[In vitro susceptibilities to levofloxacin and various antibacterial agents of 12,919 clinical isolates obtained from 72 centers in 2007].

We have reported in this journal in vitro susceptibilities of clinical isolates to antibiotics every year since 1992. In this paper, we report the results of an analysis of in vitro susceptibilities of 12,919 clinical isolates from 72 centers in Japan to selected antibiotics in 2007 compared with the results from previous years. The common respiratory pathogens, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Haemophilus influenzae maintained a high susceptibility to fluoroquinolones (FQs).

[Evaluation of the usefulness of a rapid immunochromatographic membrane test to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen in the early diagnosis of pneumococcal respiratory tract infections and the relationship to the severity of pneumonia].

We evaluated the usefulness of a rapid immunochromatographic membrane test (Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae kit; ICT) to detect Streptococcus pneumoniae antigen in early diagnosis of pneumococcal respiratory tract infections and the relationship to the severity of pneumonia. We diagnosed 155 of 592 samples, which were performed by ICT, as S. pneumoniae respiratory tract infections.

[Evaluation of ImmnoCard mycoplasma for diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection].

We compared the differences of two tests, for the diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection a rapid detection kit for Mycoplasma pneumoniae-specific IgM antibody, ImmunoCard (IC) Mycoplasma test (Meridian Bioscience-USA), and a particle agglutination (PA) test in a retrospective study among 57 patients. They were all suspected to be suffering from atypical bacterial respiratory infection and were checked by the IC test at the Fukuroi Municipal Hospital from January 2004 to January 2006. In this study, the concordance of IC and PA results showed a great difference in children and adults.

Differences in clinical features and prognosis of interstitial lung diseases between polymyositis and dermatomyositis.

Objective: To assess the difference in clinical features and prognosis of patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) comparing polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM).

Methods: Medical records of 28 ILD patients with PM/DM (16 PM-ILD, 12 DM-ILD) were reviewed retrospectively.

Results: Serum CPK concentrations were significantly higher in PM-ILD than in DM-ILD.