Enterococcus-related vascular graft infection: A case series.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the frequency, management, and burden of enterococcal-related vascular graft infection. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2008 to 2021, data regarding all episodes of vascular graft infections initially managed or secondarily referred to our referral center were prospectively collected. We described the history and management of the infection, depending on the type of prosthesis used. RESULTS: The frequency of enterococcal-related vascular graft infections was 29/249 (12 %). Most of them were early infections (22/29, 76 %). Infections were polymicrobial (26/29, 90 %), mostly associated with Enterobacterales. Among patients with positive blood cultures, 7/8 (88 %) involved enterococci. Patients with enterococcal-related vascular graft infections were mainly (22/29, 76 %) treated with an association of antibiotics. Mortality and relapse occurred in 28 % and 7 % respectively of the cases. CONCLUSIONS: Enterococcal-related vascular graft infections occurred in patients with comorbidities, during the early period following surgery and were more frequent in cases of intra-cavitary prosthesis. Their potential virulence needs to be considered, especially in polymicrobial infections.

Staphylococcus aureus mediastinitis due to subclavian vein perforation and catheter-related-infection.

In rare cases the implantation or use of a port-a-cath can be complicated by venous perforation or catheter-related infection. We describe a patient with these two complications resulting in Staphylococcus aureus mediastinitis. Removal of the device and prolonged antibiotic therapy cured the infection.

Severe SARS-CoV-2 patients develop a higher specific T-cell response.

OBJECTIVES: Assessment of the adaptive immune response against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is crucial for studying long-term immunity and vaccine strategies. We quantified IFNγ-secreting T cells reactive against the main viral SARS-CoV-2 antigens using a standardised enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISpot). METHODS: Overlapping peptide pools built from the sequences of M, N and S viral proteins and a mix (MNS) were used as antigens. Using IFNγ T-CoV-Spot assay, we assessed T-cell and antibody responses in mild, moderate and severe SARS-CoV-2 patients and in control samples collected before the outbreak. RESULTS: Specific T cells were assessed in 60 consecutive patients (mild, n = 26; moderate, n = 10; and severe patients, n = 24) during their follow-up (median time from symptom onset [interquartile range]: 36 days [28;53]). T cells against M, N and S peptide pools were detected in n = 60 (100%), n = 56 (93.3%), n = 55 patients (91.7%), respectively. Using the MNS mix, IFNγ T-CoV-Spot assay showed a specificity of 96.7% (95% CI, 88.5-99.6%) and a specificity of 90.3% (75.2-98.0%). The frequency of reactive T cells observed with M, S and MNS mix pools correlated with severity and with levels of anti-S1 and anti-RBD serum antibodies. CONCLUSION: IFNγ T-CoV-Spot assay is a reliable method to explore specific T cells in large cohorts of patients. This test may become a useful tool to assess the long-lived memory T-cell response after vaccination. Our study demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 patients developing a severe disease achieve a higher adaptive immune response.