Publications

Authors: European Pregnancy and Paediatric HIV Cohort Collaboration (EPPICC) Study Group

Published in: Aids. 2019;33(2):295-304.

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate whether specific nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) backbones are associated with risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes among pregnant women starting antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Design Seven observational studies across eight European countries of pregnancies in HIV-positive women.

Authors: Martinez de Tejada B; European Pregnancy and Paediatric HIV Cohort Collaboration Study Group.

Published in: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2019;80(3):316-324

Background To investigate the association between efavirenz (EFV) use during conception or first trimester (T1) of pregnancy and the occurrence of birth defects.

Setting Seven observational studies of pregnant HIV-positive women across 13 European countries and Thailand.

Authors: Chan MK, Goodall R, Judd A, et al.

Published in: Aids. 2019; 33(7):1155-1165

Objective To identify predictors of faster time to virological suppression among infants starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) early in infancy.

Design Cohort study of infants from Europe and Thailand included in studies participating in the European Pregnancy and Paediatric HIV Cohort Collaboration (EPPICC).

Authors: Bamford A, Turkova A, Lyall H, et al.; for PENTA Steering Committee

Published in: HIV Med. 2018;19(1):e1-e42.

Abstract The 2015 Paediatric European Network for Treatment of AIDS (PENTA) guidelines provide practical recommendations on the management of HIV-1 infection in children in Europe and are an update to those published in 2009. Aims of treatment have progressed significantly over the last decade,

Authors: Cotugno N, Morrocchi E, Pepponi I, et al.

Published in: J Immunol. 2018; 200 (1 ) 182.34;

Abstract Early initiation of ART in HIV vertically infected infants influences specific immunity by limiting Ag exposure and reducing the viral reservoir size. Currently these patients represent ideal candidates for testing immune therapeutic strategies towards HIV-remission.

Authors: Hufnagel M, Versporten A, Bielicki J, et al.; for ARPEC Project Group.

Published in: J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2018. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piy019.

Background This study was conducted to assess the variation in prescription practices for systemic antimicrobial agents used for prophylaxis among pediatric patients hospitalized in 41 countries worldwide.

Methods Using the standardized Antibiotic Resistance and Prescribing inEuropean Children Point Prevalence Survey protocol,

Authors: Dona D, Baraldi M, Brigadoi G, et al.

Published in: Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2018;37(9):901-907.

Background Although Italian pediatric antimicrobial prescription rates are among the highest in Europe, little action has been taken to improve the appropriateness of antimicrobial prescriptions. The primary aim of this study was to assess changes in antibiotic prescription before and after acute otitis media (AOM) and group A streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis Clinical Pathway (CP) implementation;

Authors: Collaborative Initiative for Paediatric HIV Education and Research (CHIPER) Global Cohort Collaboration

Published in: PLoS Med. 2018;15(3):e1002514.

Background Globally, the population of adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV (APHs) continues to expand. In this study, we pooled data from observational pediatric HIV cohorts and cohort networks, allowing comparisons of adolescents with perinatally acquired  HIV in “real-life” settings across multiple regions.

Authors: Marotta C, Giaquinto C, Di Gennaro F, et al.

Published in: BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):703.

Background In 2013, Mozambique implemented task-shifting (TS) from clinical officers to maternal and child nurses to improve care for HIV positive children < 5 years old. A retrospective, pre-post intervention study was designed to evaluate effectiveness of a new pathway of care in a sample of Beira District Local Health Facilities (LHFs),

Authors: Ford D, Turner R, Turkova A, et al.

Published in: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2018;78(1):S40-S48.

Abstract For HIV-infected children, formulation development, pharmacokinetic (PK) data, and evaluation of early toxicity are critical for licensing new antiretroviral drugs; direct evidence of efficacy in children may not be needed if acceptable safety and PK parameters are demonstrated in children.

Authors: Kawuma R, Seeley J, Mupambireyi Z, Cowan F, Bernays S; for REALITY Trial Team

Published in: Afr J AIDS Res. 2018;17(3):217-225

Abstract We examined the logic that individuals use to account for delaying HIV testing and/or initiating HIV treatment. Our qualitative study, situated within the REALITY trial (Reduction of EArly mortaLITY in HIV infected adults and children starting antiretroviral therapy),

Authors: Tierrablanca LE, Ochalek J, Ford D, et al; for BREATHER (PENTA 16) Trial Group

Published in: Medicine (Baltimore). 2018;97(5):e9698

Authors: Turkova A, Moore CL, Butler K, et al. for BREATHER (PENTA 16) Trial Group.

Published in: PLos One. 2018;13(4):e0196239.

Authors: Di Maio Ferreira FCPA, da Silva ASV, Bispo de Filippis AM, Brasil P

Published in: J  Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2019 Jan 18

Abstract We report here a probable case of vertical transmission of chikungunya infection with confirmed maternal viremia close to labor that led to severe infection in the newborn. The newborn progressed with cutaneous lesions and irritability 2 months after vertical transmission,

Authors: Calvet GA, Brasil P, Siqueira AM, et al.

Published in: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2018;79:237-243

Background Zika virus (ZIKV) emergence in South America revealed the lack of knowledge regarding clinical manifestations in HIV-infected individuals.Objectives:We described the clinical characteristics, laboratory manifestations, differential diagnosis, and outcome of ZIKV infection in a large, single-center cohort of HIV-infected patients.

Authors: Read JS, Torres-Velasquez B, Lorenzi O, et al.

Published in: JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(7):686-693

Importance  Little information is available regarding Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in children.

Objective  To describe patients younger than 18 years who were infected with ZIKV and were enrolled in the Sentinel Enhanced Dengue and Acute Febrile Illness Surveillance System (SEDSS).

Authors: Giovanetti M, Goes de Jesus J, Lima de Maia M, Junior JX, et al.

Published in: Clin Microbiol Infect.2018;24(10):1111-1112

Abstract On the basis of the upsurge in the number of newborns with neurologic disorders in the northeast, in November 2015 the Brazilian Ministry of Health declared a public health emergency of national concern [1].

Authors: Azeredo EL, dos Santos FB, Barbosa LS, et al.

Published in: PLoS Curr. 2018 Feb 15;10

Authors: Badolato-Corrêa J, Sánchez-Arcila JC, et al.

Published in: Immun Inflamm Dis.2018; 6(2):194–206

Authors: Bollen P, Turkova A, Hilda Mujuru H, et al. The ODYSSEY Trial Team

Published in: 10th International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics, Amsterdam, 20-21st July 2018. Poster Number 22

Authors: Moore CL,  Kekitinwa A, Kaudha E, et al; the ODYSSEY Trial Team

Published in: 10th International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics, Amsterdam, July 20-21st, 2018. Poster Number 34

Authors: Moreira-Soto A, Torres MC, Lima de Mendonça MC, et al.

Published in: Clin Microbiol Infect. 2018;24(9):1019.e1-1019.e4

Objectives Since December 2016, Brazil has experienced an unusually large outbreak of yellow fever (YF). Whether urban transmission may contribute to the extent of the outbreak is unclear. The objective of this study was to characterize YF virus (YFV) genomes and to identify spatial patterns to determine the distribution and origin of YF cases in Minas Gerais,

Authors: Bernays S, Namukwaya S, Mupambireyi Z, Nanduudu A, Mujuru H, Turkova A, Gibb DM, Seeley J, and the ODYSSEY Trial Team.

Published in: 10th International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics, Amsterdam, July 20-21st 2018. Poster number 117

Authors: Turkova A, Bollen P, Kaudha E, et al. The ODYSSEY Trial Team

Published in: Oral Presentation at 10th International Workshop on HIV Pediatrics, Amsterdam, July 20-21st, 2018

Authors: Anzinger J, Christie CD, Brown D, Bispo A, Nastouli E, Kozlakidis Z, Thorne C, Ades T, Lundin R, Giaquinto C

Published in: 2nd International Conference on Zika Virus and Aedes Related Infections, June 14th – 17th 2018, Tallin-Estonia

Authors: Christie CD, Thorne C, Anzinger J, Bailey H, Palmer P, Morgan O, Bryan L, Mair S, Pierre R, Onyonyor A, Mitchell P, Melbourne-Chambers R, Webster-Kerr K, Lindo J, Lundin R, Brown D, Bispo A, Nastouli E, Giaquinto C

Published in: International Symposium on Zika Virus Research, June 4th – 6th 2018, Marseille – France

Authors: Blohm GM, Lednicky JA, Márquez M, et al.

Published in: Clin Infect Dis. 2018;66(7):1120-1121

Authors: Rinaldi S, Cotugno N, Pallikkuth S, Pahwa R, Palma P, Pahwa S

Published in: J Immunol. 2018; 200(1):166

Abstract Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in vertically HIV-infected children provides an opportunity to limit the size of HIV reservoir. However, how the time of ART initiation impacts host HIV-specific immune responses is still poorly understood.

Authors: Violari A, Chan M, Otwombe KN, Panchia R, Jean-Philippe P, Gibb D, Cotton M, Babiker A

Published: Oral presentation at 25th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, March 4th – 7th, 2018 – Boston. 

Authors: Cameron M, Rinaldi S, Richardson B, Cotugno N, Williams S, Pallikkuth S, de Armas LR, Cameron C, Pahwa R, Palma P, Pahwa S

Published: 25th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, March 4th – 7th, 2018 – Boston. P_868

Abstract The study explores the impact of early ART on host immune response looking at HIV-specific CD4 T cell functionality and host transcriptome analysis.

Authors: Chan M, Tagarro A, Zangari P, Ferns B, Foster C, De Rossi A, Nastouli E, Ángeles Muñoz-Fernández M, Gibb D, Rossi P, Giaquinto C, Babiker A , Palma P, Rojo Conejo P

Published: 25th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, March 4th – 7th, 2018 – Boston. P_ 866

Abstract The study focused on the determinants of low viral reservoir in a large cohort of European early treated HIV-1 infected children.

Authors: Bollen P, Colbers A, Schalkwijk S, Velthoven-Graafland K, Konopnicki D, Weizsacker K, Hidalgo Tenorio C, van Crevel R, Burger D, on behalf of the PANNA network

Published: Oral presentation at 19th edition of the International Workshop on Clinical Pharmacology of Antiviral Therapy, May 22nd-24th 2018, Baltimore

Authors: Colbers A, Schalkwijk S, Konopnicki D, Rockstroh  J, Burger D, on behalf of the PANNA network

Published: Oral presentation at 19th edition of the International Workshop on Clinical Pharmacology of Antiviral Therapy, May 22nd-24th 2018, Baltimore.

Authors: Rocca S, Zangari P, Cotugno N, et al.

Published in: J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc.2018; 28. doi:10

Background Assays to estimate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reservoir size require large amounts of blood, which represents a drawback especially in pediatric settings. We investigated whether HIV-antibody repertoire could estimate the viral reservoir size. Moreover, we assessed the magnitude of HIV-antibody response as a predictor of time of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation.

Authors: Cotugno N, Morrocchi E, Pepponi I, Rocca S, Cameron M, Rinaldi S, Di Cesare S, Pallikkuth S, Bernardi S, Klein N, Ananworanich J, Rossi P, Pahwa S, Palma P

Published:  25th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, March 4th – 7th, 2018 – Boston. P_ 866

Abstract This fascinating study investigates whether HIV specific B cells persist in seronegative HIV infected seronegative patients and what are the associated gene signatures after re-encountering the virus.

Authors: Tagarro A, Chan M, Zangari P, et al; on behalf of the EPIICAL Consortium

Published in: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2018;79(2):269-276

Background Future strategies aiming to achieve HIV-1 remission are likely to target individuals with small reservoir size.

Setting We retrospectively investigated factors associated with HIV-1 DNA levels in European,

Authors: Judd A, Chappell E, Turkova A; for European Pregnancy and Paediatric HIV Cohort Collaboration (EPPICC) Study Group in EuroCoord.

Published in: PLoS Med. 2018;15(1): e1002491

Background Published estimates of mortality and progression to AIDS as children with HIV approach adulthood are limited. We describe rates and risk factors for death and AIDS-defining events in children and adolescents after initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in 17 middle- and high-income countries,

Authors: IeDEA and COHERE Cohort Collaborations.

Published in: Clin Infect Dis. 2018;66(6):893-903.

Background Early initiation of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), at higher CD4 cell counts, prevents disease progression and reduces sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We describe the temporal trends in CD4 cell counts at the start of cART in adults from low-income,

Authors: Germovesk E, Lutsar I, Kipepr K, et al.; for NeoMero Consortium

Published in: J Antimicrob Chemother. 2018;73(7):1908-1916

Background Sepsis and bacterial meningitis are major causes of mortality and morbidity in neonates and infants. Meropenem a broad-spectrum antibiotic, is not licensed for use in neonates and infants below 3 months of age and sufficient information on its plasma and CSF disposition and dosing in neonates and infants is lacking.

Authors: Tacconelli E, Sifakis F, Harbarth S, et al; for EPI-Net COMBACTE-MAGNET Group

Published in: Lancet Infect Dis. 2018;18(3):e99-e106.

Abstract Antimicrobial resistance poses a growing threat to public health and the provision of health care. Its surveillance should provide up-to-date and relevant information to monitor the appropriateness of therapy guidelines, antibiotic formulary, antibiotic stewardship programmes, public health interventions,

Authors: Donà D, Zingarella S, Gastaldi A, et al.

Published in: PLoS One. 2018;13(2):e0193581. 

Background Italian pediatric antimicrobial prescription rates are among the highest in Europe. As a first step in an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program, we implemented a Clinical Pathway (CP) for Community Acquired Pneumonia with the aim of decreasing overall prescription of antibiotics, especially broad-spectrum.

Materials and Methods The CP was implemented on 10/01/2015.

Authors: Chiappini E, Galli L, Lisi C, et al.

Published in: J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2018;79(1):54-61.

Background Strategies for prevention of HIV-1 mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) have been continuously optimized. However, cases of vertical transmission continue to occur in high-income countries.

Objectives To investigate changes in PMTCT strategies adopted by Italian clinicians over time and to evaluate risk factors for transmission.

Authors: Mallewa J, Szubert AJ, Mugyenyi P, et al.

Published in: Lancet HIV. 2018;5(5):e231-e240

Background In sub-Saharan Africa, severely immunocompromised HIV-infected individuals have a high risk of mortality during the first few months after starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). We hypothesise that universally providing ready-to-use supplementary food (RUSF) would increase early weight gain, thereby reducing early mortality compared with current guidelines recommending ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for severely malnourished individuals only.

Authors: Kityo C, Szubert AJ, Siika A, et al.

Published in: PLoS Med. 2018; 15(12):e1002706

Background In sub-Saharan Africa, individuals infected with HIV who are severely immunocompromised have high mortality (about 10%) shortly after starting antiretroviral therapy (ART). This group also has the greatest risk of morbidity and mortality associated with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS),

Authors: Post FA, Szubert AJ, Prendergast AJ, et al; for Reduction of early mortality in HIV-infected adults and children starting an antiretroviral therapy (REALITY) trial team

Published in: Clin Infect Dis. 2018;66(2):S132-S139

Background In sub-Saharan Africa, 20%-25% of people starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) have severe immunosuppression; approximately 10% die within 3 months. In the Reduction of EArly mortaLITY (REALITY) randomized trial,

Authors: Siika A, McCabe L, Bwakura-Dangarembizi M, et al; for REALITY Trial Team

Published in: Clin Infect Dis. 2018;66(2):S140-S146

Authors: Favarato G, Bailey H, Burns F, et al.

Published in: Eur J Public Health. 2018;28(1):55-60

Authors: European Pregnancy and Paediatric HIV Cohort Collaboration (EPPICC) Study Group in EuroCoord.

Published in: Clin Infect Dis. 2018;66(4):594-603.

Background Global data on durability of first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children with HIV is limited. We assessed time to switch to second-line therapy in 16 European countries and Thailand.

Methods Children <18-years initiating combination ART (≥2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) plus non-NRTI (NNRTI) or boosted-protease inhibitor (PI)) were included.

Authors: Soriano-Arandes A, Rivero-Calle I, Nastouli E, et al.

Published in: Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther. 2018;16(3):243-254

Introduction: Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has caused the most challenging worldwide infectious epidemic outbreak in recent months. ZIKV causes microcephaly and other congenital malformations. There is a need to perform updated systematic reviews on ZIKV infection periodically because this epidemic is bringing up new evidence with extraordinary speed.

Authors: Zangari P, Palma P, Cotugno N, et al.

Published in: J Virus Erad.2018;4: 51–54

Abstract: The first EPIICAL General Assembly meeting was held in an atmosphere of growing optimism. Many novel and exciting proposals for HIV research studies were discussed and are described above. The consortium aims to maintain this integrated developmental research on NDMTs,