International Journal of Infectious Diseases This is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader or to display this data on your own website or blog.

Is the new TB antigen-based skin test ready for use as an alternative to TST/IGRA for TB diagnosis? A narrative review.
Tuberculin skin test (TST) is one of the most commonly used methods to identify TB infection worldwide. TST was developed in the 1940s. The test consists of an intradermal injection of purified protein derivative (PPD), which is a crude mixture of different mycobacterial antigens. As a result, the specificity of TST is low as false positive results can occur in individuals who have received bacille Calmette-Gu érin (BCG) vaccination and patients with a non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 6, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Kin Wang To, Rui Zhang, Shui Shan Lee Tags: Review Source Type: research

Persistent poor clinical outcomes of people living with HIV presenting with AIDS and late for HIV diagnosis – results from the Icona cohort in Italy, 2009-2022
Despite universal access to HIV testing and antiretroviral treatment (ART), diagnosis of HIV at a late stage of the disease is still a significant challenge, even in high-income countries [1,2]. Late HIV diagnosis (LD) has been defined as a person first diagnosed with HIV with a CD4 count below 350 cell/mm3 or with an AIDS-defining event (ADE) regardless of the CD4 count, excluding individuals with evidence of recent HIV infection [3,4]. In 2021, according to the European and Italian HIV surveillance data, 54% of newly diagnosed HIV-positive subjects in Europe and 63% in Italy were diagnosed late [1,2]. (Source: Internatio...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 6, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Annalisa Mondi, Alessandro Cozzi-Lepri, Alessandro Tavelli, Antonella Cingolani, Andrea Giacomelli, Giancarlo Orofino, Gabriella De Girolamo, Carmela Pinnetti, Andrea Gori, Annalisa Saracino, Alessandra Bandera, Giulia Marchetti, Enrico Girardi, Cristina Source Type: research

Pancytopenia following adjuvant therapy with interferon-gamma in a patient with disseminated nocardiosis
We report a case of pancytopenia following treatment with recombinant interferon-gamma (IFN- γ) in a patient with disseminated nocardiosis. A 78-year-old woman presented with non-specific symptoms of general weakness, cough, fever, right-hand paresis, unsteady gait, and vision deterioration. Her medical record revealed multiple allergic reactions, notably to salicylates (including aspirin) , histamines, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, bisoprolol, and iodide. She reported having Henoch–Schönlein purpura, asthma, and arterial hypertension. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 5, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Thomas Derungs, Denis Poddubnyy, Thomas Schneider Tags: Case Report Source Type: research

Pancytopenia following adjuvant therapy with interferon gamma (IFN- γ) in a patient with disseminated nocardiosis
We report a case of pancytopenia following treatment with recombinant interferon gamma (IFN- γ) in a patient with disseminated nocardiosis. A 78-year-old woman presented with non-specific symptoms of general weakness, cough, fever, right-hand paresis, unsteady gait, and vision deterioration. Her medical record revealed multiple allergic reactions, notably to salicylates (including aspirin) , histamines, penicillin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, bisoprolol, and iodide. She reported having Henoch–Schönlein purpura, asthma, and arterial hypertension. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 5, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Thomas Derungs, Denis Poddubnyy, Thomas Schneider Tags: Case Report Source Type: research

Effectiveness of Telemedicine for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Low-income and Middle-income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Since the first case was reported in the United States in 1981, the prevalence of AIDS has been a significant public health concern, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Statistics provided by the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that in 2021, among the 36.7 million surviving adult infections, the number of infected women was 19.7 million (more than 50%)[1]. Furthermore, the risk of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV during pregnancy or delivery was estimated to be between 15% and 30% if antiretroviral treatment (ART) is not administered[2]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 5, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Dantong Li, Shang Ma, Binfei Dang, Huifeng Shi, Yuan Wei, Xiaoli Wang Source Type: research

Heavily Treatment-Experienced Persons Living with HIV Currently in Care in Italy: characteristics, Risk Factors, and Therapeutic Options - the ICONA Foundation Cohort study
Since the mid-1990s, improved combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has transformed HIV into a lifelong condition [1, 2]. While cART is effective, its prolonged use may reduce the efficacy of antiretrovirals (ARVs), leading to the need for personalized regimens [3-5]. Heavily-treatment experienced (HTE) patients, are a subset of People Living with HIV (PLWH) with limited ARV options due to past exposure, incomplete adherence, and acquired resistance mutations [6,7], resulting in a higher risk of unfavorable outcomes [8]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 4, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Sergio Lo Caputo, Mariacristina Poliseno, Alessandro Tavelli, Roberta Gagliardini, Stefano Rusconi, Giuseppe Lapadula, Andrea Antinori, Daniela Francisci, Loredana Sarmati, Andrea Gori, Vincenzo Spagnuolo, Francesca Ceccherini-Silberstein, Antonella d'Arm Source Type: research

State-of-the-art detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in blood during tuberculosis infection using phage technology
World TB Day —a date commemorating the announcement by Koch of a bacterial aetiology for TB—is a chastening reminder of how little the diagnostic landscape has progressed. Culture-based growth of Mtb from disease sites continues to be the gold standard for diagnosis. For pulmonary TB, this is most frequently from spontaneously expectorated sputum. Key benefits of culture include high specificity in the absence of cross-contamination, and the opportunity to determine drug susceptibility of isolates to inform effective therapy. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 3, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Catherine ED Rees, Benjamin MC Swift, Pranabashis Haldar Tags: Perspective Source Type: research

State of art of the detection of M. tuberculosis during TB infection by blood tests using the phage technology
Tuberculosis (TB), an aerosol transmitted infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), remains the commonest cause of death globally, from an infectious bacterial disease. Nine years on from the launch of the WHO's END-TB strategy, disease incidence rates are stubbornly unchanged [1]. While this represents, in part, a reversal of improving trends caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, it also reflects the fragility and inadequacy of healthcare systems to sustain TB control [2]. Although multifactorial, a key reason for this is the ineffectiveness of existing clinical tools to meet the two key objectives of the END-TB st...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 3, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: CED Rees, BMC Swift, P Haldar Tags: Review Source Type: research

HIV-1 Tat is present in the serum of people living with HIV-1 despite viral suppression
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection affects ∼38.4 million people worldwide (http://www.who.int/hiv/en/). The implementation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) largely decreased mortality and prolonged the lifespan of individuals with HIV [1]. However, people with HIV still face increased risks of different comorbidities. cART effe ctively controls viral replication but does not eliminate latently infected cells, posing challenges in achieving a cure [1]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 3, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Anna Shmakova, Ivan Tsimailo, Yana Kozhevnikova, Laurence G érard, David Boutboul, Eric Oksenhendler, Edouard Tuaillon, Aurélie Rivault, Diego Germini, Yegor Vassetzky, Bruno Beaumelle Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research

Comparative effectiveness of empirical antibiotic treatments in methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infective endocarditis: a post hoc analysis of a prospective French cohort study
In most cases, treatment of infective endocarditis (IE) is empirical until the causative pathogens are identified, with two major important points. First, empirical antimicrobial therapy (EAT) is the cornerstone of sepsis therapy and any delay in time to appropriate antimicrobial therapy increases sepsis mortality, particularly in cases of septic shock [1]. Second, since Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of IE and is associated with higher mortality [2,3], it is crucial that EAT for infective endocarditis includes drugs that have optimal anti-staphylococcal activity [4,5]. (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 28, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Rapha ël Lecomte, Colin Deschanvres, Alexis Bourreau, Louise Ruffier d'Epenoux, Paul Le Turnier, Benjamin Gaborit, Marie Chauveau, Magali Michel, Thierry Le Tourneau, Pascale Bémer, Stéphane Corvec, David Boutoille Source Type: research

Post COVID-19 condition imposes significant burden in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease: a nested case-control study
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) ended the global emergency status for COVID-19 on May 5th 2023, reports on long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19 have been emerging. Over 200 long-lasting symptoms affecting various organ systems have been documented in more than 65 million individuals worldwide [1]. These symptoms are referred to as ‘’long-COVID’’, ‘’post COVID-19 condition’’ (PCC) and ‘’post-acute sequalae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)’’. In a recent observational matched cohort study conducted on the general population, the prevalence of PCC was estimat...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 28, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Pim Bouwmans, S. Reshwan K. Malahe, A. Lianne Messchendorp, Priya Vart, C éline Imhof, Jan-Stephan Sanders, Ron T. Gansevoort, Aiko P.J. de Vries, Alferso C. Abrahams, Frederike J. Bemelman, Johanna P.M. Vervoort, Luuk Hilbrands, Marc A.G.J. ten Dam, Ren Source Type: research

Corrigendum to “Effectiveness of influenza vaccination on in-hospital death and recurrent hospitalization in older adults with cardiovascular diseases” [International Journal of Infectious Diseases, Volume 122 (2022). Pages 162-168]
The authors regret the grant number on the original published article is incorrect. The correct grant number is Beijing Natural Science Foundation (19L2055). (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 26, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Yuanjie Pang, Xiaofan Liu, Guangqi Liu, Min Lv, Ming Lu, Jiang Wu, Yangmu Huang Tags: Corrigendum Source Type: research

Corrigendum to “Recent increased incidence of invasive serogroup W meningococcal disease: A retrospective observational study” [International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 108 (2021), 582-587]
The authors regret that Table 2 had been mistakenly made with display of Odds Ratios (OR). The correct column heading should have been Incidence Rate Ratios (IRR). Please see revised table below: (Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases)
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 26, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Nichlas Hovmand, Lene Fogt Lundbo, Gitte Kronborg, Sidsel Skou Voss, H åkon Sandholdt, Steen Hoffmann, Palle Valentiner-Branth, Thomas Benfield Tags: Corrigendum Source Type: research

Diagnostic markers reflecting dysregulation of the host response in the transition to tuberculosis disease
There is a need to identify biomarkers to predict progression and to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) disease at an early stage. Following infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), only about 10% of individuals progress to TB disease, while the majority mount a protective immune response that clears the infection or controls it in the long term [1]. Those Individuals whose immune system exhibit a measurable memory response to Mtb are termed Mtb-immunoreactive. The immune profile of Mtb-immunoreactive individuals, without TB disease, reflects a more protective pattern compared to individuals with TB disease, who have faile...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Gunilla K ällenius, Margarida Correia-Neves, Christopher Sundling Tags: Review Source Type: research

Toward a molecular microbial blood test for tuberculosis infection
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is a major human pathogen, responsible for an estimated 10.6 million cases of active tuberculosis (TB) and 1.3 million deaths worldwide in 2022 [1]. Most adult cases of active TB arise from the progression of asymptomatic Mtb infection, whose global prevalence has been estimated at 23% [2]. Risk of progression from infection to disease can be significantly reduced by administration of preventive antimicrobial therapy [3], and global roll-out of this intervention will be needed to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) target of TB elimination by 2050 [4]. (Source: International Journal...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - February 25, 2024 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Adrian R. Martineau, Shruthi Chandran, Winnie Palukani, Patricia Garrido, Jonathan Mayito, Stephen T. Reece, Divya Tiwari Tags: Perspective Source Type: research