Treatment of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with lamivudine may not completely suppress viral replication and often fails as a result of lamivudine resistance. Tenofovir is a new HIV inhibitor with further activity against HBV, which was explored in 12 HBV/HIV-co-infected patients with detectable levels of serum HBV-DNA, despite receiving a lamivudine-containing antiretroviral regimen. Lamivudine-resistance mutations were found in HBV from seven patients. HBV-DNA levels dropped a median of 3.78 logs from baseline to 24 weeks. Tenofovir was very effective at reducing HBV-DNA levels in HIV/HBV-co-infected patients carrying either wild-type or lamivudine-resistant viruses.

Summary: Background: Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is a complication of respiratory bacterial and viral infections such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19).Patients/Methods: In University Hospital La Paz (Madrid, Spain), we reviewed the clinical and demographic characteristics of 10 patients with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) PCR and Aspergillus spp. isolate in respiratory samples. We also recovered results of galactomannan tests in serum and/or bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples.Results: Eight male and two female from 51 to 76 years were recovered. They had reported risk factors to develop IPA (haematological malignancies, immunosuppression, diabetes, obesity, intensive care unit stay, among others). Azole susceptible Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated in nine patients and Aspergillus nidulans was isolated in one patient. Only one case was classified as probable aspergillosis, seven cases as putative aspergillosis, and two cases were not classifiable. Eight patients received antifungal treatment. Seven patients died (70%), two are still inpatient due to nosocomial infections and one was discharged referred to another institution.Conclusions: This clinical entity has high mortality, and therefore, it should be performed surveillance with early galactomannan tests and cultures in respiratory samples in order to improve the outcome of the patients with this condition.

The immune suppression caused by HIV infection accelerates the course of liver disease caused by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We assessed the outcome of HIV/HBV-coinfected patients exposed to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) including anti-HBV active drugs. Baseline and follow-up plasma HBVDNA and HIV-RNA levels, HBV serological markers, and CD4 counts were longitudinally evaluated in all HBsAg⁺ individuals with HIV infection on regular follow-up at an urban HIV reference clinic. Out of 79 HBsAg⁺ chronic carriers identified, 39 (50%) were HBeAg⁺. Lamivudine (3TC) alone had been received by 37% of patients, while 3TC plus tenofovir (concomitantly or consecutively) had been taken by 58% of them. The median follow-up was of 52 months. Loss of HBeAg or HBsAg occurred in 28% (10/36) and 13% (10/75) of patients, respectively. In multivariate analysis, only undetectable plasma HIV-RNA levels [OR 4.58 (95% CI 1.25–16.78); p = 0.02] and greater CD4 gains on HAART [OR 1.003 (95% CI 1.000–1.006); p = 0.03] were associated with undetectable serum HBV-DNA at the end of follow-up. Anti-HBV active HAART makes it possible to achieve HBsAg clearance, anti-HBe seroconversion, and suppression of HBV replication in a substantial proportion of HBV/HIV-coinfected patients, particularly in those with complete HIV suppression and greater immune recovery. Thus, HBV/HIV-coinfected patients might benefit from an earlier introduction of HAART.

Ventriculitis is a complication of meningitis (community-acquired or nosocomial) or other central nervous system (CNS) infections such as brain abscess. They are associated with a different spectrum of microorganisms, from resistant gram-negative bacilli to staphylococci, that can lead serious illness with high mortality. Difficult-to-treat resistance (DTR) gram-negative bacilli may increase to 20% of deaths respective to susceptible isolates of the same bacteria. We present the first report of a clinical cured case of DTR Pseudomonas aeruginosa ventriculitis in which cefiderocol penetration into the CNS has been confirmed in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Cefiderocol might be considered for difficult-to-treat CNS infections in view of the recent new cases published as well as our case.