Jose A. Bazan

Clinical Experience in Adults and Children Treated with Intravenous Peramivir for 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Under an Emergency IND Program in the United States

Peramivir, an investigational intravenous neuraminidase inhibitor, was given to 31 hospitalized patients with severe viral pneumonia during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic under the Emergency IND regulations. The drug was generally well tolerated and associated with recovery in most patientes.

Notes from the Field: Increase in Neisseria meningitidis-Associated Urethritis Among Men at Two Sentinel Clinics - Columbus, Ohio, and Oakland County, Michigan, 2015.

Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) urogenital infections, although less common than infections caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae (Ng), have been associated with urethritis, cervicitis, proctitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease. Nm can appear similar to Ng on Gram stain analysis (gram-negative intracellular diplococci) (1-5). Because Nm colonizes the nasopharynx, men who receive oral sex (fellatio) can acquire urethral Nm infections (1,3,5). This report describes an increase in Nm-associated urethritis in men attending sexual health clinics in Columbus, Ohio, and Oakland County, Michigan.

HIV, rectal chlamydia, and rectal gonorrhea in men who have sex with men attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic in a midwestern US city.

Background Men who have sex with men (MSM) who report receptive anal intercourse (RAI) are currently recommended to undergo at least annual screening for rectal Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) infection. Methods Using standard culture methods, we assessed the prevalence of rectal GC/CT among MSM who reported RAI in the last year (n = 326) at an urban sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic in a midwestern US city. A subset (n = 125) also underwent rectal GC/CT screening via nucleic acid amplification testing. We examined the associations between HIV status and prevalence of rectal GC and rectal CT using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models. Results The prevalence of rectal GC, rectal CT, and either rectal infection was 9%, 9%, and 15% by culture and 24%, 23%, and 38% by nucleic acid amplification testing, respectively. HIV was not associated with rectal GC prevalence in unadjusted or adjusted analyses. HIV-positive status was significantly associated with increased rectal CT prevalence in unadjusted models (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–4.60); this association increased after multivariable adjustment (odds ratio, 3.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.37–7.19). Conclusions Men who have sex with men reporting RAI had a high prevalence of rectal GC and rectal CT. HIV-positive status was significantly associated with prevalent rectal CT but not with prevalent rectal GC.

Newer Beta-lactam Antibiotics: Doripenem, Ceftobiprole, Ceftaroline, and Cefepime

This article reviews the new beta-lactam (beta-lactam) antibiotics doripenem, ceftobiprole, and ceftaroline. It covers pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, dosing, in vitro activities, safety, and clinical trial results. Doripenem (Doribax) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal and urinary tract infections. At this writing, ceftobiprole is under review by the FDA for approval based on results of phase 3 clinical trials, whereas at least one phase 3 clinical trial of ceftaroline has been completed. The article also reviews recent data suggesting increased overall mortality with Cefepime (Maxipime) use compared with other beta-lactam antibiotics and the potential risk for neurotoxicity in the setting of renal failure.

Peramivir pharmacokinetics in two critically ill adults with 2009 H1N1 influenza A concurrently receiving continuous renal replacement therapy.

Study Objective. To determine the pharmacokinetics of intravenous peramivir—an investigational neuraminidase inhibitor for the treatment of 2009 H1N1 infection or nonsubtypable influenza A thought to be the 2009 H1N1 virus—in patients concurrently receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT).

Large Cluster of Neisseria meningitidis Urethritis in Columbus, Ohio, 2015

Background Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) is a Gram-negative diplococcus that normally colonizes the nasopharynx and rarely infects the urogenital tract. On Gram stain of urethral exudates, Nm can be misidentified as the more common sexually transmitted pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Methods In response to a large increase in cases of Nm urethritis identified among men presenting for screening at a sexually transmitted disease clinic in Columbus, Ohio, we investigated the epidemiologic characteristics of men with Nm urethritis and the molecular and phylogenetic characteristics of their Nm isolates. The study was conducted between 1 January and 18 November 2015. Results Seventy-five Nm urethritis cases were confirmed by biochemical and polymerase chain reaction testing. Men with Nm urethritis were a median age of 31 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 24-38) and had a median of 2 sex partners in the last 3 months (IQR = 1-3). Nm cases were predominantly black (81%) and heterosexual (99%). Most had urethral discharge (91%), reported oral sex with a female in the last 12 months (96%), and were treated with a ceftriaxone-based regimen (95%). A minority (15%) also had urethral chlamydia coinfection. All urethral Nm isolates were nongroupable, ST-11 clonal complex (cc11), ET-15, and clustered together phylogenetically. Urethral Nm isolates were similar by fine typing (PorA P1.5-1,10-8, PorB 2-2, FetA F3-6), except 2, which had different PorB types (2-78 and 2-52). Conclusions Between January and November 2015, 75 urethritis cases due to a distinct Nm clade occurred among primarily black, heterosexual men in Columbus, Ohio. Future urogenital Nm infection studies should focus on pathogenesis and modes of sexual transmission.

High prevalence of rectal gonorrhea and Chlamydia infection in women attending a sexually transmitted disease clinic.

BACKGROUND Testing women for urogenital Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) is common in sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics. However, women may not be routinely tested for rectal GC/CT. This may lead to missed infections in women reporting anal intercourse (AI). METHODS This was a retrospective review of all women who underwent rectal GC/CT testing from August 2012 to June 2013 at an STD clinic in Columbus, Ohio. All women who reported AI in the last year had a rectal swab collected for GC/CT nucleic acid amplification testing (n=331). Using log-binomial regression models, we computed unadjusted and adjusted associations for demographic and behavioral factors associated with rectal GC/CT infection. RESULTS Participants (n=331) were 47% African-American, with median age of 29 years. Prevalence of rectal GC was 6%, rectal CT was 13%, and either rectal infection was 19%. Prevalence of urogenital GC and CT was 7% and 13% respectively. Among women with rectal GC, 14% tested negative for urogenital GC. Similarly, 14% of women with rectal CT tested negative for urogenital CT. In unadjusted analyses, there was increased rectal GC prevalence among women reporting sex in the last year with an injection drug user, with a person exchanging sex for drugs or money, with anonymous partners, and while intoxicated/high on alcohol or illicit drugs. After multivariable adjustment, no significant associations persisted, but a trend of increased rectal GC prevalence was observed for women <26 years of age (p=0.06) and those reporting sex while intoxicated/high on alcohol or drugs (p=0.05). For rectal CT, only age <26 years was associated with prevalent infection in unadjusted models; this association strengthened after multivariable adjustment (prevalence ratio: 6.03; 95% confidence interval: 2.29-15.90). CONCLUSION Nearly one in five women who reported AI in the last year had rectal GC or CT infection. Urogenital testing alone would have missed 14% of rectal infections. Standardized guidelines would increase rectal GC/CT testing in women and help detect missed infections.

Early Stage Lung Cancer: Progress in the Last 40 Years

Surgery remains the cornerstone in the early-stage non– small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, but a lot of efforts have been focused on the use of systemic therapy in this setting, on technological advances in thoracic surgery and radiotherapy, and on better application of local therapeutic approaches to improve the survival rates in these patients. The aim of this article is to provide a synthetic overview of the scientific achievements characterizing this setting during the past 40 years (Figure 1).

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation as Adjunctive Therapy for Refractory Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in HIV-positive Patients With Severe Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia

In the United States, Pneumocystis jirovecii (PCP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and can result in severe hypoxemia despite maximal conventional ventilator support. We present 2 adult patients with HIV/AIDS and PCP who were managed with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) because of refractory hypoxemia. After prolonged hospitalization, the first patient developed multiorgan failure, and the decision was made to withdraw life support. The second patient required ECMO for 7 days and survived. We also review 2 previously published cases in which ECMO was used in adult HIV patients with severe hypoxemia from PCP. In the patients that survived, ECMO was initiated earlier in the course of hospitalization compared with those that died (mean 3.5 vs. 15 d). Furthermore, the patient that survived required a much shorter duration of ECMO support (mean 5.5 vs. 41.5 d). The use of ECMO early in the course of hospitalization can be considered in patients with HIV/AIDS and refractory hypoxemia due to PCP.

Bartonella henselae prosthetic valve endocarditis in an adult patient with congenital heart disease: favorable outcome after combined medical and surgical management.

Abstract  Bartonella spp. are a known cause of culture‐negative endocarditis. We report a 42‐year‐old male with underlying surgically corrected congenital heart disease who was diagnosed with Bartonella henselae endocarditis involving the right‐ventricle‐to‐pulmonary‐artery conduit. (J Card Surg 2012;27:449‐452)