Evaluation of the drug-drug interactions management system for appropriate use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir: a retrospective observational study.

Purpose: While nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV-r) has been positioned as a first-line treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19, it has multiple and significant drug-drug interactions (DDIs). The use of NMV-r in Japan has been limited compared to the United States. This study aimed to describe the distribution of DDIs with NMV-r and their management in patients with COVID-19 under the control of a management system for the appropriate use of NMV-r.

Analysis of B-cell receptor repertoire to evaluate immunogenicity of monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 mRNA vaccines.

Monovalent Omicron XBB.1.5 mRNA vaccines were newly developed and approved by the FDA in Autumn 2023 for preventing COVID-19.

Polypropylene Mesh Infection From Surgical Site Infections Caused by Mycobacterium fortuitum.

This report highlights two cases of surgical site infections (SSIs) caused by (Mf) following abdominal mesh implantation. The first case involved an 83-year-old male experiencing non-healing erythema and wounds post-operation, which persisted despite multiple treatments, until effective management was achieved with targeted antibiotics after Mf identification. The second case concerned a female patient with a gynecological postoperative hernia, where Mf was quickly detected following SSI onset three weeks after surgery.

Infectious mononucleosis due to Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in an immunocompromised 60-year-old patient with COVID-19.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation in COVID-19 patients has been reported, but studies on its clinical significance are lacking. We herein report the occurrence of infectious mononucleosis (IM) due to EBV reactivation in a 60-year-old man with rheumatoid arthritis being treated with methotrexate and tocilizumab. The patient presented with a fever and tested positive for COVID-19.

Response to mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination evaluated by B-cell receptor repertoire after tixagevimab/cilgavimab administration.

The use of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody products like tixagevimab/cilgavimab represents an important strategy to protect immunocompromised patients with haematological malignancies from COVID-19. Although patients who receive these agents should still be vaccinated, the use of tixagevimab/cilgavimab can mask the production of anti-spike antibody after vaccination, making it hard to assess vaccine response. We have newly established a quantification method to assess the response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination at the mRNA level using B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire assay and the Coronavirus Antibody Database (CoV-AbDab).

Comparable efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines for patients receiving tegafur-uracil as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Purpose: Many effective vaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been developed, but a weaker response in individuals undergoing anticancer treatment has been reported. This study evaluates the immunogenic status and safety of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), receiving tegafur-uracil (UFT) as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: The subjects of this prospective study were 40 patients who underwent surgery for NSCLC and received SARS-CoV-2 vaccines postoperatively.

A Third Dose COVID-19 Vaccination in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Patients.

We previously reported that a second dose of BNT162b2 was safe and effective for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) patients. Here, we investigated the safety and efficacy of a third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine in allogeneic HSCT patients. Antibody titers against the S1 spike protein were measured using the QuaResearch COVID-19 Human IgM IgG ELISA kit.

Promising Efficacy of a Third Dose of mRNA SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in Patients Treated with Anti-CD20 Antibody Who Failed 2-Dose Vaccination.

Anti-CD20 antibodies react with CD20 expressed not only on malignant B cells, but also on normal B cells. It has been reported that patients treated with anti-CD20 antibodies had an insufficient response to two-dose mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. To investigate the efficacy of a third dose in these patients, we investigated serum IgG antibody titers for the S1 protein after a third vaccination in 22 patients treated with the anti-CD20 antibody who failed two-dose vaccination.

A case report of native vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Cutibacterium modestum.

Background: Cutibacterium modestum was named in 2020. C. modestum was previously called Propionibacterium humerusii.

The Safety and Immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in Japanese Patients after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Patients who have undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for hematological disease experience high mortality when infected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine in HSCT patients remain to be investigated. We prospectively evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine (Pfizer BioNTech) in 25 Japanese allogeneic HSCT patients in comparison with 19 healthy volunteers.

Safety and immunogenicity of the COVID-19 vaccine BNT162b2 in patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid cancer.

Background: Although COVID-19 severity in cancer patients is high, the safety and immunogenicity of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid cancers in Japan have not been reported.

Methods: We investigated the safety and immunogenicity of BNT162b2 in 41 patients undergoing chemotherapy for solid cancers and in healthy volunteers who received 2 doses of BNT162b2. We evaluated serum IgG antibody titers for S1 protein by ELISA at pre-vaccination, prior to the second dose and 14 days after the second vaccination in 24 cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic chemotherapy (CC group), 17 cancer patients undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy (ICI group) and 12 age-matched healthy volunteers (HV group).

Limited increase in antibody titers following mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination for more than 3 years after final dose of anti-CD20 antibody.

We investigated the efficacy of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine in patients with B-cell malignancies treated with anti-CD20 antibody. Although T-cell-mediated immune responses were detected even in patients receiving R-CHOP treatment, the S1 antibody titer following BNT162b2 vaccination remained only marginally increased for more than 3 years after the final dose of anti-CD20 antibody. We found no relationship between the percent of B-cells and S1 antibody titer.

Massive surge of mRNA expression of clonal B-cell receptor in patients with COVID-19.

Background: Antibody production is one of the primary mechanisms for recovery from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). It is speculated that massive clonal expansion of B cells, which can produce clinically meaningful neutralizing antibodies, occurs in patients who recover on the timing of acquiring adaptive immunity.

Methods: To evaluate fluctuations in clonal B cells and the size of the clones, we chronologically assessed the B-cell receptor (BCR) repertoire in three patients with COVID-19 who recovered around 10 days after symptom onset.

Anaphylaxis to simultaneous administration of inactivated tissue culture hepatitis A vaccine and purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine after multiple doses.

Both the inactivated hepatitis A vaccine (Aimmugen) and purified chick embryo cell rabies vaccine (PCECV, Rabipur) are well tolerated. Anaphylaxis has rarely been reported as an adverse reaction of these vaccines. There have been no reports or published case reports of anaphylaxis due to Aimmugen.

Impact of Infectious Disease Consultation on Management and Outcomes of Infective Endocarditis.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and successful management requires expertise in both cardiac surgery and infectious disease (ID). However, the impact of ID consultation on the clinical outcomes of IE is not clear.

Methods: The present study was a quasi-experimental, interrupted time series analysis of the clinical outcomes of patients with IE before (April 1998-April 2008) and after (May 2008-March 2019) the establishment of an ID department at a tertiary care hospital in Japan.

Case report of eight pregnant women with syphilis.

Congenital syphilis may lead to severe sequelae in affected infants. The prevalence of syphilis in women of childbearing age has increased worldwide. From 2015 to 2018, we encountered eight pregnant women with syphilis including six with late latent and two with early latent syphilis.

Efficacy of educational intervention on reducing the inappropriate use of oral third-generation cephalosporins.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an educational intervention on reducing the inappropriate use of oral third-generation cephalosporins, the prevalence of resistant bacteria, and clinical outcomes.

Methods: A before-after study was conducted to compare the data for 1 year before and after intervention at a Japanese university hospital. Educational intervention included lectures for all medical staff on oral antibiotics and educational meetings with each medical department.

Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis caused by rifampicin: An increasing and often overlooked side effect in elderly patients .

Background: There are many side effects of antituberculous drugs, however, renal failure is relatively rare. Therefore, this side effect is thought to be unrecognized by most physicians. We experienced one case of acute renal failure caused by antituberculous therapy (rifampicin).

Mycotic aneurysm caused by Edwardsiella tarda successfully treated with stenting and suppressive antibiotic therapy: a case report and systematic review.

Background: Mycotic aneurysm is an uncommon disease which could be fatal without appropriate treatment. Although standard therapy for mycotic aneurysms consists of resection of the infected aorta and in situ graft replacement, some treat with endovascular stent-grafting because patients may not tolerate graft replacement due to underlying diseases. There are 6 more reported cases of mycotic aneurysm caused by Edwardsiella tarda.

Cefmetazole for bacteremia caused by ESBL-producing enterobacteriaceae comparing with carbapenems.

Background: ESBL (Extended spectrum beta-lactamase) producing enterobacteriaceae are challenging organisms with little treatment options. Carbapenems are frequently used, but the emergence of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae is a concerning issue, which may hinder the use of carbapenems. Although cephamycins such as cefoxitin, cefmetazole or cefotetan are effective against ESBL-producers in vitro, there are few clinical data demonstrating effects against bacteremia caused by these organisms.