The challenges of caring for HDV-positive patients: a narrative medicine perspective.

Hepatitis D is considered the most severe form of viral hepatitis in humans, and chronic HDV hepatitis patients typically show a more rapid progression to cirrhosis and a higher mortality. While awareness of the disease has increased, it still remains underdiagnosed and of challenging treatment. Besides the physical toll that an HDV infection takes, the psychological impact needs to be considered when treating the infected patients.

Symptomatic (STB) and Asymptomatic (ATB) tuberculosis in Italy: Results from a multicenter retrospective study.

Objective: Asymptomatic tuberculosis (ATB) represents a significant proportion of tuberculosis (TB) cases. This study aimed to compare ATB and symptomatic TB (STB) cases in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics, adverse events, hospital length of stay, and treatment outcomes.

Methods: This multicenter retrospective study included 510 microbiologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients across ten Italian hospitals between 2018 and 2023.

Team-based, hybrid, or standard of care? Organizational models of tuberculosis care on tuberculosis outcomes in eleven Italian hospital.

Objectives: Tuberculosis (TB) continues to pose challenges in high-income countries, among migrant and socioeconomically vulnerable populations. Treatment discontinuity and loss to follow-up (LTFU) remain critical barriers to TB control. This study evaluated the impact of three organizational models of TB care on clinical and programmatic outcomes in Italy.

Comparison of diagnostic performances of HDV-RNA quantification assays used in clinical practice: Results from a national quality control multicenter study.

Introduction: A reliable quantification of hepatitis D virus (HDV) RNA is of paramount importance for monitoring patients under antiviral therapy. This quality control study compares the diagnostic performances of quantitative HDV-RNA assays used in clinical practice.

Methods: Two HDV-RNA sample panels were quantified in 30 centers by RoboGene (N = 9 laboratories), EurobioPlex (N = 7), RealStar (N = 4), AltoStar (N = 1), Bosphore (N = 3), Bosphore-on-InGenius (N = 1), Dia.

The Medical Impact of Hepatitis D Virus Infection in Natives and Immigrants: The Italian Paradigm.

Background And Aim: Ongoing migratory flows are reconstituting the hepatitis D virus (HDV) reservoir in Italy. We aimed to characterise the current clinical and virologic features of HDV infection in both native Italians and migrants.

Methods: We enrolled 515 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients with detectable anti-HDV antibodies from 32 Italian centres between August 2022 and July 2024; all patients underwent centralised virologic assessment.

The Clinical Impact of the Omicron Variant on Octogenarian Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: The Results from CoviCamp Cohort.

This study aims to investigate the clinical impact of Omicron Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on the clinical presentation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the very old (≥80 years old) population. All patients aged 80 years or older, hospitalized from March 2020 to June 2023 with a SARS-CoV-2 infection in one of the 17 COVID-19 units in eight cities of Campania, southern Italy, were enrolled in a multicenter, observational, retrospective study. 341 patients ≥ 80 years of age were included: 80 of them in the Omicron and 261 in the non-Omicron period.

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.

Prevalence, Evolution and Prognostic Factors of PASC in a Cohort of Patients Discharged from a COVID Unit.

: PASC is a potentially debilitating clinical condition consisting of different general symptoms experienced by about 10% of patients with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our study analyses a cohort of patients with a history of hospitalization for COVID-19 and aims to evaluate prognostic factors for experiencing PASC and to investigate the characteristics of patients experiencing PASC symptoms. : This is an observational, monocentric retrospective study including all adult patients admitted to our COVID unit from 28 February 2020 to 30 April 2022, discharged alive, and having performed at least one follow-up visit at our post-COVID outpatient clinic after a minimum of three months from discharge.

Prevalence and outcomes of Urinary tract infections caused by Enterobacterales resistant to third-generation cephalosporins in the Emergency Department: results from UTILY cohort, a prospective multicentre study.

Introduction: In accordance with the spread of drug-resistant bacteria worldwide, an increase in the prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) among pathogens causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) has been described globally. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence and outcome of UTIs caused by third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GC-R) Enterobacterales in a prospective cohort of patients admitted to Emergency Department (ED).

Materials And Methods: We conducted an observational prospective multicentre study, involving 7 healthcare facilities, enrolling all consecutive adult patients admitted to ED with a microbiologically confirmed diagnosis of UTIs caused by Enterobacterales.

Hematochemical hallmarks as markers of pulmonary TB severity: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Identifying accessible and reliable biomarkers for tuberculosis (TB) severity is crucial for improving patient management. This study evaluates hematological findings as potential indicators of TB severity in a large multicenter Italian cohort.

Methods: This retrospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study analyzed hematological parameters (hemoglobin, white blood cells, inflammatory indices, hepatorenal function, albuminuria) in 577 TB patients from 10 Italian centers (2018-2023).

Efficacy and Safety of Sotrovimab Versus Oral Antiviral for Early Treatment in High-Risk Patients in Omicron Era: A Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Introduction: High-risk patients with COVID-19 benefit from early treatment to prevent severe outcomes. Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody, and oral antivirals such as nirmatrelvir/ritonavir and molnupiravir have been used for early intervention, but their comparative efficacy and safety, particularly during the Omicron-dominant phase, require further evaluation.

Methods: A multicenter, retrospective study performed in southern Italy including all adult patients who received early antiviral treatment (sotrovimab or nirmatrelvir/r or molnupiravir) between January 2022 and February 2024 (omicron phase).

(Batrachoididae: Thalassophryninae) as a Bioindicator of Mercury-Induced Genotoxicity.

Environmental monitoring requires reliable bioindicators to assess the genotoxic effects of pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, the marine fish was evaluated as a bioindicator of genotoxicity through the application of the micronucleus test. Fish were exposed to varying concentrations of mercuric chloride (HgCl) (0.

Current and future therapeutic options for chronic hepatitis D virus infection.

In the last few years there have been innovations in HDV therapy which have brought new excitement in the scientific community also considering the few therapeutic opportunities. Recently, new molecular targets have been identified, both in monotherapy and in combination with peginterferon alpha (PegIFNα). Evaluating this review of the literature of the last ten years, HDV-related chronic hepatitis seems to have become a potentially curable disease, a statement that was unthinkable a few years ago.

Real-world effectiveness and safety of bulevirtide monotherapy for up to 96 weeks in patients with HDV-related cirrhosis.

Background & Aims: Bulevirtide (BLV) 2 mg/day is EMA approved for the treatment of compensated chronic HDV infection; however, real-world data in large cohorts of patients with cirrhosis are lacking.

Methods: Consecutive HDV-infected patients with cirrhosis starting BLV 2 mg/day from September 2019 were included in a European retrospective multicenter real-world study (SAVE-D). Patient characteristics before and during BLV treatment were collected.

Prevalence and impact of multidrug resistance in a cohort of patients admitted to emergency department for urinary tract-infections: The UTILY study, a prospective multicentre study.

Background And Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence and to identify the independent predictors of multi-drug resistance among a cohort of patients admitted to emergency department for urinary tract infections (UTI), and to assess the impact of antimicrobial resistance on the clinical outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a prospective multicentre study enrolling all adult patients admitted to one of the eight emergency departments participating in the study with a microbiologically confirmed diagnosis of UTI from February 2023 to July 2024. The primary outcome evaluated was 30-day mortality; secondary outcomes included 7-day mortality and clinical response.

Respiratory Viruses in Patients With Hematological Malignancy in Boreal Autumn/Winter 2023-2024: EPICOVIDEHA-EPIFLUEHA Report.

Community-acquired respiratory viral infections (CARV) significantly impact patients with hematological malignancies (HM), leading to high morbidity and mortality. However, large-scale, real-world data on CARV in these patients is limited. This study analyzed data from the EPICOVIDEHA-EPIFLUEHA registry, focusing on patients with HM diagnosed with CARV during the 2023-2024 autumn-winter season.

Bacteremic nosocomial pneumonia caused by Gram-negative bacilli: results from the nationwide ALARICO study in Italy.

Purpose: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with nosocomial pneumonia (NP) caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) and to compare them to patients with NP caused by carbapenem-susceptible (CS)-GNB.

Methods: Prospective observational multicenter study including patients with bacteremic NP caused by GNB from the ALARICO Network (June 2018-January 2020). The primary outcome measure was 30-day mortality.

Piperacillin/tazobactam vs. cefepime or carbapenems for the treatment of bloodstream infections due to bacteria producing chromosomal AmpC beta-lactamase: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The best treatment for bloodstream infections (BSI) due to chromosomal AmpC (c-AmpC) producing Enterobacterales is not clearly defined.

Objectives: To describe the clinical and microbiological outcomes of patients treated with piperacillin/tazobactam, cefepime or carbapenems for bloodstream infections (BSIs) due to c-AmpC beta-lactamase-producing strains.

Data Sources: We searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE to screen original reports published up to January 2024.

Disparities in tuberculosis diagnostic delays between native and migrant populations in Italy: A multicenter study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a Global Health challenge, with diagnostic delays contributing significantly to its spread. This study investigates the differences in diagnostic delays between native and migrant TB patients in Italy, examining patient-related diagnostic delay (PDD), health system-related diagnostic delay (HDD), and total diagnostic delay (TDD).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, cross-sectional study of TB cases in 10 Italian hospitals from 2018 to 2023.

The SpO/FiO Ratio Combined with Prognostic Scores for Pneumonia and COVID-19 Increases Their Accuracy in Predicting Mortality of COVID-19 Patients.

Identifying high-risk COVID-19 patients is critical for emergency department decision-making. Our study's primary objective was to identify new independent predictors of mortality and their predictive utility in combination with traditional pneumonia risk assessment scores and new risk scores for COVID-19 developed during the pandemic. : A retrospective study was performed in two Italian University Hospitals.

Impact of a persuasive antimicrobial stewardship programme on the appropriateness of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis in a tertiary care hospital in southern Italy.

Background And Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate the rate of compliance to institutional guidelines on surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) among the surgical wards of our facility and to evaluate the impact of our antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) on the adherence rate.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study including all 14 surgical wards of our hospital. Eight of these wards participate in a non-restrictive ASP.

Effectiveness of test-and-treat model with direct-acting antiviral for hepatitis C virus infection in migrants: a prospective interventional study in Italy.

Background: Migrants, mainly undocumented and low-income refugees, are at high risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but are a difficult-to-reach and to-treat population. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a test and treat model with direct-acting antiviral for HCV infection in these migrants coming from low-income and living in southern Italy.

Methods: A prospective, multicenter, collaborative study based on a four-phase-program (educational counseling, screening, linkage-to-care and treatment) was designed in southern Italy; the study started in June 2018, was stopped in February 2020 because of the outbreak of SARS-CoV2 infection in Italy and was resumed in February 2021 until November 2021.