BMC Infectious Diseases最新文献

Background: Cervical cancer is the 2nd most common female cancer among Sri Lankan females and is almost associated with sexually transmitted cervicovaginal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The study objectives were to determine the prevalence of vaginal and cervical HPV infection among 35year old ever-married women and assess the validity of primary healthcare provider-collected vaginal HPV/DNA specimens as a cervical cancer screening tool to improve the coverage of the programme.

Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out from the 1st of September 2018 to the 31st of January 2019. Ever-married women 35 years of age in Kalutara district were the study population. Two women from each Public Health Midwife area (n = 413) were selected randomly from the relevant area eligible families register/s. HPV/DNA cervical specimen and vaginal specimen collection (n = 621) were carried out. Specimens were screened by the Cobas 4800 HPV/DNA automated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine. Participants' profiles were recorded by the research assistants using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Results: The overall prevalence of vaginal and cervical HPV infection was 7.08% (95% CI; 5.2-9.4%) and 6.12% (95% CI; 4.26-8.3%) respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), diagnostic accuracy, and the kappa coefficient of the vaginal HPV/DNA screening method vs. cervical HPV/DNA screening method were 100%, 98.9%, 86.4%, 100%, 99% and 0.92 respectively.

Conclusions: Vaginal HPV/DNA specimen screening method can be used as a cervical cancer screening tool due to its high validity. Pilots of the feasibility should be set up before the regional or national rollout of vaginal sampling strategies.

Background: Recovery from SARS CoV-2 infection is expected within 3 months. Long COVID occurs after SARS-CoV-2 when symptoms are present for more than 3 months that are continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive. Better understanding of Long COVID illness trajectories could strengthen patient care and support.

Methods: We characterized functional impairments, quality of life (QoL), and cognition among patients who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection within 3 months (without Long COVID), after 3 months (Recovered Long COVID), or remained symptomatic (Long COVID). Among 7305 patients identified with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 2020 and December 2021, confirmed in the medical record with laboratory test or physician diagnosis, 435 (6%) completed a single self-administered survey between March 2022 and September 2022. Multi-domain QoL and cognitive concerns were evaluated using PROMIS-29 and the Cognitive Change Index-12.

Results: Nearly half the participants (47.7%) were surveyed more than 2 years from initial infection (median = 23.3 months; IQR = 18.6, 26.7) and 86.7% were surveyed more than 1 year from infection. A significantly greater proportion of the Long COVID (n = 215) group, (Current and Recovered combined), had moderate-to-severe impairment in all health domains assessed compared to those Without Long COVID (n = 220; all p < 0.05). The Recovered Long COVID group (n = 34) had significantly lower prevalence of fatigue, pain, depression, and physical and social function impairment compared to those with Current Long COVID (n = 181; all p < 0.05). However, compared to patients Without Long COVID, the Recovered Long COVID group had greater prevalences of fatigue, pain (p ≤ 0.06) and subjective cognitive decline (61.8% vs 29.1%; p < 0.01). Multivariate relative risk (RR) regression indicated Long COVID risk was greater for older age groups (RR range 1.46-1.52; all p ≤ 0.05), those without a bachelor's degree (RR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.03-1.71; p = 0.03), and those with 3 or more comorbidities prior to SARS-CoV-2 infection (RR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.11-1.90; p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Long COVID is associated with long-term subjective cognitive decline and diminished quality of life. Clinically significant cognitive complaints, fatigue, and pain were present even in those who reported they had recovered from Long COVID. These findings have implications for the sustainability of participation in work, education, and social activities.

Background: As many studies have shown conflicting results regarding the extent of viraemia and clinical disease severity, we sought to investigate if viraemia during early dengue illness is associated with subsequent clinical disease severity.

Methods: Realtime PCR was carried out to identify the dengue virus (DENV serotype), in 362 patients, presenting within the first 4 days of illness, from 2017 to 2022, in Colombo Sri Lanka. To characterize subsequent clinical disease severity, all patients were followed throughout their illness daily and disease severity classified according to WHO 1997 and 2009 disease classification.

Results: 263 patients had DF, 99 progressed to develop DHF, and 15/99 with DHF developed shock (DSS). Although the viral loads were higher in the febrile phase in patients who progressed to develop DHF than in patients with DF this was not significant (p = 0.5). Significant differences were observed in viral loads in patients infected with different DENV serotypes (p = 0.0009), with lowest viral loads detected in DENV2 and the highest viral loads in DENV3. Sub-analysis for association of viraemia with disease severity for each DENV serotype was again not significant. Although those infected with DENV2 had lower viral loads, infection with DENV2 was significantly associated with a higher risk of developing DHF (p = 0.011, Odds ratio 1.9; 95% CI 1.164 to 3.078). Based on the WHO 2009 disease classification, 233 had dengue with warning signs (DWW), 114 dengue without warning signs (DWoWS), and 15 had severe dengue (SD). No significant difference was observed in the viral loads between those with SD, DWW and DWoWS (p = 0.27).

Conclusions: Viral loads were significantly different in the febrile phase between different DENV serotypes, and do not appear to significantly associate with subsequent clinical disease severity in a large Sri Lankan cohort.

Objective: Candidemia leads to higher mortality and longer hospital-stay. While the studies about the clinical manifestations of candidemia caused by different Candida species and the relationship between the antifungal drugs and prognosis were rarely performed.

Methods: This retrospective study enrolled all 94 patients diagnosed as candidemia from January 2020 to July 2023 in BTCH. Demographic information, comorbidities, laboratory parameters, medications and prognosis were collected and analyzed.

Results: C. albicans was the most common specie of candidemia. There was no significant difference in age, gender and hospital-mortality in different species groups. Higher-level and longer duration of broad-spectrum antibiotic use, lower BMI, hypoalbuminemia, longer duration of PN and history of G⁺ coccemia were conclusive about mortality. The C.tropicalis group had higher SCRE levels (F = 8.40, P = 0.03) and shorter TTP (F = 5.03, P < 0.01) than other species. No distinction was found in different antifungal drugs groups including triazoles and echinocandins after 7 days treatment (χ² = 0.05, P = 0.81). The efficacy was no difference between triazoles and echinocandins in the different species groups. (χ₁² = 1.20, P₁ = 0.75; χ₂² = 0.05, P₂ = 0.81).

Conclusion: C. albicans accounts the most among candida induecd candidemia.The C.tropicalis group had higher SCRE levels and shorter TTP than other groups. Elder, hypoproteinemia, lower BMI, longer duration and higher-level of broad-spectrum antibiotic use, longer PN support and G⁺ coccemia increase risks for candidemia. The efficacy of triazoles and echinocandins are the same when blood culture turned negative in 7 days.

Purpose: GATA2 deficiency is an autosomal dominant disease that manifests with a range of clinical symptoms, including increased susceptibility to viral, bacterial, and fungal infections. Furthermore, the increased susceptibility to infections in GATA2 deficiency can trigger hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) in these patients. Our systematic review evaluates reported cases of GATA2 deficiency and HLH in the literature.

Methods: A systematic review of case reports was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, encompassing studies retrieved from Ovid MEDLINE ALL, Embase via Ovid SP, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from inception until June 14, 2024. This review included studies reporting patients diagnosed with GATA2 deficiency or having a documented history of the condition, who subsequently developed or were concurrently diagnosed with HLH. Various study types were considered, such as case reports, case series, letters to editors, original articles, correspondences, and commentaries, without any restrictions on language.

Results: In our systematic review, 15 studies from 2016 to 2024 were analyzed, encompassing 23 patients with GATA2 deficiency and HLH. the mean (SD) age of patients was 23.48 (10.54) years, ranging from 7 to 57 years. These patients exhibited diverse genetic mutations and a spectrum of infections, particularly Mycobacterium avium (M. avium), Mycobacterium kansasii (M. kansasii), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), and influenza A, often leading to HLH. Family histories of GATA2-deficient patients with HLH occasionally reveal confirmed GATA2 mutations or suspicious cases among first-degree relatives. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) was performed in 8 patients with GATA2 deficiency and HLH. Among them, 6 patients survived post-therapy, while 2 patients died following HSCT. Currently, 1 patient is being considered for HSCT. The overall mortality rate among GATA2 deficiency patients who experienced HLH was 39.13%.

Conclusions: This systematic review highlights GATA2 deficiency's association with diverse infections triggering HLH, emphasizing early infection management to mitigate mortality risks. This comprehensive analysis contributes to scientific knowledge, offering important insights for clinicians and researchers in diagnosing and managing this rare condition.

Background: Numerous studies have investigated the molecular properties that contribute to the symptoms of COVID-19, such as the virus's genetic makeup, its replication mechanisms, and how it interacts with host cells. However, identifying the immunopathological properties, such as the immune system's response, cytokine levels, and the presence of specific biomarkers, that are associated with the severity of the infection remains crucial for developing effective treatments and preventions.

Methods: We analyzed blood protein factor profiles from 420 individuals to identify features differentiating between test-negative healthy, asymptomatic, and symptomatic individuals using statistical comparison and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (i.e., LASSO) algorithm. Additionally, we examined single-cell RNA sequencing data from 141 individuals to identify specific cell types associated with the COVID-19 symptoms.

Results: Healthy individuals who tested negative had distinct blood protein factor levels compared to asymptomatic individuals. We identified two key protein factors, Serpin A10 and Complement C9, that differentiate between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Symptomatic patients showed lower levels of CD4⁺ T naïve, CD4⁺ T effector & memory, and CD8⁺ T naïve cells, along with higher levels of CD14⁺ classical monocytes compared to asymptomatic patients. Additionally, CD16⁺ non-classical monocytes, major producers of C1QA/B/C, appeared to contribute to the observed Complement C9 levels.

Conclusions: These findings advance our understanding of the immunopathological mechanisms underlying COVID-19 and may inform the development of targeted therapies and preventative measures. Future research should focus on further elucidating these mechanisms and exploring their potential clinical applications in managing COVID-19 severity.

Background: Streptococcus salivarius is an opportunistic pathogen, and there have been no reported cases of Streptococcus salivarius pneumonia to date. Pneumomediastinum is usually secondary to tracheal or esophageal injury and is very rare as a complication of pneumonia. We report a case of Streptococcus salivarius pneumonia complicated by pneumomediastinum, aiming to enhance clinicians' awareness of rare pathogens and uncommon complications in pneumonia.

Case presentation: The patient, a 36-year-old male, presented with a persistent cough and sputum production for one week, accompanied by a sore throat that had developed just one day prior. Chest computed tomography (CT) disclosed pneumomediastinum alongside obstructive atelectasis in the left lower lobe. Streptococcus salivarius infection was conclusively identified through bronchoalveolar lavage metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS), as well as smear and culture analyses. The patient was administered intravenous amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium for a duration of seven days as part of the anti-infection regimen. Given the stability of the patient's respiratory and circulatory systems, a tube drainage procedure was deemed unnecessary. Post-treatment, the patient's clinical symptoms notably improved. A subsequent chest CT scan revealed the re-expansion of the left lower lung and near-complete resolution of pneumomediastinum.

Conclusion: There are numerous pathogens that can cause pneumonia. While focusing on common pathogens, it is important not to overlook rare ones. When considering infections from rare pathogens, it is recommended to promptly perform a bronchoscopy and submit bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for mNGS to improve pathogen detection rates. During the diagnosis and treatment of pneumonia, it is crucial to be vigilant for rare complications. When a patient presents with symptoms such as dyspnea or subcutaneous emphysema, it is advisable to immediately perform a chest CT scan to rule out pneumomediastinum.

Background: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is negatively associated with infectious diseases, but the relationship between HDL-C and nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus is unclear.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between HDL-C and nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods: The cross-sectional study included 7731 participants from the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Inspection Survey (NHANES) survey cycle who had complete data. After adjusting demographics and lifestyle, we used multivariate logistic regression to analyze the relationship between HDL-C and nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus. We also used restricted cubic splines (RCS) to analyze the nonlinear relationship between HDL-C and nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus. All the analyses adjusted the relevant covariates.

Results: The mean of HDL-C in this study was 1.38 ± 0.64 mmol/L and the colonization rate of nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus was 26.2%. Both unadjusted model (OR = 0.71; 95%CI: 0.62-0.80; P < 0.001) and preliminary adjusted model (model 1: OR = 0.77; 95%CI: 0.67-0.89; P < 0.001) showed a significant negative correlation between HDL-C and nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus. After adjusting all variables in model 3, the relationship between HDL-C and nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus was still significant and negatively correlated (OR = 0.79; 95%CI: 0.69-0.92; P = 0.002). In addition, through RCS analysis, there was also a significant negative correlation between HDL-C and nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus (P for non-linear = 0.034). In subgroup analysis, only gender has a significant impact on this relationship (P for interaction = 0.013). In male, for each additional raising unit of HDL-C, the risk of nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus decreased by 38% (OR = 0.62, 95%CI: 0.49-0.79); in female, the relationship was no longer significant. We did not observe the interaction between all the other subgroup analysis results (P for interaction > 0.05).

Conclusions: We found that HDL-C was negatively correlated with nasal colonization of Staphylococcus aureus, especially in male, even after adjusting for various variables. These findings provide valuable insights into the development of early intervention strategies in people at high risk of infectious diseases.

Background: In the new era, microbial-based medicine is one of the best strategies that try to modify the normal flora with the aim of treating some disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the use of probiotics in the treatment of the clinical outcomes in cases with traumatic brain injury..

Methods: In this regard, the search strategy was done using databases such as PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CENTRAL, and Google Scholar, from 2006 until April 2024. All studies about the efficacy of probiotic supplementation on the clinical outcomes in traumatic brain injury patients were retrieved. During the assessment process of the eligible studies, we evaluated clinical characteristics such as the Glasgow Coma Scale score, the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, referral rate and hospitalization period in the intensive care unit, mortality rate, as well as opportunistic infections in both groups of case and control..

Results: In this study, the authors analyzed data from 6 articles including 391 cases with traumatic brain injury. Our results showed that the probiotic therapy increases the Glasgow Coma Scale score in patients with the average age of more than 50 years. However, there was no a significant difference in the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation scores between the group that had received probiotics and the control group. Although probiotic-based treatment did not significantly affect the intensive care unit admission (or length of stay), but, the risk of infection, and also mortality was significantly lower in the probiotic group (OR: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.3 to 0.8, as well as OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.2 to 0.7, respectively)..

Conclusions: Overall, due to the modification of microbial flora, probiotic supplements can balance microflora disturbances, which in turn leads to improvement the clinical outcomes in patients with brain injury. Therefore, probiotic-based therapy can be considered as a promising strategy for the treatment of the central nervous system disorders. However, given the limited evidence, more clinical trial studies need to strengthen our results..