Pub Date : 2026-01-06eCollection Date: 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf807
Loris Oehen, Mario Morgenstern, Daniel Goldenberger, Richard Kuehl, Brigitta Gahl, Martin Clauss, Parham Sendi
In 57 periprosthetic joint infections with presumed acute presentations, the 2-year successful outcomes of debridement and implant retention were 64% (when sonication results revealed <1000 cfu/mL) and 21% (≥1000 cfu/mL). The odds for failure were 5.2 (P < .01) when the sonication result reported ≥1000 cfu/mL.
{"title":"Do Sonication Results of Mobile Parts Predict Failure After Debridement and Implant Retention in Acute Periprosthetic Joint Infection?","authors":"Loris Oehen, Mario Morgenstern, Daniel Goldenberger, Richard Kuehl, Brigitta Gahl, Martin Clauss, Parham Sendi","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf807","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf807","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In 57 periprosthetic joint infections with presumed acute presentations, the 2-year successful outcomes of debridement and implant retention were 64% (when sonication results revealed <1000 cfu/mL) and 21% (≥1000 cfu/mL). The odds for failure were 5.2 (<i>P</i> < .01) when the sonication result reported ≥1000 cfu/mL.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 2","pages":"ofaf807"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12866919/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146118892","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofag002
Grace L Kulik, Vitor H F Oliveira, Melissa P Wilson, Vincent Khuu, Catherine M Jankowski, Evelyn Iriarte, Christine Horvat Davey, Paul Cook, Debashis Ghosh, Samantha MaWhinney, Allison R Webel, Kristine M Erlandson
Background: People with HIV (PWH) have accelerated declines in physical function. Although exercise is highly effective for improving function, whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) imparts greater physical function improvement than continuous moderate-intensity exercise (CME) among older PWH is unknown.
Methods: The HEALTH trial (NCT04550676) enrolled sedentary PWH ≥50 years old on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART). Participants were randomized to perform 16 weeks of HIIT or CME, both with resistance exercise. High-intensity interval training sessions included 5 high-intensity (90% of heart rate reserve [HRR] for 4 minutes) and 4 moderate-intensity (50% of HRR for 3 minutes) bouts; the CME arm walked continuously at 60% of HRR. The primary outcome was percent change in 400-meter walk time (400-MWT).
Results: Of the 118 randomized participants (n = 57 in HIIT, n = 54 in CME), 111 participants were included in the primary analysis; among these, the median age was 57 (interquartile range, 54-61) years, and 14% of participants were female. Participants in both HIIT (5.9% [95% CI], -7.7, -4.1) and CME (4.6% [95% CI, -6.4, -2.8]) had significant improvements in 400-MWT, with no significant difference between arms (P = .33). Among secondary outcomes of physical function and muscle strength, both arms demonstrated improvement (P < .05 for all), with no significant difference between arms at week 16.
Conclusions: Although HIIT demonstrated greater gains in physical function among PWH, the differences from CME were small and not statistically different. Given that both HIIT and CME improved physical function, PWH should be encouraged to select the aerobic exercise according to individual preference.
{"title":"Comparing the Effectiveness of High Intensity Interval Training vs Continuous Moderate Intensity Exercise on Physical Function Among Older Adults With HIV.","authors":"Grace L Kulik, Vitor H F Oliveira, Melissa P Wilson, Vincent Khuu, Catherine M Jankowski, Evelyn Iriarte, Christine Horvat Davey, Paul Cook, Debashis Ghosh, Samantha MaWhinney, Allison R Webel, Kristine M Erlandson","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofag002","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofag002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>People with HIV (PWH) have accelerated declines in physical function. Although exercise is highly effective for improving function, whether high-intensity interval training (HIIT) imparts greater physical function improvement than continuous moderate-intensity exercise (CME) among older PWH is unknown.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The HEALTH trial (NCT04550676) enrolled sedentary PWH ≥50 years old on stable antiretroviral therapy (ART). Participants were randomized to perform 16 weeks of HIIT or CME, both with resistance exercise. High-intensity interval training sessions included 5 high-intensity (90% of heart rate reserve [HRR] for 4 minutes) and 4 moderate-intensity (50% of HRR for 3 minutes) bouts; the CME arm walked continuously at 60% of HRR. The primary outcome was percent change in 400-meter walk time (400-MWT).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 118 randomized participants (n = 57 in HIIT, n = 54 in CME), 111 participants were included in the primary analysis; among these, the median age was 57 (interquartile range, 54-61) years, and 14% of participants were female. Participants in both HIIT (5.9% [95% CI], -7.7, -4.1) and CME (4.6% [95% CI, -6.4, -2.8]) had significant improvements in 400-MWT, with no significant difference between arms (<i>P</i> = .33). Among secondary outcomes of physical function and muscle strength, both arms demonstrated improvement (<i>P</i> < .05 for all), with no significant difference between arms at week 16.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Although HIIT demonstrated greater gains in physical function among PWH, the differences from CME were small and not statistically different. Given that both HIIT and CME improved physical function, PWH should be encouraged to select the aerobic exercise according to individual preference.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 1","pages":"ofag002"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12828426/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146046743","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf817
Andrea Calcagno, Caterina Candela, Agostino Riva, Stefano Calza, Benedetta Fioretti, Samuele Gardini, Jovana Milic, Benedetto Maurizio Celesia, Giancarlo Orofino, Andrea De Vito, Giuseppe Vittorio De Socio, Maria Vittoria Cossu, Federica Barrera, Maria Mazzitelli, Silvia Nozza, Giovanni Guaraldi, Emanuele Focà
Older people with HIV (PWH) may benefit from long-acting cabotegravir/rilpivirine (LA-CAB/RPV), a population underrepresented in trials and observational cohorts. In the GEPPO cohort, 135 PWH >65 years of age received bimonthly LA-CAB/RPV. After 17.4 months, virological suppression (HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL) was maintained in all, while 15 participants discontinued them (11.1%, 10% in the first 12 months): 1 participant with isolated HbCAb at baseline showed a late HBV reactivation (19.4 months after starting). These findings support LA-CAB/RPV's efficacy and tolerability in older PWH.
{"title":"Bimonthly Administered Long-Acting Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine Are Highly Effective and Well-Tolerated in People With Human Immunodeficiency Virus Above 65 Years.","authors":"Andrea Calcagno, Caterina Candela, Agostino Riva, Stefano Calza, Benedetta Fioretti, Samuele Gardini, Jovana Milic, Benedetto Maurizio Celesia, Giancarlo Orofino, Andrea De Vito, Giuseppe Vittorio De Socio, Maria Vittoria Cossu, Federica Barrera, Maria Mazzitelli, Silvia Nozza, Giovanni Guaraldi, Emanuele Focà","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf817","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf817","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Older people with HIV (PWH) may benefit from long-acting cabotegravir/rilpivirine (LA-CAB/RPV), a population underrepresented in trials and observational cohorts. In the GEPPO cohort, 135 PWH >65 years of age received bimonthly LA-CAB/RPV. After 17.4 months, virological suppression (HIV-RNA <50 copies/mL) was maintained in all, while 15 participants discontinued them (11.1%, 10% in the first 12 months): 1 participant with isolated HbCAb at baseline showed a late HBV reactivation (19.4 months after starting). These findings support LA-CAB/RPV's efficacy and tolerability in older PWH.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 1","pages":"ofaf817"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12810048/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145998697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-06eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf805
Dhineli Perera, Ben Clegg, Ash Thomas, Sara Vogrin, Satwik Motaganahalli, Richard Clements, Caroline McFarlane, Estelle Petch, Andrew Nunn, Jason A Trubiano, Gemma K Reynolds
An 8-year prospective cohort study of pelvic osteomyelitis in patients living with spinal cord injury shows that 4- to 6-week, post-debridement, quinolone-sparing oral antimicrobial regimens were effective within multidisciplinary care. Clinical cure (89% at 12 months) remained high with shorter durations. These real-world findings support stewardship and inform prescribing and future trials.
{"title":"Transitioning to Shorter, Oral Antimicrobial Therapy for Pelvic Osteomyelitis in Patients Living With Spinal Cord Injury.","authors":"Dhineli Perera, Ben Clegg, Ash Thomas, Sara Vogrin, Satwik Motaganahalli, Richard Clements, Caroline McFarlane, Estelle Petch, Andrew Nunn, Jason A Trubiano, Gemma K Reynolds","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf805","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf805","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An 8-year prospective cohort study of pelvic osteomyelitis in patients living with spinal cord injury shows that 4- to 6-week, post-debridement, quinolone-sparing oral antimicrobial regimens were effective within multidisciplinary care. Clinical cure (89% at 12 months) remained high with shorter durations. These real-world findings support stewardship and inform prescribing and future trials.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 1","pages":"ofaf805"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12798714/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145970980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf788
Wouter Peeters, Chang van Lier, Jakko van Ingen, Claire van Houdt, Reinout van Crevel, Colette van Hees, Hannelore Bax, Juul van den Reek, Arjan van Laarhoven
Background: Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) present a significant treatment challenge, requiring prolonged, multidrug antibiotic regimens often associated with substantial toxicity and suboptimal clinical outcomes. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with NTM-SSTI in the Netherlands, focusing on host immune status and drug toxicity.
Methods: We retrospectively collected data from adults with NTM-SSTI treated at 2 Dutch tertiary referral centers for mycobacterial disease between 2017 and 2024. Data included sociodemographics, medical history, antibiotic regimens, drug toxicity, and treatment outcomes.
Results: We included 73 patients, of whom 39 (49%) were immunocompromised. Disseminated disease was almost exclusively observed in immunocompromised patients (14/15). The most isolated species were Mycobacterium chelonae (23/73; 32%) and Mycobacterium marinum (17/73; 23%). Azithromycin, the most prescribed drug, was discontinued prematurely because of toxicity in 35% (18/52) of patients, ethambutol in 33% (9/27), and clofazimine in only 12% (3/26). These discontinuations occurred mostly within the first 4 months. Immunocompromised patients with disseminated infections had longer (median 10.1 vs 7.6 vs 6.4 months) treatment durations and lower remission rates (29% vs 59% vs 86%) compared to immunocompromised patients with localized disease and immunocompetent patients, respectively.
Conclusions: Immunocompromised status is associated with disseminated NTM-SSTI and worse treatment outcomes. Regardless of immune status, antimycobacterial drugs often cause toxicity, leading to treatment changes.
背景:非结核性分枝杆菌(NTM)皮肤和软组织感染(SSTI)是一项重大的治疗挑战,需要长期的多药抗生素治疗方案,通常伴有严重的毒性和不理想的临床结果。我们的目的是描述荷兰NTM-SSTI患者的临床特征和治疗,重点是宿主免疫状态和药物毒性。方法:我们回顾性收集了2017年至2024年间在荷兰2个分支杆菌疾病三级转诊中心治疗的NTM-SSTI成人患者的数据。数据包括社会人口统计学、病史、抗生素治疗方案、药物毒性和治疗结果。结果:我们纳入73例患者,其中39例(49%)免疫功能低下。播散性疾病几乎只发生在免疫功能低下的患者中(14/15)。分离种最多的是龟分枝杆菌(23/73;32%)和海洋分枝杆菌(17/73;23%)。阿奇霉素是处方最多的药物,35%(18/52)的患者因毒性过早停药,乙胺丁醇为33%(9/27),氯法齐明仅为12%(3/26)。这些停药主要发生在前4个月内。与局部疾病免疫功能低下患者和免疫功能正常患者相比,播散性感染免疫功能低下患者的治疗持续时间更长(中位10.1个月vs 7.6个月vs 6.4个月),缓解率更低(29% vs 59% vs 86%)。结论:免疫功能低下与播散性NTM-SSTI和较差的治疗结果相关。无论免疫状态如何,抗真菌药物往往会引起毒性,导致治疗改变。
{"title":"Clinical Characteristics and Management of Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Wouter Peeters, Chang van Lier, Jakko van Ingen, Claire van Houdt, Reinout van Crevel, Colette van Hees, Hannelore Bax, Juul van den Reek, Arjan van Laarhoven","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf788","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf788","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI) present a significant treatment challenge, requiring prolonged, multidrug antibiotic regimens often associated with substantial toxicity and suboptimal clinical outcomes. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of patients with NTM-SSTI in the Netherlands, focusing on host immune status and drug toxicity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We retrospectively collected data from adults with NTM-SSTI treated at 2 Dutch tertiary referral centers for mycobacterial disease between 2017 and 2024. Data included sociodemographics, medical history, antibiotic regimens, drug toxicity, and treatment outcomes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>We included 73 patients, of whom 39 (49%) were immunocompromised. Disseminated disease was almost exclusively observed in immunocompromised patients (14/15). The most isolated species were <i>Mycobacterium chelonae</i> (23/73; 32%) and <i>Mycobacterium marinum</i> (17/73; 23%). Azithromycin, the most prescribed drug, was discontinued prematurely because of toxicity in 35% (18/52) of patients, ethambutol in 33% (9/27), and clofazimine in only 12% (3/26). These discontinuations occurred mostly within the first 4 months. Immunocompromised patients with disseminated infections had longer (median 10.1 vs 7.6 vs 6.4 months) treatment durations and lower remission rates (29% vs 59% vs 86%) compared to immunocompromised patients with localized disease and immunocompetent patients, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Immunocompromised status is associated with disseminated NTM-SSTI and worse treatment outcomes. Regardless of immune status, antimycobacterial drugs often cause toxicity, leading to treatment changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 1","pages":"ofaf788"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12817974/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146018659","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-05eCollection Date: 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf810
Ceri Evans, Jonathan P Sturgeon, Sandra Rukobo, Margaret Govha, Bernard Chasekwa, Florence D Majo, Batsirai Mutasa, Naume Tavengwa, Robert Ntozini, Jean H Humphrey, Kuda Mutasa, Andrew J Prendergast
Background: Sixteen million children are HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) due to the prevention of vertical transmission. Despite avoiding HIV, children who are HEU face higher risks of infections and poorer growth and development than children HIV-unexposed (HU), though mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that systemic and vascular inflammations contribute to disparities.
Methods: The Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial recruited pregnant women at ∼12 gestational weeks between 2012 and 2015 in rural Zimbabwe (∼15% HIV prevalence, >80% antiretroviral therapy coverage). Plasma biomarkers were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and multiplex assays in a subgroup of children at 1 month of age and compared using generalized estimating equations adjusted for trial arm, maternal age, birthweight, prematurity, sex, and age. Principal component analysis was used to reduce dimensionality of biomarkers.
Results: Seventy-one children who are HEU and 62 who are HU were included. Twenty-two of 27 biomarkers were raised in HEU versus HU. Systemic inflammatory markers (IL-1β/interferon-γ/TNF-α/sCD14) and vascular activation markers (L-selectin/VCAM-1) were significantly higher. HIV-exposed but uninfected infants gained 6.1 g/day less than HU infants in the first month after birth. Although one principal component, primarily driven by vascular endothelial growth factor, was associated with increased growth rate, the difference between HEU and HU growth trajectories was not affected by differences in any principal components, suggesting that inflammation does not explain lower growth amongst HEU children.
Conclusions: Children who are HEU have significantly elevated systemic and vascular inflammatory biomarkers compared with those who are HU. Understanding causes and consequences of this inflammatory imbalance may identify new intervention targets for improving outcomes in this vulnerable group.
{"title":"Systemic Inflammation and Growth in Children Born to Mothers With and Without HIV in Rural Zimbabwe.","authors":"Ceri Evans, Jonathan P Sturgeon, Sandra Rukobo, Margaret Govha, Bernard Chasekwa, Florence D Majo, Batsirai Mutasa, Naume Tavengwa, Robert Ntozini, Jean H Humphrey, Kuda Mutasa, Andrew J Prendergast","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf810","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf810","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sixteen million children are HIV-exposed but uninfected (HEU) due to the prevention of vertical transmission. Despite avoiding HIV, children who are HEU face higher risks of infections and poorer growth and development than children HIV-unexposed (HU), though mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that systemic and vascular inflammations contribute to disparities.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The Sanitation Hygiene Infant Nutrition Efficacy (SHINE) trial recruited pregnant women at ∼12 gestational weeks between 2012 and 2015 in rural Zimbabwe (∼15% HIV prevalence, >80% antiretroviral therapy coverage). Plasma biomarkers were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and multiplex assays in a subgroup of children at 1 month of age and compared using generalized estimating equations adjusted for trial arm, maternal age, birthweight, prematurity, sex, and age. Principal component analysis was used to reduce dimensionality of biomarkers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy-one children who are HEU and 62 who are HU were included. Twenty-two of 27 biomarkers were raised in HEU versus HU. Systemic inflammatory markers (IL-1β/interferon-γ/TNF-α/sCD14) and vascular activation markers (L-selectin/VCAM-1) were significantly higher. HIV-exposed but uninfected infants gained 6.1 g/day less than HU infants in the first month after birth. Although one principal component, primarily driven by vascular endothelial growth factor, was associated with increased growth rate, the difference between HEU and HU growth trajectories was not affected by differences in any principal components, suggesting that inflammation does not explain lower growth amongst HEU children.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Children who are HEU have significantly elevated systemic and vascular inflammatory biomarkers compared with those who are HU. Understanding causes and consequences of this inflammatory imbalance may identify new intervention targets for improving outcomes in this vulnerable group.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 2","pages":"ofaf810"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12888383/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146166459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03eCollection Date: 2026-02-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf812
Semjon Sidorov, Beat M Greiter, Ester Osuna, Annette Hackenberg, Michelle Seiler, Roland Martin, Martina Marchesi, Stefanie von Felten, Adrian Egli, Christoph Berger, Patrick M Meyer Sauteur
Background: Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a common manifestation of Lyme disease in children. It is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and can affect both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system (CNS). This study aimed to describe clinical and immunological features of LNB in children.
Methods: We performed a large retrospective cohort study of children diagnosed with LNB at the University Children's Hospital Zurich from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2020.
Results: A total of 190 children diagnosed with LNB were included (median age, 7.6 years). Meningitis was the most frequent manifestation of LNB (n = 115, 60.5%), followed by isolated cranial neuropathy (iCN) (n = 55, 28.9%) and meningoradiculitis (n = 15, 7.9%). Five (2.7%) patients presented with rare, severe CNS manifestations, including acute myelitis and cerebral vasculitis. The most frequent specific clinical signs were facial palsy (n = 136, 71.6%) and a history of erythema migrans (n = 33, 17.4%). Borrelia burgdorferi-specific IgM and IgG antibody responses in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood were primarily directed against the following 3 antigens: VlsE, p41, and OspC, with broader responses in blood. Compared to patients with meningitis or meningoradiculitis, iCN patients had lower CSF inflammation, reduced positivity in B burgdorferi-specific tests (ELISA, immunoblot, and/or intrathecal antibody production), weaker antibody responses to VlsE, p41, and OspC, and shorter post-treatment symptom duration.
Conclusions: Lyme neuroborreliosis in children presents with a broad clinical spectrum, with meningitis and iCN being the most common manifestations. We observed distinct clinico-pathogenic subgroups of LNB: iCN reflects a more localized, PNS-restricted disease, whereas meningitis and meningoradiculitis represent a more systemic involvement of both PNS and CNS. These findings may improve diagnostic accuracy and guide the management of children with LNB.
{"title":"Distinct Clinico-pathogenic Subgroups in Pediatric Lyme Neuroborreliosis.","authors":"Semjon Sidorov, Beat M Greiter, Ester Osuna, Annette Hackenberg, Michelle Seiler, Roland Martin, Martina Marchesi, Stefanie von Felten, Adrian Egli, Christoph Berger, Patrick M Meyer Sauteur","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf812","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf812","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is a common manifestation of Lyme disease in children. It is caused by the bacterium <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i> and can affect both the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the central nervous system (CNS). This study aimed to describe clinical and immunological features of LNB in children.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We performed a large retrospective cohort study of children diagnosed with LNB at the University Children's Hospital Zurich from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2020.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 190 children diagnosed with LNB were included (median age, 7.6 years). Meningitis was the most frequent manifestation of LNB (<i>n</i> = 115, 60.5%), followed by isolated cranial neuropathy (iCN) (<i>n</i> = 55, 28.9%) and meningoradiculitis (<i>n</i> = 15, 7.9%). Five (2.7%) patients presented with rare, severe CNS manifestations, including acute myelitis and cerebral vasculitis. The most frequent specific clinical signs were facial palsy (<i>n</i> = 136, 71.6%) and a history of erythema migrans (<i>n</i> = 33, 17.4%). <i>Borrelia burgdorferi</i>-specific IgM and IgG antibody responses in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood were primarily directed against the following 3 antigens: VlsE, p41, and OspC, with broader responses in blood. Compared to patients with meningitis or meningoradiculitis, iCN patients had lower CSF inflammation, reduced positivity in <i>B burgdorferi</i>-specific tests (ELISA, immunoblot, and/or intrathecal antibody production), weaker antibody responses to VlsE, p41, and OspC, and shorter post-treatment symptom duration.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Lyme neuroborreliosis in children presents with a broad clinical spectrum, with meningitis and iCN being the most common manifestations. We observed distinct clinico-pathogenic subgroups of LNB: iCN reflects a more localized, PNS-restricted disease, whereas meningitis and meningoradiculitis represent a more systemic involvement of both PNS and CNS. These findings may improve diagnostic accuracy and guide the management of children with LNB.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 2","pages":"ofaf812"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12871429/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146125980","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-03eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf811
Craig Cronin, Todd T Brown, Hsing-Yu Hsu, David C Samuels, Weiqun Tong, Sudipa Sarkar, Alison G Abraham, Jeremy J Martinson, Shehnaz K Hussain, Steven Wolinsky, Todd Hulgan, Jing Sun
Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM), which is more common in people with HIV (PWH) than in people without HIV (PWoH). Variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and mitochondrial-toxic antiretroviral therapy (ART) may influence the susceptibility to DM but is underexplored in men with HIV.
Methods: Men from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) without DM and with fasting glucose data were included. Type 2 DM was defined by fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, DM medication use, a DM diagnosis, or hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%. Exposure to mitochondrial-toxic ART (D-drugs or zidovudine) was categorized as a binary variable based on ever or never exposed. Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups were determined using HaploGrep from genotyping data. Associations between incident DM, mtDNA haplogroups of European and African origin, and interactions between mtDNA haplogroups and mitochondrial-toxic ART were analyzed.
Results: Among 2598 men (667 self-reported as non-Hispanic Black and 1616 self-reported as non-Hispanic White), 1349 were men with HIV. In PWH, African haplogroup L3 was associated with a higher risk of incident DM (hazard ratio [HR], 1.92; 95% CI, 1.19-3.10) compared to other African-ancestry haplogroups, after adjusting for principal components of nuclear genetic ancestry, age, body mass index, hepatitis B and C status, smoking, and HIV-specific factors. D-drugs were independently associated with an increased risk of developing DM (HR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.5-5.3).
Conclusions: The African mtDNA haplogroup L3 increased the risk of incident DM in men with HIV. In PWH, D-drugs independently increased the risk of DM.
{"title":"Mitochondrial DNA Variation, Antiretroviral Therapy, and Incidence of Diabetes Among Men With and Without HIV.","authors":"Craig Cronin, Todd T Brown, Hsing-Yu Hsu, David C Samuels, Weiqun Tong, Sudipa Sarkar, Alison G Abraham, Jeremy J Martinson, Shehnaz K Hussain, Steven Wolinsky, Todd Hulgan, Jing Sun","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf811","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf811","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Mitochondrial dysfunction is implicated in the development of diabetes mellitus (DM), which is more common in people with HIV (PWH) than in people without HIV (PWoH). Variation in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and mitochondrial-toxic antiretroviral therapy (ART) may influence the susceptibility to DM but is underexplored in men with HIV.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Men from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) without DM and with fasting glucose data were included. Type 2 DM was defined by fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, DM medication use, a DM diagnosis, or hemoglobin A1c ≥ 6.5%. Exposure to mitochondrial-toxic ART (D-drugs or zidovudine) was categorized as a binary variable based on ever or never exposed. Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups were determined using HaploGrep from genotyping data. Associations between incident DM, mtDNA haplogroups of European and African origin, and interactions between mtDNA haplogroups and mitochondrial-toxic ART were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among 2598 men (667 self-reported as non-Hispanic Black and 1616 self-reported as non-Hispanic White), 1349 were men with HIV. In PWH, African haplogroup L3 was associated with a higher risk of incident DM (hazard ratio [HR], 1.92; 95% CI, 1.19-3.10) compared to other African-ancestry haplogroups, after adjusting for principal components of nuclear genetic ancestry, age, body mass index, hepatitis B and C status, smoking, and HIV-specific factors. D-drugs were independently associated with an increased risk of developing DM (HR, 2.8; 95% CI, 1.5-5.3).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The African mtDNA haplogroup L3 increased the risk of incident DM in men with HIV. In PWH, D-drugs independently increased the risk of DM.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 1","pages":"ofaf811"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12817993/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146018744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf806
Kara Hlynsdottir, Sigurdur Olafsson, Ubaldo Benitez Hernandez, Mar Kristjansson, Magnus Gottfredsson
Background: The nationwide Treatment as Prevention program for Hepatitis C (TraP HepC) was initiated in Iceland in 2016, where direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) replaced interferon-based treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV). The study aimed to assess the impact of TraP HepC on the epidemiology of HIV/HCV coinfection, the cascade of care, and HCV reinfection rates among coinfected individuals.
Methods: A nationwide retrospective study was conducted on all people with HIV in Iceland who tested HCV antibody positive during 2000-2020. Medical records, laboratory results, and treatment outcomes were reviewed and analyzed by treatment era: interferon (2000-2015) and DAA (2016-2020).
Results: Out of 648 people with HIV, 78 were HCV antibody positive during 2000-2020, of whom 61 had confirmed HCV viremia. The total number of HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals increased steadily, peaking at 41 in 2016, but decreased by >85% to 6 by 2020 following the nationwide TraP HepC program. In total, 84 active HCV infections including reinfections were diagnosed, which prompted 81 treatment initiations and yielded 66 cures. During the interferon era, 45% (13/29) achieved cure, compared with 88% (53/60; P < .001) in the DAA era. The HCV reinfection rate in this group was 9.35/100 person-years, all presumed to be acquired by injection drug use.
Conclusions: Before the nationwide elimination campaign, the incidence of HIV/HCV coinfections was steadily increasing, but it has subsequently decreased by >85%, primarily due to the widespread use of DAAs. However, high reinfection rates in this population suggest that ongoing prevention, early diagnosis, and easy access to DAAs are necessary to maintain success.
{"title":"Marked Reduction in HIV/HCV Coinfections in Iceland Following the TraP HepC Nationwide Hepatitis C Elimination Program.","authors":"Kara Hlynsdottir, Sigurdur Olafsson, Ubaldo Benitez Hernandez, Mar Kristjansson, Magnus Gottfredsson","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf806","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf806","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The nationwide Treatment as Prevention program for Hepatitis C (TraP HepC) was initiated in Iceland in 2016, where direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) replaced interferon-based treatments for hepatitis C virus (HCV). The study aimed to assess the impact of TraP HepC on the epidemiology of HIV/HCV coinfection, the cascade of care, and HCV reinfection rates among coinfected individuals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A nationwide retrospective study was conducted on all people with HIV in Iceland who tested HCV antibody positive during 2000-2020. Medical records, laboratory results, and treatment outcomes were reviewed and analyzed by treatment era: interferon (2000-2015) and DAA (2016-2020).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 648 people with HIV, 78 were HCV antibody positive during 2000-2020, of whom 61 had confirmed HCV viremia. The total number of HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals increased steadily, peaking at 41 in 2016, but decreased by >85% to 6 by 2020 following the nationwide TraP HepC program. In total, 84 active HCV infections including reinfections were diagnosed, which prompted 81 treatment initiations and yielded 66 cures. During the interferon era, 45% (13/29) achieved cure, compared with 88% (53/60; <i>P</i> < .001) in the DAA era. The HCV reinfection rate in this group was 9.35/100 person-years, all presumed to be acquired by injection drug use.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Before the nationwide elimination campaign, the incidence of HIV/HCV coinfections was steadily increasing, but it has subsequently decreased by >85%, primarily due to the widespread use of DAAs. However, high reinfection rates in this population suggest that ongoing prevention, early diagnosis, and easy access to DAAs are necessary to maintain success.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 1","pages":"ofaf806"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12824461/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146046767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-12-31eCollection Date: 2026-01-01DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofaf800
Clara Isabel Martínez-López, Pedro Chorão, Ariadna Pérez, Brais Lamas, Dolores Gómez, Carlos Solano de la Asunción, Jaime Sanz, Juan Carlos Hernández-Boluda, David Navarro, Juan Montoro, Carlos Solano, José Luis Piñana
Background: Influenza virus infection remains a major cause of morbidity in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HCT) recipients. Vaccination is a key preventive strategy; yet, clinical evidence of its benefit in this population is limited.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter observational study including adult allo-HCT recipients (≥16 years) who developed laboratory-confirmed influenza infection between 2013 and 2023, with the aim of assessing the impact of vaccination on influenza disease severity. Vaccinated status was defined as having received the seasonal influenza vaccine during the same season and before the onset of influenza infection.
Results: A total of 143 recipients with 214 influenza episodes were analyzed. The median age was 45 years (range 18-70), and 58% had acute leukemia or myeloid malignancies. Most (64.3%) received transplants from unrelated or haploidentical family donors. Overall, 48 episodes (22%) occurred after influenza vaccination. At infection onset, 52% of vaccinated recipients were profoundly immunosuppressed (within <6 months post-transplant, experiencing active graft-versus-host disease, or receiving immunosuppressors or corticosteroids). Progression to lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) occurred in 29% of episodes. Multivariable analysis showed influenza vaccination was significantly associated with reduced LRTD risk (HR 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.50; P = .001), while a high-risk immunodeficiency scoring index (ISI) (HR 4.71; 95% CI: 1.99-11.17; P = .0004) and fever at screening (HR 2.16; 95% CI: 1.51-3.08; P < .001) independently predicted higher LRTD risk. Vaccination was also associated with decreased hospitalization risk (OR 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05-0.57; P = .005); whereas, high-risk ISI was linked to higher admission risk (OR 22.86; 95% CI: 4.82-170, P = .0003).
Conclusions: This study provides real-world evidence that seasonal influenza vaccination may reduce disease severity in allo-HCT recipients and confirms the prognostic value of the ISI for disease risk assessment.
背景:流感病毒感染仍然是异基因造血干细胞移植(alloo - hct)受者发病的主要原因。疫苗接种是一项关键的预防战略;然而,临床证据表明它对这一人群的益处有限。方法:我们开展了一项回顾性、多中心观察性研究,纳入2013年至2023年间实验室确诊流感感染的成人同种异体hct接种者(≥16岁),目的是评估疫苗接种对流感疾病严重程度的影响。接种疫苗状况的定义是在同一季节和流感感染发病之前接种了季节性流感疫苗。结果:共分析了214例流感发作的143例受者。中位年龄为45岁(范围18-70岁),58%患有急性白血病或髓系恶性肿瘤。大多数(64.3%)接受的移植来自无亲缘关系或单倍体相同的家庭供体。总的来说,48例(22%)发生在流感疫苗接种后。在感染开始时,52%的接种者免疫深度抑制(P = 0.001),而高风险免疫缺陷评分指数(ISI) (HR 4.71; 95% CI: 1.99-11.17; P = 0.0004)和筛查时的发热(HR 2.16; 95% CI: 1.51-3.08; P < 0.001)独立预测了更高的LRTD风险。接种疫苗也与住院风险降低相关(OR 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05-0.57; P = 0.005);然而,高风险ISI与较高的入院风险相关(OR 22.86; 95% CI: 4.82-170, P = 0.0003)。结论:本研究提供了真实的证据,证明季节性流感疫苗接种可能降低同种异体hct接受者的疾病严重程度,并证实了ISI在疾病风险评估中的预后价值。
{"title":"Vaccination as a Key Determinant of Influenza Disease Severity in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients: An Observational Retrospective Study.","authors":"Clara Isabel Martínez-López, Pedro Chorão, Ariadna Pérez, Brais Lamas, Dolores Gómez, Carlos Solano de la Asunción, Jaime Sanz, Juan Carlos Hernández-Boluda, David Navarro, Juan Montoro, Carlos Solano, José Luis Piñana","doi":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf800","DOIUrl":"10.1093/ofid/ofaf800","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Influenza virus infection remains a major cause of morbidity in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HCT) recipients. Vaccination is a key preventive strategy; yet, clinical evidence of its benefit in this population is limited.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective, multicenter observational study including adult allo-HCT recipients (≥16 years) who developed laboratory-confirmed influenza infection between 2013 and 2023, with the aim of assessing the impact of vaccination on influenza disease severity. Vaccinated status was defined as having received the seasonal influenza vaccine during the same season and before the onset of influenza infection.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 143 recipients with 214 influenza episodes were analyzed. The median age was 45 years (range 18-70), and 58% had acute leukemia or myeloid malignancies. Most (64.3%) received transplants from unrelated or haploidentical family donors. Overall, 48 episodes (22%) occurred after influenza vaccination. At infection onset, 52% of vaccinated recipients were profoundly immunosuppressed (within <6 months post-transplant, experiencing active graft-versus-host disease, or receiving immunosuppressors or corticosteroids). Progression to lower respiratory tract disease (LRTD) occurred in 29% of episodes. Multivariable analysis showed influenza vaccination was significantly associated with reduced LRTD risk (HR 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.50; <i>P</i> = .001), while a high-risk immunodeficiency scoring index (ISI) (HR 4.71; 95% CI: 1.99-11.17; <i>P</i> = .0004) and fever at screening (HR 2.16; 95% CI: 1.51-3.08; <i>P</i> < .001) independently predicted higher LRTD risk. Vaccination was also associated with decreased hospitalization risk (OR 0.20; 95% CI: 0.05-0.57; <i>P</i> = .005); whereas, high-risk ISI was linked to higher admission risk (OR 22.86; 95% CI: 4.82-170, <i>P</i> = .0003).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>This study provides real-world evidence that seasonal influenza vaccination may reduce disease severity in allo-HCT recipients and confirms the prognostic value of the ISI for disease risk assessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":19517,"journal":{"name":"Open Forum Infectious Diseases","volume":"13 1","pages":"ofaf800"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12784251/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145952665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}