Caspofungin for Primary Antifungal Prophylaxis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: A Real-Life Study from an Academic Center.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are a major complication in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly during chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Posaconazole is the standard drug for primary antifungal prophylaxis (PAP), but its use is limited by oral bioavailability and CYP3A4 interactions. This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of intravenous caspofungin versus oral posaconazole as PAP in AML patients during their first cycle of chemotherapy and assess their subsequent impact on clinical outcomes.

Trabecular bone score assessed by dual-energy X ray absorption predicts vertebral fractures in HIV infected young adults.

Introduction: Bone mineral density (BMD) is reduced in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Trabecular bone score (TBS) is an additional feature calculated by dual-energy X ray absorption (DXA) that measures texture inhomogeneity at lumbar spine level, providing an index of bone microarchitecture. However, its clinical value still needs to be fully addressed.

Prevention and management of infectious complications in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) treated with BTK and BCL-2 inhibitors, focus on current guidelines.

CLL is associated with an increased risk of infectious complications. Treatment with BTK or BCL-2 inhibitors does not seem to increase significantly the risk of opportunistic infections, but the role of combination therapies including BTK and/or BCL-2 inhibitors remains to be established. Various infectious complications can be successfully prevented with appropriate risk management strategies.

Effect of Direct Antiviral Therapy Against HCV on CD4+ T Cell Count in Patients with HIV-HCV Coinfection.

Background: HCV-related liver disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with HIV infection. It is well known that the response rates to HCV therapy are similar between HCV-monoinfected patients and HIV-HV coinfected ones. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of HCV eradication on CD4 + T cell count in a population of HIV-HCV coinfected patients.

Casirivimab/imdevimab + remdesivir in hospitalized patients with severe Covid-19: A single centre experience.

Since 2020, COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide causing a huge number of cases and casualties. Among direct anti SARS-CoV-2 agents available for the treatment of COVID-19, only remdesivir and casirivimab/imdevimab have been approved for severe disease. As they act at different levels in blocking viral replication, it is theoretically possible to combine them.

Microbiota and hepatitis C virus in the era of direct-acting antiviral agents.

The gut microbiota plays a fundamental role in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)-related liver disease. Indeed, HCV infection alters the gut microbiota, whereas intestinal dysbiosis induces an underlying inflammatory state. This status may lead to liver disease progression.

A Simple Non-Invasive Score Based on Baseline Parameters Can Predict Outcome in Patients with COVID-19.

We evaluated the role of CRP and other laboratory parameters in predicting the worsening of clinical conditions during hospitalization, ICU admission, and fatal outcome among patients with COVID-19. Consecutive adult inpatients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and respiratory symptoms treated in three different COVID centres were enrolled, and they were tested for laboratory parameters within 48 h from admission. Three-hundred ninety patients were enrolled.

Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies for early treatment of hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection in hematologic patients.

Efficacy of early treatment with anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) for nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection in hematologic patients is unknown. Retrospective, cohort study conducted in four Italian teaching hospitals. We included adult patients with hematologic malignancies and hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed between November 2020 and December 2021.

COVID-19 Post-Exposure Evaluation (COPE) Study: Assessing the Role of Socio-Economic Factors in Household SARS-CoV-2 Transmission within Campania Region (Southern Italy).

Campania is the sixth poorest region of Italy, and it is the region with the highest income inequality. The secondary attack rates of SARS-CoV-2 among households are found to be substantially heterogeneous among published studies and are influenced by socio-economic factors. We conducted a retrospective study to describe the role of socio-economic factors in the household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 among patients living in Campania Region and referring to "Federico II" Hospital.

Casirivimab and Imdevimab for Pregnant Women Hospitalized for Severe Coronavirus Disease 2019.

Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of casirivimab/imdevimab therapy in pregnant women with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requiring oxygen therapy.

Study Design: This was a prospective case series study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of casirivimab/imdevimab therapy in unvaccinated pregnant women with severe COVID-19. Inclusion criteria were severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection documented with polymerase chain reaction, pregnancy, severe COVID-19 requiring oxygen therapy, duration of symptoms of 10 days or less, and able to provide informed consent.

Pharmacological approaches to prevent vertical transmission of HIV and HBV.

Introduction: Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is mainly responsible for the global pediatric HIV and HBV epidemic. Vertical transmission can be prevented and reduced through a series of interventions at the primary healthcare level, including extensive screening of pregnant women, administration of antivirals or immune-based treatments, counselling on type of delivery and breastfeeding.

Areas Covered: In this narrative review, approved therapeutic options for the treatment of pregnant women living with HIV or HBV are discussed with special focus on efficacy and safety profiles of each agent or drug class examined.

Impact of an anti-infective screening and monitoring protocol together with infectious disease consultation in preventing infective adverse events in patients treated with anti-CD20/CD52 agents for multiple sclerosis.

Background: Monoclonal antibodies have been a milestone in the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). Infective complications have been observed in patients on agents targeting lymphoid cells' surface antigens, namely anti-CD52 (alemtuzumab) and anti-CD20 agents (ocrelizumab and rituximab). Despite increasing emerging data, there is no standardized consensus regarding pre-treatment testing, vaccinations, and patient education before and during MS therapy or optimal infection-control strategies.

Management of hepatitis B virus prophylaxis in patients treated with disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis: a multicentric Italian retrospective study.

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) often receive disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) that can expose them to reactivation of potential occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (pOBI). We aimed to evaluate the MS Centers behavior regarding HBV screening and prophylaxis in a large cohort of MS patients receiving anti-CD20 or cladribine.

Methods: Retrospective, multicentric study recruiting Italian MS patients treated with rituximab, ocrelizumab and cladribine.

Pneumonia in Non-HIV Patients Recovering from COVID-19: A Single-Center Experience.

Objective: to describe a single-center experience of pneumonia (PJP) in non-HIV patients recovering from COVID-19.

Methods: We report the cases of five non-HIV patients with COVID-19 who also developed PJP at a University Hospital.

Results: With the exception of one subject, who experienced an atypical and prolonged course of COVID-19, all the patients developed PJP after the clinical resolution of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Case Report: Discovery a Novel SARS-CoV-2 Variant in a Six-Months Long-Term Swab Positive Female Suffering From Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Background: We report the case of a woman with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who remained positive on the molecular assay for SARS-CoV-2 for six months: she has never experienced a severe form of COVID-19 although in absence of seroconversion.

Methods: The whole SARS-CoV-2 genome analysis was performed by the CleanPlex SARS-CoV-2 Research and Surveillance NGS Panel (PARAGON GENOMICS, Hayward, USA).

Results: We found twenty-two mutations in SARS-CoV-2 genome and a novel deleterious ORF3a frameshift c.

Update on infective complications in patients treated with alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis: review and meta-analysis of real-world and randomized studies.

Objective: We aimed to systematically assess the pooled prevalence of infective complications in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world studies (RWSs) investigating alemtuzumab treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS), also looking at selected infections and their severity.

Methods: We included in the analysis RCTs and RWSs investigating the use of alemtuzumab in MS in which infective complications were reported, as well as case reports of rare infections. We conducted a meta-analysis of proportions and a random effect model meta-regression to investigate heterogeneity.