We investigated specific humoral and T-cell responses in people living with HIV (PLWH) before (T0), after two (T1) and after six months (T2) from the third dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine. Healthy donors (HD) were enrolled. The specific humoral response was present in most PLWH already after the second dose, but the third dose increased both the rate of response and its magnitude. Collectively, no significant differences were found in the percentage of responding T-cells between PLWH and HD. At T0, stratifying PLWH according to CD4 cell count, a lower percentage of responding T-cells in 200 cells/µL one was observed. At T1, this parameter was comparable between the two subgroups, and the same result was found at T2. However, the pattern of co-expression of IFNγ, IL2 and TNFα in PLWH was characterized by a higher expression of TNFα, independently of CD4 cell count, indicating a persistent immunological signature despite successful ART. mRNA vaccination elicited a specific response in most PLWH, although the cellular one seems qualitatively inferior compared to HD. Therefore, an understanding of the T-cell quality dynamic is needed to determine the best vaccination strategy and, in general, the capability of immune response in ART-treated PLWH.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infection characterized by the dysregulation of systemic cytokine levels. The measurement of serum levels of inflammatory cyto-/chemokines has been suggested as a tool in the management of COVID-19. The aim of this study is to highlight the significance of measured levels of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12(p70), IL-27, interferon (IFN)γ, interferon gamma-induced protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in serum samples from infected and recovered subjects, possibly predictive of severity and/or duration of the disease. Serum samples from healthy (HD), positive at hospital admittance (T0), and recovered subjects (T1, 31–60, or 70–200 days post-negativization) were collected and tested through a bead-based cytometric assay and confirmed through ELISA. IL-10 levels were increased in the T0 group compared to both HD and T1. IL-27 significantly decreased in the 31–60 group. IL-1β significantly increased in the 70–200 day group. TNF-α significantly decreased in T0 compared to HD and in the 31–60 group versus HD. IP-10 significantly increased in T0 compared to HD. These results suggest that IP-10 could represent an early marker of clinical worsening, whereas IL-10 might be indicative of the possible onset of post-COVID-19 long syndrome.

Antimicrobial resistance represents a major global health challenge, and hospital-based antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are essential for promoting appropriate antibiotic use. This study aimed to introduce and implement an ASP in a university hospital and to assess its impact on antibiotic prescribing patterns and patient outcomes. We conducted a single-center study including infectious disease (ID) consultations performed before ASP introduction (2023), during implementation (2024), and after full implementation (December 2024–February 2025). Primary outcomes were carbapenem prescriptions and antimicrobial stewardship interventions, while secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, 30-day in-hospital mortality, and length of hospital stay (LOS). A total of 1673 ID consultations involving 975 patients in pre- and post-interventional phases were analyzed. Carbapenem prescriptions progressively and significantly declined over the study phases (from 32.1% to 18.6%; adjusted OR 0.57 [95% CI 0.35–0.92] in Phase II and 0.39 [95% CI 0.22–0.70] in Phase III compared to Phase I). Antimicrobial stewardship interventions increased significantly over time (reaching 54.0% in Phase III; adjusted OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.40–2.69). No significant differences in 30-day in-hospital mortality or LOS were detected across the study phases. In conclusion, a structured ASP was associated with improved antibiotic prescribing practices, supporting its role as a key strategy for optimizing antimicrobial use in hospital settings.