Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America
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Dengue is a disease whose clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic infections to a severe disease. There have been some previous reports of myocardial involvement in dengue, but this association has not been completely established. ⋯ Dengue viruses were shown to cause cardiac disease with clinical manifestations ranging from mild elevation of biomarkers to myocarditis and/or pericarditis.
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The tragedy of the ongoing epidemic of meningitis caused by Exserohilum rostratum brings into focus the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of a multitude of opportunistic mold infections of the central nervous system. Herein we provide our perspective regarding the translational research objectives of this infection that are needed to make an impact on this important healthcare crisis.
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The test-negative control study design is the basis for observational studies of influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE). Recent studies have suggested that influenza vaccination increases the risk of noninfluenza respiratory virus infection. Such an effect could create bias in VE studies using influenza-negative controls. We investigated the association between influenza infection, vaccination, and detection of other respiratory viruses among children <5 years old and adults ≥50 years old with acute respiratory illness who participated in seasonal studies of influenza vaccine effectiveness. ⋯ Influenza vaccination was not associated with detection of noninfluenza respiratory viruses. Use of influenza-negative controls did not generate a biased estimate of vaccine effectiveness due to an effect of vaccination on other respiratory virus infections.
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Interventions such as opiate substitution therapy (OST) and high-coverage needle and syringe programs (HCNSP) cannot substantially reduce hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence among people who inject drugs (PWID). HCV antiviral treatment may prevent onward transmission. We project the impact of combining OST, HCNSP, and antiviral treatment on HCV prevalence/incidence among PWID. ⋯ Combining antiviral treatment with OST with HCNSP is critical for achieving substantial reductions (>50%) in HCV chronic prevalence over 10 years. Empirical studies are required on how best to scale up antiviral treatment and combine treatment with other interventions.
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Case Reports
Chronic hepatitis E in HIV patients: rapid progression to cirrhosis and response to oral ribavirin.
Chronic hepatitis E virus infection with rapid progression to cirrhosis is reported in 2 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with severe immunosuppression. Monotherapy with ribavirin led to temporary viral response and marked improvement of liver damage. Chronic hepatitis E should be regarded as another opportunistic event within HIV infection.