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R Malinverni

Publications and source records attributed to R Malinverni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Outbreak of human listeriosis associated with tomme cheese in northwest Switzerland, 2005.

During an eight week period in spring 2005, 10 cases of listeriosis were reported in a small area of northwest Switzerland (150,000 inhabitants). Eight cases were in older immunocompromised patients who became ill with bacteraemia (three deaths), and two cases were in pregnant women who had septic abortion. All cases were due to a serotype 1/2a isolate with one of two pulsovars found by PFGE. Patient interviews quickly revealed that a locally made and distributed soft cheese (known as 'tomme') was the food source responsible for the outbreak. Samples of this cheese, and of butter made in the same factory, revealed Listeria monocytogenes sv 1/2a of the same pulsovar in amounts of 1000-10 000 and 10-100 cfu/g, respectively. The prompt suspension of production, the market recall of the product, and a public alert terminated the outbreak. However, two cases of febrile gastroenteritis due to the same strains were reported within 10 days of product recall. The restricted distribution area of the contaminated cheese and the collaboration of local physicians, medical microbiologists and food health services all contributed to a rapid and successful investigation. This small outbreak of listeriosis reinforces the need for a laboratory-based surveillance system with rapid typing, as well as collaboration between physicians and microbiologists.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

[Urinary tract infections and antibiotic resistance].

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are diseases which differ considerably regarding pathogenesis, natural history and management. Complicated UTI as well as uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis in women are managed with pretherapy urine and, possibly, blood culture. This is not the case, however, with the most frequent UTI, acute uncomplicated cystitis in women. Empirical management strategies, without pretherapy culture, are well established and widely used. The treatment of choice is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) and fluoroquinolones. E. coli cause the vast majority of these infections, and resistance to TMP-SMZ has been observed to increase considerably during the last decade. Data from Europe and Switzerland regarding resistance of etiologic agents causing acute uncomplicated cystitis are very limited. Indeed, these empirical management strategies have resulted in poor microbiological information, since only selected groups of women with UTI undergo urine culture. Data derived from laboratory isolates usually lack the necessary clinical and epidemiological correlations. Preliminary data allow some estimates of the clinical and microbiological success rates when treating TMP-SMZ resistant uropathogens with TMP-SMZ. TMP-SMZ should probably no longer be used if the prevalence of TMP-SMZ resistance among uropathogens causing acute uncomplicated cystitis is 20% or higher. In these cases, a fluoroquinolone during three days, amoxicillin-clavulanate during three to five days or nitrofurantoin during seven days should be given empirically. Non-antibiotic means of preventing UTI, such as increasing colonization resistance with lactobacilli, or the use of vaccines which provide inhibition of adherence of uropathogens to uroepithelial cells, show very promising experimental results. In order to survey and correct the value of our empirical strategies, more appropriate data on antimicrobial resistance and risk factors in the community are needed. This data can only be produced by a strong collaboration effort with networks of general practitioners.

Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary↗
PubMed2001

Combined therapy with saquinavir, ritonavir and stavudine in moderately to severely immunosuppressed HIV-infected protease inhibitor-naive patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the short-term and long-term effect of a combination of saquinavir, ritonavir and stavudine in moderately to severely immunosuppressed protease inhibitor-naive patients. DESIGN: Prospective open-label multicentre study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 64 protease inhibitor-naive and stavudine-naive HIV-infected patients with a CD4 count of < 250 cells/microL and > 10 000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL received saquinavir hard-gelatin capsules, ritonavir and stavudine. Full (drop in viraemia of > 2 log10 and/or < 500 copies/mL) and partial responders (drop to between 500 and 5000 viraemia copies/mL) at week 9 (end of phase I) entered the second phase (additional 12-month period). RESULTS: Fifty-six patients completed phase I, 45 (70%) full responders and nine (14%) partial responders by intent-to-treat analysis. Thirty-nine patients completed phase II, 33 (52%) full responders and two (3%) partial responders. Six patients had < 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL at week 9, and 20 (31%) patients at month 12 of phase II. Mean CD4 cell counts increased significantly in the 56 patients from 89 to 184 cells/microL after 9 weeks and from 100 to 292 cells/microL in the 39 patients treated for another 12 months. Higher baseline viraemia and lower baseline CD4 cell counts were not associated with an unfavourable virological response at week 9 and month 12 of phase II. HIV DNA in peripheral blood monocytes decreased substantially (- 1.5 log10) but was detectable in all except one patient at the end of phase II. CONCLUSION: In protease- and stavudine-naive HIV-infected patients with moderate to severe immunosuppression, saquinavir in combination with ritonavir and stavudine caused a substantial long-term decrease in plasma viral load in approximately half the participants and a substantial increase in CD4 cell counts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Economic evaluation of systemic treatments for cytomegalovirus retinitis in patients with AIDS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost of using systemic therapy to treat newly diagnosed cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis in persons with AIDS. DESIGN: Incidence-based simulation model of CMV treatment from a government payer perspective. SETTING: Swiss healthcare system. PATIENTS AND PARTICIPANTS: Patients with AIDS and newly diagnosed CMV retinitis. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were assigned to 1 of 4 treatment regimens for induction and maintenance therapy: (i) intravenous (IV) cidofovir induction and maintenance (cidofovir IV/IV); (ii) IV foscarnet induction and maintenance (foscarnet IV/IV); (iii) IV ganciclovir induction and maintenance (ganciclovir IV/IV); and (iv) IV ganciclovir induction and oral (PO) ganciclovir maintenance (ganciclovir IV/PO). Following a second relapse, patients were assigned to one of the other regimens. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time to first and subsequent progression, duration of maintenance treatment and direct medical expenditures [1998 Swiss francs (SwF)] . RESULTS: The median time to first progression was longest for cidofovir IV/IV, followed by foscarnet IV/IV, ganciclovir IV/IV and ganciclovir IV/PO. Mean survival was 13 months and mean costs for this period in the base case were lowest in those initially treated with cidofovir (SwF146,742), followed by initial treatment with foscarnet IV/IV (SwF194,809), ganciclovir IV/PO (SwF195,190) and ganciclovir IV/IV (SwF243,964). Costs were most sensitive to changes in efficacy estimates. CONCLUSIONS: Of the regimens studied, initiation of treatment with systemic cidofovir appears least costly over a 13-month period.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2000

Long-term hydroxyurea in combination with didanosine and stavudine for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In 1998 we reported on a randomized comparison between stavudine plus didanosine plus placebo versus stavudine plus didanosine plus hydroxyurea (HU), in patients with a CD4 count of 200-500 x 10(6) cells/l. After 3 months, the HU group had a higher proportion of patients with viral load < 200 x 10 cells/l. At the end of the 3 months blinded period, patients in the placebo group had the option to add HU if their viral load remained > 200 x 10(6) cells/l. We report results after 24 months. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients were randomized to the HU arm, and a further 30 elected to add HU after 12 weeks. Twenty-four months after the start of the trial, only 25% of the 72 patients originally randomized to HU, and 20% of the 30 who added HU after week 12, were still taking it. The reasons for stopping HU were: lack of efficacy (45%), adverse events (37%) and patient or physician preference (18%). Side effects were more frequent in the didanosine/stavudine/HU group than in the didanosine/stavudine group: neuropathy (35 versus 15%, P< 0.02), fatigue (22 versus 7%, P< 0.01), and nausea or vomiting (26 versus 9%, P< 0.01). Of those who had discontinued HU, 73% were taking three drugs including a protease inhibitor. Patients who had started HU were compared with similar patients who had started protease inhibitors in the Swiss cohort. The probability of stopping HU was higher than the probability of stopping nelfinavir or indinavir, and similar to the probability of stopping ritonavir. CONCLUSION: HU increased the antiviral effect of stavudine plus didanosine. However, side effects were more frequent, and after 24 months the majority of patients had switched to protease inhibitor regimens.

Anti-HIV Agents↗
PubMed2000

Effect of azithromycin plus rifampin versus amoxicillin alone on eradication and inflammation in the chronic course of Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonitis in mice.

The effects of treatment with azithromycin plus rifampin (A+R), amoxicillin (A), or placebo (P) on the chronic course of experimental Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonitis in mice were assessed by culture, PCR, and immunocytochemistry as well as by degree of inflammation in lung tissue. Eradication of the pathogen was significantly more frequent and inflammation in tissue was significantly reduced after treatment with A+R compared to after treatment with A or P. Combination therapy with azithromycin plus rifampin showed favorable effects in the chronic course of C. pneumoniae pneumonitis.

Amoxicillin↗
PubMed2000

[Infective Chlamydia pneumoniae and coronary disease: where is the truth?].

Chlamydia pneumoniae has been associated with atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease for several years. This association is based upon 4 research areas: 1. seroepidemiological studies, 2. detection of the pathogen in diseased arteries, 3. experimental studies in vitro and in animal models, and 4. human intervention trials with antibiotics. We review and discuss recent data from these four areas. Although the infectious hypothesis of atherosclerosis is not new, the bulk of evidence supporting a role for C. pneumoniae is important. However, a definite pathogenic role for initiating or accelerating the athreosclerotic process remains unproven. Several large clinical trials with antibiotic interventions in patients with coronary heart disease are ongoing. Treatment of C. pneumoniae infection and the perspectives for a vaccine remain, however, problematic.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

HAART in HIV-infected patients: restoration of antigen-specific CD4 T-cell responses in vitro is correlated with CD4 memory T-cell reconstitution, whereas improvement in delayed type hypersensitivity is related to a decrease in viraemia.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse prospectively the effect of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on CD4 T-cell responses in vitro and in vivo in HIV-infected patients. DESIGN: Prospective study with 49 protease inhibitor-naive adult patients. Data were collected at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of HAART. METHODS: In vitro CD4 T-cell reactivity was analysed by stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells with several antigens. In vivo CD4 T-cell reactivity (delayed type hypersensitivity) was assessed by Multitest Merieux. Both measurements were correlated to CD4 (memory) T-cell count and HIV-1 viraemia. RESULTS: Restoration of specific CD4 T-cell proliferation was observed in most patients. The in vitro T-cell response was restored more frequently against antigens to which the immune system is constantly exposed (Candida albicans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. avium) as compared with a low-exposure antigen (tetanus toxoid). Overall, delayed type hypersensitivity detection rate increased under HAART. Multivariate analysis showed improvement of antigen-specific T-cell proliferation to be significantly associated with an increase in memory CD4 T-cells, whereas improvement of the delayed type hypersensitivity response was associated with a decrease in plasma HIV-1 RNA. CONCLUSIONS: HAART for 6 months restored antigen-specific CD4 T-cell response to several antigens. In vitro immune reconstitution was closely correlated with an increase in memory CD4 cells. Restoration of delayed type hypersensitivity was associated with suppression of viraemia. It appears that in addition to expansion of memory CD4 cells, suppression of viraemia following HAART may allow an improved inflammatory reaction, thus providing even stronger immune reconstitution.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Discontinuation of primary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in HIV-1-infected adults treated with combination antiretroviral therapy. Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether primary prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia can be discontinued in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who are successfully treated with combination antiretroviral therapy. We prospectively studied the safety of stopping prophylaxis among patients in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study. METHODS: Patients were eligible for our study if their CD4 counts had increased to at least 200 cells per cubic millimeter and 14 percent of total lymphocytes while they were receiving combination antiretroviral therapy, with these levels sustained for at least 12 weeks. Prophylaxis was stopped at study entry, and patients were examined every three months thereafter. The development of P. carinii pneumonia was the primary end point, and the development of toxoplasmic encephalitis the secondary end point. RESULTS: Of the 262 patients included in our analysis, 121 (46.2 percent) were positive for IgG antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii at base line. The median CD4 count at study entry was 325 per cubic millimeter (range, 210 to 806); the median nadir CD4 count was 110 per cubic millimeter (range, 0 to 240). During a median follow-up of 11.3 months (range, 3.0 to 18.8), prophylaxis was resumed in nine patients, and two patients died. There were no cases of P. carinii pneumonia or toxoplasmic encephalitis. The one-sided upper 99 percent confidence limit for the incidence of P. carinii pneumonia was 1.9 cases per 100 patient-years (based on 238 patient-years of follow-up). The corresponding figure for toxoplasmic encephalitis was 4.2 per 100 patient-years (based on 110 patient-years of follow-up). CONCLUSIONS: Stopping primary prophylaxis against P. carinii pneumonia appears to be safe in HIV-infected patients who are receiving combination antiretroviral treatment and who have had a sustained increase in their CD4 counts to at least 200 cells per cubic millimeter and to at least 14 percent of total lymphocytes.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

[CNS-infections in HIV patients].

Neurological manifestations are frequent in patients with AIDS. Many neurological disorders have disappeared with the advent of highly active antiretroviral combination therapies. We can speculate that some of these disorders may reappear in patients under antiretroviral therapy, possibly with different clinical manifestations and at a different stage during HIV-infection. We discuss the appearance of the most common neurological complications in relation to the CD4-cell count during HIV-infection. The most frequent causes of seizures and headache in HIV-infected patients are shown. We recommend a systematic diagnostic work-up in patients with headache, starting from 3 typical clinical situations: focal signs, convulsions or altered mental status; no focal signs, CD4-cells > 200 microliters, meningism; fever and/or meningism, no focal signs. The analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid by polymerase chain reaction is now a well established diagnostic method for investigating the most common CNS-infections in AIDS-patients. Neuroimaging (by MRI or CT-scan) is an additional, useful investigation. Cerebral toxoplasmosis, cryptococcosis, PML, encephalitis due to herpes-viruses and neurosyphilis are discussed.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed1999

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus meningitis: clinical and microbiological features of nine cases.

Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (GAS) meningitis is a rare disease in adults. We conducted a retrospective study to describe clinical and microbiological features of nine cases of GAS meningitis in Switzerland. Of nine patients, six had neurosurgical conditions, and five had upper respiratory tract infections. Eight cases were community-acquired. The outcome of GAS meningitis was favorable; only one patient died of neurosurgical complications. No patient presented with toxic shock syndrome. Serotyping failed to reveal a dominant strain, and genotyping revealed that two strains carried the gene encoding the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin C and that one strain carried the gene encoding the streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A. Our observations suggest that GAS meningitis in adults is associated with neurosurgical conditions and/or an upper respiratory tract infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Effect of azithromycin plus rifampin versus that of azithromycin alone on the eradication of Chlamydia pneumoniae from lung tissue in experimental pneumonitis.

Azithromycin, doxycycline, and rifampin, alone or in combination, were tested in vitro against Chlamydia pneumoniae AR-39. The combination of azithromycin plus rifampin showed the strongest activity and produced higher rates of eradication of C. pneumoniae from lung tissues than azithromycin alone in experimental mouse pneumonitis.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

A placebo-controlled trial of didanosine plus stavudine, with and without hydroxyurea, for HIV infection. The Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the short-term effects on surrogate markers for HIV progression of didanosine (ddl) plus stavudine (d4T), with or without hydroxyurea. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blinded, prospective study. SETTING: Swiss HIV Cohort Study. PATIENTS: A total of 144 patients (75% antiretroviral-naive) were studied (mean baseline HIV-1 RNA, 4.53 log10 copies/ml; mean CD4 cell count, 370 x 10(6)/l). INTERVENTION: Patients received ddl (200 mg twice daily) plus d4T (40 mg twice daily), with additional hydroxyurea (500 mg twice daily) or placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary endpoint was a reduction of viraemia below 200 copies/ml after 12 weeks. At that time, patients who did not reach the primary endpoint were withdrawn in the hydroxyurea arm, whereas patients in the placebo group had the option of adding hydroxyurea to ddl and d4T. All patients were followed until week 24. RESULTS: After 12 weeks, 54% of the patients randomized to hydroxyurea had viraemia below 200 copies/ml, compared with 28% on placebo (P < 0.001). Using an ultrasensitive assay with a limit of detection of 20 copies/ml, 19% of patients receiving hydroxyurea had viraemia levels below 20 copies/ml, compared with 8% on placebo (P = 0.05). Mean decrease in HIV-1 RNA was 2.3 and 1.7 log10 copies/ml for hydroxyurea and placebo groups, respectively (P = 0.001). Hydroxyurea was found to induce lymphopenia (-124 x 10(6)/l). Increase in CD4 cell counts was +28 x 10(6)/l during hydroxyurea treatment compared with +107 x 10(6)/l on placebo (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Hydroxyurea improved the antiviral activity of d4T and ddl over a 12-week period, but was associated with a smaller increase in CD4 cell counts due to hydroxyurea-induced lymphopenia.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

A critical assessment of the prognostic value of HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4+ cell counts in HIV-infected patients. The Swiss HIV Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine to what extent human immunodeficiency type 1 (HIV-1) RNA levels and CD4+ cell counts predict clinical outcomes in a general HIV-1-infected population. METHODS: Community-based prospective study (Swiss HIV Cohort Study) including 394 HIV-1-infected patients, randomly selected from 4 strata of CD4+ cell counts (0 to < 0.05, 0.05 to < 0.20, 0.20 to < 0.50, and > or = 0.50 x 10(9)/L). Levels of HIV-1 RNA, CD4+ cell counts, and other variables were evaluated from samples collected between 1991 and 1993 for their ability to predict death and clinical progression. RESULTS: Patients were followed up on average for 29 months. Baseline HIV-1 RNA levels, CD4+ cell counts, clinical stage, and beta 2-microglobulin levels independently predicted survival, whereas only HIV-1 RNA levels and CD4+ cell counts independently predicted clinical progression. Multivariate relative hazards (RHs) for death ranged from 1.0 to 5.4 across quartiles of CD4+ counts, but only from 1.0 to 1.8 across quartiles of HIV-1 RNA. For clinical progression, gradients of risk were similar for CD4+ counts (1.0-4.2) and for HIV-1 RNA (1.0-3.1). In patients with CD4+ cell counts less than 0.05 x 10(9)L, HIV-1 RNA levels predicted neither death nor clinical progression. Finally, the number of HIV-1 RNA copies per CD4+ cell was the best predictor of death (multivariate RH, 1.0-9.7 across quartiles) and clinical progression (multivariate RH, 1.0-4.1). CONCLUSIONS: Levels of HIV-1 RNA and CD4+ cell counts provided independent and complementary information on clinical outcomes. The RNA/CD4+ ratio was the best single predictor. In patients who had fewer than 0.05 x 10(9)/L CD4+ cells, HIV-1 RNA levels had little prognostic value.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Successful conservative treatment of nontyphoid salmonella endocarditis involving a bioprosthetic valve.

We report a first case of Salmonella enteritidis endocarditis involving a bioprosthetic aortic valve. Despite additional native tricuspid valve involvement, the clinical course was favorable using an antibiotic regimen of ciprofloxacin and netilmicin. Although Salmonella prosthetic valve endocarditis is considered an indication for surgical replacement of the prosthesis, this case indicates that prolonged treatment with fluoroquinolones may be an alternative provided that the hemodynamic situation is stable.

Aged↗