The Journal of infection
-
Since its identification, information concerning Tropheryma whipplei, the causative agent of Whipple's disease (WD), has increased. Although T. whipplei is commonly infecting humans, WD is rare. The bacterium is most likely transmitted among humans via the oro-oral and the feco-oral routes. ⋯ Screening, based on the combined analyses of saliva and stool specimens using specific quantitative PCR, is useful if WD is suspected. Doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine for 12 months is the best treatment for WD; it should be followed by life-long treatment with doxycycline, as potentially fatal relapses can occur. T. whipplei seems to be an opportunistic bacterium that causes chronic infections in susceptible patients with as yet unknown predisposing factors.
-
The Journal of infection · Aug 2014
Observational StudyA prospective longitudinal study evaluating the usefulness of the interferon-gamma releasing assay for predicting active tuberculosis in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.
There is little information on the efficacy of interferon-gamma-releasing assays for predicting subsequent active tuberculosis in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients. ⋯ Positive QFT-TB assay results predict subsequent development of tuberculosis in HCT recipients in whom latent tuberculosis cannot be detected by TST (NCT01021124).
-
The Journal of infection · Aug 2014
Estimated prevalence of chronic Q fever among Coxiella burnetii seropositive patients with an abdominal aortic/iliac aneurysm or aorto-iliac reconstruction after a large Dutch Q fever outbreak.
The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of Q fever and prevalence of chronic Q fever in patients with abdominal aortic and/or iliac disease after the Q fever outbreak of 2007-2010 in the Netherlands. ⋯ The prevalence of chronic Q fever in C. burnetii seropositive patients with abdominal aortic and/or iliac disease living in an epidemic area in the Netherlands is remarkably high (30.8%). Patients with an aneurysm and chronic Q fever present more often with an aneurysm-related acute complication compared to patients without evidence of Q fever infection.