Cryptosporidiosis after treatment with fingolimod: a case report and pharmacovigilance review

Background

Cryptosporidium sp. are common intracellular parasites responsible of severe diarrhea in T-cell-immunocompromised patients. We report the first case of a woman who contracted cryptosporidiosis after treatment with fingolimod, a drug labeled for multiple sclerosis and responsible for marked lymphopenia.

Case presentation

A 60-year-old woman was admitted for abdominal pain diarrhea and fever. The patient suffered from multiple sclerosis and had been treated with fingolimod from august 2017 to september 2018 time of occurrence of the first digestive symptoms. Stool culture was negative but parasitological examination was positive for Cryptosporidium sp. Blood biological examination profound lymphopenia of 240/mm³ [17 CD4/mm³ (7%) and 32 CD8/mm³ (14%)]. Fingolimod was stopped, and the patient was put on nitazoxanide 500 mg bid for 7 days. The diarrhea resolved and no relapse was observed. Six other cases were found in the Pharmacovigilance database.

Conclusion

Physicians should be aware of this association and screen for Cryptosporidium in cases of diarrhea in patients treated with fingolimod. Patients should be aware of this risk and advise to take appropriate measures to avoid such contamination.

Analysis of delays in the prescription of oseltamivir in hospitals and potential for improvement

OBJECTIVES

Patients hospitalized for influenza should receive early treatment with a neuraminidase inhibitor.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of the prescription of oseltamivir during the 2016-2017 influenza epidemic among patients hospitalized for influenza confirmed by RT-PCR in the infectious disease department.

RESULTS

Treatment with oseltamivir was initiated as recommended in 96% of hospitalized patients presenting with influenza. However, a delay in prescription was observed with only 18% of prescriptions made on the first day. The prescriptions were exclusively initiated in the infectious disease department.

CONCLUSION

To improve the early prescription of oseltamivir during the influenza season, two recommendations are essential: oseltamivir availability in the emergency department pharmacy, awareness of physicians of the need to prescribe to any patient hospitalized for a lower respiratory tract infection treatment with a neuraminidase inhibitor upon admission to the emergency department.

Cerebrospinal fluid monocytes in bacterial meningitis, viral meningitis, and neuroborreliosis

OBJECTIVE

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leukocytes analysis is commonly used to diagnose meningitis and to differentiate bacterial from viral meningitis. Interpreting CSF monocytes can be difficult for physicians, especially in France where lymphocytes and monocytes results are sometimes pooled.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We assessed SF monocytes in patients presenting with microbiologically confirmed meningitis (CSF leukocyte count>10/mm³ for adults or >30/mm³ for children<2 months), i.e. bacterial meningitis (BM), viral meningitis (VM), and neuroborreliosis (NB).

RESULTS

Two-hundred patients (82 BM, 86 VM, and 32 NB) were included. The proportions of monocytes were higher in VM (median 8%; range 0-57%) than in BM (median 5%; range 0-60%, P=0.03) or NB (median 5%; range 0-53%, P=0.46), with a high value overlap between conditions.

CONCLUSION

CSF monocytes should not be used to discriminate BM from VM and NB because of value overlaps.

Traitement et suivi des phases secondaire et tertiaire de la borréliose de Lyme

The aim of this review was to analyze the current strategies of treatment and follow-up of disseminated and late Lyme borreliosis. A comprehensive search was performed using the Medline database. Only relevant reviews, expert guidelines and randomized controlled clinical trials were selected and, if necessary, open trials. Major drugs used in these studies were amoxicillin, doxycycline, penicillin G, and ceftriaxone. Oral administration of antibiotics was preferred in Lyme arthritis whereas parenteral drugs were mostly used in neuroborreliosis. The treatment duration usually ranged from 14 to 30 days. Prolonged antibiotic courses recommended by some authors in post-Lyme syndromes were not validated by several randomized placebo controlled studies. Follow up patterns were analyzed in order to determine possible prognosis parameters allowing to distinguih active Borrelia burgdorferi infection from a sequel of infection.

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency

Leukocyte adhesion deficiency is a rare syndrome with autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. An eleven-month-old boy, whose parents were first degree relatives, was referred to clinic with recurrent episodes of pneumonia, otitis and extensive necrotic wounds of perianal area since neonatal period. His umbilical cord had separated 30 days after birth. Laboratory findings included marked leukocytosis, chemotaxis abnormality, and very low levels of CD 11 (0.5%) and CD 18 (2%). Leukocyte Adhesion Defect (LAD) is rare genetic defect of a group of leukocyte membrane glycoproteins. LAD affects nearly one out of every million individuals and is characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections of skin and mucous membranes, diminished pus formation, delayed umbilical cord separation, granulocytosis, poor wound healing and progressive periodontitis. This is the first report of a case of LAD in Isfahan of Iran.

Influenza outbreak detection and control measures in nursing homes in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the use of influenza vaccine, rapid influenza testing, and influenza antiviral medication in nursing homes in the US to prevent and control outbreaks.

METHODS

Survey questionnaires were sent to 1017 randomly selected nursing homes in nine states. Information was collected on influenza prevention, detection and control practices, and on outbreaks during three influenza seasons (1995-1998).

RESULTS

The survey response rate was 78%. Influenza vaccine was offered to residents and staff by 99% and 86%, respectively, of nursing homes. Among nursing homes offering the influenza vaccine, the average vaccination rate was 83% for residents and 46% for staff. Sixty-seven percent of the nursing homes reported having access to laboratories with rapid antigen testing capabilities, and 19% reported having a written policy for the use of influenza antiviral medications for outbreak control. Nursing homes from New York, where organized education programs on influenza detection and control have been conducted for many years, were more likely to have reported a suspected or laboratory-confirmed influenza outbreak (51% vs 10%, P = .01), to have access to rapid antigen testing for influenza (92% vs 63%, P = .01), and to use antivirals for prophylaxis and treatment of influenza A for their nursing home residents (94% vs 55%, P = .01) compared with nursing homes from the other eight states.

CONCLUSIONS

Influenza outbreaks among nursing home residents can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality when prevention measures are not rapidly instituted. However, many nursing homes in this survey were neither prepared to detect nor to control influenza A outbreaks. Targeted, sustained educational efforts can improve the detection and control of outbreaks in nursing homes.