Antiviral therapy for herpes zoster: randomized, controlled clinical trial of valacyclovir and famciclovir therapy in immunocompetent patients 50 years and older

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of valacyclovir hydrochloride and famciclovir for the treatment of herpes zoster. DESIGN: A double-blind, randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial in which patients received 7 days of treatment and were followed up for 24 weeks. SETTINGS: Patients reported directly to specialist centers or were referred from primary care centers. PATIENTS: There were 597 otherwise healthy immunocompetent outpatients, aged 50 years and older, who presented within 72 hours of onset of zoster rash. INTERVENTIONS: Treatment with valacyclovir hydrochloride (1 g 3 times daily) or famciclovir (500 mg 3 times daily) for 7 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Resolution of zoster-associated pain and postherpetic neuralgia, rash healing, and treatment safety. RESULTS: Intent-to-treat analysis did not detect statistically significant differences for valacyclovir vs famciclovir on resolution of zoster-associated pain (hazard ratio, 1. 02; 95% confidence interval, 0.84-1.23; P =.84). Furthermore, no differences were evident between treatments on rash healing rates and on a range of analyses of postherpetic neuralgia. Safety profiles for valacyclovir and famciclovir were similar, with headache and nausea being the more common adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Valacyclovir treatment is comparable to famciclovir treatment in speeding the resolution of zoster-associated pain and postherpetic neuralgia. Current wholesale prices indicate that valacyclovir is the more cost-effective treatment for herpes zoster ($83.90 vs $140.70 per course).     

Herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: incidence and risk indicators using a general practice research database

BACKGROUND: Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a frequent complication of herpes zoster (HZ). Treatment results of this severe and long-lasting pain syndrome are often disappointing. From the point of view of possible prevention and early treatment, it is important to identify HZ patients who have an increased risk of developing PHN. OBJECTIVES: Our goals were to determine the incidence of HZ and PHN in a primary care population and to identify risk indicators for the occurrence of PHN. METHODS: A search for HZ and PHN was conducted in a general practice research database, comprising 22 general practices and representing 49 000 people, over a 5-year period. Potential risk indicators were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 837 patients had been diagnosed with HZ [incidence 3.4/1000 patients/year, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.9-3.9]. The risk of developing PHN 1 month after the start of the zoster rash was 6.5% (95% CI 4.9-8.3). This risk was 11.7% (95% CI 8.5-14.9) for patients aged > or =55 years. Independent risk indicators for the occurrence of PHN were age [55-74 years, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.2, 95% CI 1.8-9.7; >75 years, OR 10.7, 95% CI 4.6-25.1] and ophthalmic localization (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.0-4.6). CONCLUSIONS: The risk of developing PHN increases with age. Preventive strategies should focus on patients with herpes zoster aged >55 years and with ophthalmic localization.     

带状疱疹神经痛相关危险因素分析

目的带状疱疹神经痛是常见的一种神经痛,对带状疱疹神经痛相关危险因素进行分析,为带状疱疹神经痛的预防和治疗提供理论基础。方法采用回顾性调查方法,对2011年1月至2012年1月收治的带状疱疹330例进行分析研究,分析年龄、性别、前驱性疼痛、内科性疾病如糖尿病、心理上的压抑抑郁等与带状疱疹神经疼痛的相关性。结果带状疱疹神经痛与年龄、前驱性疼痛、糖尿病、心理抑郁焦虑等因素有关。结论关注带状疱疹神经痛的相关危险因素,能更好地预防和治疗带状疱疹神经痛。     

Burden of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia: Incidence, proportion, and associated costs in the French population aged 50 or over

BackgroundDespite the perspective of vaccination against herpes zoster, there are few recent data available on the incidence of this disease, the proportion of postherpetic neuralgia cases, and associated disease management costs. This study was performed to evaluate these parameters in a representative sample of French physicians.MethodsIt was a retrospective, declarative study conducted from the medical files of patients who presented with herpes zoster and consulted in 2005, based on a random sample of GPs, dermatologists, neurologists, and physicians in pain clinics, weighted by demographic departmental distribution of patients aged 50 years and above. The analysis was performed on cases diagnosed by physicians themselves (incident cases).ResultsThe annual incidence of herpes zoster was estimated at 8.99/1000 [8.34–9.64], all types of physicians pooled and at 8.67/1000 for GPs. This represents about 182,500 cases of herpes zoster in France in 2005 in patients aged 50 years and above. Incidence was slightly higher amongst women (1.3 times) and increased with age. Amongst the 777 cases of incident herpes zoster, 343 were complicated by postherpetic neuralgia one month after diagnosis. The proportion of patients presenting postherpetic neuralgia at 3 and 6 months was 32.1% and 17.6%, respectively. The annual cost of management of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia was estimated at 170 [109–249] million euros, of which 61.0 million euros were covered by the national health insurance.ConclusionIn this study, the incidence of herpes zoster observed in France in subjects aged 50 years and above is close to that already estimated in France and Europe. The proportion of postherpetic neuralgia is high and this painful complication may persist for several months after diagnosis of herpes zoster. To our knowledge, EPIZOD is the first study conducted in France to assess the cost of herpes zoster and of postherpetic neuralgia, the most frequent complication of this viral disease.     

Side effects among healthcare workers from a large Milan university hospital after second dose of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine

Background:In Italy, healthcare workers (HCWs) were among the first to receive COVID-19 vaccination. Aim of the present study is to evaluate frequency and severity of adverse events (AEs) following the second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine among HCWs of a large university hospital in Milan, Italy.Methods:One month after having received the second dose of vaccine, HCWs filled-in a form about type, severity, and duration of post-vaccination local and systemic symptoms. We calculated the overall frequency of AEs and used multivariable Poisson regression models (adjusted for sex, age, BMI, smoking, allergy history, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, anti-hypertensive therapy, and occupation) to calculate risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of AEs according to selected variables.Results:We included 3659 HCWs. Overall, 2801 (76.6%) experienced at least one local event, with pain at injection site being the most frequent (2788, 76.2%). Systemic events were reported by 2080 (56.8%) HCWs, with fatigue (52.3%), muscle pain (42.2%), headache (37.7%), joint pain (31.9%), and fever (26.2%) being the most frequent. Risks of systemic events were associated with female gender (RR=1.14, CI: 1.06-1.24), age (strong decrease with increasing age, p-trend<0.001), allergy history (RR=1.13, CI: 1.05-1.20), SARS-CoV-2 infection more than 180 days before second dose (RR=1.16, CI:1.01-1.32), and current smoking (RR=0.90, CI: 0.84-0.97).Conclusions:Both local and systemic acute effects after second dose of BNT162b2 vaccine were frequently reported. However, symptoms were mostly light/mild and of short duration. Thus, our findings support the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in adults in relatively good health.     

VZV-specific cell-mediated immunity,but not humoral immunity,correlates inversely with the incidence of herpes zoster and the severity of skin symptoms and zoster-associated pain: The SHEZ study

Onset of herpes zoster (HZ) is thought to be related to a decline in cell-mediated immunity (CMI). However, until recently, there have been no large-scale prospective studies on the relationship between varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific CMI and the onset and severity of HZ. The Japanese researchers conducted a cohort study on VZV immunity in a population living on an island cluster, Shozu County in Japan, and examined the people who developed HZ during a follow-up period of three years to clarify the relationship between the onset and severity of HZ and immunity. In this study, they focused on the relationship between cell-mediated and humoral immunity and the onset and severity of HZ. CMI was measured by VZV skin test, and humoral immunity was assessed with serological tests for VZV-specific antibodies. A total of 12,522 people over the age of 50 were enrolled in this study, and 401 registrants were diagnosed as HZ. VZV-specific CMI assessed by VZV skin test showed a significant inverse relationship with the incidence of HZ and the severity of skin lesions and acute and subacute pain, and with the occurrence of postherpetic neuralgia. In contrast, VZV-specific antibody titer was not associated with the incidence and severity of HZ. These results suggest that VZV-specific CMI, but not humoral immunity, plays a key role in controlling the onset of HZ, the severity of skin lesions, and zoster-associated pain.     

Environmental chemical exposures and risk of herpes zoster.

This study investigated whether residence in Aberdeen, North Carolina, the location of the Aberdeen pesticides dumps site (a national priority list Superfund site containing organochlorine pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and metals), is associated with immune suppression as indicated by a higher incidence of herpes zoster and recent occurrences of other common infectious diseases. Study participants included 1,642 residents, 18-64 years of age, who responded to a telephone survey concerning potential occupational and recreational exposures to pesticides and other chemicals, lifetime history of herpes zoster (shingles), and the recent occurrence of other common infectious diseases. Stratified and logistic regression analyses were used to compare the cumulative incidence of herpes zoster among Aberdeen residents and residents of nearby communities. There was little evidence of an overall increased risk of herpes zoster among Aberdeen residents during the period 1951-1994 [relative risk (RR), 1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.8-2.1]. However, an elevated risk of herpes zoster was noted consistently among Aberdeen residents of younger ages as compared to residents of the nearby communities. The RR was 2.0 (CI, 1.0-4.0) among those 18-40 years of age and was not affected by controlling for potential confounders. The RR of herpes zoster was also consistently elevated in all age groups for the period before 1985. No differences were noted between residents of Aberdeen and those of the nearby communities with respect to the recent occurrence of other common infectious diseases. These results support the plausibility of an association between exposure to the Aberdeen pesticides dumps site and immune suppression and the potential use of herpes zoster as a marker of immune suppression in studies of environmental chemical exposures.     

基于健康大数据带状疱疹与抑郁症的关系——现实世界的研究实例

  目的  探讨宜昌市抑郁症与患带状疱疹风险的关系。  方法  根据中国宜昌市健康大数据,选取在2018年9月30日-2019年9月30日期间经临床医生诊断为带状疱疹的患者作为病例组,按年龄(组距为10岁)和性别进行1∶4匹配其他就诊者作为对照组。按就诊日期先确定抑郁症暴露,采用条件Logistic回归分析模型分析抑郁症与患带状疱疹风险的关系。  结果  共纳入5 370例病例,匹配21 480例对照,年龄为56(43, 67)岁,病例组男性2 533例,占47.17%,对照组中男性10 132例,占47.17%。调整潜在混杂因素后,病例组抑郁症患者发生带状疱疹的风险是非抑郁症患者的1.697倍(OR=1.697, 95% CI: 1.089~2.643, P=0.019);在女性、就诊年龄 < 50岁和≥70岁人群中抑郁症与患带状疱疹有关联,OR值分别为1.983(95% CI: 1.124~3.498, P=0.018)、2.213(95% CI: 1.059~4.629, P=0.035)和2.738(95% CI: 1.264~5.929, P=0.011)。  结论  抑郁症会增加罹患带状疱疹的风险,尤其是女性以及年龄在50岁以下和70岁及以上人群中。     

Safety and tolerability of a high-potency zoster vaccine in adults >/= 50 or years of age

BACKGROUND: Herpes zoster (HZ) incidence rises with age, especially after 50 years of age, probably due to waning varicella-zoster virus (VZV)-specific immunity. The Shingles Prevention Study [Oxman MN, Levin MJ, Johnson GR, Schmader KE, Straus SE, Gelb LD, et al. A vaccine to prevent herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in older adults, N Engl J Med 2005;352:2271-84], enrolled people >/= 60 or years of age and showed that zoster vaccine prevents HZ and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), presumably through boosting VZV-specific immunity. This study of people >/= 50 or years of age compared the safety and tolerability of two zoster vaccine potencies. METHODS: Adults >/= 50 or years old enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, multicenter study to compare the safety and tolerability of one dose of two zoster vaccine potencies, approximately 58,000 and approximately 207,000 plaque-forming units/dose. Adverse experiences (AEs) were recorded on a standardized Vaccination Report Card for 42 days postvaccination. For assessment of injection-site AEs, clinically acceptable tolerability was predefined based on experience with PNEUMOVAX 23, a licensed vaccine recommended for use in older people. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety-eight subjects (age 50-90 years, median 64 years) were enrolled. No serious vaccine-related AEs were reported. Similar AE rates were observed in the higher and lower potency groups (overall systemic AEs: 37.5 and 39.3%, vaccine-related systemic AEs: 10.9 and 13.2%, injection-site AEs: 63.0 and 59.8%). Rates for a combined endpoint of moderate or severe injection-site pain/tenderness/soreness and swelling were 17.2% (95% CI 13.9, 21.0) and 9.0% (95% CI 5.6, 13.4), respectively. Most combined endpoint events were reported as moderate in intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Both vaccine potencies were generally well tolerated in this study of people > or years of age. Although rates of some moderate or severe injection-site AEs were greater in the higher potency group, all rates met the prespecified criteria for clinically acceptable tolerability.     

带状疱疹初期疗法与神经痛疗效的相关性研究

目的 探讨带状疱疹初期治疗方法与神经痛疗效的关系.方法 将120例带状疱疹患者随机分为3组,A组给予泛昔洛韦,B组给予泛昔洛韦联合复方甘草酸苷,C组给予阿昔洛韦联合复方甘草酸苷,疗程均为7 d,随访1个月.结果 疼痛缓解和消失时间B组最短,与A、C两组比较差异均有统计学意义(P＜0.05),A、C两组相近(P＞0.05).A、B、C三组痊愈率1周时分别为40.0%、65.0%和37.5%,2周时分别为62.5%、90.0%和70.0%,4周时分别为90.0%、100.0%和97.5%,B组与A、C组差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 本研究中,泛昔洛韦联合复方甘草酸苷治疗初期带状疱疹疼痛疗效最好.     

Patient report of herpes zoster pain: Incremental benefits of zoster vaccine live

IntroductionPain following herpes zoster (HZ) can persist for months and negatively impact quality of life. To evaluate the effect of zoster vaccine live (ZVL) on progression of pain following HZ, we conducted a prospective cohort study of HZ cases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.MethodsZVL vaccinated and unvaccinated members aged ≥60 years with laboratory-confirmed HZ from January 18, 2012 to February 26, 2015 were followed up within 5 days of HZ diagnosis, and at 30, 60, and 90 days after diagnosis. Pain was assessed with the Zoster Brief Pain Inventory (ZBPI) on a 0–10 scale, using cut-points of ≥3, ≥5, and ≥7, with postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) defined as pain ≥3 at 90 days. Log binomial regression was used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with pain, comparing vaccinated versus unvaccinated HZ patients.ResultsWe interviewed 509 vaccinated and 509 unvaccinated HZ patients. ZVL was associated with significantly lower risks of HZ-related pain at all time-points. The risk of PHN in vaccinated and unvaccinated patients, respectively, was 9.2% and 15.4% (aRR = 0.594, 95% CI: 0.413, 0.854); 2.0% and 4.8% of these patients reported pain ≥7 (aRR = 0.332, 95% CI: 0.153, 0.721). Irrespective of vaccination, the risk of PHN was lower in adults aged <70 years versus those ≥70 years and was similar or lower in females versus males.ConclusionWe used laboratory confirmation of HZ cases and patient survey to show that aside from preventing HZ, ZVL reduced HZ-related pain and prevented PHN among vaccine recipients who experienced HZ. Observational studies will be needed to evaluate long-term effectiveness of the new recombinant zoster vaccine and its benefits in protecting patients against PHN.     

针灸联合药物治疗急性带状疱疹及预防后遗神经痛疗效观察

目的观察针灸联合药物治疗急性带状疱疹疗效及对后遗神经痛的影响。方法选择急性带状疱疹患者58例,分为两组。药物治疗组（n=33）和针灸联合治疗组（n=25）,单盲法观察两组患者治疗前、后疼痛视觉模拟评分（VAS）,镇痛药使用总量,疱疹愈合时间和后遗神经痛（PHN）发生率。结果两组患者治疗7dVAS评分较治疗前减少（p〈0．01）;针灸联合治疗组患者7d使用镇痛药总量少于药物治疗组（P〈0．01）,疱疹愈合时间短于药物治疗组（P〈0．01）;PHN发生率：药物治疗组为16．7％（5／30）,针灸联合治疗组为16．0％（4／25）,两组差异无显著性（P〉0．05）。结论针灸联合药物治疗急性带状疱疹具有镇痛确切、减少镇痛药用量、促进疱疹愈合作用,对PHN发生的影响有待进一步研究。     

神经妥乐平联合抗病毒药治疗带状疱疹的临床研究

目的研究神经妥乐平治疗带状疱疹及其神经疼痛的有效性及安全性. 方法设立开放、随机、对照实验,观察抗病毒药物 伐昔洛韦联合神经妥乐平和单用抗病毒药物治疗带状疱疹及其伴发神经痛的疗效比较. 结果阿昔洛韦联合神经妥乐平疗效明显优于对照组,使病程缩短、病情减轻显著、后遗神经痛发生率低. 结论治疗带状疱疹合用神经妥乐平可明显提高疗效、缩短病程、显著缓解带状疱疹神经痛,降低带状疱疹后遗神经痛的发病率,安全有效.     

Low plasma concentrations of retinol and alpha-tocopherol in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients: the effect of mucositis and the risk of infection

BACKGROUND: Although vitamin deficiencies are rare in the United States, acute reductions in concentrations of plasma retinol (vitamin A) or alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) have been associated with impaired immune responses in some clinical settings. OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to determine the plasma concentrations of retinol and alpha-tocopherol in patients undergoing dose-intensive therapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplant and to examine the association of plasma concentrations with clinical outcomes reflecting immunity. DESIGN: This was an observational trial of 120 consecutive recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplant and a multivariate analysis of plasma vitamin concentrations, mucositis, infections in the first 30 d, and herpes zoster infections in the first year after hematopoietic stem cell transplant. RESULTS: Plasma retinol and alpha-tocopherol concentrations declined from baseline to day 7, typically recovering without specific replacement toward baseline by day 14. The severity of mucositis was a strong predictor of low plasma retinol on day 7 (P = 0.001). Eighty-two patients (68%) had at least one plasma retinol concentration < or = 1.05 micro mol/L, a concentration previously determined to be of immunologic significance, during the peritransplant period (day -8 to day 14). Men more frequently acquired herpes zoster than women, and men who developed hyporetinolemia (< or = 1.05 micro mol/L) had a significantly higher risk of herpes zoster (OR: 6.6; 95% CI: 1.5, 29.6). Plasma alpha-tocopherol was not associated with any clinical event measured in this study. CONCLUSION: Hyporetinolemia is common, particularly in subjects with severe mucositis, and is associated with an increased risk of herpes zoster infection in recipients of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Additional investigations are required to determine whether these findings indicate a causal relation.     

3种方法对带状疱疹神经痛的疗效对比研究

摘要:目的　对比观察加巴喷丁、皮质激素、神经阻滞法治疗带状疱疹神经痛的效果。方法　随机选取在某院就诊的胸部或背部带状疱疹伴急性期神经痛病人共90例,分成3组,即观察A组（30例）、观察B组（30例）和观察C组（30例）,所有患者均采用常规治疗,包括抗病毒药物更昔洛韦、甲钴胺等,观察A组加用加巴喷丁治疗,观察B组联合皮质激素治疗,观察C组联用肋间神经阻滞法治疗。根据VAS量表得分,对比研究各组治疗后1周、治疗后3周疼痛的改善情况、治疗效果及不良反应的发生率。结果　3组在治疗后1周与治疗后3周的VAS均比治疗前有明显的减少,且治疗后3周时比治疗后1周时也有较大减少,差异均有统计学意义,P＜0.05。而3组治疗后组间两两比较,治疗后1周与治疗后3周3组VAS得分差异有统计学意义,进一步进行两两比较后发现,观察A组与B组、观察A组与C组间治疗后的得分差异有统计学意义,观察B组及观察C组治疗后1周及治疗后3周的得分低于观察A组,而观察B组与观察C组间无统计学差异（P＞0.05）。治疗3周后,观察A组治疗总有效率为83.3%（25/30）,虽低于其他2组的90.0%（27/30）,但差异无统计学意义（χ2＝0.162,P＞0.05）。3组患者均未出现明显不良反应,加巴喷丁组1例患者自述头晕,并有一过性轻度嗜睡,自行缓解。结论　加巴喷丁、皮质激素、神经阻滞法均能较为有效地治疗带状疱疹神经痛,其中皮质激素、神经阻滞法较加巴喷丁改善患者神经痛的效果更为明显。     

塞来昔布胶囊治疗带状疱疹神经痛的有效性

目的：探讨塞来昔布胶囊治疗带状疱疹神经痛的有效性。方法：纳入确诊带状疱疹神经痛患者86例,阿昔洛韦、维生素B等常规药物治疗基础上,观察组46例给服塞来昔布胶囊,对照组40例给服布洛芬胶囊。疗程4周。结果：观察组、对照组治疗总有效率分别为82.6%、62.5%,两组比较差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）;治疗后2周起两组间VAS评分、McGill得分差异显著,观察组疗效优于对照组,两组比较差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。结论：塞来昔布胶囊是治疗带状疱疹患者神经痛的有效药物。     

Risk factors for injury among veterinarians.

Work-related injuries among veterinarians are a major problem, but little is known of the specific risk factors involved. The purpose of this nested case-control study, conducted from a comprehensive population-based study of practicing Minnesota veterinarians, was to identify risk factors for job-related injuries. We questioned cases (N = 193) on exposures occurring in the month before their injury, and we questioned controls (N = 495) on exposures occurring in a randomly selected month. We used logistic regression to model the dependence of veterinary work-related injury on each exposure of interest and associated confounders. We observed increased rates for prior injuries (RR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.1-2.6), participation in sports (RR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.05-2.6), no sharps boxes present (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.01-3.2), current smoking (RR = 4.1, 95% CI = 1.8-9.1), and 6 or fewer hours of sleep (RR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0-3.3). We identified a dose response for lifting patients, as follows: lifting 41-75 lb (RR = 3.1, 95% CI = 1.6-5.9), lifting 76-100 lb (RR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.6-5.9), and lifting more than 100 lb (RR = 6.1, 95% CI = 2.5-15.0). Decreased rates were observed for participation in aerobic activities (RR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.99), perception of lower risk (RR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.2-0.9), and experience (RR = 0.6, 95% CI = 0.4-0.9).     

The epidemiology of herpes zoster and potential cost-effectiveness of vaccination in England and Wales

The epidemiology of herpes zoster and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) was quantified from a variety of data sources and the potential cost-effectiveness of vaccination assessed. The annual incidence and severity of zoster increases sharply with age, as measured by physician consultation and hospitalisation rates, average length of stay, average proportion of cases developing PHN and the age-specific case-fatality ratio. Combining these data with information on health related quality of life results in an estimated loss of 20000 quality adjusted life years (QALYs) annually in England and Wales from herpes zoster (17400 due to PHN). The current cost of treating herpes zoster associated disease is estimated to be 47.6m pounds annually. Since both the health and economic burden are high, vaccination of the elderly is expected to be cost-effective under most scenarios, the attractiveness of immunisation increasing with age due to the increased burden of disease in the very elderly.     

关于带状疱疹100例的临床观察

目的探讨带状疱疹的临床特点,及防止严重后遗神经痛。方法病理分析,症候定位,误诊及其原因。治疗转归。结果神经痛与水疱疹是带状疱疹主要临床表现,以神经节受累为主。结论了解疱疹的临床特点,有助于带状疱疹的早期临床诊断与治疗,防止误诊。     

Parenteral nutrition as a risk factor for central venous catheter-related infection

BACKGROUND: The role of parenteral nutrition (PN) therapy as an independent risk factor for central venous catheter (CVC)-related infection in nonselected adult patients is not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate PN as a risk factor for central venous catheter-related infection in nonselected adult patients in a general university hospital. METHODS: Patients using central venous catheters, exposed or nonexposed to PN, were prospectively followed for development of central venous catheter-related infection. RESULTS: One hundred fifty-three patients were studied; 28 developed central venous catheter-related infection. Patients with central venous catheter-related infection presented higher frequency of PN use than patients without infection (60.7 vs 34.4%; p = .010). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that PN (relative risk (RR) = 3.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30-8.34; p = .012) was the only risk factor for central venous catheter-related infection. Malnutrition (RR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.15-1.34; p = .152), days of hospitalization before central venous catheter insertion (RR = 1.00; 95% CI, 0.98-1.02; p = .801), and sustained hyperglycemia (RR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.98-1.21; p = .091) were not significant in the model. Multiple logistic regression revealed that mal-nutrition (odds ratio [OR] = 8.05; 95% CI, 1.85-35.03; p = .005), central venous catheter indication for surgical-related pathology (OR = 7.26; 95% CI, 2.51-21.04; p < .001), sustained hyperglycemia (OR = 4.34; 95% CI, 1.79-10.52; p = .001), and days of hospitalization before central venous catheter insertion (OR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01-1.07; p = .004) were associated with PN use after adjustment for Assessment Score Intervention System score (OR = 0.33; 95% CI, 0.14-0.80; p = .014). CONCLUSIONS: PN therapy is an independent risk factor for central venous catheter-related infection in nonselected hospitalized adult patients.