We read with great interest the report by Fernandéz‐Ruiz and colleagues on the outcome of 18 transplant recipients¹ with COVID‐19, showing a higher case fatality rate than that reported in the general population. Unlike them, we did not observe higher mortality in transplant setting compared to our overall mortality. We collected data of 13 consecutive solid organ transplant recipients admitted to our Center for COVID‐19 between February 21st and April 26th, 2020, with a median follow up of 36 days (IQR 25‐41). Our patients were younger (median age 59 versus 71 years) and with a shorter median interval from transplantation (5.3 versus 9.3 years) compared to the Spanish case series. The most common comorbidities were hypertension (54%) and diabetes (31%).

Meningitis and ventriculitis, due to carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, are frequently associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In the case of multi-drug-resistant pathogens, it is necessary to consider the limited susceptibility profile as well as the penetration of the antimicrobials into the brain. Limited data are available regarding the treatment of central nervous system infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. We report a study of a patient treated with meropenem–vaborbactam in the case of post-neurosurgical meningitis due to carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CPKP).

Through a hospital-based SARS-CoV-2 molecular and serological screening, we evaluated the effectiveness of two months of lockdown and two of surveillance, in Milan, Lombardy, the first to be overwhelmed by COVID-19 pandemics during March-April 2020. All subjects presenting at the major hospital of Milan from May-11 to July-5, 2020, underwent a serological screening by chemiluminescent assays. Those admitted were further tested by RT-PCR. The cumulative anti-N IgG seroprevalence in the 2753 subjects analyzed was of 5.1% (95%CI = 4.3%-6.0%), with a peak of 8.4% (6.1%-11.4%) 60–63 days since the peak of diagnoses (March-20). 31/106 (29.2%) anti-N reactive subjects had anti-S1/S2 titers >80 AU/mL. Being tested from May-18 to June-5, or residing in the provinces with higher SARS-CoV-2 circulation, were positively and independently associated with anti-N IgG reactivity (OR [95%CI]: 2.179[1.455–3.264] and 3.127[1.18–8.29], respectively). In the 18 RT-PCR positive, symptomatic subjects, anti-N seroprevalence was 33.3% (95% CI: 14.8%-56.3%). SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in Milan is low, and in a downward trend after only 60–63 days since the peak of diagnoses. Italian confinement measures were effective, but the risk of contagion remains concrete. In hospital-settings, the performance of molecular and serological screenings upon admission remains highly advisable.

BACKGROUND: Parvovirus B19 is a DNA virus transmitted via respiratory droplets, commonly causing erythema infectiosum in children but also implicated in acute myocarditis. In 2024, an outbreak of parvovirus B19 infections was reported across Europe and the United States. Despite growing awareness, data on the clinical features and outcomes of children with parvovirus B19–associated acute myocarditis remain limited. METHODS: This multicenter retrospective observational study reviewed medical records of pediatric patients (<18 years of age) admitted with acute myocarditis to 11 Italian tertiary pediatric cardiac centers between January 1, 2022, and October 31, 2024. Of 217 cases, 66 had confirmed parvovirus B19 DNA in plasma (PVB19 ⁺ ), whereas 82 with negative parvovirus B19 testing served as a comparator group (PVB19 ⁻ ). Population-based incidence trends of pediatric myocarditis were also evaluated in the Lombardy region from 2004 through 2024. RESULTS: Among PVB19 ⁺ acute myocarditis cases, 58 of 66 (87.9%) were admitted in 2024. The median age was 32 months, with 51 of 66 (77.2%) ≤7 years of age, and 36 of 66 (54.5%) were boys. Median plasma viral load was 34 411 copies/mL, whereas only 30 of 56 (53.6%) had immunoglobulin M (IgM) positivity. Among 26 of 66 (39.4%) with available histology, 23 (88.4%) had lymphocytic myocarditis, and parvovirus B19 DNA was identified in 84.0% of myocardial specimens. Among 25 of 65 (38.4%) who underwent genetic testing, none had pathogenic or likely pathogenic variants. Overall, 13 of 66 (19.7%) died, underwent heart transplantation, or received a durable left ventricular assist device (in total, there were 6 deaths, 5 durable left ventricular assist devices, and 5 transplantations) compared with 1 of 82 (1.2%) among PVB19 ⁻ acute myocarditis (one patient who received a durable left ventricular assist device and later underwent transplantation; P <0.001). A marked increase in regional and institutional myocarditis incidence in pediatric acute myocarditis was observed in 2024, predominantly in children ≤7 years of age, driven by PVB19 ⁺ cases. CONCLUSIONS: During the 2024 parvovirus B19 outbreak, pediatric PVB19 ⁺ acute myocarditis cases surged in Italy and were associated with severe outcomes. A high index of suspicion is required for diagnosis, and early virological testing is essential to guide management and potentially improve outcomes.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are a major cause of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, the clinical significance of VRE colonization and the subsequent risk of VRE infection in hospitalized patients are not fully established. Prolonged hospital stays have been observed in neonates colonized by VRE. The mortality rate in pediatric patients with VRE infections ranges from 0% to 42% in both endemic and outbreak settings, often occurring in VRE-colonized neonates. Host and bacterial factors associated with a worse outcome are not fully understood yet. We describe an outbreak of VRE colonization in 21 newborns admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit in January 2024. Microbiological analyses on rectal swabs were performed using molecular testing and culture. Results: In January, VRE was first detected in the urine culture of a 3-week-old patient, followed by a subsequent positive rectal swab result. In accordance with our infection control policy, all the NICU patients were tested, leading to the identification of another 12 colonized patients. The implementation of molecular testing led to rapid VRE identification and the subsequent isolation of colonized neonates, which promptly contained the outbreak. The median time from NICU admission to colonization was 34 (6–37) days. Only one patient developed a CVC-related bloodstream infection, which was successfully treated with linezolid and CVC removal. No VRE-related deaths occurred, even among three patients who underwent abdominal surgery (one gastroschisis, one incarcerated abdominal hernia, and one umbilical hernia) and one patient with necrotizing enterocolitis. Our data show a low infection rate (4%) among VRE-colonized patients (4%) during a NICU outbreak. The rapid identification of multidrug-resistant genes by molecular testing may be implemented in specific settings to enable timely patient identification, adopt infection control measures, and administer appropriate antimicrobial therapy.