[Career Prospects for Young Physicians in Infectious Diseases]

Infectious Diseases are a cross-sectional area connected to various medical disciplines and offer interested physicians multiple working opportunities. The spectrum of infectious diseases covers both out- and inpatient care as well as basic, clinical and epidemiological research. The need for infectious diseases specialists is increasing, thus career prospects are promising. Working conditions in infectious diseases are comparatively family-friendly. With this article we intend to arouse interest for working in the fascinating fields of infectious diseases and provide information on career opportunities. Data from a recently conducted survey among members of the German Society of Infectious Diseases deliver insight, how infectious disease specialists work today.

[Modern HIV treatment]

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has become a chronic disease with a favourable prognosis if adequate antiretroviral therapy (ART) is applied. Therefore, each patient with HIV infection should be treated irrespectively of clinical symptoms or of immunological status. A combination of three active drugs that have to be taken life-long has been standard for many years. The regimen contains two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus either an integrase inhibitor, a boosted protease inhibitor, or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor. Integrase inhibitors are recommended as the third partner of choice by recent guidelines due to their high efficacy and their favourable safety profile. Many combination drugs are now available which allow a simple treatment with few tablets and in many instances a one-pill combination per day is an option. Potential interactions with drugs given for other diseases have to be taken into account, especially if a pharmacological booster is part of the regimen. Combination therapy should be changed if either virological failure (HIV RNA >200 copies/ml) or drug-related adverse events occur. In special situations (e. g. pregnancy) highly experienced experts in the field should be consulted. Novel approaches for HIV therapy include dual therapy as well as treatment with long-acting substances. Beside therapy, antiretroviral drugs are used for prevention either as post-exposure prophylaxis or as pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Severe disseminated tuberculosis in HIV-negative refugees

In high-income countries, the presentation of tuberculosis is changing, primarily because of migration, and understanding the specific health needs of susceptible populations is becoming increasingly important. Although disseminated tuberculosis is well documented in HIV-positive patients, the disease is poorly described and less expected in HIV-negative individuals. In this Grand Round, we report eight HIV-negative refugees, who presented with extensively disseminated tuberculosis. We discuss the multifactorial causes, such as deprivations during long journeys, precarious living conditions, and the experience of violence, which might add to nutritional factors and chronic disorders, eventually resulting in a state of predisposition to immune deficiency. We also show that disseminated tuberculosis is often difficult to diagnose when pulmonary symptoms are absent. Communication difficulties between refugees and health-care workers are another major hurdle, and every effort should be made to get a valid patient history. This medical history is crucial to guide imaging and other diagnostic procedures to establish a definite diagnosis, which should be confirmed by a positive tuberculosis culture. Because many of these patients are at risk for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, drug susceptibility testing is imperative to guide therapy. In the absence of treatment guidelines for this entity, clinicians can determine treatment duration according to recommendations provided for extrapulmonary tuberculosis and affected organs. Paradoxical expansion of tuberculous lesions during therapy should be treated with corticosteroids. In many cases, treatment duration must be individualised and might even exceed 12 months.

[Career Prospects for Young Physicians in Infectious Diseases]

Infectious Diseases are a cross-sectional area connected to various medical disciplines and offer interested physicians multiple working opportunities. The spectrum of infectious diseases covers both out- and inpatient care as well as basic, clinical and epidemiological research. The need for infectious diseases specialists is increasing, thus career prospects are promising. Working conditions in infectious diseases are comparatively family-friendly. With this article we intend to arouse interest for working in the fascinating fields of infectious diseases and provide information on career opportunities. Data from a recently conducted survey among members of the German Society of Infectious Diseases deliver insight, how infectious disease specialists work today.

In vitro activity of mecillinam and nitroxoline against Neisseria gonorrhoeae - re-purposing old antibiotics in the multi-drug resistance era

In 2018, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported the first cases of extensively drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in Europe. Seeking new options for antimicrobial therapy we investigated the susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae to nitroxoline (NIT) and mecillinam (MCM), both of which are currently only indicated to treat uncomplicated urinary tract infections. Clinical N. gonorrhoeae isolates with non-susceptibility to penicillin from two German medical centres were included (n =27). Most isolates were also non-susceptible to a range of other anti-gonococcal antimicrobials (cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, tetracycline). All isolates were further characterized by multi-locus sequence typing. MICs of penicillin and cefotaxime were determined by agar gradient diffusion. Production of penicillinase was tested by cefinase disk test. Susceptibility of MCM was investigated by agar dilution, NIT by agar dilution and disk diffusion. Penicillin MICs ranged from 0.125 to 64 mg l^-1 and MICs of cefotaxime ranged from < 0.016 to 1 mg l^-1 . Five isolates were penicillinase-producers. MICs of MCM ranged from 16 to > 128 mg l^-1 whereas MICs of NIT ranged from 0.125 to 2 mg l^-1 . NIT disk diffusion (median zone diameter 32 mm) correlated well with results from agar dilution. We demonstrated excellent in vitro activity of NIT against clinical N. gonorrhoeae isolates with non-susceptibility to standard anti-gonococcal antibiotics. MCM activity was unsatisfactory. Correlation of agar dilution and disk diffusion in NIT susceptibility testing is an important aspect with potential clinical implications.

Hotspots of Transmission Driving the Local Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic in the Cologne-Bonn Region, Germany

BACKGROUND

Geographical allocation of interventions focusing on hotspots of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission has the potential to improve efficiency. We used phylogeographic analyses to identify hotspots of the HIV transmission in Cologne-Bonn, Germany.

METHODS

We included 714 HIV-1 infected individuals, followed up at the University Hospitals Cologne and Bonn. Distance-based molecular network analyses were performed to infer putative relationships. Characteristics of genetically linked individuals and assortativity (shared characteristics) were analyzed. Geospatial diffusion (ie, viral gene flow) was evaluated using a Slatkin-Maddison approach. Geospatial dispersal was determined by calculating the average distance between the residences of linked individuals (centroids of 3-digit zip code).

RESULTS

In sum, 217/714 (30.4%) sequences had a putative genetic linkage, forming 77 clusters (size range: 2-8). Linked individuals were more likely to live in areas surrounding the city center (P = .043), <30 years of age (P = .009). and infected with HIV-1 subtype B (P = .002). Clustering individuals were nonassortative by area of residency (-.0026, P = .046). Geospatial analyses revealed a median distance between genetically linked individuals of 23.4 kilometers (km), lower than expected (P < .001). Slatkin-Maddison analyses revealed increased gene flow from central Cologne toward the surrounding areas (P < .001).

CONCLUSION

Phylogeographic analysis suggests that central Cologne may be a significant driver of the regional epidemic. Although clustering individuals lived closer than unlinked individuals, they were less likely to be linked to others from their same zip code. These results could help public health entities better understand transmission dynamics, facilitating allocation of resources to areas of greatest need.

Short Communication: Tracking Tregs: Translocation of CD49b/LAG-3+ Type 1 T Regulatory Cells to the Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue of HIV+ Patients

The gastrointestinal mucosa [gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT)] represents the largest site of chronic immune activation and HIV replication. Important cellular agents in the immunopathogenesis of an HIV infection are, in particular, CD49b/LAG-3⁺ type 1 T regulatory cells (Tr1), which secrete large amounts of IL-10 (interleukin-10), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells, the main producers of IFN-α (interferon-alpha). However, the distribution of CD49b/LAG-3⁺ Tr1 cells along the GALT is unknown.

Diagnostic challenges in infective endocarditis: is PET/CT the solution?

PURPOSE

Despite developments in both imaging and microbiological techniques, the final diagnosis of IE often remains challenging. In this single-center cohort study, we aimed to identify the specific indications for request of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT in clinical practice and to evaluate the diagnostic benefit of this nuclear imaging technique.

METHODS

A total of 235 patients with possible (n = 43) or definite (n = 192) IE according to the revised Duke criteria were prospectively studied from July 2013 until December 2016. Echocardiography was generally used as the primary cardiac imaging technique. All patients were treated by a multidisciplinary Endocarditis Team. Diagnostics with ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT were undertaken on request by at least one member of the multidisciplinary team when overall diagnostics were inconclusive.

RESULTS

In 20 patients, ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT scan was performed for additional diagnostic evaluation. Hereof, 15 patients had a history of implanted cardiac prosthetic material. In six patients with definite IE, the use of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT was helpful for further clarification of the diagnosis. In one patient with possible IE, the diagnosis could be reclassified to definite IE. In addition, one case of vertebral osteomyelitis as well as upper and lower leg abscesses and knee empyema were detectable as extracardiac foci. Furthermore, ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT leads to a modification of the management in five patients.

CONCLUSION

Our findings support the utility of ¹⁸F-FDG-PET/CT as an adjunctive diagnostic tool especially in the evaluation of prosthetic valve-/cardiac device-related IE and for the detection of extracardiac foci in some cases. However, due to remaining limitations also of this imaging technique, a multidisciplinary clinical evaluation still remains the essential basis for the diagnostic assessment.

Pretreatment human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug resistance in transmission clusters of the Cologne-Bonn region, Germany

OBJECTIVES

In Germany, previous reports have demonstrated transmitted human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) drug-resistance mutations (DRM) in 11% of newly diagnosed individuals, highlighting the importance of drug-resistance screening before the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Here, we sought to understand the molecular epidemiology of HIV DRM transmission in the Cologne-Bonn region of Germany, given one of the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses in western Europe (13.7 per 100 000 habitants).

METHODS

We analysed 714 HIV-1 ART-naive infected individuals diagnosed at the University Hospitals Cologne and Bonn between 2001 and 2016. Screening for DRM was performed according to the Stanford University Genotypic Resistance Interpretation. Shared DRM were defined as any DRM present in genetically linked individuals (<1.5% genetic distance). Phylogenetic and network analyses were performed to infer putative relationships and shared DRM.

RESULTS

The prevalence of any DRM at time of diagnosis was 17.2% (123/714 participants). Genetic transmission network analyses showed comparable frequencies of DRM in clustering versus non-clustering individuals (17.1% (85/497) versus 17.5% (38/217)). The observed rate of DRM in the region was higher than previous reports 10.8% (87/809) (p < 0.001), revealing the need to reduce onward transmission in this area. Genetically linked individuals harbouring shared DRM were more likely to live in suburban areas (24/38) than in central Cologne (1/38) (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The rate of DRM was exceptionally high. Network analysis elucidated frequent cases of shared DRM among genetically linked individuals, revealing the potential spread of DRM and the need to prevent onward transmission of DRM in the Cologne-Bonn area.

580. Key Factors for Treatment Changes Within 1 Year After Starting ART in the German ClinSurv Cohort: Between 2005 and 2014

Background

Initiation of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has markedly increased survival and quality of life in HIV-infected patients. With the advent of new treatment options, including an increasing number of single-tablets, the durability of first-line ART regimes is developing.

Methods

We used data from the prospective multicenter German Clinical Surveillance of HIV Disease (ClinSurv) cohort of the Robert-Koch-Institute. Time to event was calculated as time between initiation of first-line cART and therapy change. We used a Cox model to assess predictors of treatment change 1 year after starting cART.

Results

We included 6,894 patients who initiated ART between 2005 and 2014. The sample population was predominantly men (79%) with German origin (69.8%), of which 49.6% were reporting sex with men (MSM) as main risk factor. Median age (IQR) was 38 (31–46) years. The most frequently treatment combinations were 2NRTI/PIr (48.1%) and 2NRTI/1NNRTI (42.2%), 2NRTI/1II (5.2%). 22.6% patients changed their first-line treatment within 1 year. Median (IQR) length between first intake and stop of the regime was 105 (35–214) days, which did not change significantly between 2005 (108; 38–217) and 2014 (128; 74–200) (P = 0.28). Most common documented causes were side effects of drugs 418 (44.0%) and non-adherence 173 (18.2%). In the Cox model (Figure 1), we identified numerous covariates associated with discontinuation of the first-line regime. A 2NRTI/1NNRTI regime was associated with higher rates (hazard ratio [HR] 1.28, 95% CI 1.06–1.55) and a 2NRTI/1II regime with lower rates (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.23–0.51) of treatment modification (ref.: 2NRTI/1PIr). The HR increased markedly with the amount of daily-administered tablets from HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.48–3.11 (2–3 tablets) to HR 3.98, 95% CI 2.16–7.31 (10 tablets) (ref.: one tablet). We observed an association with a baseline viral load (VL) of >100 copies/mL (HR 0.65, 95% CI 0.53–0.81) and >100.000 copies/mL (HR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54–0.85) (ref.: VL > 1 Mio. copies/mL).

Conclusion

Our analysis revealed, that side effects of drugs, the number of tablets per day and the VL at baseline are significantly associated with treatment change within the first year. A first-line regime with 2NRTI/1II seems to improve the adherence to the initial regime significantly.

Disclosures

All authors: No reported disclosures.

2365. Post-operative Vertebral Osteomyelitis—A Disease With Distinct Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics

Background

A relevant subgroup (10–14%) of patients with vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) has a history of spine surgery. Infection in these patients is often caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) might be clinically different from native VO. However, clinical, microbiological and outcome characteristics of this disease entity have not been well studied as most trials either excluded these patients or are limited by a small cohort and short observation period.

Methods

Between January 2008 and June 2013 patients who presented to the Department of Orthopaedics at the University Hospital of Cologne with suspected VO were prospectively enrolled into the international registry Spine Tango and observed for a period of 2 years. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. In addition, univariable and multivariable Cox regression models were fitted to estimate unadjusted and adjusted effect of surgery. Group comparisons between patients with or without prior surgery were performed using Fisher’s exact test or Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

56 of 189 patients with confirmed diagnosis of VO reported a history of spine surgery in the same segment. Patients with native vertebral osteomyelitis (NVO) had a higher ASA score (P = 0.01), were more likely to suffer from comorbidities (P = 0.003) and had Staphylococcus aureus identified as causative infectious agent in the majority of cases (34 vs. 18%, P = 0.024). Infections caused by CoNS (20 vs. 4%, P < 0.001) and other bacteria of the skin flora were more prevalent in patients with post-operative VO (9 vs. 0%, P = 0.002). After a median follow-up of two years, univariable Cox regression revealed that patients with NVO had a 3-fold increased mortality risk compared with patients with prior surgery (HR, 3.3, 95% CI, 1.4–7.9, P = 0.006). The magnitude of the effect size remained stable in the multivariable model (HR 3.023, 95% CI 1.259–7.257, P = 0.013), adjusted for ASA score and number of comorbidities.

Conclusion

NVO and post-operative VO show distinct disease characteristics. Patients with NVO more often have comorbidities, have mainly S. aureus as causative pathogen and a 3-fold increased 2-year mortality risk compared with patients with post-operative VO.

Disclosures

H. Seifert, Accelerate Diagnostics Inc.: Research Contractor, Research grant.

1283. Pretreatment HIV-1 Drug Resistance in Transmission Clusters of the Cologne-Bonn Region, Germany

Background

In Germany, previous reports have demonstrated transmitted HIV-1 drug resistance mutations (DRM) in 10% of newly diagnosed individuals, affecting treatment failure and the choice of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Here, we sought to understand the molecular epidemiology of HIV DRM transmission throughout the Cologne-Bonn region, an area with one of the highest rate of new HIV infections in Europe (13.7 per 100,000 habitants).

Methods

We analyzed 714 HIV-1 ART naïve infected individuals diagnosed at the University Hospitals Cologne and Bonn between 2001 and 2016. Screening for DRM was performed according to the Stanford University Genotypic Resistance Interpretation. Shared DRM were defined as any DRM present in genetically linked individuals (&lt;1.5% genetic distance). Phylogenetic and network analyses were performed to infer putative relationships and shared DRMs.

Results

We detected 123 DRMs in our study population (17.2% of all sequences). Prevalence of any DRM was comparable among risk groups and was highest among people from an endemic area (i.e., country with HIV prevalence &gt;1%) (11/51, 21.6%). Nucleoside-and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI/NNNRTI) resistance mutations were detected in 49 (7%) and 97 (13.6%) individuals, with the E138A in 29 (4.1%) and K103N in 11 (1.5%) being the most frequent. Frequency of DRM was comparable in clustering and not clustering individuals (17.1% vs. 17.5%). Transmission network analysis indicated that the frequency of DRM in clustering individuals was the highest in PWID (3/7, 42.9%) (Figure 1A). Genetically linked individuals harboring shared DRMs were more likely to live in suburban areas than in Central Cologne (18.8% vs. 8% of clustering sequences with DRM; Figure 1B).

Conclusion

The rate of DRMs was exceptionally high in the Cologne/Bonn area. Network analysis elucidated frequent cases of shared DRMs among genetically linked individuals, revealing the potential spread of DRMs and the need to prevent onward transmission of DRM in the Cologne-Bonn area.

Disclosures

M. Hoenigl, Gilead, Basilea, Merck: Speaker’s Bureau, Research grant and Speaker honorarium.

1767. Structured Treatment Interruptions in HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy—Implications for Future HIV Cure Trials: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background

Safety and tolerability of analytical treatment interruption (TI) as part of HIV cure studies has been discussed controversially. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we report current evidence for the occurrence of adverse effects during different types of TI.

Methods

A systematic literature search on studies reporting on TIs was conducted using a defined search term, covering the period from January 1988 to May 2017. All interventional and observational studies were reviewed, and results were extracted based on predefined criteria. We evaluated the proportion of adverse effects during TI by using a random effect meta-analysis model. A meta-regression model was calculated to explore the variation across studies and the influence of key factors.

Results

We identified 1,048 studies, of which we obtained data from 24 studies investigating TI including 7,961 individuals. Sample sizes varied from 6 to 5,472 subjects. The number of reported events during TI ranged from 0 to 241. Follow-up intervals during TI varied from 2 days up to 3 months. We compared reported adverse effects in studies with long TI (&gt;4 weeks) by the lengths of follow-up intervals, comparing narrow (≤4 weeks) and wide (&gt;4 weeks) follow-up during TI. The proportion of patients exhibiting adverse events during long TI was 1% (95% CI 0–4, I2 = 24.9%) in studies with narrow and 10% (95% CI 5–117, I2 = 95.1%) in studies with wide follow-up intervals, with an overall reported rate of 5% (95% CI: 3–15, z = 3.93, P ≤ 0.00) (Figure 1). The number of reported deaths was relatively low, but higher in studies with wide follow-up compared with studies with narrow follow-up (Figure 2). Meta regression analysis indicated that adverse events were increasing with the length of the monitoring interval (β = 0.75, 95% CI 0.24–1.27, P = 0.007) (Figure 3).

Conclusion

Current evidence indicates that studies with narrow follow-up intervals did not show a substantial increase of adverse effects other than viral rebound during TI. Analytical treatment interruption may be a safe strategy as part of HIV cure trials if patients undergo intense follow-up routines.

Disclosures

All authors: No reported disclosures.

1280. Geospatial Spread of HIV in the Cologne-Bonn Region, Germany: From 2001 to 2016

Background

Geographical targeting of interventions of hotspots of HIV transmission increases the impact of HIV intervention. We combined molecular epidemiology and geospatial analyses to provide insights into the drivers of HIV transmission and the contribution of geographical hot spots to the rapidly evolving local HIV epidemic of Cologne-Bonn.

Methods

We included 714 HIV-1-infected ART naïve individuals, followed at the University Hospitals Cologne and Bonn between 2001 and 2016. Phylogenetic and network analyses were performed to infer putative relationships. Assortativity index (AI, i.e., shared attributes) and characteristics of genetically linked individuals were analyzed. The geospatial diffusion of the local epidemic (i.e., viral gene flow) was evaluated using a Slatkin-Maddison approach. Geospatial dispersal of local HIV transmission was determined by calculating the average distance between genetically linked individuals (centroids of 3-digit zip code of residency, ArcGIS®).

Results

Of 714 sequences, 217 (30.4%) had a putative linkage with at least one other sequence, forming 77 clusters (size range: 2–8). Genetically linked individuals were significantly more likely to live in suburban areas (P = 0.035), <30 years of age (P = 0.013), infected with HIV-1 subtype B (P = 0.002). AI for concurrent area of residency showed that individuals were nonassortative in the network (−0.0026, P = 0.046), indicating that clustering individuals tended to cluster with individuals living in a different zip code. Geospatial analyses revealed that the median distance between genetically linked individuals was 23.4 km, significantly lower than expected (median 39.68 km; P < 0.001) (Figure 1A). Slatkin Maddison analyses revealed increased gene flow originating from Central Cologne toward the surrounding areas (P < 0.001, Figure 1B).

Conclusion

Phylogeographic analysis suggests that central Cologne may be a significant driver of the regional epidemic. While clustering individuals lived closer than unlinked individuals, they were less likely to be linked to others from their same zip code. This may reflect individuals reaching out of their neighborhoods and social circles to meet new partners.

Disclosures

All authors: No reported disclosures.

Antiretroviral treatment indications and adherence to the German-Austrian treatment initiation guidelines in the German ClinSurv HIV Cohort between 1999 and 2016

PURPOSE

The aim of the study was to assess guideline adherence to combined antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the German ClinSurv HIV Cohort and the real-life impact of the Strategic Timing of Antiretroviral Therapy (START) study, to identify patients not treated as recommended by new guidelines.

METHODS

We used data from the multicenter ClinSurv cohort of the Robert-Koch-Institute (RKI) between 1999 and 2016. Inclusion criteria were people living with HIV/AIDS, ≥ 18 years of age and cART naïve at the first visit (FV). Adherence was defined as starting cART within 6 months of crossing the CD4⁺ T cell threshold as suggested by the German-Austrian treatment guidelines. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with non-adherence.

RESULTS

11,817 patients met the inclusion criteria. We observed an overall adherence rate of 60%, in patients with treatment indication who started cART timely between 2002 and 2015. Adherence rate increased constantly, demonstrating a potential increase in patients, with treatment indication, starting cART within 6 months of presentation from 55% in 2008 to 94% in 2015. Patients reporting injection drug use (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.70-2.95) and patients between 18 years and 39 years of age at the time of their first visit (OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.35-6.18) were identified as risk groups associated with non-adherence.

CONCLUSION

The majority of patients below the CD4⁺ T cell count threshold of applicable guidelines initiated treatment within 6 months. We observed a slowly diminishing proportion of patients not starting cART timely. Delayed treatment was more frequent in patients reporting injection drug use.

Combination therapy with anti-HIV-1 antibodies maintains viral suppression

HIV-1-infected individuals require lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) because treatment interruption leads to rapid rebound viremia. Here we report on a phase 1b clinical trial in which a combination of 3BNC117 and 10-1074, two potent monoclonal anti-HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies that target independent sites on the HIV-1 envelope spike, was administered during analytical treatment interruption. Participants received three infusions of 30 mg/kg of each antibody at 0, 3 and 6 weeks. Infusions of the two antibodies were generally well tolerated. The nine enrolled individuals with antibody-sensitive latent viral reservoirs maintained suppression for 15 to > 30 weeks (median = 21 weeks), and none developed viruses resistant to both antibodies. We conclude that the combination of anti-HIV-1 monoclonal antibodies 3BNC117 and 10-1074 can maintain long-term suppression in the absence of ART in individuals with antibody-sensitive viral reservoirs.

To prescribe, or not to prescribe: decision making in HIV-1 post-exposure prophylaxis

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the trend in usage of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after HIV-1 risk exposure and evaluated PEP prescription decision making of physicians according to guidelines.

METHODS

All PEP consultations from January 2014 to December 2016 in patients presenting at the University Hospital of Cologne (Germany) were retrospectively analysed. HIV risk contacts included sexual and occupational exposure. The European AIDS Clinical Society (EACS) Guidelines for HIV PEP (version 9.0, 2017) were used for assessment.

RESULTS

A total of 649 patients presented at the emergency department (ED) or the clinic for infectious diseases (IDC) for PEP consultations. A continuous increase in the number of PEP requests was recorded: 189 in 2014, 208 in 2015 and 252 in 2016. PEP consultations in men who have sex with men (MSM) showed a remarkable increase in 2016 (2014, n = 96; 2015, n = 101; 2016, n = 152). Decisions taken by physicians with a specialization in infectious diseases (n = 547) included 61 (11%) guideline-discordant prescriptions [2014: 14% (n = 22); 2015: 9% (n = 16); 2016: 11% (n = 23)]. Among these, sexual exposure accounted for 45 (74%) cases, including 15 cases of nonconsensual sex, while occupational exposure accounted for 14 (23%) cases and other exposure two cases (3%). The main reason for guideline-discordant PEP prescriptions was emotional stress of the patient (n = 37/61).

CONCLUSIONS

PEP prescriptions are increasing and decision making is influenced by patients' emotional stress, but PEP prescriptions should be strictly administered according to risk assessment.

Repurposing QuantiFERON for Detection of Neutralizing Interferon-γ Autoantibodies in Patients With Nontuberculous Mycobacterial Infections

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections due to autoantibodies targeting interferon-γ are an emerging medical problem. However, case finding is hampered due to highly complex diagnostic procedures not available in routine laboratories. We show that QuantiFERON assays can be exploited as a simple screening tool that may facilitate adequate and timely treatment.

Control measures following a case of imported Lassa fever from Togo, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany, 2016

In a patient transferred from Togo to Cologne, Germany, Lassa fever was diagnosed 12 days post mortem. Sixty-two contacts in Cologne were categorised according to the level of exposure, and gradual infection control measures were applied. No clinical signs of Lassa virus infection or Lassa specific antibodies were observed in the 62 contacts. Thirty-three individuals had direct contact to blood, other body fluids or tissue of the patients. Notably, with standard precautions, no transmission occurred between the index patient and healthcare workers. However, one secondary infection occurred in an undertaker exposed to the corpse in Rhineland-Palatinate, who was treated on the isolation unit at the University Hospital of Frankfurt. After German authorities raised an alert regarding the imported Lassa fever case, an American healthcare worker who had cared for the index patient in Togo, and who presented with diarrhoea, vomiting and fever, was placed in isolation and medevacked to the United States. The event and the transmission of Lassa virus infection outside of Africa underlines the need for early diagnosis and use of adequate personal protection equipment (PPE), when highly contagious infections cannot be excluded. It also demonstrates that larger outbreaks can be prevented by infection control measures, including standard PPE.

Dysfunktionelle respiratorische Symptome bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

Dysfunktionelle respiratorische Symptome sind durch rekurrierend oder chronisch auftretende respiratorische Krankheitszeichen charakterisiert, die sich nicht durch strukturelle Besonderheiten der Atemwege erklären lassen und Symptome somatischer Erkrankungen imitieren können (somatoforme Atemstörungen). Die Systematisierung von dysfunktionellen respiratorischen Symptomen sowie die Entwicklung diagnostischer und therapeutischer Algorithmen sind relativ junge Arbeitsfelder der Pädiatrischen Pneumologie. Inzwischen sind diagnostische Mindestkriterien vorgeschlagen worden, die zur besseren Erkennung und Abgrenzung von somatischen Erkrankungen beitragen sollen. Eine frühzeitige Diagnosestellung ist erforderlich, um der Entwicklung von Fehlanpassungen entgegenzuwirken.

Impact of CD4 and CD8 dynamics and viral rebounds on loss of virological control in HIV controllers

Objective

HIV controllers (HICs) spontaneously maintain HIV viral replication at low level without antiretroviral therapy (ART), a small number of whom will eventually lose this ability to control HIV viremia. The objective was to identify factors associated with loss of virological control.

Methods

HICs were identified in COHERE on the basis of ≥5 consecutive viral loads (VL) ≤500 copies/mL over ≥1 year whilst ART-naive, with the last VL ≤500 copies/mL measured ≥5 years after HIV diagnosis. Loss of virological control was defined as 2 consecutive VL >2000 copies/mL. Duration of HIV control was described using cumulative incidence method, considering loss of virological control, ART initiation and death during virological control as competing outcomes. Factors associated with loss of virological control were identified using Cox models. CD4 and CD8 dynamics were described using mixed-effect linear models.

Results

We identified 1067 HICs; 86 lost virological control, 293 initiated ART, and 13 died during virological control. Six years after confirmation of HIC status, the probability of losing virological control, initiating ART and dying were 13%, 37%, and 2%. Current lower CD4/CD8 ratio and a history of transient viral rebounds were associated with an increased risk of losing virological control. CD4 declined and CD8 increased before loss of virological control, and before viral rebounds.

Discussion

Expansion of CD8 and decline of CD4 during HIV control may result from repeated low-level viremia. Our findings suggest that in addition to superinfection, other mechanisms, such as low grade viral replication, can lead to loss of virological control in HICs.

Antibody 10-1074 suppresses viremia in HIV-1-infected individuals

Monoclonal antibody 10-1074 targets the V3 glycan supersite on the HIV-1 envelope (Env) protein. It is among the most potent anti-HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies isolated so far. Here we report on its safety and activity in 33 individuals who received a single intravenous infusion of the antibody. 10-1074 was well tolerated and had a half-life of 24.0 d in participants without HIV-1 infection and 12.8 d in individuals with HIV-1 infection. Thirteen individuals with viremia received the highest dose of 30 mg/kg 10-1074. Eleven of these participants were 10-1074-sensitive and showed a rapid decline in viremia by a mean of 1.52 log10 copies/ml. Virologic analysis revealed the emergence of multiple independent 10-1074-resistant viruses in the first weeks after infusion. Emerging escape variants were generally resistant to the related V3-specific antibody PGT121, but remained sensitive to antibodies targeting nonoverlapping epitopes, such as the anti-CD4-binding-site antibodies 3BNC117 and VRC01. The results demonstrate the safety and activity of 10-1074 in humans and support the idea that antibodies targeting the V3 glycan supersite might be useful for the treatment and prevention of HIV-1 infection.