Summary Background Invasive fungal diseases (IFD) are life‐threatening infections most commonly diagnosed in acute leukaemia patients with prolonged neutropenia and are uncommonly diagnosed in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases. Objectives Following the initial report of aspergillosis diagnosed shortly after beginning ibrutinib for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, a survey was developed to seek additional cases of IFD during ibrutinib treatment. Methods Local and international physicians and groups were approached for relevant cases. Patients were included if they met the following criteria: diagnosis of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/non‐Hodgkin lymphoma; proven or probable IFD; and ibrutinib treatment on the date IFD were diagnosed. Clinical and laboratory data were captured using REDCap software. Result Thirty‐five patients with IFD were reported from 22 centres in eight countries: 26 (74%) had chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. The median duration of ibrutinib treatment before the onset of IFD was 45 days (range 1‐540). Aspergillus species were identified in 22 (63%) of the patients and Cryptococcus species in 9 (26%). Pulmonary involvement occurred in 69% of patients, cranial in 60% and disseminated disease in 60%. A definite diagnosis was made in 21 patients (69%), and the mortality rate was 69%. Data from Israel regarding ibrutinib treated patients were used to evaluate a prevalence of 2.4% IFD. Conclusions The prevalence of IFD among chronic lymphocytic leukaemia/non‐Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with ibrutinib appears to be higher than expected. These patients often present with unusual clinical features. Mortality from IFD in this study was high, indicating that additional studies are urgently needed to identify patients at risk for ibrutinib‐associated IFD.

A nosocomial outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant infected 42 patients, staff and family members; 39 were fully vaccinated. The attack rate was 10.6% (16/151) among exposed staff and reached 23.7% (23/97) among exposed patients in a highly vaccinated population, 16–26 weeks after vaccination (median: 25 weeks). All cases were linked and traced to one patient. Several transmissions occurred between individuals wearing face masks. Fourteen of 23 patients became severely sick or died, raising a question about possible waning immunity.

Active surveillance culture is important for identifying hidden reservoirs of MRSA. Contact isolation can prevent new colonization and infection and lead to a significant reduction of morbidity and healthcare costs.

Quantitation assays of HIV-1 RNA used currently were designed and optimized for subtype B viruses. However, infection with non-B HIV viruses has become more common worldwide. Unfortunately, little information is available regarding the suitability of these assays for measurement of viral load in specific non-B subtypes. The performance of two commercial HIV-1 RNA quantitation assays was evaluated in 82 HIV subtype C-infected patients and in 43 HIV-1 subtype B-infected patients. Blood samples were tested by the Amplicor HIV-1 Monitor Assay, Version 1.5, and by the nucleic acid sequence-based amplification HIV-1 assay (NucliSens). The results were compared by using a paired, two-tailed Student's t-test; the difference between the assays was found to be significant only for subtype C. Discordant results (>0.5 log difference) between the two assays were detected in 39% of subtype C samples, compared to 23.2% of subtype B samples. In all cases in which a discordant result was detected, the lower results were obtained by the NucliSens assay. Discordant results between CD4 and viral load (CD4 < 200 cells/ml with a viral load <5,000 copies/ml) were observed in eight of the subtype C-infected patients when a viral load was measured by NucliSens (9.7%), compared to three patients (3.6%) when measured by the Amplicor assay. In conclusion, in patients with HIV subtype C infection, measurement of HIV RNA by the NucliSens assay resulted in a significant underestimation of the viral load as compared to the Amplicor assay. As a consequence, such an underestimation may result in sub-optimal care of patients infected with HIV subtype C.