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We aimed to evaluate the impact of the 10th version of European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) breakpoints table, where most antipseudomonal drugs but meropenem are now categorised as "Susceptible, increased exposure" and labelled I, on meropenem prescription for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.In this retrospective single-centre observational study, we analysed antimicrobial therapies prescribed after susceptibility testing in all consecutive adult patients treated for P. aeruginosa infections between 01.08.2019 and 30.07.2020 in Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland. We collected epidemiological, microbiological, clinical data, antimicrobial therapy, and infectious diseases specialists (IDs) consultations' data. The primary outcome was the prescription of meropenem to treat P. aeruginosa infections after release of susceptibility testing results. Secondary outcomes were: the use of increased dosage for non-meropenem anti-pseudomonal drugs, and IDs' consultations rates after susceptibility testing was made available.Among the 264 patients included, 40 (15.2%) received meropenem, 3.4% (5/148) before EUCAST update versus 30.2% (35/116) after (p 0.001). Supervision and counselling from IDs and the use of increased dosages of non-carbapenem antibiotics also increased respectively (40.5% (60/148) vs 62.9% (73/116), P 0.001); (55.5% (76/148) vs 88.9% (72/116), P 0.001). Factors associated with these increments could not be adequately modelled.The change to 2020 EUCAST criteria might be associated with increased odds of meropenem prescription for the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections stressing the need of prescribers' education and the importance of antibiotic stewardship interventions.

Viral infections account for up to 30% of all infectious complications in lung transplant recipients, remaining a significant cause of morbidity and even mortality. Impact of viral infections is not only due to the direct effects of viral replication, but also to immunologically-mediated lung injury that may lead to acute rejection and chronic lung allograft dysfunction. This has particularly been seen in infections caused by herpesviruses and respiratory viruses. The implementation of universal preventive measures against cytomegalovirus (CMV) and influenza (by means of antiviral prophylaxis and vaccination, respectively) and administration of early antiviral treatment have reduced the burden of these diseases and potentially their role in affecting allograft outcomes. New antivirals against CMV for prophylaxis and for treatment of antiviral-resistant CMV infection are currently being evaluated in transplant recipients, and may continue to improve the management of CMV in lung transplant recipients. However, new therapeutic and preventive strategies are highly needed for other viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or parainfluenza virus (PIV), including new antivirals and vaccines. This is particularly important in the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, for which several unanswered questions remain, in particular on the best antiviral and immunomodulatory regimen for decreasing mortality specifically in lung transplant recipients. In conclusion, the appropriate management of viral complications after transplantation remain an essential step to continue improving survival and quality of life of lung transplant recipients.

SHCS#879 is an ongoing Switzerland-wide multicenter observational study conducted within the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) for the prospective follow-up of people living with HIV (PLWH) receiving long-acting injectable cabotegravir-rilpivirine (LAI-CAB/RPV). All adults under LAI-CAB/RPV and part of SHCS are enrolled in the project. The study addresses an integrated strategy of treatment monitoring outside the stringent frame of controlled clinical trials, based on relevant patient characteristics, clinical factors, potential drug-drug interactions, and measurement of circulating blood concentrations. So far, 91 blood samples from 46 PLWH have been collected. Most individuals are less than 50 years old, with relatively few comorbidities and comedications. The observed concentrations are globally in accordance with the available values reported in the randomized clinical trials. Yet, low RPV concentrations not exceeding twice the reported protein-adjusted 90% inhibitory concentration have been observed. Data available at present confirm a considerable between-patient variability overall. Based on the growing amount of PK data accumulated during this ongoing study, population pharmacokinetic analysis will characterize individual concentration-time profiles of LAI-CAB/RPV along with their variability in a real-life setting and their association with treatment response and tolerability, thus bringing key data for therapeutic monitoring and precision dosage adjustment of this novel long-acting therapy.

The characteristics and outcomes of adult patients with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection who require ICU admission are poorly defined. Although several studies in adults with RSV infection have been published in recent years, they did not focus specifically on patients with critical illness.What are the characteristics and outcomes of adult patients in the ICU with RSV infection and how do they compare with those of patients in the ICU with influenza infection?This retrospective, multicenter study in France and Belgium (17 sites) compared the characteristics and outcomes of adult patients in the ICU with RSV infection vs those with influenza infection between November 2011 and April 2018. Each patient with RSV infection was matched by institution and date of diagnosis with a patient with influenza infection. In-hospital mortality was compared between the two groups, with adjustment for prognostic factors in a multivariate model (sex, age, main underlying conditions, and concurrent bloodstream infection).Data from 618 patients (309 with RSV infection and 309 with influenza infection) were analyzed. Patients with RSV infection were significantly more likely to have an underlying chronic respiratory condition (60.2% vs 40.1%; P .001) and to be immunocompromised (35% vs 26.2%; P = .02) than patients with influenza infection. Several differences in clinical signs and biological data at diagnosis were found between the groups. In-hospital mortality was not significantly different between the two groups (23.9% in the RSV group vs 25.6% in the influenza group; P = .63), even after adjustment for prognostic factors in a multivariate model.Adult patients in the ICU with RSV infection differ from adult patients in the ICU with influenza in terms of comorbidities and characteristics at diagnosis. RSV infection was associated with high in-hospital mortality, approaching 25%. In multivariate analysis, RSV infection was associated with a similar odds of in-hospital death compared with influenza infection.

After mild COVID-19, some outpatients experience persistent symptoms. However, data are scarce and prospective studies are urgently needed.To characterize the post-COVID-19 syndrome after mild COVID-19 and identify predictors.Outpatients with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 with (1) PCR-confirmed COVID-19 (COVID-positive) or (2) SARS-CoV-2 negative PCR (COVID-negative).Monocentric cohort study with prospective phone interview between more than 3 months to 10 months after initial visit to the emergency department and outpatient clinics.Data of the initial visits were extracted from the electronic medical file. Predefined persistent symptoms were assessed through a structured phone interview. Associations between long-term symptoms and PCR results, as well as predictors of persistent symptoms among COVID-positive, were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, smoking, comorbidities, and timing of the survey.The study population consisted of 418 COVID-positive and 89 COVID-negative patients, mostly young adults (median age of 41 versus 36 years in COVID-positive and COVID-negative, respectively; p = 0.020) and healthcare workers (67% versus 82%; p = 0.006). Median time between the initial visit and the phone survey was 150 days in COVID-positive and 242 days in COVID-negative patients. Persistent symptoms were reported by 223 (53%) COVID-positive and 33 (37%) COVID-negative patients (p = 0.006) and proportions were stable among the periods of the phone interviews. Overall, 21% COVID-positive and 15% COVID-negative patients (p = 0.182) attended care for this purpose. Four surveyed symptoms were independently associated with COVID-19: fatigue (adjusted odds ratio 2.14, 95% CI 1.04-4.41), smell/taste disorder (26.5, 3.46-202), dyspnea (2.81, 1.10-7.16), and memory impairment (5.71, 1.53-21.3). Among COVID-positive, female gender (1.67, 1.09-2.56) and overweight/obesity (1.67, 1.10-2.56) were predictors of persistent symptoms.More than half of COVID-positive outpatients report persistent symptoms up to 10 months after a mild disease. Only 4 of 14 symptoms were associated with COVID-19 status. The symptoms and predictors of the post-COVID-19 syndrome need further characterization as this condition places a significant burden on society.

BackgroundAfter mild COVID-19, some outpatients experience persistent symptoms. However, data are scarce and prospective studies are urgently needed.ObjectivesTo characterize the post-COVID-19 syndrome after mild COVID-19 and identify predictors.ParticipantsOutpatients with symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 with (1) PCR-confirmed COVID-19 (COVID-positive) or (2) SARS-CoV-2 negative PCR (COVID-negative).DesignMonocentric cohort study with prospective phone interview between more than three months to ten months after initial visit to the emergency department and outpatient clinics.Main MeasuresData of the initial visits were extracted from the electronic medical file. Predefined persistent symptoms were assessed through a structured phone interview. Associations between long-term symptoms and PCR results, as well as predictors of persistent symptoms among COVID-positive, were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression adjusted for age, gender, smoking, comorbidities, and timing of the survey.Key resultsThe study population consisted of 418 COVID-positive and 89 COVID-negative patients, mostly young adults (median age of 41 versus 36 years in COVID-positive and COVID-negative, respectively; p=0.020) and health care workers (67% versus 82%; p=0.006). Median time between the initial visit and the phone survey was 150 days in COVID-positive and 242 days in COVID-negative patients. Persistent symptoms were reported by 223 (53%) COVID-positive and 33 (37%) COVID-negative patients (p=0.006). Overall, 21% COVID-positive and 15% COVID-negative patients (p=0.182) attended care for this purpose. Four surveyed symptoms were independently associated with COVID-19: fatigue (adjusted odds ratio [or] 2.14, 95%CI 1.04-4.41), smell/taste disorder (26.5, 3.46-202), dyspnea (2.81, 1.10-7.16) and memory impairment (5.71, 1.53-21.3). Among COVID-positive, female gender (1.67, 1.09-2.56) and overweight/obesity (1.67, 1.10-2.56) were predictors of persistent symptoms.ConclusionsMore than half of COVID-positive outpatients report persistent symptoms up to ten months after a mild disease. Only 4 of 14 symptoms were associated with COVID-19 status. The symptoms and predictors of the post-COVID-19 syndrome need further characterization as this condition places a significant burden on society.

Shingles vaccination and pneumococcal vaccination of patients with celiac disease are among the most recent updates for the vaccination of vulnerable adults, in Switzerland. Shingles and especially post-herpes zoster pain remain an unresolved public health issue. The only vaccine available in Switzerland is very little administered because it is not reimbursed by health insurance companies. A second shingles vaccine is announced for 2022 and should help to reduce the burden of this disease. It has been known for many years that celiac disease is accompanied by hyposplenism in adults. The resulting increased risk of invasive pneumococcal infections justifies, since 2020, a recommendation for vaccination against these encapsulated bacteria.La vaccination contre le zona et la vaccination contre les pneumocoques des patients souffrant de maladie cœliaque font partie des mises à jour les plus récentes pour la vaccination de l’adulte vulnérable, en Suisse. Le zona et surtout les douleurs postzostériennes restent un problème de santé publique non résolu. Le seul vaccin disponible en Suisse est très peu administré en raison de son non-remboursement par les caisses-maladie. Un deuxième vaccin contre le zona est annoncé pour 2022 et devrait contribuer à alléger le fardeau de cette maladie. On sait depuis de nombreuses années que la maladie cœliaque s’accompagne d’un hyposplénisme chez l’adulte. Le risque accru d’infections invasives à pneumocoques qui en découle justifie, depuis 2020, une recommandation de vaccination contre ces bactéries encapsulées.

Background: Some patients experience persistent symptoms after COVID-19, but data on outpatients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 are scarce. We aimed to describe the post-COVID-19 syndrome in confirmed COVID-19 outpatients and to identify its predictors. Methods: This monocentric prospective cohort study included symptomatic outpatients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 (COVID-positive) and SARS-CoV-2 negative PCR (COVID-negative). Predefined persistent symptoms were evaluated though a phone interview between more than three to ten months after diagnosis. Associations between long-term symptoms and PCR test result, as well predictors of persistent symptoms in COVID-positive were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. Findings: The study population consisted mostly of young (median of 41 versus 36 years in COVID-positive and COVID-negative, respectively; p=0·020) health care workers (67% versus 82%; p=0·006). Persistent symptoms were reported by 223 (53%) COVID-positive and 33 (37%) COVID-negative ( p =0·006). Overall, 21% COVID-positive and 15% COVID-negative (p=0·182) consulted a doctor for these symptoms. Four surveyed symptoms were independently associated with COVID-19: fatigue (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2·14, 95%CI 1·04-4·41), smell/taste disorder (26·5, 3·46-202), dyspnea (2·81, 1·10-7·16) and memory impairment (5·71, 1·53-21·3). Among COVID-positive, female gender (aOR 1·67, 95% CI 1·09-2·56) and overweight/obesity (1·67, 1·10-2·56) were predictors of persistent symptoms. Interpretation: More than half of COVID-positive outpatients report persistent symptoms up to ten months after infection and 21% seek medical care for this reason. The symptoms and predictors of post-COVID-19 syndrome need further characterization as it places a significant burden on society and especially healthcare systems. Funding: This work was supported by an academic award of the Leenaards Foundation. Declaration of Interests: None to declare. Ethics Approval Statement: The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland. All participants gave their verbal consent to participate in this study during the phone interview (project-ID CER-VD 2020-01107 and 2019-02283).

A 67-year-old man known with systemic sarcoidosis was admitted to the department of internal medicine because of cough and chest pain for several weeks. Thoracic tomodensitometry demonstrated multiple pulmonary nodules. Biopsies revealed features compatible with abscesses. Cultures and serologic tests were negative and the patient was successfully treated with prednisone. Three years later, a thoraco-abdominal tomodensitometry showed a relapse in the lung and also the apparition of similar lesions in the liver. Blood test revealed elevated CRP level at 40 mg/L and mild cholestasis. Biopsies of the liver excluded neoplastic or infectious diseases and showed inflammatory granulation tissue with abscess formation. A diagnosis of sarcoidosis-associated aseptic abscesses syndrome was then made, which was successfully treated with corticosteroids.