Prevalence and drug resistance of nontuberculous mycobacteriain Zhejiang Province / 预防医学

Objective@#To learn the prevalence and drug resistance of nontuberculous mycobacteria ( NTM ) in Zhejiang Province, so as to provide evidence for NTM prevention and control.@*Methods@#A total of 2 878 clinical mycobacterium isolates in Zhejiang Province were collected from the drug resistance surveillance in 2008-2009, 2013-2014 and 2018-2019, PNB/TCH growth tests were used to preliminarily identify the NTM in these mycobacterium-positive isolates. 16SrRNA, rpoB, ITS and hsp65 gene sequencing analysis were used to confirm strains initially identified as NTM. Proportional method was applied to detect drug susceptibility of NTM isolates.@*Results @# Finally, 135 strains were confirmed as NTM and the isolation rate was 4.69%. The isolation rates of NTM in 2008-2009, 2013-2014 and 2018-2019 were 1.85%, 4.56% and 7.84%, respectively, with an increasing trend ( P<0.05 ). Thirteen species were identified and the top two species were M. intracellulare ( 82, 60.74% ) and M. kansassi ( 18, 13.33% ). The NTM isolates showed the highest drug resistance rate to isoniazid ( 97.78% ), followed by p-aminosalicylic acid ( 94.87% ) and streptomycin ( 94.81% ).@*Conclusions@#The isolation rates of NTM showed an upward trend in the drug resistance surveillance in 2008-2019,2013-2014 and 2018-2019 in Zhejiang Province. M. intracellulare and M. kansassi were the main strains isolated. The NTM isolates showed high resistance against both first and second-line antituberculosis drugs.

Special strategies and management of urological diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic: initial experiences from a Medical Center of China

ABSTRACT Although urological diseases are not directly related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), urologists need to make comprehensive plans for this disease. Urological conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and tumors are very common in elderly patients. This group of patients is often accompanied by underlying comorbidities or immune dysfunction. They are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection and they tend to have severe manifestations. Although fever can occur along with urological infections, it is actually one of the commonest symptoms of COVID-19; urologists must always maintain a high index of suspicion in their clinical practices. As a urological surgeon, how we can protect medical staff during surgery is a major concern. Our hospital had early adoption of a series of strict protective and control measures, and was able to avoid cross-infection and outbreak of COVID-19. This paper discusses the effective measures that can be useful when dealing with urological patients with COVID-19.