The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · Feb 2018
ReviewGut dysbiosis and irritable bowel syndrome: The potential role of probiotics.
To discuss the role of gut dysbiosis in the development of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the impact of probiotics as a potential therapeutic measure. ⋯ The available data are promising, but presently, a precise definition of which probiotic or which mixture of probiotics is effective cannot be made. Moreover, the dose and duration of treatment has not been established. Finally, we do not know whether probiotic treatment should be different according to the type of IBS. Further studies are needed before probiotics can be considered a reliable treatment for IBS.
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The Journal of infection · Dec 2017
Multicenter StudyClinical outcomes in patients hospitalized with cellulitis treated with oral clindamycin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole: The role of weight-based dosing.
Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and clindamycin are frequently prescribed to treat cellulitis. The primary objective was to determine if weight-based dosing of these antibiotics is associated with better outcomes in cellulitis. The secondary objective was to assess variables associated with clinical failure among hospitalized patients with cellulitis with or without cutaneous abscess. ⋯ Inadequate dosing of clindamycin and TMP/SMX is independently associated with clinical failure in patients hospitalized with cellulitis. Further prospective studies evaluating weight-based dosing of clindamycin and TMP/SMX in the setting of cellulitis are warranted.
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The Journal of infection · Sep 2017
Comparative StudyComparison of Zika virus (ZIKV) RNA detection in plasma, whole blood and urine - Case series of travel-associated ZIKV infection imported to Italy, 2016.
The capability to detect ZIKV RNA is of crucial importance for cases confirmation. However, due to the short-lived viremia, the detection of ZIKV RNA in plasma/serum is challenging for samples collected more than one week after onset of clinical illness. We compared the window time and detection rate of ZIKV RNA in different specimen types (plasma, whole blood and urine) collected simultaneously at several times post-symptom onset. ⋯ Our results highlight the usefulness of simultaneously testing multiple specimen types in order to extend the rate and the time frame of ZIKV RNA detection, increasing the possibility of cases confirmation through direct diagnosis in convalescence-phase of infection, supplementing serological data which are often difficult to interpret.
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The Journal of infection · Sep 2017
Direct-acting antiviral treatment against hepatitis C virus infection in HIV-Infected patients - "En route for eradication"?
Direct-Acting Antivirals (DAAs) opened a new era in HCV treatment. We report the impact of HCV treatment in French HIV-HCV coinfected patients. ⋯ HCV treatment dramatically increased in HIV-HCV patients in France from 2012 to 2015 resulting in HCV cure in nearly two-thirds of the patients in this cohort. Combined with a declining HCV prevalence, the prevalence of active HCV infection among HIV patients will drastically decrease in the forthcoming years.