Incidence survey of acute otitis media in children in Sado Island, Japan--Sado Otitis Media Study (SADOMS).

Background: Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common forms of bacterial infection and cause for clinic visits in children. The incidence of AOM was 0.9-1.

Molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from children in a community with low antimicrobial pressure in Japan.

Sado Island in Japan is an area with low antimicrobial pressure. A total of 41 community-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates were obtained from pediatric outpatients and healthy children between August 2009 and January 2012, and genotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the MRSA isolates were performed. Additionally, the sources of MRSA isolated from healthy 1-month-old neonates were assessed.

Genotyping of Haemophilus influenzae type b in pre-vaccination era.

Identification of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) in asymptomatic carriers is critical to control the spread of disease. This study was conducted between January 2008 and August 2011 as part of a birth cohort study in Sado Island, Japan, to elucidate the prevalence of Hib and its clones in a specific region. Nasopharyngeal cultures were obtained from 349 subjects at 4-, 7-, 10-, 18-, and 36-month health checkups and analyzed for H.

Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among children in a region with controlled antimicrobial use.

Since 2002, we have conducted a series of intervention programs in Sado Island, Japan, to increase awareness of the appropriate use of antimicrobials among public and health-care staff. The objective of our study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus among children in a semi-closed geographic region with controlled antimicrobial use. The average hospital visit-based rate for antimicrobial drug prescription drastically decreased from 535 per 1,000 clinic visits before the intervention programs to 45-75 per 1,000 clinic visits after the intervention programs (P < 0.