We report the case of an 83-year-old woman with acute, febrile respiratory failure resulting from interstitial pneumonia that required high-flow oxygen therapy. This clinical picture, associated with the ongoing epidemiological situation, initially guided us toward a diagnosis of COVID-19. Based on SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction negativity and the absence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, a search for a differential diagnosis was conducted that led us to conclude a diagnosis of severe pulmonary leptospirosis This case highlights the need to engage in early discussions about differential diagnoses, including neglected tropical and subtropical diseases, during the COVID-19 era.

Background Maintenance ART with dolutegravir-based dual regimens have proved their efficacy among HIV-1-infected subjects in randomized trials. However, real-life data are scarce, with limited populations and follow-up. Objectives We assessed virological failure (VF) and resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) on dolutegravir maintenance regimens in combination with rilpivirine or with lamivudine or emtricitabine (xTC) and analysed the factors associated with VF. Methods Between 2014 and 2018, all HIV-1-infected adults included in the Dat’AIDS cohort and starting dolutegravir/rilpivirine or dolutegravir/xTC as a maintenance dolutegravir-based dual regimen were selected. VF was defined as two consecutive HIV RNA values >50 copies/mL or a single value >400 copies/mL. We compared cumulative genotypes before initiation of a maintenance dolutegravir-based dual regimen with genotype at VF. Results We analysed 1374 subjects (799 on dolutegravir/rilpivirine and 575 on dolutegravir/xTC) with a median follow-up of 20 months (IQR = 11–31) and 19 months (IQR = 11–31), respectively. VF occurred in 3.8% (n = 30) of dolutegravir/rilpivirine subjects and 2.6% (n = 15) of dolutegravir/xTC subjects. Among subjects receiving dolutegravir/rilpivirine, two genotypes harboured emerging RAMs at VF: E138K on NNRTI (n = 1); and E138K+K101E on NNRTI and N155H on INSTI (n = 1). Among subjects receiving dolutegravir/xTC, no new RAM was detected. The only predictive factor of VF on dolutegravir/rilpivirine was the history of failure on an NNRTI-based regimen (adjusted HR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.28–6.93). No factor was associated with VF on dolutegravir/xTC. Conclusions In this large real-life cohort, dolutegravir/rilpivirine and dolutegravir/xTC sustained virological suppression and were associated with a low rate of VF and RAM emergence. Careful virological screening is essential before switching to dolutegravir/rilpivirine in virologically suppressed patients with a history of NNRTI therapy.

Background The arrival of highly effective, well tolerated direct-acting antiviral agents (DAA) led to a dramatic decrease in HCV prevalence. HIV-HCV coinfected patients are deemed a priority population for HCV elimination, while a rise of recently acquired HCV infections in MSM has been described. We describe the variations in HIV-HCV epidemiology in the French Dat’AIDS cohort. Methods Retrospective analysis of a prospective HIV-infected cohort from 2012 to 2018. Determination of HCV prevalence, incidence, proportion of viremic patients, treatment uptake and mortality rate in the full cohort and by HIV risk factors. Results From 2012 to 2018, 50861 HIV-infected patients with a known HCV status were followed-up. During the period, HCV prevalence decreased from 15.4% to 13.5%. HCV prevalence among new HIV cases increased from 1.9% to 3.5% in MSM but remained stable in other groups. Recently acquired HCV incidence increased from 0.36/100PY to 1.25/100PY in MSM. The proportion of viremic patients decreased from 67.0% to 8.9%. MSM became the first group of viremic patients in 2018 (37.9%). Recently acquired hepatitis represented 59.2% of viremic MSM in 2018. DAA treatment uptake increased from 11.4% to 61.5%. More treatments were initiated in MSM in 2018 (41.2%) than in IVDU (35.6%). In MSM, treatment at acute phase represented 30.0% of treatments in 2018. Conclusions A major shift in HCV epidemiology was observed in HIV-infected patients in France from 2012 to 2018, leading to a unique situation in which the major group of HCV transmission in 2018 was MSM.

Objectives: In COVID-19 patients, bacterial and fungal pulmonary coinfections, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, or Aspergillus, have been reported, but to our knowledge, no case has been reported due to Pasteurella multocida. Patients and methods: We describe three cases of Pasteurella multocida coinfections occurring during the 4th wave of COVID-19 in Martinique (French West Indies). Results: All three cases were fatal; thus, Pasteurella multocida has to be considered as a potentially severe coinfection agent. Conclusions: Alteration of the epithelial–endothelial barrier due to a SARS-CoV-2 infection probably promotes the expression of a Pasteurella infection. In addition, the SARS-CoV-2 infection induced immunosuppression, and an inflammatory cascade could explain the infection’s severity. The use of corticosteroids, which are part of the first-line therapeutic arsenal against COVID-19, may also promote the pathogenicity of this agent.

Objectives Even in an ‘optimal’ health system, patients’ characteristics may have an impact on their care. We investigated whether age, gender and place of birth have an impact in the HIV care continuum in France, a country with a universal free healthcare system. Methods We estimated differences in the 5 year restricted mean percentage of person-time spent (i) in care, (ii) receiving ART and (iii) on ART and virally suppressed among 2432 (30.2%) women, 3925 MSM (48.7%) and 1709 men who have sex with women (MSW; 21.2%) entering care in the Dat’AIDS French prospective cohort between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2017. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov reference NCT02898987. Results Men and women spent 85.6% and 82.8% of person-time on ART and 69.9% and 65% suppressed, respectively. MSM, MSW and women spent 86.9%, 82.6% and 82.8% of person-time on ART and 72.5%, 63.7% and 65% suppressed, respectively. Patients born in France (47%) and patients born abroad spent 87.9% and 81.9% of person-time on ART and 74.6% and 62.9% suppressed, respectively. Young men born abroad were found to spend the smallest person-time with non-detectable viral load (53% for MSW and 58.1% for MSM). Conclusions Despite free access to care and universal ART in France, disparities remain in the HIV continuum care across age, country of birth and way of HIV acquisition. Clinical and public health interventions targeting specific patients’ conditions are needed.