Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLD) involve T- or B-cell proliferation in an immunosuppressed transplant recipient. It usually presents at extra-nodal sites and can affect several organs. Cutaneous manifestations of PTLD are relatively rare and can be very heterogeneous. We report a case of a 36-year-old male cardiac transplant recipient on long-term immunosuppression (ciclosporin, azathioprine, and prednisolone) who presented with a three-month history of a painless ulcer on the right lower leg. A skin biopsy showed a dermal atypical lymphoid infiltrate positive for PAX5, CD20 and MUM1 on immunohistochemistry and EBV with in-situ hybridisation and a 70% Ki-67 cell proliferation index. A whole body fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scan showed increased tracer uptake corresponding to the site of the cutaneous ulcer, the anterior cortex of the right lower tibia, an area adjacent to the right superficial femoral artery and the right inguinal node. These findings were in keeping with monomorphic B-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) consistent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, non-germinal centre subtype. Cessation of azathioprine and treatment with an anti-CD20 antibody, rituximab, led to clinical resolution of the ulcer and a negative FDG-PET scan, with no disease recurrence to date. We present a rare case of monomorphic PTLD with cutaneous involvement, presenting with a solitary, painless ulcer, which was successfully treated with a reduction in immunosuppression and additional rituximab monotherapy, given the aggressive subtype. PTLD can arise many years post-transplant and is a serious, potentially life-threatening complication. Therefore, early recognition and prompt treatment are of paramount importance.

Anncaliia algerae, a microsporidium, has risen to prominence as an opportunistic pathogen, particularly afflicting individuals who are immunocompromised with conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, organ transplantation, and hematologic malignancy. Surprisingly, despite its recognized impact, the identification of A algerae in ascitic fluid has not been documented. As such, we pinpointed A algerae as the probable instigator of ascitic accumulation in a patient with a history of acute myeloid leukemia and extended periods of immunosuppressive therapy. For this patient, there were no signs of A algerae-related infections (eg, myositis), vocal cord involvement, or disseminated infection. The presence of A algerae was finally identified by next-generation metagenomic sequencing analysis of the ascitic fluid. Clinical presentation was characterized by elevated C-reactive protein levels (110.7 mg/L), diminished platelet count (48 × 109/L), abdominal distension secondary to ascitic fluid accumulation, and lower limb pain, and it showed marked improvement following a 4-day regimen of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and albendazole. Despite this promising response, the patient succumbed to aspiration of vomitus. This case underscores the importance of considering rarer organisms, such as A algerae infection, in patients who are immunocompromised and present with unexplained ascites accumulation. It highlights the potential effectiveness of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and albendazole in managing such cases. Further research is warranted to elucidate optimal management strategies and improve outcomes in similar clinical scenarios.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination represents a milestone in primary prevention of sexually transmitted infections. However, little is known about its possible effects on already established HPV infections. We report the case of a 9-year-old immunosuppressed girl with refractory warts, successfully treated with the nonavalent-HPV vaccine and review the literature about the therapeutic effects of HPV vaccination on benign HPV-induced epithelial proliferations in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients. In the literature, promising results were shown on cutaneous warts after HPV vaccination, especially in children and young adults, also in immunosuppressed patients, whereas controverse results were found on anogenital warts. These findings suggest a critical need for randomized clinical trials to assess the efficacy of HPV vaccination in the treatment of benign HPV-induced epithelial proliferations.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications are associated with mortality in immunocompromised patients. The usefulness of bronchoscopy has been reported. However, clinical factors and procedures that influence diagnostic yield are still not established.
METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 115 bronchoscopies performed on 108 immunocompromised patients, defined as those who take corticosteroids and/or immunosuppressants. We evaluated clinical factors, sampling procedures, final diagnosis, and severe complications of bronchoscopy.
RESULTS: The clinical diagnosis was obtained in 51 patients (44%). Of those, 33 cases were diagnosed as infectious diseases and 18 as non-infectious diseases. Nine out of 115 cases (7.8%) initiated new immunosuppressive treatment for an underlying disorder based on the negative microbiological results obtained with bronchoscopy. Collagen vascular disease was the most common underlying disorders (62 patients, 54%). Bronchoscopy was useful regardless of whether the patient was immunosuppressed to treat collagen vascular disease (P = 0.47). Performing transbronchial biopsy correlated with better diagnostic yield of bronchoscopy (54.7% vs 35.5%, P = 0.049). Other clinical factors, such as radiological findings, respiratory failure or antibiotic use at the time of bronchoscopy did not significantly influence diagnostic yield. Respiratory failure requiring intubation after bronchoscopy occurred only in one case (0.9%).
CONCLUSIONS: Our study implied the transbronchial biopsy may be a useful procedure for reaching a diagnosis in immunocompromised patients with pulmonary infiltrates. In addition, our data suggest the usefulness of bronchoscopy for immunocompromised patients due to the treatment of collagen vascular disease as well as other underlying disorders.

BACKGROUND: Globally, there are marked inconsistencies in how immunosuppression is characterized and subdivided into clinical risk groups. This is detrimental to the precision and comparability of disease surveillance efforts-which has negative implications for the care of those who are immunosuppressed and their health outcomes. This was particularly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic; despite collective motivation to protect these patients, conflicting clinical definitions created international rifts in how those who were immunosuppressed were monitored and managed during this period. We propose that international clinical consensus be built around the conditions that lead to immunosuppression and their gradations of severity concerning COVID-19. Such information can then be formalized into a digital phenotype to enhance disease surveillance and provide much-needed intelligence on risk-prioritizing these patients.
OBJECTIVE: We aim to demonstrate how electronic Delphi objectives, methodology, and statistical approaches will help address this lack of consensus internationally and deliver a COVID-19 risk-stratified phenotype for \"adult immunosuppression.\"
METHODS: Leveraging existing evidence for heterogeneous COVID-19 outcomes in adults who are immunosuppressed, this work will recruit over 50 world-leading clinical, research, or policy experts in the area of immunology or clinical risk prioritization. After 2 rounds of clinical consensus building and 1 round of concluding debate, these panelists will confirm the medical conditions that should be classed as immunosuppressed and their differential vulnerability to COVID-19. Consensus statements on the time and dose dependencies of these risks will also be presented. This work will be conducted iteratively, with opportunities for panelists to ask clarifying questions between rounds and provide ongoing feedback to improve questionnaire items. Statistical analysis will focus on levels of agreement between responses.
RESULTS: This protocol outlines a robust method for improving consensus on the definition and meaningful subdivision of adult immunosuppression concerning COVID-19. Panelist recruitment took place between April and May of 2024; the target set for over 50 panelists was achieved. The study launched at the end of May and data collection is projected to end in July 2024.
CONCLUSIONS: This protocol, if fully implemented, will deliver a universally acceptable, clinically relevant, and electronic health record-compatible phenotype for adult immunosuppression. As well as having immediate value for COVID-19 resource prioritization, this exercise and its output hold prospective value for clinical decision-making across all diseases that disproportionately affect those who are immunosuppressed.
UNASSIGNED: PRR1-10.2196/56271.

Recombinant zoster vaccine has been recommended by the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for the prevention of herpes zoster (HZ) in immunocompetent adults aged at least 50 years since 2018. In January 2022, this was extended to immunodeficient/immunosuppressed adults aged at least 19 years. Key study objectives were to assess specialists\' knowledge of the ACIP HZ vaccination recommendations, their attitudes toward HZ vaccination, and HZ vaccination practices/barriers. This cross-sectional, web-based survey (conducted in March 2022) included US dermatologists, gastroenterologists, infectious disease specialists, oncologists, and rheumatologists who treat patients with psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, human immunodeficiency syndrome, solid tumors/hematological malignancies, and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. Although most of the 613 specialists correctly identified the ACIP HZ vaccination recommendations for adults aged at least 50 years (84%) and immunodeficient/immunosuppressed adults aged at least 19 years (67%), only 29% knew that recombinant zoster vaccine is recommended for individuals who have previously received zoster vaccine live, and only 18% knew all current ACIP recommendations. For patients with the diseases listed, 84% of specialists thought that HZ is a serious risk, 75% that HZ vaccination is extremely/very important, and 69% were extremely/very likely to recommend HZ vaccination. Only 36% administer vaccines themselves, mainly because patients receive vaccinations from others. Barriers to vaccination included more urgent/acute issues, insufficient time, and lack of patient motivation/willingness. Full knowledge of the ACIP HZ vaccination recommendations among the surveyed specialists was low. There may be a need to educate specialists to improve adherence to these recommendations. [Figure: see text].

Patients with hematologic malignancies (HMs) are at a significantly higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing severe outcomes compared to individuals without HMs. This heightened risk is influenced by various factors, including the underlying malignancy, immunosuppressive treatments, and patient-related factors. Notably, immunosuppressive regimens commonly used for HM treatment can lead to the depletion of B cells and T cells, which is associated with increased COVID-19-related complications and mortality in these patients. As the pandemic transitions into an endemic state, it remains crucial to acknowledge and address the ongoing risk for individuals with HMs. In this review, we aim to summarize the current evidence to enhance our understanding of the impact of HMs on COVID-19 risks and outcomes, identify particularly vulnerable individuals, and emphasize the need for specialized clinical attention and management. Furthermore, the impaired immune response to COVID-19 vaccination observed in these patients underscores the importance of implementing additional mitigation strategies. This may include targeted prophylaxis and treatment with antivirals and monoclonal antibodies as indicated. To provide practical guidance and considerations, we present two illustrative cases to highlight the real-life challenges faced by physicians caring for patients with HMs, emphasizing the need for individualized management based on disease severity, type, and the unique circumstances of each patient.

Leclercia adecarboxylata is a Gram-negative bacillus commonly seen in immunocompromised individuals and often misdiagnosed as Escherichia coli. L. adecarboxylata is an opportunistic pathogen found in aquatic environments. It is a nonfatal infection that has low virulence and endorses susceptibility to many common antibiotics. We report a case of a 53-year-old immunocompromised male who was managed for L. adecarboxylata bacteremia.

To assess the positive rate of 11 respiratory pathogens in 2023, providing a comprehensive summary and analysis of the respiratory infection patterns after COVID-19 pandemic. The study comprised 7544 inpatients suspected of respiratory infections who underwent respiratory pathogen multiplex polymerase chain reaction tests from July 2022 to December 31, 2023. We analyzed the positive rate of 11 pathogens over 18 months and the characterization of infection patterns among different age groups and immune states. Among 7544 patients (age range 4 months to 104 years, 44.99% female), the incidence of infected by at least one of the 11 pathogens was 26.07%. Children (55.18%, p < 0.05) experienced a significantly higher infection probability than adults (20.88%) and old (20.66%). Influenza A virus (8.63%), Mycoplasma pneumoniae (5.47%), and human rhinovirus (5.12%) were the most common pathogens. In children, M. pneumoniae (35.96%) replaced the predominant role of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) (5.91%) in the pathogen spectrum. Age, immunosuppressed state, and respiratory chronic conditions were associated with a significantly higher risk of mixed infection. Immunosuppressed patients were more vulnerable to human coronavirus (4.64% vs. 1.65%, p < 0.05), human parainfluenza virus (3.46% vs. 1.69%, p < 0.05), and HRSV (2.27% vs. 0.55%, p < 0.05). Patterns in respiratory infections changed following regional epidemic control measures and the COVID-19 pandemic.

暂无摘要。