 The Authors. Mycoses Published by Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection remains a common complication after allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation. Letermovir is an antiviral drug that inhibits the CMV-terminase complex., Methods: In this phase 3, double-blind trial, we randomly assigned CMV-seropositive transplant recipients, 18 years of age or older, in a 2:1 ratio to receive letermovir or placebo, administered orally or intravenously, through week 14 after transplantation; randomization was stratified according to trial site and CMV disease risk. Letermovir was administered at a dose of 480 mg per day (or 240 mg per day in patients taking cyclosporine). Patients in whom clinically significant CMV infection (CMV disease or CMV viremia leading to preemptive treatment) developed discontinued the trial regimen and received anti-CMV treatment. The primary end point was the proportion of patients, among patients without detectable CMV DNA at randomization, who had clinically significant CMV infection through week 24 after transplantation. Patients who discontinued the trial or had missing end-point data at week 24 were imputed as having a primary end-point event. Patients were followed through week 48 after transplantation., Results: From June 2014 to March 2016, a total of 565 patients underwent randomization and received letermovir or placebo beginning a median of 9 days after transplantation. Among 495 patients with undetectable CMV DNA at randomization, fewer patients in the letermovir group than in the placebo group had clinically significant CMV infection or were imputed as having a primary end-point event by week 24 after transplantation (122 of 325 patients [37.5%] vs. 103 of 170 [60.6%], P<0.001). The frequency and severity of adverse events were similar in the two groups overall. Vomiting was reported in 18.5% of the patients who received letermovir and in 13.5% of those who received placebo; edema in 14.5% and 9.4%, respectively; and atrial fibrillation or flutter in 4.6% and 1.0%, respectively. The rates of myelotoxic and nephrotoxic events were similar in the letermovir group and the placebo group. All-cause mortality at week 48 after transplantation was 20.9% among letermovir recipients and 25.5% among placebo recipients., Conclusions: Letermovir prophylaxis resulted in a significantly lower risk of clinically significant CMV infection than placebo. Adverse events with letermovir were mainly of low grade. (Funded by Merck; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02137772 ; EudraCT number, 2013-003831-31 .).

Objectives: A two-part (Phase 1B/3), sequential, open-label, multicentre study evaluated the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of intravenous (iv) posaconazole given as antifungal prophylaxis to neutropenic patients with AML or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) or to recipients at risk of invasive fungal disease (IFD) after allogeneic HSCT., Methods: Patients (N = 237) received 300 mg of posaconazole iv twice daily on day 1, followed by 300 mg of posaconazole iv once daily for 4-28 days. After at least 5 days, patients were randomly assigned to receive posaconazole oral suspension, 400 mg twice daily or 200 mg three times daily, to complete a 28 day treatment course. Primary PK parameters were steady-state average concentration over the dosing interval (Cavg) and posaconazole trough levels (Cmin)., Results: Mean posaconazole Cmin was 1320 ng/mL (day 6) and 1297 ng/mL (day 8); steady-state Cmin was 1090 ng/mL (day 10). Mean steady-state posaconazole Cavg was 1500 ng/mL (day 10 or 14) and was similar in HSCT recipients (1560 ng/mL) and AML/MDS patients (1470 ng/mL). The most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events were diarrhoea (8%), nausea (5%) and rash (5%). IFD was reported in 3/237 patients (1%; 2 proven, 1 probable)., Conclusions: Intravenous posaconazole at 300 mg was well tolerated, resulted in adequate steady-state systemic exposure and was associated with a low incidence of IFD in this population at high risk., Trial Registry and Number: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01075984., (© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI) on patient behaviors following illness. METHODS Using a computer algorithm, we searched the electronic medical records of 7 Chicago-area hospitals to identify patients with RCDI (2 episodes of CDI within 15 to 56 days of each other). RCDI was validated by medical record review. Patients were asked to complete a telephone survey. The survey included questions regarding general health, social isolation, symptom severity, emotional distress, and prevention behaviors. RESULTS In total, 119 patients completed the survey (32%). On average, respondents were 57.4 years old (standard deviation, 16.8); 57% were white, and ~50% reported hospitalization for CDI. At the time of their most recent illness, patients rated their diarrhea as high severity (58.5%) and their exhaustion as extreme (30.7%). Respondents indicated that they were very worried about getting sick again (41.5%) and about infecting others (31%). Almost 50% said that they have washed their hands more frequently (47%) and have increased their use of soap and water (45%) since their illness. Some of these patients (22%-32%) reported eating out less, avoiding certain medications and public areas, and increasing probiotic use. Most behavioral changes were unrelated to disease severity. CONCLUSION Having had RCDI appears to increase prevention-related behaviors in some patients. While some behaviors are appropriate (eg, handwashing), others are not supported by evidence of decreased risk and may negatively impact patient quality of life. Providers should discuss appropriate prevention behaviors with their patients and should clarify that other behaviors (eg, eating out less) will not affect their risk of future illness. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2017;38:1351-1357.

Objectives: Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major public health concern. Treatment with commonly prescribed antibiotics is associated with high rates of recurrence after initial cure. Here, we present the efficacy and safety of surotomycin, an orally administered, minimally absorbed, selective bactericidal cyclic lipopeptide, compared with vancomycin, in patients with CDI., Methods: In this Phase 2, randomized, controlled, double-blind, non-inferiority, multicentre trial, participants received surotomycin 125 mg twice daily, surotomycin 250 mg twice daily or vancomycin 125 mg four times daily for 10 days. The primary efficacy outcome was clinical response at end of treatment. The registration number of the study on clinicaltrials.gov is NCT01085591., Results: Clinical cure rates were similar among treatment groups (92.4% for surotomycin 125 mg twice daily, 86.6% for surotomycin 250 mg twice daily and 89.4% for vancomycin). Recurrence rates were 27.9% for surotomycin 125 mg twice daily, 17.2% for surotomycin 250 mg twice daily and 35.6% for vancomycin. The lower recurrence rate with surotomycin 250 mg twice daily versus vancomycin was statistically significant (P = 0.035). Recurrence rates were statistically similar between the surotomycin dose groups (P = 0.193). Rates of sustained clinical response at end of study were 66.7% for surotomycin 125 mg twice daily, 70.1% for surotomycin 250 mg twice daily and 56.1% for vancomycin. Incidence of adverse events was similar among treatment arms., Conclusions: Recurrence rates of CDI were lower with surotomycin with higher sustained clinical response rates compared with vancomycin, both of which may offer potential clinical benefits., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Brincidofovir (BCV) is a broad-spectrum antiviral agent active in vitro against double-stranded DNA viruses including herpesviruses, adenoviruses, polyomaviruses, and poxviruses. We report successful BCV use in management of disseminated acyclovir- and cidofovir-resistant varicella zoster virus in an immunocompromised hematopoietic stem cell transplant patient with chronic graft-versus-host disease who was intolerant to foscarnet., (© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Mucormycosis is an uncommon invasive fungal disease with high mortality and few treatment options. Isavuconazole is a triazole active in vitro and in animal models against moulds of the order Mucorales. We assessed the efficacy and safety of isavuconazole for treatment of mucormycosis and compared its efficacy with amphotericin B in a matched case-control analysis., Methods: In a single-arm open-label trial (VITAL study), adult patients (≥18 years) with invasive fungal disease caused by rare fungi, including mucormycosis, were recruited from 34 centres worldwide. Patients were given isavuconazole 200 mg (as its intravenous or oral water-soluble prodrug, isavuconazonium sulfate) three times daily for six doses, followed by 200 mg/day until invasive fungal disease resolution, failure, or for 180 days or more. The primary endpoint was independent data review committee-determined overall response-ie, complete or partial response (treatment success) or stable or progressive disease (treatment failure)-according to prespecified criteria. Mucormycosis cases treated with isavuconazole as primary treatment were matched with controls from the FungiScope Registry, recruited from 17 centres worldwide, who received primary amphotericin B-based treatment, and were analysed for day-42 all-cause mortality. VITAL is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00634049. FungiScope is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01731353., Findings: Within the VITAL study, from April 22, 2008, to June 21, 2013, 37 patients with mucormycosis received isavuconazole for a median of 84 days (IQR 19-179, range 2-882). By day 42, four patients (11%) had a partial response, 16 (43%) had stable invasive fungal disease, one (3%) had invasive fungal disease progression, three (8%) had missing assessments, and 13 (35%) had died. 35 patients (95%) had adverse events (28 [76%] serious). Day-42 crude all-cause mortality in seven (33%) of 21 primary-treatment isavuconazole cases was similar to 13 (39%) of 33 amphotericin B-treated matched controls (weighted all-cause mortality: 33% vs 41%; p=0·595)., Interpretation: Isavuconazole showed activity against mucormycosis with efficacy similar to amphotericin B. Isavuconazole can be used for treatment of mucormycosis and is well tolerated., Funding: Astellas Pharma Global Development, Basilea Pharmaceutica International., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background.  Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is a major healthcare-associated pathogen and a well known complication among transplant and immunocompromised patients. We report on stool VRE clearance in a post hoc analysis of the Phase 2 PUNCH CD study assessing a microbiota-based drug for recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). Methods.  A total of 34 patients enrolled in the PUNCH CD study received 1 or 2 doses of RBX2660 (microbiota suspension). Patients were requested to voluntarily submit stool samples at baseline and at 7, 30, and 60 days and 6 months after the last administration of RBX2660. Stool samples were tested for VRE using bile esculin azide agar with 6 µg/mL vancomycin and Gram staining. Vancomycin resistance was confirmed by Etest. Results.  VRE status (at least 1 test result) was available for 30 patients. All stool samples for 19 patients (63.3%, mean age 61.7 years, 68% female) tested VRE negative. Eleven patients (36.7%, mean age 75.5 years, 64% female) were VRE positive at the first test (baseline or 7-day follow-up). Of these patients, 72.7%, n = 8 converted to negative as of the last available follow-up (30 or 60 days or 6 months). Of the other 3: 1 died (follow-up data not available); 1 patient remained positive at all follow-ups; 1 patient retested positive at 6 months with negative tests during the interim. Conclusions.  Although based on a small sample size, this secondary analysis demonstrated the possibility of successfully converting a high percentage of VRE-positive patients to negative in a recurrent CDI population with RBX2660.

Objective means are needed to predict and assess clinical response in patients treated for invasive aspergillosis (IA). We examined whether early changes in serum galactomannan (GM) and/or β-D-glucan (BDG) can predict clinical outcomes. Patients with proven or probable IA were prospectively enrolled, and serial GM and BDG levels and GM optical density indices (GMI) were calculated twice weekly for 6 weeks following initiation of standard-of-care antifungal therapy. Changes in these biomarkers during the first 2 and 6 weeks of treatment were analyzed for associations with clinical response and survival at weeks 6 and 12. Among 47 patients with IA, 53.2% (25/47) and 65.9% (27/41) had clinical response by weeks 6 and 12, respectively. Changes in biomarkers during the first 2 weeks were associated with clinical response at 6 weeks (GMI, P = 0.03) and 12 weeks (GM+BDG composite, P = 0.05; GM, P = 0.04; GMI, P = 0.02). Changes in biomarkers during the first 6 weeks were also associated with clinical response at 6 weeks (GM, P = 0.05; GMI, P = 0.03) and 12 weeks (BDG+GM, P = 0.02; GM, P = 0.02; GMI, P = 0.01). Overall survival rates at 6 weeks and 12 weeks were 87.2% (41/47) and 79.1% (34/43), respectively. Decreasing biomarkers in the first 2 weeks were associated with survival at 6 weeks (BDG+GM, P = 0.03; BDG, P = 0.01; GM, P = 0.03) and at 12 weeks (BDG+GM, P = 0.01; BDG, P = 0.03; GM, P = 0.01; GMI, P = 0.007). Similar correlations occurred for biomarkers measured over 6 weeks. Patients with negative baseline GMI and/or persistently negative GMI during the first 2 weeks were more likely to have CR and survival. These results suggest that changes of biomarkers may be informative to predict and/or assess response to therapy and survival in patients treated for IA.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a leading cause of illness and death in patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation. Available treatments are restricted by clinically significant toxic effects and drug resistance., Methods: In this phase 2 study, we evaluated the effect of letermovir (also known as AIC246), a new anti-CMV drug with a novel mechanism of action, on the incidence and time to onset of prophylaxis failure in CMV-seropositive recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplants from matched related or unrelated donors. From March 2010 through October 2011, we randomly assigned 131 transplant recipients in a 3:1 ratio to three sequential study cohorts according to a double-blind design. Patients received oral letermovir (at a dose of 60, 120, or 240 mg per day, or matching placebo) for 12 weeks after engraftment. The primary end point was all-cause prophylaxis failure, defined as discontinuation of the study drug because of CMV antigen or DNA detection, end-organ disease, or any other cause. Patients underwent weekly surveillance for CMV infection., Results: The reduction in the incidence of all-cause prophylaxis failure was dose-dependent. The incidence of prophylaxis failure with letermovir, as compared with placebo, was 48% versus 64% at a daily letermovir dose of 60 mg (P=0.32), 32% at a dose of 120 mg (P=0.01), and 29% at a dose of 240 mg (P=0.007). Kaplan-Meier time-to-onset profiles for prophylaxis failure showed a significant difference in the comparison of letermovir at a dose of 240 mg per day with placebo (P=0.002). The safety profile of letermovir was similar to placebo, with no indication of hematologic toxicity or nephrotoxicity., Conclusions: Letermovir, as compared with placebo, was effective in reducing the incidence of CMV infection in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplants. The highest dose (240 mg per day) had the greatest anti-CMV activity, with an acceptable safety profile. (Funded by AiCuris; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01063829.).

Herpes zoster, a viral disease that is characterized by a painful and blistering eruption in the skin, represents reactivation of latent varicella zoster (chickenpox) virus infection. In high-risk groups such as elderly or immunocompromised patients, the incidence of zoster can be as high as 50%. Radiation oncologists are likely to see zoster because cancer, and cancer therapy, can adversely affect immune function. A few reports suggest that radiation therapy is a risk factor for zoster, and that the skin eruption is often in or near the radiation treatment field. The diagnosis is typically made through clinical history and exam, but several tests are available to confirm the diagnosis and differentiate it from other infections or dermatitis. Effective management consists of prompt antiviral medication, acute pain control, appropriate precautions to limit transmission, and referral to specialists in certain cases. Despite appropriate therapy, up to 18% of patients can develop persistent postherpetic neuralgia, defined as pain more than 4 months after resolution of the rash. Several classes of pain medication are available to treat acute or long-term pain. Vaccination against zoster is recommended for patients aged 60 years or older, as it can reduce the incidence and severity of zoster., (Copyright © 2014 American Society for Radiation Oncology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: To improve our understanding of risk factors, management, diagnosis, and outcomes associated with histoplasmosis after solid organ transplant (SOT), we report a large series of histoplasmosis occurring after SOT., Methods: All cases of histoplasmosis in SOT recipients diagnosed between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2010 at 24 institutions were identified. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected., Results: One hundred fifty-two cases were identified: kidney (51%), liver (16%), kidney/pancreas (14%), heart (9%), lung (5%), pancreas (2%), and other (2%). The median time from transplant to diagnosis was 27 months, but 34% were diagnosed in the first year after transplant. Twenty-eight percent of patients had severe disease (requiring intensive care unit admission); 81% had disseminated disease. Urine Histoplasma antigen detection was the most sensitive diagnostic method, positive in 132 of 142 patients (93%). An amphotericin formulation was administered initially to 73% of patients for a median duration of 2 weeks; step-down therapy with an azole was continued for a median duration of 12 months. Ten percent of patients died due to histoplasmosis with 72% of deaths occurring in the first month after diagnosis; older age and severe disease were risk factors for death from histoplasmosis. Relapse occurred in 6% of patients., Conclusions: Although late cases occur, the first year after SOT is the period of highest risk for histoplasmosis. In patients who survive the first month after diagnosis, treatment with an amphotericin formulation followed by an azole for 12 months is usually successful, with only rare relapse.

Background: Safety and immunogenicity of heat-treated zoster vaccine (ZVHT) were assessed in immunocompromised adults., Methods: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study, 4 doses ZVHT or placebo were administered approximately 30 days apart to adults with either solid tumor malignancy (STM); hematologic malignancy (HM); human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) with CD4(+) ≤200; autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplant (HCT) or allogeneic-HCT recipients. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) T-cell responses by interferon-γ enzyme-linked immunospot (IFN-γ ELISPOT) and VZV antibody concentrations by glycoprotein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (gpELISA) were measured at baseline and approximately 28 days after each dose., Results: No safety signals were found in any group. IFN-γ ELISPOT geometric mean fold rises (GMFR) after dose 4 in STM, HM, HIV, and autologous-HCT patients were 3.00 (P < .0001), 2.23 (P = .004), 1.76 (P = .026), and 9.01 (P = NA), respectively. Similarly, antibody GMFR were 2.35 (P < .0001), 1.28 (P = .003), 1.37 (P = .017), and 0.90 (P = NA), respectively. T-cell and antibody responses were poor after 4 doses of ZVHT in allogeneic-HCT patients., Conclusion: ZVHT was generally safe and immunogenic through 28 days post-dose 4 in adults with STM, HM, and HIV. Autologous-HCT but not allogeneic-HCT patients had a rise in T-cell response; antibody responses were not increased in either HCT population. Study identification. V212-002 Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00535236.

Background: The use of available antiviral agents for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is limited by frequent toxic effects and the emergence of resistance. CMX001 has potent in vitro activity against CMV and other double-stranded DNA viruses. We evaluated the safety and anti-CMV activity of CMX001 in patients who had undergone allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation., Methods: From December 2009 through June 2011, a total of 230 patients with data that could be evaluated were enrolled in the study. We randomly assigned these adult CMV-seropositive transplant recipients from 27 centers to oral administration of CMX001 or placebo. Patients were assigned in a 3:1 ratio to five sequential study cohorts according to a dose-escalating, double-blind design. Randomization was stratified according to the presence or absence of acute graft-versus-host disease and CMV DNA in plasma. Patients received the study drug after engraftment for 9 to 11 weeks, until week 13 after transplantation. Polymerase-chain-reaction analysis of CMV DNA in plasma was performed weekly. Patients in whom CMV DNA was detected at a level that required treatment discontinued the study drug and received preemptive treatment against CMV infection. The primary end point was a CMV event, defined as CMV disease or a plasma CMV DNA level greater than 200 copies per milliliter when the study drug was discontinued. The analysis was conducted in the intention-to-treat population., Results: The incidence of CMV events was significantly lower among patients who received CMX001 at a dose of 100 mg twice weekly than among patients who received placebo (10% vs. 37%; risk difference, -27 percentage points; 95% confidence interval, -42 to -12; P=0.002). Diarrhea was the most common adverse event in patients receiving CMX001 at doses of 200 mg weekly or higher and was dose-limiting at 200 mg twice weekly. Myelosuppression and nephrotoxicity were not observed., Conclusions: Treatment with oral CMX001 at a dose of 100 mg twice weekly significantly reduced the incidence of CMV events in recipients of hematopoietic-cell transplants. Diarrhea was dose-limiting in this population at a dose of 200 mg twice weekly. (Funded by Chimerix; CMX001-201 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00942305.).

Central venous catheters commonly develop central line-associated bloodstream infections. In vitro antibiotic lock therapy (ALT) was simulated on 10 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates imbedded in biofilm-coated silicon disks. Five days of 4-h daily exposures to daptomycin (2.5 mg/ml) in 25% ethanol or minocycline (3 mg/ml) plus 25% ethanol and 30 mg/ml EDTA resulted in significantly greater elimination of MRSA colonization than treatment with minocycline alone.

Background/aims: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have increased risk for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and for subsequent mortality. We determined the effect of CKD on response to treatment for CDI., Methods: This is a post hoc analysis of two randomized controlled phase 3 trials that enrolled patients with CDI. Patients received either fidaxomicin 200 mg b.i.d. or vancomycin 125 mg q.i.d. for 10 days. Univariate and multivariate analyses compared end points by treatment received and CKD stage., Results: At baseline, 27, 21, and 9% of the patients had stage 2 (60-89 ml/min/1.73 m(2)), stage 3 (30-59), and stage 4 or higher (<30) CKD. Cure rates were similar for normal (91%) and stage 2 CKD (92%), but declined to 80% for stage 3 and to 75% for stage 4 CKD (p < 0.001 for trend). Time to resolution of diarrhea (TTROD) increased with stage 3 and stage 4 CKD. CDI recurrence rates 4 weeks after treatment were 16, 20, 27, and 24% for normal, stage 2, stage 3, and stage 4 or higher CKD, respectively. Mortality increased with CKD stage. In multivariate analyses, stage 3 or higher CKD correlated with lower odds of cure, greater chance of recurrence, and lower odds of sustained response 28 days after treatment. Initial cure rates were similar in the vancomycin or fidaxomicin groups; however, the rate of recurrence was higher following vancomycin treatment independent of renal function. The presence of immunosuppression did not alter this effect., Conclusion: Progressive CKD is associated with increased TTROD, lower cure rates, and higher recurrence rates with treatment of CDI., (Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: Treatment guidelines recommend stopping all implicated antibiotics at the onset of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), but many individuals have persistent or new infections necessitating the use of concomitant antibiotics (CAs). We used data from 2 phase 3 trials to study effects of CAs on response to fidaxomicin or vancomycin., Methods: Subjects with CDI were treated for 10 days with fidaxomicin 200 mg every 12 hours or vancomycin 125 mg every 6 hours, assessed for resolution of symptoms, and followed up for an additional 4 weeks for evidence of recurrence. Rates of cure, recurrence, and global cure (cure without recurrence) were determined for subgroups of subjects defined by CA use and treatment group., Results: CAs were prescribed for 27.5% of subjects during study participation. The use of CAs concurrent with CDI treatment was associated with a lower cure rate (84.4% vs 92.6%; P < .001) and an extended time to resolution of diarrhea (97 vs 54 hours; P < .001). CA use during the follow-up was associated with more recurrences (24.8% vs 17.7%; not significant), and CA administration at any time was associated with a lower global cure rate (65.8% vs 74.7%; P = .005). When subjects received CAs concurrent with CDI treatment, the cure rate was 90.0% for fidaxomicin and 79.4% for vancomycin (P = .04). In subjects receiving CAs during treatment and/or follow-up, treatment with fidaxomicin compared with vancomycin was associated with 12.3% fewer recurrences (16.9% vs 29.2%; P = .048)., Conclusions: Treatment with CAs compromised initial response to CDI therapy and durability of response. Fidaxomicin was significantly more effective than vancomycin in achieving clinical cure in the presence of CA therapy and in preventing recurrence regardless of CA use.

The incidence of Clostridium difficile has doubled over the past 15 years, and rising mortality rates associated with this infection have followed in its wake. C. difficile infection (CDI) has supplanted methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus as the major cause of nosocomial infection. An insufficient response rate to currently available CDI therapies has prompted the search for new and alternative treatment modalities for this disease. The investigational pipeline includes evaluation of new antimicrobial agents that exhibit good activity against C. difficile without altering normal gut flora, C. difficile toxin-absorbing compounds, and preformed antibodies and vaccines against C. difficile toxin. In two robust clinical trials comparing fidaxomicin to vancomycin in the treatment of CDI, treatment with fidaxomicin demonstrated a superior global cure (cure without recurrence) rate compared with the current gold standard, vancomycin. Fidaxomicin, the first of a new class of macrocyclic antimicrobial agents, represents an advance in the management of CDI.

Background: Clostridium difficile infection is a serious diarrheal illness associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Patients generally have a response to oral vancomycin or metronidazole; however, the rate of recurrence is high. This phase 3 clinical trial compared the efficacy and safety of fidaxomicin with those of vancomycin in treating C. difficile infection., Methods: Adults with acute symptoms of C. difficile infection and a positive result on a stool toxin test were eligible for study entry. We randomly assigned patients to receive fidaxomicin (200 mg twice daily) or vancomycin (125 mg four times daily) orally for 10 days. The primary end point was clinical cure (resolution of symptoms and no need for further therapy for C. difficile infection as of the second day after the end of the course of therapy). The secondary end points were recurrence of C. difficile infection (diarrhea and a positive result on a stool toxin test within 4 weeks after treatment) and global cure (i.e., cure with no recurrence)., Results: A total of 629 patients were enrolled, of whom 548 (87.1%) could be evaluated for the per-protocol analysis. The rates of clinical cure with fidaxomicin were noninferior to those with vancomycin in both the modified intention-to-treat analysis (88.2% with fidaxomicin and 85.8% with vancomycin) and the per-protocol analysis (92.1% and 89.8%, respectively). Significantly fewer patients in the fidaxomicin group than in the vancomycin group had a recurrence of the infection, in both the modified intention-to-treat analysis (15.4% vs. 25.3%, P=0.005) and the per-protocol analysis (13.3% vs. 24.0%, P=0.004). The lower rate of recurrence was seen in patients with non–North American Pulsed Field type 1 strains. The adverse-event profile was similar for the two therapies., Conclusions: The rates of clinical cure after treatment with fidaxomicin were noninferior to those after treatment with vancomycin. Fidaxomicin was associated with a significantly lower rate of recurrence of C. difficile infection associated with non–North American Pulsed Field type 1 strains. (Funded by Optimer Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00314951.)

Background: Invasive opportunistic fungal infections caused by agents of Mucorales that involve the gastrointestinal tract are uncommon but aggressive. These ubiquitous fungal spores typically are inhaled and can germinate in immunocompromised hosts. Standard therapy for invasive mucormycosis includes parenteral amphotericin B (AMB) in combination with radical debridement of infected tissues. Early diagnosis and treatment are of paramount importance. Unfortunately, long-term survival is poor owing to the prohibitive morbidity and mortality rates associated with the medical and surgical therapies. Posaconazole is a novel, extended-spectrum triazole oral antifungal agent with documented success in the treatment of patients with invasive mucormycosis., Methods: Case report and literature review., Results: A 50-year-old man presented with invasive mucormycosis of the lower esophagus, stomach, and liver, resulting in gastrointestinal hemorrhage. The infection did not respond to AMB but was treated successfully with a combination of posaconazole and liposomal AMB (LAMB) without surgical debridement., Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of extensive gastric and intrahepatic mucormycosis that responded to combination posaconazole and LAMB without surgical debridement. This approach may be an alternative to surgery in patients who are precluded from extensive surgical intervention.

Candida spp. are the fourth leading cause of bloodstream infections, and non-albicans species are increasing in importance. Micafungin is a new echinocandin antifungal agent with excellent in vitro activity against Candida spp. Pediatric, neonatal, and adult patients with new or refractory candidemia were enrolled into this open-label, noncomparative, international study. The initial dose of micafungin was 50 mg/d (1 mg/kg for patients <40 kg) for infections due to C. albicans and 100 mg/d (2 mg/kg for patients <40 kg) for infections due to other species. Dose escalation was allowed. Maximum length of therapy was 42 days. A total of 126 patients were evaluable (received at least five doses of micafungin). Success (complete or partial response) was seen in 83.3% patients overall. Success rates for treatment of infections caused by the most common Candida spp. were as follows: C. albicans 85.1%, C. glabrata 93.8%, C. parapsilosis 86.4%, and C. tropicalis 83.3%. Serious adverse events related to micafungin were uncommon. Micafungin shows promise as a safe and effective agent for the treatment of newly diagnosed and refractory cases of candidemia. Large-scale, randomized, controlled trials are warranted.