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Teachers (N=110) of students with visual impairments in Florida were surveyed to determine their use of various types of access technologies. Although each category of device, with the exception of refreshable braille devices, was used by at least 25% of the teachers, most respondents were not familiar with most of the devices listed, and lacked training. (Author/DB)

Introduction: Barriers to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) access have limited its reach to priority populations. Community-based mobile clinics have potential to broaden PrEP engagement. We evaluated reach and persistence for fixed and mobile clinic cohorts in Miami-Dade County, Florida., Methods: This observational cohort study analysed data from 1896 clients engaged through our fixed or mobile clinic from August 2018 to March 2023. Services were offered at no cost to clients. The same staff and package of barrier-lowering strategies was deployed across fixed and mobile clinic sites. Chi-square and Fisher's exact test or the Kruskal-Wallis test were used to test for differences in characteristics across sites as well as across services sought. Kaplan-Meier curves were generated to evaluate persistence on PrEP and in care, defined as completion of at least one clinic visit (including PrEP prescribing, for PrEP persistence, or for any reason, for persistence in care) within 24 weeks of the prior visit. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate risk factors for discontinuation of PrEP or clinic care by 48 weeks by gender, race, ethnicity, insurance status and site., Results: The fixed and mobile clinics reached 781 and 1109 clients, respectively, during the study period. The median client age was 35 years; the majority (70.4%) of clients were cisgender men, identified as Hispanic/Latino (62.5%) and were men who have sex with men (54.5%). The mobile clinic extended reach to a higher proportion of cisgender women (32.1% mobile vs. 12.9% for fixed clinic), Black clients (34.5% vs. 13.1%) and older clients (median 37 vs. 33 years) compared with the fixed setting. Uninsured individuals, men and those who initiated services in the mobile clinic were more likely to continue PrEP to 48 weeks (HR: 1.20, p = 0.01; HR: 2.02, p<0.01; HR: 1.68, p<0.01, respectively). Persistence did not differ by race or ethnicity., Conclusions: A mobile clinic strategy for PrEP engagement can increase reach to key populations underrepresented in HIV prevention care including cisgender women and Black clients. Persistence in PrEP was increased for the mobile clinic cohort, suggesting an additional benefit to this modality beyond other barrier-lowering strategies employed in our fixed and mobile clinics., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the International AIDS Society published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International AIDS Society.)

Background: The HIV/AIDS epidemic has disproportionately affected Black individuals in the USA, and this health disparity has increased over time. Despite the effectiveness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a prevention tool for HIV, there are disparities in its use, and uptake of this intervention remains low among racial and ethnic minorities, including Haitians/Haitian Americans. In this study, factors influencing PrEP use among Haitians/Haitian Americans in Miami, FL, are explored to provide necessary data to address disparities., Methods: The research team collaborated with local organizations to recruit 30 individuals (Haitians/Haitian Americans) between February 4 and October 1, 2021, and conducted semi-structured interviews. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed, and NVivo® was used to analyze the transcripts for emergent themes., Results: The study sample comprised 30 adults of Haitian descent in Miami, FL (50% female, approximately 67% with a high school education or more, mean age = 43.7 ± 13 years, and 74.2% born in Haiti). Four primary themes emerged from the analysis: (1) limited PrEP awareness, (2) underutilization of PrEP, (3) inadequate discussion of HIV prevention strategies, and (4) PrEP delivery encompassing barriers and facilitators for PrEP delivery and promotion strategies., Conclusion: This study indicated that there is a critical need to increase Haitians/Haitian Americans' knowledge regarding PrEP. Health communication interventions tailored specifically for Haitians/Haitian Americans that target stigma, attitudes toward HIV, and risk perception may be significant in increasing PrEP in this population., Competing Interests: Declarations Ethics Approval The University of Miami Institutional Review Board approved this study. Consent to Participate All study participants gave verbal consent to participate. Consent for Publication N/A Competing Interests Unrelated to data in this manuscript, Dr. Dale is a co-investigator on a Merck & Co. funded project on “A Qualitative Study to Explore Biomedical HIV Prevention Preferences, Challenges and Facilitators among Diverse At-Risk Women Living in the United States” and has served as a workgroup consultant on engaging people living with HIV for Gilead Sciences, Inc. All other authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023. W. Montague Cobb-NMA Health Institute.)

Introduction: Improving the delivery of existing evidence-based interventions to prevent and diagnose HIV is key to Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States. Structural barriers in the access and delivery of related health services require municipal or state-level policy changes; however, suboptimal implementation can be addressed directly through interventions designed to improve the reach, effectiveness, adoption or maintenance of available interventions. Our objective was to estimate the cost-effectiveness and potential epidemiological impact of six real-world implementation interventions designed to address these barriers and increase the scale of delivery of interventions for HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in three US metropolitan areas., Methods: We used a dynamic HIV transmission model calibrated to replicate HIV microepidemics in Atlanta, Los Angeles (LA) and Miami. We identified six implementation interventions designed to improve HIV testing uptake ("Academic detailing for HIV testing," "CyBER/testing," "All About Me") and PrEP uptake/persistence ("Project SLIP," "PrEPmate," "PrEP patient navigation"). Our comparator scenario reflected a scale-up of interventions with no additional efforts to mitigate implementation and structural barriers. We accounted for potential heterogeneity in population-level effectiveness across jurisdictions. We sustained implementation interventions over a 10-year period and evaluated HIV acquisitions averted, costs, quality-adjusted life years and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios over a 20-year time horizon (2023-2042)., Results: Across jurisdictions, implementation interventions to improve the scale of HIV testing were most cost-effective in Atlanta and LA (CyBER/testing cost-saving and All About Me cost-effective), while interventions for PrEP were most cost-effective in Miami (two of three were cost-saving). We estimated that the most impactful HIV testing intervention, CyBER/testing, was projected to avert 111 (95% credible interval: 110-111), 230 (228-233) and 101 (101-103) acquisitions over 20 years in Atlanta, LA and Miami, respectively. The most impactful implementation intervention to improve PrEP engagement, PrEPmate, averted an estimated 936 (929-943), 860 (853-867) and 2152 (2127-2178) acquisitions over 20 years, in Atlanta, LA and Miami, respectively., Conclusions: Our results highlight the potential impact of interventions to enhance the implementation of existing evidence-based interventions for the prevention and diagnosis of HIV., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of the International AIDS Society published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International AIDS Society.)

The 2022 outbreak of mpox disproportionately impacted men who have sex with men and people living with HIV. As such, HIV organizations were uniquely situated to reach populations affected by mpox. However, the extent to which these organizations pivoted to address mpox, and what form mpox messaging took, is unknown. We conducted a rapid environmental scan of 29 HIV or sexual health organizations to assess the frequency and content of mpox messaging in August 2022, the peak of the mpox outbreak in Miami, FL. Approximately half of the organizations provided mpox messaging, most of which was accurate. Only 5% of the messages were in Spanish and 4% in Spanish and Haitian Creole. Our findings suggest HIV organizations' pivot to mpox messaging may have been delayed overall and in reaching Spanish- and Haitian Creole-speaking communities. Results could inform modifications to mpox messaging campaigns and future outbreaks that disproportionately affect minoritized communities., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention is highly effective, but disparities in PrEP access remain considerable, particularly among Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). To address this, the University of Miami Mobile PrEP Program was created, offering mobile HIV prevention/PrEP services in areas throughout South Florida where HIV incidence is high and PrEP access is geographically limited. Using a community-centered participatory approach, the program strategized and executed expansion into the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami. This study qualitatively assessed factors affecting Mobile PrEP implementation as perceived by community stakeholders, clients, and program staff., Methods: Forty-one in-depth interviews were conducted with 21 Mobile PrEP clients, 10 key informants from local health organizations, and 10 program staff. Interview questions queried perceived organizational and positional barriers and facilitators to mobile clinic implementation. Service satisfaction, setting preferences, social factors, and likelihood of recommending Mobile PrEP were also assessed. A thematic content analysis was performed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) taxonomy as the guiding constructs for the analysis., Results: Participant statements indicated that providing no-cost services, convenient location, program-covered rideshares, individualized patient navigation, and a community-centric approach to patient care, which included staff members with shared lived experiences to increase positive interactions and renewed trust among poorly served communities, were facilitators of PrEP access and intervention uptake. The importance of program familiarization with the community before implementation, particularly for Black and African American communities, who may experience unique barriers to accessing sexual healthcare was strongly emphasized by participants., Conclusions: The Mobile PrEP intervention was found to be an acceptable and accessible mode of HIV/STI preventive care. The importance of pre-implementation community engagement and preparation is emphasized. Future research is needed to refine understanding of the intervention's components and evaluate implementation determinants in other highly impacted neighborhoods., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: In the US, stimulant use is associated with a 3-6 times greater rate of HIV seroconversion in sexual minority men (SMM) than in those who do not use stimulants. Annually, 1 in 3 SMM who HIV seroconvert will be persistent methamphetamine (meth) users. The primary objective of this qualitative study was to explore experiences of stimulant use in SMM living in South Florida, a high priority region for the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative., Methods: The sample included 25 SMM who use stimulants, recruited via targeted ads on social networking apps. Participants completed one-on-one semi-structured qualitative interviews, conducted from July 2019 through February 2020. A general inductive approach was used to identify themes relating to experiences, motivations, and overall relationship with stimulant use., Results: Mean age of participants was 38.8, ranging from 20 to 61 years old. Participants were 44% White, 36% Latino, 16% Black and 4% Asian. Most participants were born in the US, self-identified as gay, and preferred meth as their stimulant of choice. Themes included: (1) stimulants as cognitive enhancements for focus or task completion, including transitioning to meth after first using prescription psychostimulants; (2) unique South Florida environment where participants could be open regarding their sexual minority status while also being influential on their stimulant use; (3) stimulant use as both stigmatizing and a coping mechanism for stigma. Participants anticipated stigma by family and potential sexual partners due to their stimulant use. They also reported using stimulants to cope with feelings of stigma due to their minoritized identities., Conclusion: This study is among the first to characterize motivations for stimulant use in SMM living in South Florida. Results highlight both the risk and protective factors of the South Florida environment, psychostimulant misuse as a risk for meth initiation, and the role of anticipated stigma on stimulant use in SMM. Understanding stimulant use motivations can help to shape intervention development. This includes developing interventions that address individual, interpersonal, and cultural factors that drive stimulant use and increase risk of HIV acquisition. Trial registration NCT04205487., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Latino sexual minority men (LSMM) experience barriers in accessing HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), such as lack of proximate culturally-appropriate PrEP navigation services. We examined associations between LSMM's immigration status and Spanish-language PrEP service availability. LSMM clinically indicated for PrEP were recruited from October 2018 to August 2019 in South Florida and completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire. PrEP service navigators in South Florida were identified using the CDC PrEP Directory. We constructed network service areas of 1-, 2-, and 5-miles from Spanish-speaking PrEP navigators. We used multilevel logistic regression to examine associations of individual (i.e., age, income, immigration status, network density) and zip code-level (i.e., population density, poverty, HIV risk) measures with availability of Spanish-language PrEP navigation services. A total of 131 participants clustered into 60 zip codes in South Florida. Latin American-born LSMM reported higher immigration and discrimination stress, and were 91% less likely to have PrEP navigation service availability, relative to LSMM born in the US. Zip code-level HIV incidence was associated with higher service availability within a 1-mile network of Spanish-speaking PrEP navigators. Spanish-language PrEP navigation services were available in high-HIV incidence zip codes; however, Latin American-born LSMM experienced reduced availability. Immigration and discrimination stress may explain lack of availability., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: US Latino men who have sex with men (LMSM) are a group at highest risk for HIV. One driver of HIV among LMSM is inadequate access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) information. The social network theory of homophily suggests that sharing similar sociodemographic factors could influence PrEP conversations within networks. This study aimed to determine how the effects of homophily across sociodemographic, immigration, cultural, and PrEP-related factors are associated with PrEP-related communication., Setting: This study was conducted in Miami-Dade County, FL., Methods: Data collected between August 2018 and October 2019 included 10 sociocentric friendship groups of 13 LMSM (N = 130). Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling by a community-based organization in Miami. We used the multiple regression quadratic assignment procedure to identify the effects of homophily and relationship characteristics on PrEP-related conversations using R software., Results: More frequent PrEP-related conversations were associated with dyadic friendships characterized by homophily on knowledge of PrEP effectiveness, heterophily on depressive symptom severity, home addresses proximity, friend closeness, and interaction frequency. Past PrEP-related conversation frequency also increased based on heterophily on the Latino cultural value of familism (ie, emotional support to family). Racial homophily, heterophily on severity of depressive symptoms, home addresses proximity, friendship closeness, and frequency of interactions increased likelihood to encourage a friend to use PrEP., Discussion: Social and spatial closeness and homophily play a role in PrEP-related conversations. Information from social networks contextualized in geographic settings can be elucidated to contribute toward the design of novel opportunities to end HIV., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at an increased risk for HIV infection due to injection and sexual risk behaviors. This study aims to examine PrEP knowledge, awareness, and willingness to be linked to PrEP services at a syringe services program (SSP), and examine the relationship between substance use and interest in PrEP linkage., Methods: Data were collected using a cross-sectional survey of IDEA SSP clients in Miami, FL (N = 157). Based on reported substance injected, participants were classified into opioid-only injection or polysubstance injection. Socio-demographics and HIV risk were examined using Pearson's Chi-Squared analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to test for significant correlates of interest in PrEP linkage., Results: Only 28.3% of PWID surveyed had previously heard of PrEP. However, 57.2% were interested in receiving more information about PrEP. In the adjusted model, people with opioid-only use were significantly less likely to report interest in being linked to PrEP., Conclusion: Knowledge, awareness, and interest in being linked to PrEP were low among PWID surveyed. No participants of the study were successfully linked to PrEP services through direct referrals. Further research is needed to examine low threshold service delivery of PrEP to PWID at SSPs., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Miami-Dade County, where many Latina seasonal workers reside and work, has the highest incidence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the US: a rate four times the national average. Despite this disproportionate risk for HIV, there are no HIV prevention interventions that aim to decrease HIV among Latina seasonal workers., Methods: The PROGRESO EN SALUD study compared the outcomes of two interventions adapted to include a social network component (VOICES and HEALTHY). Recruitment used a social network respondent-driven sampling design in which each seed was asked to recruit three friends, and those friends were asked to recruit three friends, for a total of twenty groups of 13 friends. We collected data at baseline, and 6 months and 12 months post intervention completion. We used generalized estimating equation models, properly adjusted for non-independent contributions of both social network interventions, to estimate the effects. Gaussian family multivariate models were calculated, addressing exchangeable working correlations, including both individual-level and cluster-level covariates in these models., Results: A total of 261 Latina seasonal workers participated in either the HEALTHY or the VOICES intervention. There were significant changes over time in cognitive factors ( HIV knowledge, condom use self-efficacy, and adequate knowledge of condom use ), behavioral factors ( condom use, female condom use, and HIV testing ), and communication factors ( talking with friends about HIV prevention and intention to negotiate safe sex with male partners )., Discussion: This study supports the literature suggesting that interventions incorporating social networks can have positive effects on HIV prevention and treatment outcomes, including sustained benefits beyond study periods., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

Background: Recent increase in skin biopsies has been attributed to an epidemic of skin cancer. This may be avoidable, with potential savings., Objective: To determine whether the increase in skin biopsies is attributable to increasing frequency of biopsies associated with histology lacking pathological cutaneous disease. Pathological cutaneous disease was defined as (1) a malignancy, precancerous lesion, or lesion of uncertain behavior; or (2) disease symptomatic or associated with adverse quality of life impact., Patients and Methods: Retrospective cohort study, 2006 to 2013 of dermatology practice serving Florida and Ohio. Data were a consecutive sample of skin biopsies for diagnosis of dermatologic disease., Results: A total of 267,706 biopsies by an average of 52 providers per month from January 06 to December 13 were analyzed. Number of biopsies per visit increased 2% per year (RR: 1.02, CI: 1.00-1.04). Likelihood of biopsy associated with histology indicative of nonpathological cutaneous disease did not increase over time (OR: 0.99, CI: 0.95-1.03, p = .6302)., Conclusion: Rates of biopsies associated with nonpathological cutaneous disease is not increasing. Overall biopsy rates per visit have gradually increased; this seems attributable to greater rates of detection of pathological dermatologic disease.

Effective approaches to promoting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and linkage to PrEP care among those who may benefit the most from PrEP has proven to be a major challenge. We designed and pilot tested a strengths-based case management (SBCM) intervention for PrEP linkage. Adults interested in PrEP and meeting criteria (n = 61) were randomized to passive referral (control) or active SBCM (treatment). Outcomes measured were completion of provider visit, initiation of PrEP, and time to initiation of PrEP. Overall, 34% initiated PrEP by 12 weeks: 9 (29%) in the control group and 12 (40%) in the treatment group. The mean time to PrEP initiation was 13.1 weeks (95% confidence interval, 12.0-14.2) with no difference between groups ( P = .382). There was a 21% difference in achieving a provider visit between the treatment and control groups (53.3% versus 32.3%) by 12 weeks ( P = .096). Participants encountered financial, logistical, social, and provider-related barriers to PrEP access. Strengths-based case management-based patient navigation is a promising strategy for assisting PrEP seekers in obtaining a medical provider visit and initiating PrEP.

Background: Safe and effective use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) depends on retention in care after initial engagement., Setting: The United States PrEP Demonstration Project offered daily oral tenofovir/emtricitabine to participants in San Francisco, Miami, and Washington, D.C. for 48 weeks from 2012 to 2014., Methods: The Demo Project participants' patterns of retention were assigned to 1 of 3 categories: early loss to follow-up (ELTF) within the first 12 weeks of the study, retention throughout the study, or intermittent retention in which missed or delayed visits resulted in gaps in medication availability. For each group, baseline characteristics were tabulated. A two-step multivariable analysis was performed., Results: Overall, 366/554 (66.1%) of enrolled participants were retained for all study visits, 127/554 (22.9%) had intermittent retention, and 61/554 (11.0%) ELTF. In multivariable analysis, Miami compared with San Francisco site was associated with ELTF rather than full retention [aOR 2.84; confidence interval (CI): 1.24 to 6.47] and also with intermittent rather than full retention (aOR 2.70; CI: 1.43 to 5.11). Younger age was associated with ELTF (aOR 1.80 for each 10-year decrement in age; CI: 1.26 to 2.57) and intermittent retention (aOR 1.47; CI: 1.17 to 1.84) compared with full retention. Factors associated with ELTF (but not intermittent retention) compared with full retention were black compared with white (aOR 3.32; CI: 1.09 to 10.16), reporting sex work (aOR 4.67; CI: 1.49 to 14.58), lack of regular employment (aOR 2.53; CI: 1.27 to 5.05), and lack of previous PrEP awareness (aOR 2.01; CI: 1.01 to 3.96)., Conclusions: Tailored interventions addressing causes and risk factors for loss from PrEP care may improve retention and consistency of PrEP use.

Importance: Several randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition. Little is known about adherence to the regimen, sexual practices, and overall effectiveness when PrEP is implemented in clinics that treat sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and community-based clinics serving men who have sex with men (MSM)., Objective: To assess PrEP adherence, sexual behaviors, and the incidence of STIs and HIV infection in a cohort of MSM and transgender women initiating PrEP in the United States., Design, Setting, and Participants: Demonstration project conducted from October 1, 2012, through February 10, 2015 (last date of follow-up), among 557 MSM and transgender women in 2 STI clinics in San Francisco, California, and Miami, Florida, and a community health center in Washington, DC. Data were analyzed from December 18, 2014, through August 8, 2015., Interventions: A combination of daily, oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine was provided free of charge for 48 weeks. All participants received HIV testing, brief client-centered counseling, and clinical monitoring., Main Outcomes and Measures: Concentrations of tenofovir diphosphate in dried blood spot samples, self-reported numbers of anal sex partners and episodes of condomless receptive anal sex, and incidence of STI and HIV acquisition., Results: Overall, 557 participants initiated PrEP, and 437 of these (78.5%) were retained through 48 weeks. Based on the findings from the 294 participants who underwent measurement of tenofovir diphosphate levels, 80.0% to 85.6% had protective levels (consistent with ≥4 doses/wk) at follow-up visits. African American participants (56.8% of visits; P = .003) and those from the Miami site (65.1% of visits; P < .001) were less likely to have protective levels, whereas those with stable housing (86.8%; P = .02) and those reporting at least 2 condomless anal sex partners in the past 3 months (88.6%; P = .01) were more likely to have protective levels. The mean number of anal sex partners declined during follow-up from 10.9 to 9.3, whereas the proportion engaging in condomless receptive anal sex remained stable at 65.5% to 65.6%. Overall STI incidence was high (90 per 100 person-years) but did not increase over time. Two individuals became HIV infected during follow-up (HIV incidence, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.05-1.54] infections per 100 person-years); both had tenofovir diphosphate levels consistent with fewer than 2 doses/wk at seroconversion., Conclusions and Relevance: The incidence of HIV acquisition was extremely low despite a high incidence of STIs in a large US PrEP demonstration project. Adherence was higher among those participants who reported more risk behaviors. Interventions that address racial and geographic disparities and housing instability may increase the impact of PrEP.

Background: Infections related to injection drug use are common. Harm reduction strategies such as syringe exchange programs and skin care clinics aim to prevent these infections in injection drug users (IDUs). Syringe exchange programs are currently prohibited by law in Florida. The goal of this study was to estimate the mortality and cost of injection drug use-related bacterial infections over a 12-month period to the county safety-net hospital in Miami, Florida. Additionally, the prevalence of HIV and hepatitis C virus among this cohort of hospitalized IDUs was estimated., Methods and Findings: IDUs discharged from Jackson Memorial Hospital were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes for illicit drug abuse and endocarditis, bacteremia or sepsis, osteomyelitis and skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). 349 IDUs were identified for chart abstraction and 92% were either uninsured or had publicly funded insurance. SSTIs, the most common infection, were reported in 64% of IDUs. HIV seroprevalence was 17%. Seventeen patients (4.9%) died during their hospitalization. The total cost for treatment for injection drug use-related infections to Jackson Memorial Hospital over the 12-month period was $11.4 million., Conclusions: Injection drug use-related bacterial infections represent a significant morbidity for IDUs in Miami-Dade County and a substantial financial cost to the county hospital. Strategies aimed at reducing risk of infections associated with injection drug use could decrease morbidity and the cost associated with these common, yet preventable infections.

Mycobacterium abscessus is an ubiquitous organism found in the environment. This rapidly growing mycobacterium infrequently causes disease in humans; however, in immunocompromised hosts, disease can range from localized cutaneous lesions to disseminated infection. The organism is resistant to most antimycobacterial drugs and therapy can be limited by drug interactions. The exact incidence of M. abscessus infection among solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients is unknown; data are only available from previously reported cases in the literature. We describe 3 cases of M. abscessus infection in SOT recipients diagnosed within a 5-month period. One of the cases followed multi-visceral transplantation, the first such case to be reported in the literature. An epidemiological investigation did not reveal significant commonalities among the cases, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic DNA of the case isolates confirmed their non-identity. All cases improved with antibiotic therapy, most notably with the new glycylcycline, tigecycline, along with surgical intervention in 2 of the cases. In addition, we review features and characteristics of M. abscessus infections in recipients of SOT reported in the literature from 1992 to 2008 and summarize some selected therapeutic concerns and issues related to treatment.