The success of antiretroviral therapy has normalized pregnancy among women living with HIV (WWH) with a very low risk of perinatal transmission of HIV. Despite these advances, WWH still face complex ...medical and psychosocial issues during pregnancy and postpartum. The aim of this study was to assess differences in psychosocial health outcomes between pregnant WWH, non-pregnant WWH, and pregnant women without HIV, and further identify factors associated with probable depression in the third trimester and postpartum.
In a longitudinal survey study, participants were included from sites in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden during 2019-2020. Data was collected in the 3rd trimester, 3 and 6 months postpartum using standardized questionnaires assessing depression, perceived stress, loneliness, and social support. Mixed regression models were used to assess changes over time within and between groups. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with depression in pregnancy and postpartum.
A total of 47 pregnant WWH, 75 non-pregnant WWH, and 147 pregnant women without HIV were included. The prevalence of depression was high among both pregnant and non-pregnant WWH. There was no significant difference between pregnant and non-pregnant WWH in depression scores, perceived stress scores, or social support scores at any time point. Compared to pregnant women without HIV, pregnant WWH reported worse outcomes on all psychosocial scales. Social support and loneliness were associated with an increased odds of depressive symptoms in the adjusted analysis.
A high burden of adverse psychosocial outcomes was observed in both pregnant and non-pregnant women living with HIV compared to pregnant women without HIV. Loneliness and inadequate social support were associated with increased odds of depression in pregnancy and should be a focus in future support interventions.
Introduction
People with HIV-1 (PWH) have worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared with the general population. Using patient-reported outcomes (PROs) may help reorient the focus of HIV ...care towards improving HRQoL. This study aims to develop, implement and evaluate the use of PROs in HIV care.
Methods and analysis
This is a Danish single-centre, multistage mixed-methods study consisting of four substudies (studies I–IV). Study I is a qualitative focus group interview study aiming to identify relevant PRO domains, and barriers and benefits to PRO use. Participants are 5–10 PWH and 5–10 HIV healthcare providers (HCPs). Data are thematically analysed. Results will guide the design of a PRO measure (PROM). Study II is a quantitative study aiming to assess PWH’s willingness and ability to engage with PRO. All PWH are consecutively invited to complete the PROMs before their next consultations. Demographic data are collected at enrolment. Differences between PWH who do/do not complete the PROMs are assessed. Study III is a quantitative before-and-after study aiming to assess the impact of PRO use on HCP awareness. Participants are all who complete the PROMs in Study II. In contrast to study II, HCPs are notified of the PROM results. The number of problems documented by the HCP in patients’ medical records during studies II and III are compared using χ
2
tests. Multiple regression models are used to identify factors associated with HCP awareness. Study IV is a qualitative study aiming to explore PWH and HCP experiences of using PROs. Participants are 15–20 PWH and 10–15 HCP. Data are collected from participant observation of PRO consultations and individual interviews. Data are analysed thematically.
Ethics and dissemination
This study is approved by the Danish Data Protection Agency. Participants will provide written consent prior to participation. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
•This study presented a novel use of electronic medical records for monitoring clinical practice without requiring individual patient data details.•Antibiotic usage patterns were analyzed in response ...to a directive.•Usage of the target antibiotic regimen was reduced in response to the directive, but treatment guidelines were not followed in the choice of replacement antibiotics.•This study demonstrated partial implementation by hospital clinicians of an antibiotic stewardship directive delivered during a period of catastrophic antibiotic supply-chain interruption.
In April 2017, the Central Denmark Region Antibiotic Stewardship Committee issued a directive to reduce the general use of piperacillin-tazobactam and prescribe narrow-spectrum antibiotics for mild and moderate pneumonia. The directive was distributed to all regional hospital clinicians.
Electronic medical records were used to obtain de-identified details of all antibiotics administered (together with diagnosis codes) to all in-hospital patients (pre-directive and post-directive) in the nine regional hospitals. Average moving range statistical process control charts were used to analyze pre-directive and post-directive variation in antibiotic usage patterns.
Upon the distribution of the directive, a period of decline of the overall usage of piperacillin-tazobactam ensued. Rather than benzylpenicillin, as recommended for pneumonia, the initial decline in piperacillin/tazobactam usage was accompanied by increased use of cefuroxime.
A steward-directed reduction in piperacillin-tazobactam usage was accompanied by less desirable usage of a broad-spectrum alternative. Future antibiotic stewardship initiatives will hopefully benefit from close monitoring and timely feedback to clinicians. A dialogue with clinicians based on near real-time data is predicted to improve antibiotic stewardship actions.
•The carriage rate of Neisseria meningitidis was 32% among HIV infected MSM.•Meningococci were detected in both oral and anal samples.•Non-groupable meningococci were most prevalent, followed by ...genogroup B.•Results support that sexual transmission of meningococci can occur.
Outbreaks of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) among men who have sex with men (MSM) caused by a hypervirulent, non-encapsulated Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) clone belonging to genogroup C have been described. We aimed to determine the oral and anal carriage rates and genogroups of Nm among MSM living with HIV.
Sexually active MSM living with HIV were included. A questionnaire, an oral wash sample and an anal swab were collected at baseline and 12 months follow-up. Identification of Nm and genogrouping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis.
Among 82 MSM, the Nm carriage rate was 31.7% (95% CI 21.9–42.9) at baseline. The oral carriage rate was 24.4% (95% CI 15.6–35.1) and the anal rate was 11.0% (95% CI 5.1–19.8). Non-groupable Nm were most prevalent followed by genogroup B and genogroup Y. Rates were similar at follow-up.
Strains of Nm were detected in both oral washes and anal samples in our study. Our results suggest that Nm may be transmitted sexually among MSM. Non-groupable Nm were predominant in our population and no genogroup C Nm were detected.
•Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is generally considered futile in patients with leukemia.•A patient with acute myeloid leukemia was treated successfully with ECMO during acute respiratory ...failure due to influenza virus.•ECMO should be considered as a viable treatment option in patients with severe leukopenia due to hematological malignancy.
We report the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in a 28-year-old woman who had an influenza infection complicated with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) during treatment for acute myeloid leukemia. Despite ventilator management with positive end-expiratory pressure, nitrogen oxide inhalation, and prone positioning, there was severe hypoxemia. ECMO led to improvement in gas exchange and lung mechanics. This case shows that ECMO can be lifesaving in the treatment of immunocompromised patients who have hypoxemia that is refractory to conventional treatment.
Women living with HIV (WLWH) have high rates of persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) infections and cervical cancer. We aimed to assess the distribution of hrHPV genotypes, risk factors ...of type-specific hrHPV persistence, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (≥HSIL) in WLWH in Denmark.
From the prospective Study on HIV, cervical Abnormalities and infections in women in Denmark (SHADE) we identified WLWH with a positive hrHPV test during the study period; 2011-2014. HIV demographics were retrieved from the Danish HIV Cohort Study and pathology results from the The Danish Pathology Data Bank. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors associated with persistent hrHPV infection (positivity of the same hrHPV type in two samples one-two years after the first hrHPV positive date) and ≥ HSIL.
Of 71 WLWH, 31 (43.7%) had persistent hrHPV infection. Predominant hrHPV genotypes were HPV58, 52, 51, and 35 and most frequently observed persistent genotypes were HPV52, 33 and 31. CD4 < 350 cells/μL predicted genotype-specific hrHPV persistence (adjusted OR 4.36 (95%CI: 1.18-16.04)) and ≥ HSIL was predicted by prior AIDS (adjusted OR 8.55 (95% CI 1.21-60.28)).
This prospective cohort study of well-treated WLWH in Denmark found a high rate of persistent hrHPV infections with predominantly non-16/18 hrHPV genotypes. CD4 count < 350 cells/μL predicted hrHPV persistence, while prior AIDS predicted ≥HSIL.
Case-fatality rates in Ebola treatment centers (ETCs) varied widely during the Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa. We assessed the influence of referral pathway on ETC case-fatality ...rates with a retrospective cohort of 126 patients treated at the Mathaska ETC in Port Loko, Sierra Leone. The patients consisted of persons who had confirmed EVD when transferred to the ETC or who had been diagnosed onsite. The case-fatality rate for transferred patients was 46% versus 67% for patients diagnosed onsite (p = 0.02). The difference was mediated by Ebola viral load at diagnosis, suggesting a survival selection bias. Comparisons of case-fatality rates across ETCs and clinical management strategies should account for potential survival selection bias.
Sepsis is an infection which has evoked a systemic inflammatory response. Clinically, the Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) is identified by two or more symptoms including fever or ...hypothermia, tachycardia, tachypnoea and change in blood leucocyte count. The relationship between SIRS symptoms and morbidity and mortality in medical emergency ward patients is unknown.
We conducted a prospective cohort study of the frequency of SIRS and its relationship to sepsis and death among acutely hospitalised medical patients. In 437 consecutive patients, SIRS status, blood pressure, infection and comorbidity on admission was registered together with 28-day mortality.
A hundred and fifty-four patients (35%) had SIRS on admission, 211 patients (48%) had no SIRS, and 72 patients (16%) had insufficient data to evaluate their SIRS status. SIRS patients were 2.2 times more frequently infected, with 66/154 SIRS patients versus 41/211 non-SIRS patients: p < 0.001, relative risk (RR) 2.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6-3.1), and they had a 6.9 times higher 28-day mortality than non-SIRS patients with 15/154 SIRS patients versus 3/211 non-SIRS patients: p = 0.001, RR 6.9 (95% CI 2.0-23.3). Most of the deaths among patients with SIRS occurred among patients with malignant conditions. Septic shock developed in 4/154 (3%) of the patients with SIRS, whereas this occurred in only one of the 211 patients (0.5%) without SIRS on arrival: p = 0.08, RR 5.5 (95% CI 0.6-48.6).
We found SIRS status on admission to be moderately associated with infection and strongly related to 28-day mortality.
The objective of this Personal View is to compare transmissibility, hospitalisation, and mortality rates for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with those of other epidemic ...coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and pandemic influenza viruses. The basic reproductive rate (R0) for SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to be 2·5 (range 1·8–3·6) compared with 2·0–3·0 for SARS-CoV and the 1918 influenza pandemic, 0·9 for MERS-CoV, and 1·5 for the 2009 influenza pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 causes mild or asymptomatic disease in most cases; however, severe to critical illness occurs in a small proportion of infected individuals, with the highest rate seen in people older than 70 years. The measured case fatality rate varies between countries, probably because of differences in testing strategies. Population-based mortality estimates vary widely across Europe, ranging from zero to high. Numbers from the first affected region in Italy, Lombardy, show an all age mortality rate of 154 per 100 000 population. Differences are most likely due to varying demographic structures, among other factors. However, this new virus has a focal dissemination; therefore, some areas have a higher disease burden and are affected more than others for reasons that are still not understood. Nevertheless, early introduction of strict physical distancing and hygiene measures have proven effective in sharply reducing R0 and associated mortality and could in part explain the geographical differences.
Bacterial vaginosis (BV) has been found to be associated with HIV acquisition and transmission. This is suggested to be due to higher HIV RNA levels in cervicovaginal fluids in women living with HIV ...(WLWH) with BV, as bacteria associated with BV may induce viral replication and shedding in the genital tract despite undetectable HIV RNA plasma viral load. We examined the prevalence and diagnostic predictors of BV and HIV-1 RNA vaginal shedding in women living with HIV (WLWH) in Denmark, taking into account the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and herpes viridae.
WLWH between 18-51 years were recruited from six Departments of Infectious Diseases in Denmark during enrolment in the SHADE cohort; a prospective cohort study of WLWH attending regular outpatient care. BV was diagnosed by microscopy of vaginal swabs and PCR was used for detection of BV-associated bacteria, HPV, herpes viridae, and vaginal HIV viral load.
Median age of the 150 included women was 41 years; ethnicity was predominantly White (35%) or Black (47%). The majority (96%) was on ART and had undetectable (85%) plasma HIV RNA (<40 copies/mL). BV was diagnosed in 32%. Overall, 11% had detectable vaginal HIV RNA. Both before and after adjustment for BV, age, ethnicity, plasma HIV RNA, CD4 cell count, herpes viridae and HPV, we found no significant predictors of HIV RNA vaginal shedding.
In well-treated WLWH, BV, herpes viridae or HPV do not predict vaginal HIV RNA shedding. This implies that HIV shedding does not seem to be increased by BV.
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