Group B streptococcal infection in Taiwan: maternal colonization and neonatal infection.

Background: There is no national data on group B streptococcus (GBS) infection in Taiwan. We investigated incidence of maternal GBS colonization and neonatal GBS infection rate and clinical pictures of neonatal GBS infection to estimate the value of intrapartum chemoprophylactic strategy in Taiwan.

Methods: From January 2004 to June 2005, a prospective study to estimate maternal colonization rate by maternal rectovaginal culture at six hospitals was conducted.

Clinical manifestations of primary spontaneous pneumothorax in pediatric patients: an analysis of 78 patients.

Background: The aims of this investigation were to explore primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) in pediatric patients and to evaluate the clinical manifestations and outcomes of the PSP.

Methods: Seventy-eight patients diagnosed with PSP between January 2004 and December 2009 was retrospectively studied. The clinical data on demographics, diagnostic imaging, therapeutic approach, and outcomes were collected and analyzed.

Clinical and genetic analysis of invasive and non-invasive group A streptococcal infections in central Taiwan.

To evaluate the clinical, bacteriologic, and genetic relatedness between invasive and non-invasive infections caused by group A Streptococcus (GAS), we retrospectively analyzed the GAS isolates in our hospital from the past decade. A total of 70 GAS-infected cases were enrolled in our study from the period 1993 to 2002. Twenty one cases had invasive disease, and 49 were non-invasive.

Influenza B virus associated pneumonia: report of one case.

Influenza A virus is a more common cause of pneumonia than influenza B virus. Influenza virus pneumonia complicated with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is rare and has a high mortality rate. In addition to pneumonia, influenza occasionally causes neurologic, cardiac, renal, or muscular complications.

Is combination antimicrobial therapy required for urinary tract infection in children?

This retrospective study examined the characteristics of 338 pediatric patients presenting with a first episode of symptomatic urinary tract infection at Taichung Veterans General Hospital from November 1996 to December 2001. Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (72.5%), followed by Proteus mirabilis (8.

Clinical experience of managing empyema thoracic in children.

Data of 54 children with a diagnosis of thoracic empyema at a medical center in central Taiwan from January 1991 through April 2001 were analyzed. Their mean age was 4.4 years and the mean hospital stay was 13 days.