Syphilis and neurosyphilis in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a retrospective study at a teaching hospital in Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: Some studies have reported that the risk factors for neurosyphilis in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and syphilis co-infection, include CD4 cell counts ≤350cells/μL and rapid plasma reagin (RPR) titer ≥1:32. However, neurosyphils can develop even in patients with CD4 cell counts >350cells/μL or RPR titer <1:32. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of syphilis to treatment in HIV-infected patients, and analysed the predictors of neurosyphilis in this population.

Different presentations and outcomes between HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients with Cryptococcal meningitis.

Background And Purpose: Cryptococcus species are the most common causative agents of fungal meningitis. Different populations may show different clinical manifestations and outcomes. In this retrospective study, we investigated these differences in patients with and without HIV infection.

Eight years experience in treatment of prosthetic joint infections at a teaching hospital in Central Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) has become an important issue in the management of patients who receive prostheses. We compared the clinical outcomes of PJIs caused by Gram-negative bacteria (GN PJIs) and Gram-positive bacteria (GP PJIs).

Methods: Patients with culture-proven PJIs admitted to China Medical University Hospital between March 2001 and March 2009 were included in this retrospective study.

Abdominal tuberculosis in adult: 10-year experience in a teaching hospital in central Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) is an important communicable disease worldwide. The clinical presentation of abdominal TB often mimics various gastrointestinal disorders and may delay accurate diagnosis. In this study, we conducted a 10-year retrospective study to investigate the clinical manifestations, treatment responses and outcomes of abdominal TB.

Molecular epidemiology of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in a teaching hospital.

Background And Purpose: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a key nosocomial pathogen globally. Community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) infections have become a growing problem in recent years. The purpose of this 4-year retrospective study was to analyze the molecular epidemiology and susceptibility pattern of isolates from adults (> or =18 years of age) with CA-MRSA bacteremia in northern Taiwan.

Pseudomonas mendocina spondylodiscitis: a case report and literature review.

Pseudomonas mendocina is rarely recovered as a human pathogen. Only 2 human cases have been reported in the literature. Here, we report the third human case and possibly the first 1 to involve spinal infection caused by such an unusual bacterium.

Epidemiologic trends in nosocomial bacteremia in a neonatal intensive care unit.

The primary goal of this study was to analyze the epidemiologic features of nosocomial bloodstream infection (NBSI) in a neonatal intensive care unit over a 7-year period. All neonatal patients with NBSI treated from January 1997 to December 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. 232 NBSI episodes were diagnosed in 208 patients.

Monotherapy with meropenem versus combination therapy with ceftazidime plus amikacin as empirical therapy for neutropenic fever in children with malignancy.

Fifty-four pediatric cancer patients with a total of 100 febrile neutropenic episodes treated at China Medical College Hospital were randomized to receive meropenem or ceftazidime plus amikacin from January 2001 to April 2002. The characteristics of 76 assessable febrile episodes (39 with meropenem and 37 with ceftazidime plus amikacin) were compared between the 2 groups. The success rate with unmodified therapy was not significantly different between the meropenem group (72%) and the ceftazidime-plus-amikacin group (57%).