Antifungal Agents in the 21st Century: Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) represent a growing global health threat, particularly for immunocompromised populations, with mortality exceeding 1.5 million deaths annually. Despite their clinical and economic burden-costing billions in healthcare expenditures-fungal infections remain underprioritized in public health agendas.

Optimizing HCV Management Among Rohingya Refugees in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh: Addressing Cofactors and Environmental Risks to Mitigate Long-Term Liver Disease Complications.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is increasingly reported among Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar, with active infection rates in adults reaching 20% by 2023. The risk of liver disease progression and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may be amplified by coexisting factors such as chronic malnutrition, coinfections, aflatoxin exposure, metabolic disorders, and environmental toxins. Despite WHO-led efforts, data on these risk factors remain fragmented, and access to care is limited.

RETRACTED: Branda et al. Zoonotic Paramyxoviruses: Evolution, Ecology, and Public Health Strategies in a Changing World. 2024, , 1688.

The journal retracts the article "Zoonotic Paramyxoviruses: Evolution, Ecology, and Public Health Strategies in a Changing World" [...

Seroprevalence of Zika virus and dengue virus infections in migrants in Italy.

Introduction: Estimating the burden of Zika virus (ZIKV) and dengue virus (DENV) infections in migrants is important to promote their health status and recommend appropriate interventions. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of ZIKV and DENV in migrants from high endemic countries attended at a referral center in Rome (Italy), arriving via the Mediterranean from North and sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia.

Methods: Sixty-four serum samples from migrants were tested for anti-ZIKV and anti-DENV immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM by ELISA.

Impact of multidrug resistance in cancer patients with bloodstream infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli: results from a multicentre study.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of multidrug resistance (MDR) on the mortality of cancer patients with bloodstream infection (BSI) by Gram-negative bacilli (GNB).

Patients And Methods: This was a prospective observational multicentre study including cancer patients with BSI caused by GNB (June 2018-January 2020). The primary outcome was 30-day mortality.

Human T-Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV): Epidemiology, Genetic, Pathogenesis, and Future Challenges.

Human T-lymphotropic viruses (HTLVs) are deltaretroviruses infecting millions of individuals worldwide, with HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 being the most widespread and clinically relevant types. HTLV-1 is associated with severe diseases such as adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), while HTLV-2 shows a lower pathogenic potential, with occasional links to neurological disorders. HTLV-3 and HTLV-4, identified in Central Africa, remain poorly characterized but are genetically close to their simian counterparts, indicating recent zoonotic transmission events.

Human microbiota in dengue infection: A narrative review.

Dengue fever, a widespread mosquito-borne viral infection in tropical regions, typically manifests fever and gastrointestinal symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. However, the human gut microbiota's role in dengue pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. Studies have demonstrated dysbiosis during dengue virus infection, characterized by increased abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria like Bacteroidaceae and Proteobacteria, particularly during the critical phase.

Risk factors for the development of hospital-acquired pneumonia in patients with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii respiratory colonization and the role of multisite colonization: a multicenter retrospective study.

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infections are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. Furthermore, the role of CRAB respiratory colonization, including multisite colonization, has not yet been adequately highlighted in critically ill patients.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective multicenter study, conducted in 4 different Italian hospitals, patients with CRAB respiratory colonization +/- other site who developed or did not develop clinically significant pneumonia from December 2015 to December 2023 were enrolled.

Management of methicillin-resistant bloodstream infections: a comprehensive narrative review of available evidence focusing on current controversies and the challenges ahead.

Introduction: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) caused by are common worldwide, representing one of the most relevant issues in clinical infectious diseases practice. In particular, BSIs by methicillin-resistant (MRSA-BSI) are still today a challenge since mortality burden remains elevated although decades of research.

Areas Covered: The following topics regarding MRSA-BSI were reviewed and discussed by resorting to best available evidence retrieved from PubMed/MEDLINE up to October 2024: i) epidemiology; ii) microbiology; iii) classification, with a focus on complicated and not complicated forms; iv) the structured approach to the patient; v) pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the main antimicrobial options; vi) controversies regarding the best therapeutic approach.

Equine Influenza: Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Strategies for Prevention and Control.

Equine influenza (EI) is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by the equine influenza virus (EIV), posing a significant threat to equine populations worldwide. EIV exhibits considerable antigenic variability due to its segmented genome, complicating long-term disease control efforts. Although infections are rarely fatal, EIV's high transmissibility results in widespread outbreaks, leading to substantial morbidity and considerable economic impacts on veterinary care, quarantine, and equestrian activities.

The added value of diagnostics to characterize age-specific patterns of respiratory viral infections and coinfections and to detect emerging threats.

Background: Pandemic restrictions caused variation in respiratory virus circulation until the winter of 2022/23. The aim of this study was to monitor respiratory virus cases in the 2023/24 epidemic season.

Methods: Children and adults attending Sapienza University Hospital for acute respiratory infections (October 2023-June 2024) were tested for respiratory viruses via molecular methods.

SARS-CoV-2 XEC: A Genome-Based Survey.

Recombination, a process of genetic exchange between distinct organisms, has played a critical role in the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants such as the XEC recombinant. This study provides a detailed genomic and structural characterization of XEC, derived from the recombination of lineages KP.3.

Are contemporary antifungal doses sufficient for critically ill patients? Outcomes from an international, multicenter pharmacokinetics study for Screening Antifungal Exposure in Intensive Care Units-the SAFE-ICU study.

Purpose: Appropriate antifungal therapy is a major determinant of survival in critically ill patients with invasive fungal disease. We sought to describe whether contemporary dosing of antifungals achieves therapeutic exposures in critically ill patients.

Methods: In a prospective, open-label, multicenter pharmacokinetic study, intensive care unit (ICU) patients prescribed azoles, echinocandins, or polyene antifungals for treatment or prophylaxis of invasive fungal disease were enrolled.

Assessing the Burden of Neglected Tropical Diseases in Low-Income Communities: Challenges and Solutions.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a group of chronic and debilitating infections that affect more than one billion people, predominantly in low-income communities with limited health infrastructure. This paper analyzes the factors that perpetuate the burden of NTDs, highlighting how poor health infrastructure, unfavorable socioeconomic conditions and lack of therapeutic resources exacerbate their impact. The effectiveness of current interventions, such as mass drug administration (MDA) programs and improved sanitation, in reducing disease prevalence is examined.

Retrospective Analysis of R-COMP Therapy in Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): Assessing the Impact of Sample Selection Bias.

: Retrospective studies are often criticized for their susceptibility to case selection bias compared to prospective studies, which include all patients consecutively and are thus less prone to such limitations. However, the larger sample sizes typical of retrospective studies can sometimes offset this drawback. On behalf of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi (FIL), a substantial retrospective study involving 946 patients was conducted to examine the use of non-pegylated liposomal anthracycline (Myocet).

Nipah Virus: A Zoonotic Threat Re-Emerging in the Wake of Global Public Health Challenges.

The re-emergence of the Nipah virus (NiV) in Kerala, India, following the tragic death of a 14-year-old boy, underscores the persistent threat posed by zoonotic pathogens and highlights the growing global public health challenge. With no vaccine or curative treatment available, and fatality rates as high as 94% in past outbreaks, the Nipah virus is a critical concern for health authorities worldwide. Transmitted primarily through contact with fruit bats or consumption of contaminated food, as well as direct human-to-human transmission, NiV remains a highly lethal and unpredictable pathogen.

Helminthiasis and mpox vaccination: challenges in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The ongoing mpox outbreak in sub-Saharan Africa has highlighted the critical need for equitable vaccine access and robust logistical support. However, these factors alone are insufficient to ensure the success of vaccination campaigns in regions characterized by unique epidemiological and immunological challenges. One significant issue is the high prevalence of helminth infections, which are known to impair immune responses to vaccines, potentially reducing both short-term efficacy and long-term antibody titers.

Wolbachia-Based Approaches to Controlling Mosquito-Borne Viral Threats: Innovations, AI Integration, and Future Directions in the Context of Climate Change.

Wolbachia-based mosquito control strategies have gained significant attention as a sustainable approach to reduce the transmission of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya. These endosymbiotic bacteria can limit the ability of mosquitoes to transmit pathogens, offering a promising alternative to traditional chemical-based interventions. With the growing impact of climate change on mosquito population dynamics and disease transmission, Wolbachia interventions represent an adaptable and resilient strategy for mitigating the public health burden of vector-borne diseases.