Prognosis of patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infection treated with teicoplanin: a retrospective cohort study investigating effect of teicoplanin minimum inhibitory concentrations.

Background: The present study was designed to investigate whether teicoplanin minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates play a role in the prognosis of patient with teicoplanin-treated MRSA bloodstream infection (BSI).

Methods: Between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2009, adult patients with teicoplanin-treated MRSA BSI in two Taiwan medical centers were retrospectively enrolled. Their blood MRSA isolates were submitted for determination of MICs to various antibiotics and multi-locus sequence types.

Associated clinical characteristics of patients with candidemia among different Candida species.

Background: The rising incidence of non-albicans Candida (NAC) infection has been associated with a potentially adverse outcome for patients with candidemia. However, categorizing various species causing candidemia into a single NAC group might lead to inappropriate conclusions due to heterogeneity in species. Thus we examined the associated factors among patients with candidemia caused by different species.

Klebsiella pneumoniae in gastrointestinal tract and pyogenic liver abscess.

To determine the role of gastrointestinal carriage in Klebsiella pneumoniae liver abscess, we studied 43 patients. Bacterial isolates from liver and fecal samples from 10 patients with this condition and 7 healthy carriers showed identical serotypes and genotypes with the same virulence. This finding indicated that gastrointestinal carriage is a predisposing factor for liver abscess.

Clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with community-onset Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia requiring intensive care.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is the major pathogen of community-acquired pyogenic infections in Taiwan and can lead to poor prognosis in critically ill patients complicated with bacteremia. This study investigated the characteristics and outcome of patients with community-onset K.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of Acinetobacter nosocomialis bacteraemia in patients with solid tumours.

The clinical characteristics and risk factors for 28-day mortality in 120 patients with solid tumours with Acinetobacter nosocomialis bacteraemia were retrospectively analysed. Eighty-one patients (67.5%) had advanced-stage cancer.

The ICNARC model is predictive of hospital mortality in critically ill patients supported by acute dialysis.

Aims: To compare prediction power between ICNARC model and RIFLE classification in postoperative patients receiving acute dialysis.

Material And Method: Between January 2002 and December 2008, 529 patients received acute dialysis during their ICU stay were enrolled. Patients' demographic, clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed as predictors of mortality.

Comparison between patients under hemodialysis with community-onset bacteremia caused by community-associated and healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Background/purpose(s): Patients receiving hemodialysis infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have been considered to have healthcare-associated (HA) infections, but strains with community-associated (CA) characteristics have also been identified in this population. The authors compared infections of the two strains among patients with end-stage renal disease.

Methods: From January 2004 to December 2008 the authors analyzed the demographic and microbiologic data of 57 patients with community-onset (defined as a positive culture obtained ≤ 48 hours after admission) MRSA bacteremia and end-stage renal disease at a 2900-bed tertiary medical center.

Pyogenic liver abscess as the initial manifestation of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Pyogenic liver abscess and hepatocellular carcinoma are common in Taiwan. We investigated the frequency of, risk factors for, and prognosis of pyogenic liver abscess as the initial manifestation of underlying hepatocellular carcinoma over a 12-year period in Taiwan.

Methods: We extracted 32,454 patients with pyogenic liver abscess from a nationwide health registry in Taiwan during the period 1997-2008.

Characteristics of healthcare-associated and community-acquired Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteremia in Taiwan.

Objectives: Klebsiella pneumoniae is the major cause of community-onset pyogenic infections in Taiwan. We investigated the clinical features and outcomes of community-acquired (CA) and healthcare-associated (HCA) infections among community-onset K. pneumoniae bacteremia.

Comparison of microbiological and clinical characteristics based on SCCmec typing in patients with community-onset meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia.

Molecular identification methods based on the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) genotype are more reliable than clinical risk factors and demographic data for differentiating community-acquired and healthcare-associated (HCA) meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). However, patients with community-onset (CO) MRSA infections, defined as a culture-positive sample obtained <48h after admission and from patients with HCA risk factors, have been infrequently studied. This study compared the clinical profiles of different SCCmec genotypes in this group of patients.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated Pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis complicating Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disease, characterized by specific autoimmune antibodies anti-Ro and anti-La, and it can involve multiple organs, such as the kidneys, lungs, muscles, and nervous system. The most common renal complication of Sjögren's syndrome is tubulointerstitial nephritis, and glomerulonephritis is relatively uncommon. We report the case of an 86-year-old man presenting with recurrent fever, poor appetite, decreased salivary secretion, and body weight loss.