CIMT 2023: report on the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association for Cancer Immunotherapy.

The Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT) celebrated the 20th anniversary of the CIMT Annual Meeting. CIMT2023 was held 3-5 May 2023 in Mainz, Germany. 1051 academic and clinical professionals from over 30 countries attended the meeting and discussed the latest advances in cancer immunology and immunotherapy research. This report summarizes the highlights of CIMT2023.

Nosocomial influenza in south-western Swiss hospitals during two seasonal epidemics: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: In Switzerland each year, influenza leads to between 112,000 and 275,000 medical consultations. Data on nosocomial influenza infection are limited. AIM: To describe nosocomial cases of seasonal influenza in south-western Switzerland. METHODS: This study was conducted during two seasonal influenza epidemics from 2016 to 2018 in 27 acute care public hospitals in south-western Switzerland. During these two time-periods, every patient hospitalized for >72 h who was positively screened by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or antigen detection for influenza was included in the survey. Characteristics of patients included age, sex, and comorbidities. Included patients were followed up until discharge or death. Complications and administration of antineuraminidases and/or antibiotics were registered. FINDINGS: The median influenza vaccine coverage of healthcare workers was 40%. In all, 836 patients were included (98% with type A influenza virus in 2016-2017; 77% with type B virus in 2017-2018). Most patients (81%) had an unknown vaccine status. Overall, the incidence of nosocomial influenza was 0.5 per 100 admissions (0.35 per 1000 patient-days). The most frequent comorbidities were diabetes (20%), chronic respiratory diseases (19%), and malnutrition (17%). Fever (77%) and cough (66%) were the most frequent symptoms. Seventy-one percent of patients received antineuraminidases, 28% received antibiotics. Infectious complications such as pneumonia were reported in 9%. Overall, the all-cause mortality was 6%. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of nosocomial influenza underlines the importance of vaccinating patients and healthcare workers, rapidly recognizing community- or hospital-acquired cases, and applying adequate additional measures to prevent dissemination, including the timely administration of antineuraminidases to avoid antibiotic use (and misuse).

[Non-HIV infectious disease outpatient consultations: a 5-year study in a Swiss University Hospital]. / Consultations infectiologiques ambutatoires non VIH: analyse d'un centre universitaire sur cinq ans.

Few studies have examined the workload or clinical spectrum of non-HIV infectious diseases outpatient consultations (IDOC). This retrospective study aims to describe IDOC referrals over the past 5 years. In total, 483 patients were referred (with an increase of 63% between 2009 and 2013). Most referrals were received from primary care clinicians (45%). Median patient age was 47 years, 57% of patients were men and 17% were immunosuppressed. Of the diagnoses retained, 74% were infectious, 20% were non-infectious and 6% were of unknown aetiology. Two community outbreaks were identified (tattoo-related mycobacterial infection and Q fever). In conclusion, the infectious diseases outpatient clinic, which has expanded progressively in the past 5 years, provides a specialised service for primary health clinicians and for public health.

[Strongyloidiasis: who is at risk of severe infection and how to prevent it?]. / Strongyloïdose: qui est à risque d'infection sévère et comment la prévenir?

Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome, which carries a high mortality (60%), occurs usually after immunosuppressive therapy. Cellular immunosuppression allows the parasite to reactivate and stimulate its cycle of auto-infection. It is therefore important to prevent this syndrome by screening at risk patients at risk for chronic strongyloidiasis before starting immunosuppressive treatment and especially before treatment with corticosteroids, even that of short duration. Ivermectine is the treatment of choice.

[Breast infections]. / Infections du sein.

Breast infections such as mastitis and breast abscesses are frequent. They are usually caused by the same microorganisms as those that cause other soft tissue infections. For a simple mastitis, a treatment with antibiotics alone is usually sufficient, whereas drainage is necessary when an abscess is present. While ultrasound-assisted puncture and aspiration is the best approach for breast abscesses of less than 3 cm, surgery is recommended for more extended infection. Infections of breast implants have to be treated applying a mixed surgical-medical approach with removal of the implant (usually in one stage exchange) and antibiotics adapted to the microorganism identified.

[Hospital-based internal medicine: year 2011 in chief resident's perspective]. / Médecine interne générale en pratique hospitalière: l'année 2011 mise en perspective par les chefs de clinique.

The year 2011 was full of significant advances in all areas of medicine. Whether small or large issues, they all have an impact on daily practice in general internal medicine. For example, intravenous administration of diuretics in heart failure shows no benefit. But double dose may improve symptoms faster. Direct Xa inhibitors are emerging as alternative to anti-vitamin K. beta-blockers reduce overall mortality in COPD and do not worsen lung function significantly. Each year, the chief residents from the Department of internal medicine at the University hospital of Lausanne meet to share their readings. Twelve new therapeutic considerations of 2011 are reviewed here.