Invasive Group B Streptococcus Infections Caused by Hypervirulent Clone of S. agalactiae Sequence Type 283, Hong Kong, China, 2021.

During September-October 2021, group B Streptococcus bloodstream infections surged among patients hospitalized in Hong Kong. Of 95 cases, 57 were caused by the hypervirulent strain sequence type 283, which at the time was also found in freshwater fish and wet market environments and thus poses a transmission threat.

Infectious intracranial aneurysm associated with : A case report and literature review.

is a known fish pathogen associated with numerous aquacultural outbreaks. In humans, primarily causes infective endocarditis, but infections involving other organs have also been reported. We report the first case of ruptured infectious intracranial aneurysm associated with bacteraemia without concomitant infective endocarditis.

Inoculum Size and False-Positive Detection of NDM- and OXA-48-Type Carbapenemases Using Two Multiplex Lateral Flow Assays.

The NG-Test CARBA 5 and Carbapenem-resistant K.N.I.

Evaluation of Two Tests for the Rapid Detection of CTX-M Producers Directly in Urine Samples.

Infections caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing have increased rapidly and are mainly attributed to the production of CTX-M enzymes. This study evaluated the NG-Test CTX-M MULTI lateral flow assay (CTX-M LFA) and the Rapid ESBL NP test (ESBL NP test) for rapid detection of CTX-M-producing Enterobacterales directly in midstream urine (MSU) samples. Testing was performed on 277 clinical MSU samples in a hospital microbiology laboratory from November 2022 to January 2023; 60 of these samples (30 positive for ESBL producers and 30 positive for non-ESBL producers) were tested retrospectively after the identification and susceptibility results were obtained, and 217 samples were tested prospectively immediately after a Gram stain showing the presence of Gram-negative bacilli.

Determining meteorologically-favorable zones for seasonal influenza activity in Hong Kong.

Investigations of simple and accurate meteorology classification systems for influenza epidemics, particularly in subtropical regions, are limited. To assist in preparing for potential upsurges in the demand on healthcare facilities during influenza seasons, our study aims to develop a set of meteorologically-favorable zones for epidemics of influenza A and B, defined as the intervals of meteorological variables with prediction performance optimized. We collected weekly detection rates of laboratory-confirmed influenza cases from four local major hospitals in Hong Kong between 2004 and 2019.

Evaluation of a Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Rapid Detection of CTX-M Producers from Blood Cultures.

Bacteremia caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing has increased rapidly and is mainly attributed to CTX-M enzymes. This study aimed to evaluate the NG-Test CTX-M MULTI lateral flow assay (CTX-M LFA) for rapid detection of CTX-M producers in blood cultures (BCs) positive for Gram-negative bacilli in spiked and clinical BCs. Retrospective testing was performed on BC bottles spiked with a collection of well-characterized isolates producing CTX-M ( = 15) and CTX-M-like ( = 27) β-lactamases.

Comprehensive investigation of antibiotic resistance gene content in cfiA-harboring Bacteroides fragilis isolates of human and animal origins by whole genome sequencing.

Introduction: The emergence of multidrug resistance in Bacteroides fragilis, especially the phylogenetic lineage carrying the carbapenemase gene cfiA, represents an increasing threat to human health. However, knowledge on the diversity of the multidrug-resistant strains and the genetic elements carrying the antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remains limited.

Aim: The objective of the study was to describe the resistome in cfiA-positive B.

Decreased Antibiotic Consumption Coincided with Reduction in Bacteremia Caused by Bacterial Species with Respiratory Transmission Potential during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Nonpharmaceutical interventions implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020−2021) have provided a unique opportunity to understand their impact on the wholesale supply of antibiotics and incidences of infections represented by bacteremia due to common bacterial species in Hong Kong. The wholesale antibiotic supply data (surrogate indicator of antibiotic consumption) and notifications of scarlet fever, chickenpox, and tuberculosis collected by the Centre for Health Protection, and the data of blood cultures of patients admitted to public hospitals in Hong Kong collected by the Hospital Authority for the last 10 years, were tabulated and analyzed. A reduction in the wholesale supply of antibiotics was observed.

Diversity of genomic clusters and CfiA/cfiA alleles in Bacteroides fragilis isolates from human and animals.

Objectives: To compare the phylogeny of cfiA-positive Bacteroides fragilis isolates from diverse human and animal sources.

Method: Complete genome sequences were obtained from 42 cfiA-positive B. fragilis isolates (Hong Kong, 2015-2017) and additional 24 genomes deposited in the GenBank (multiple countries, 1985-2019) were included.

Hepatitis E Virus Species C Infection in Humans, Hong Kong.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) variants belonging to Orthohepevirus species A (HEV-A) are the primary cause of human hepatitis E. However, we previously reported that Orthohepevirus species C genotype 1 (HEV-C1), a divergent HEV variant commonly found in rats, also causes hepatitis in humans. Here, we present a clinical-epidemiological investigation of human HEV-C1 infections detected in Hong Kong, with an emphasis on outcomes in immunocompromised individuals.

Improved Detection of -Mediated β-Lactam Resistance in Using a New Oxacillin Salt Agar Screen.

Oxacillin resistance mediated by in is emerging in some geographic areas. We evaluated cefoxitin disk diffusion (DD) and a new oxacillin agar (supplemented with 2 μg/ml oxacillin and 2% sodium chloride) screen for the detection of -mediated resistance in . A total of 300 consecutive, non-duplicated clinical isolates from diverse sources in Hong Kong in 2019 were tested.

Posterior Oropharyngeal Saliva for the Detection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put tremendous pressure on the healthcare system worldwide. Diagnostic testing remained one of the limiting factors for early identification and isolation of infected patients. This study aimed to evaluate posterior oropharyngeal saliva (POPS) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection among patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19.

Transmission of Rat Hepatitis E Virus Infection to Humans in Hong Kong: A Clinical and Epidemiological Analysis.

Background And Aims: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) variants causing human infection predominantly belong to HEV species A (HEV-A). HEV species C genotype 1 (HEV-C1) circulates in rats and is highly divergent from HEV-A. It was previously considered unable to infect humans, but the first case of human HEV-C1 infection was recently discovered in Hong Kong.

Evaluation of disc diffusion tests and agar screening for predicting mecA-mediated oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus lugdunensis revealed a cefoxitin-susceptible, mecA-positive S. lugdunensis clonal complex 27 clone.

Objectives: This study evaluated disc diffusion tests and agar screening for detecting mecA-mediated oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus lugdunensis (S. lugdunensis).

Methods: Staphylococcus lugdunensis isolates (n = 179) from diverse sources in Hong Kong during 1998-2018 were investigated by disc diffusion tests (cefoxitin and oxacillin) and inoculation onto oxacillin (1 μg/mL and 2 μg/mL) and chromID methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) agars.

Structures of SCC elements in methicillin-resistant are closely related to those harboured by community-associated methicillin-resistant .

Methicillin-resistant (MRSL) is increasingly recognized in healthcare and community settings. To obtain a better understanding of the emergence of MRSL, this study characterized the structure and content of the SCC elements harboured by 36 MRSL isolates obtained from diverse sources in Hong Kong from 2008 to 2017. The isolates were investigated by whole-genome sequencing.

Occurrence of Highly Conjugative IncX3 Epidemic Plasmid Carrying in Isolates in Geographically Widespread Areas.

The emergence of New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM) in common enterobacterial species is a major concern for healthcare. Early reports have revealed that the spread of NDM involved diverse and heterogeneous plasmids. Recently, the involvement of a rare, IncX3 subtype plasmid has been increasingly recognized.

Is an Emerging Cause of Mastitis Especially in Patients With Psychiatric Illness on Antipsychotic Medication.

This retrospective study of patients with infections revealed a predominance of mastitis and a potential association with psychiatric illnesses. At least one third of our patients with mastitis had psychiatric illness, and >92% received antipsychotic medications. Drug-induced hyperprolactinemia may be an important modifiable risk factor in these patients.

Direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and drug resistance in respiratory specimen using Abbott Realtime MTB detection and RIF/INH resistance assay.

Abbott RealTime MTB (Abbott-RT) in conjunction with Abbott RealTime MTB RIF/INH Resistance (Abbott-RIF/INH) is a new, high-throughput automated nucleic acid amplification platform (Abbott-MDR) for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and the genotypic markers for rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistance directly from respiratory specimens. This prospective study evaluated the diagnostic performance of this new platform for MTBC and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) using 610 sputum specimens in a tuberculosis high-burden setting. Using conventional culture results and clinical background as reference standards, Abbott-RT exhibited an overall sensitivity and specificity of 95.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Bacteroides fragilis group organisms in Hong Kong by the tentative EUCAST disc diffusion method.

This study used a recently developed EUCAST disc diffusion method to measure the susceptibility of 741 B. fragilis group isolates to six antibiotics. Isolates nonsusceptible to imipenem and metronidazole by the disc method were further investigated by E-test.

Rapid detection of metallo-β-lactamase-producing by the combination of MALDI-TOF MS and CarbaNP.

Aims: Carbapenem resistance in is emerging and is mainly attributed to insertion sequence (IS)-mediated activation of the carbapenemase gene . We investigated the use of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and the CarbaNP assay for the rapid identification of these strains.

Methods: This study used the Bruker MALDI Biotype system and the mass spectra models generated by 20 reference strains (10 -positive and 10 -negative) in the ClinProTools software to identify 404 (71 -positive and 333 -negative) clinical isolates.

Activity of Posaconazole against Talaromyces marneffei by Broth Microdilution and Etest Methods and Comparison to Itraconazole, Voriconazole, and Anidulafungin.

We determined the susceptibilities of 57 strains to anidulafungin, itraconazole, voriconazole, and posaconazole with MICs of 2 to 8, 0.002 to 0.004, 0.

IncN ST7 epidemic plasmid carrying blaIMP-4 in Enterobacteriaceae isolates with epidemiological links to multiple geographical areas in China.

Objectives: To characterize bla-carrying plasmids originating from inpatients in Hong Kong.

Methods: Sixteen bla-carrying plasmids identified among Enterobacteriaceae (nine Escherichia coli, four Klebsiella pneumoniae, two Citrobacter freundii and one Enterobacter cloacae) recovered from 15 patients were characterized. The isolates, collected during January 2010 to December 2013, were retrospectively investigated by plasmid sequencing, molecular and fitness studies.