Clinical manifestations and biomarkers to predict mortality risk in adults with invasive Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis infections.

PURPOSE: The incidence of invasive Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (iSDSE) infections is increasing in developed countries, but studies on the risk factors for death in iSDSE infections are scant. Here, we aimed to clarify risk factors and predictors of mortality in adults with iSDSE infections. METHODS: A multicentre observational study of adults with iSDSE infections was conducted to investigate the effects of host factors, disease severity, biomarkers, and antibiotic regimens, and bacterial factors on 28-day mortality. RESULTS: The overall mortality rate of 588 patients was 10.4%, with a significant increase in those aged ≥ 60 years. Most of the patients (97.4%) had underlying diseases. The mortality rate (70.4%) of patients with severe disease was significantly higher than that of patients with mild-to-moderate disease (4.3%; p < 0.001). The risk factors for death identified using multivariable analysis were age ≥ 60 years (hazard ratio [HR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-11.3, p = 0.042); severe disease (HR, 15.0; 95% CI 7.7-29.2, p < 0.001); bacteraemia without primary focus (HR, 20.5; 95% CI 2.8-152.3, p = 0.003); serum creatinine ≥ 2.0 mg/dL (HR, 2.2; 95% CI 1.2-4.0, p = 0.010); serum creatine kinase ≥ 300 IU/L (HR, 2.1; 95% CI 1.1-3.8, p = 0.019); and macrolide resistance (HR, 1.8; 95% CI 1.0-3.3, p = 0.048). Treatment regimens and emm types were not associated with poor outcomes. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of clinical manifestations and biomarkers on admission is important to predict invasive SDSE infection prognosis.

SARS-CoV-2 infection among returnees on charter flights to Japan from Hubei, China: a report from National Center for Global Health and Medicine.

Due to the significant spread of a new type of coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection (COVID-19) in China, the Chinese government blockaded several cities in Hubei Province. Japanese citizens lost a means of transportation to return back to Japan. The National Center for Global Health and Medicine (NCGM) helped the operation of charter flights for evacuation of Japanese residents from Hubei Province, and this article outlines our experiences. A total of five charter flights were dispatched, and the majority of returnees (793/829 [95.7%]) were handled at NCGM. A large number of personnel from various departments participated in this operation; 107 physicians, 115 nurses, 110 clerical staff, and 45 laboratory technicians in total. Several medical translators were also involved. In this operation, we conducted airborne precautions in addition to contact precautions. Eye shields were also used. The doctors collecting the pharyngeal swab used a coverall to minimize the risk of body surface contamination from secretions and droplets. Enhanced hand hygiene using alcohol hand sanitizer was performed. Forty-eight persons were ultimately hospitalized after the triage at NCGM operation, which was more than the number of persons triaged at the airport (n = 34). Of those hospitalized after NCGM triage, 8.3% (4/48 patients) ultimately tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, significantly higher than the positive rate among subjects not triaged (4/48 [8.3%] vs. 9/745 [1.2%]: p = 0.0057). NCGM participated in a large-scale operation to evacuate Japanese nationals from the COVID-19 epidemic area. We were able to establish a scheme through this experience that can be used in the future.

Nationwide surveillance of bacterial respiratory pathogens conducted by the surveillance committee of Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and the Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology in 2010: General view of the pathogens' antibacterial susceptibility.

The nationwide surveillance on antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial respiratory pathogens from patients in Japan, was conducted by Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases and Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology in 2010. The isolates were collected from clinical specimens obtained from well-diagnosed adult patients with respiratory tract infections during the period from January and April 2010 by three societies. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted at the central reference laboratory according to the method recommended by Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institutes using maximum 45 antibacterial agents. Susceptibility testing was evaluable with 954 strains (206 Staphylococcus aureus, 189 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 4 Streptococcus pyogenes, 182 Haemophilus influenzae, 74 Moraxella catarrhalis, 139 Klebsiella pneumoniae and 160 Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Ratio of methicillin-resistant S. aureus was as high as 50.5%, and those of penicillin-intermediate and -resistant S. pneumoniae were 1.1% and 0.0%, respectively. Among H. influenzae, 17.6% of them were found to be ß-lactamase-non-producing ampicillin (ABPC)-intermediately resistant, 33.5% to be ß-lactamase-non-producing ABPC-resistant and 11.0% to be ß-lactamase-producing ABPC-resistant strains. Extended spectrum ß-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae and multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa with metallo ß-lactamase were 2.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Continuous national surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of respiratory pathogens is crucial in order to monitor changing patterns of susceptibility and to be able to update treatment recommendations on a regular basis.

Nationwide surveillance of bacterial respiratory pathogens conducted by the Surveillance Committee of Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology in 2009: general view of the pathogens' antibacterial susceptibility.

For the purpose of nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility of bacterial respiratory pathogens from patients in Japan, the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy (JSC) started a survey in 2006. From 2009, JSC continued the survey in collaboration with the Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases and the Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology. The fourth-year survey was conducted during the period from January and April 2009 by the three societies. A total of 684 strains were collected from clinical specimens obtained from well-diagnosed adult patients with respiratory tract infections. Susceptibility testing was evaluable with 635 strains (130 Staphylococcus aureus, 127 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 4 Streptococcus pyogenes, 123 Haemophilus influenzae, 70 Moraxella catarrhalis, 78 Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 103 Pseudomonas aeruginosa). A maximum of 45 antibacterial agents including 26 ß-lactams (four penicillins, three penicillins in combination with ß-lactamase inhibitors, four oral cephems, eight parenteral cephems, one monobactam, five carbapenems, and one penem), four aminoglycosides, four macrolides (including ketolide), one lincosamide, one tetracycline, two glycopeptides, six fluoroquinolones, and one oxazolidinone were used for the study. Analysis was conducted at the central reference laboratory according to the method recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Incidence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was as high as 58.5 %, and that of penicillin-intermediate and penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PISP and PRSP) was 6.3 % and 0.0 %, respectively. Among H. influenzae, 21.1 % of them were found to be ß-lactamase-non-producing ampicillin (ABPC)-intermediately resistant (BLNAI), 18.7 % to be ß-lactamase-non-producing ABPC-resistant (BLNAR), and 5.7 % to be ß-lactamase-producing ABPC-resistant (BLPAR) strains. A high frequency (76.5 %) of ß-lactamase-producing strains has been suspected in Moraxella catarrhalis isolates. Four (3.2 %) extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae were found among 126 strains. Four isolates (2.5 %) of P. aeruginosa were found to be metallo-ß-lactamase-producing strains, including three (1.9 %) suspected multi-drug resistant strains showing resistance against imipenem, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. Continuous national surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of respiratory pathogens is crucial to monitor changing patterns of susceptibility and to be able to update treatment recommendations on a regular basis.

[Infectious endocarditis due to Gemella morbillorum found by splenic infarction--a case report].

A 64-year-old man with prostate cancer and bone metastasis admitted for nausea, left abdominal pain showed no abnormal, and fever, abdominal ultrasound or chest X-ray findings. Despite antibiotics, left abdominal pain persisted for several days. Abdominal computed tomography (CT), showed splenic infarction. Transesophageal echocardiography suggested infectious endocarditis (IE) as a possible infarction cause, and roth spots were found on the retina. Gemella morbillorum was detected from blood culture. IE commonly causes Fever of Unknown Origin found by infarction. G. morbillorum, an anaerobic gram-positive, viridans group streptococci, is indigenous to the oropharynx, upper respiratory, urogenital, and gastrointestinal tracts, and is thought to have weak toxicity and pathogenicity in the body.

[A 14-year-old healthy boy with splenic abscess due to Salmonella enterica serovar Senftenberg].

Salmonella enterica serovar Senftenberg may very rarely cause splenic abscess, which can be diagnosed using gallium scintigraphy and drained. A 14-year-old boy admitted for stomachache, diarrhea and fever and diagnosed from his symptoms as having enteritis did not respond when treated with fosfomycin, meropenem, and clindamycin. A low-density splenic area seen in abdominal computed tomography on admission did not show contrast medium enhancement. Gallium scintigraphy on hospital day 10, however, showed abnormal splenic accumulation confirming the splenic abscess diagnosis, after which we punctured and drained the abscessout. S. Senftenberg was isolated from pus aspirated pus from the abscess, after which responded well to ceftriaxone and levofloxacin. Follow-up gallium scintigraphy on hospital day 24 showed that the abnormal splenic accumulation had disappeared, after which he has been followed up with abdominal ultrasonography and blood tests as an outpatient. He has experienced no relapse of splenic abscess.

A comparative clinical study of macrolide-sensitive and macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections in pediatric patients.

In recent years, the increased prevalence of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MR-M. pneumoniae) has become a significant issue in Japan. We isolated 94 strains of M. pneumoniae, and determined the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of macrolides and other antimicrobial agents for these strains. We also performed a comparative clinical evaluation of macrolide efficacy for cases of MR-M. pneumoniae infections and cases of macrolide-sensitive Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections (MS-M. pneumoniae). Of the 94 isolates of M. pneumoniae, 64 (68.1%) were classified as MS-M. pneumoniae and 30 (31.9%) as MR-M. pneumoniae strains. The clinical study included an assessment of 47 pediatric cases of MS-M. pneumoniae and 22 pediatric cases of MR-M. pneumoniae. The patient demographics, such as sex, age, the period from the onset of the infection to the first examination, laboratory findings, diagnosis, and the severity of symptoms, showed no significant difference between the two study groups. However, the efficacy of macrolide treatment was 91.5% for MS-M. pneumoniae and 22.7% for MR-M. pneumoniae, a statistically significant difference (P < 0.01). Although M. pneumoniae infection is generally considered a treatable condition, the increasing prevalence of macrolide-resistant strains of M. pneumoniae has become a significant clinical issue in pediatric patients, and it is therefore necessary to give careful consideration to the appropriate antimicrobial therapy for MR-M. pneumoniae infection.