Surveillance of pathogenic yeasts in hospital environments in Taiwan in 2020.

Background: A predominate azole-resistant Candida tropicalis clade 4 genotype causing candidemia has been detected in not only Taiwan but also China, Singapore, and Australia. It can also be detected on fruit surfaces. In addition to determining distribution and drug susceptibilities of pathogenic yeasts in environments of intensive care units of 25 hospitals in Taiwan, we would also like to investigate whether the azole-resistant C.

Genetic relatedness among azole-resistant Candida tropicalis clinical strains in Taiwan from 2014 to 2018.

To monitor trends in the distribution of yeast species and the susceptibilities of these species to commonly prescribed antifungal drugs, we conduct the Taiwan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Yeasts (TSARY) every 4 years. We found that 25 of 294 Candida tropicalis isolates from TSARY 2014 and 31 of 314 C. tropicalis isolates from TSARY 2018 were resistant to fluconazole.

Distribution of Yeast Species and Risk Factors of Oral Colonization after Oral-Care Education among the Residents of Nursing Homes.

Most yeasts causing infections in humans are part of commensal microflora and etiological agents of different infections when hosts become susceptible, usually due to becoming immunocompromised. The colonization of potentially pathogenic microbes in the oral cavity is increased by poor oral hygiene. This follow-up survey was conducted approximately two months after providing information on proper oral care at 10 nursing homes in Taiwan.

Temporal Trend of ST131 Clone among Urinary Isolates in the Community: A Taiwan National Surveillance from 2002 to 2016.

Sequence type (ST) 131 is a multidrug-resistant pandemic lineage of responsible for extraintestinal infections. Few surveillance data of ST131 included all antimicrobial-susceptible and -resistant isolates or focused on community-acquired urinary tract infection (UTI). From a population-based surveillance pool of 2997 outpatient urine isolates, 542 were selected for detection of ST131 based on ciprofloxacin and/or cefotaxime resistance.

Multiclonal emergence of levofloxacin-resistant group B Streptococcus, Taiwan.

Objectives: This study investigated the trend in antimicrobial resistance among group B Streptococcus (GBS) from a national surveillance programme in Taiwan and delineated characteristics of and factors associated with levofloxacin-resistant isolates.

Methods: Clinical isolates of all sample types and patient groups were collected from multiple hospitals biennially between 2002 and 2012. Susceptibilities to different antibiotics were determined by broth microdilution.

Prevalence of and risk factors for methicillin-resistant colonization among human immunodeficient virus-infected outpatients in Taiwan: oral colonization as a comparator.

Human immuodeficency virus (HIV)-infected patients receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and community-associated methicillin-resistant (CA-MRSA) have increased in recent years in Taiwan. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of and risk factors for nasal and oral and MRSA colonization among contemporary HIV-infected populations. Clinical variables for and MRSA colonization among HIV-infected outpatients from three hospitals were analyzed and compared with those for oral colonization.

Prevalence and characteristics of pks genotoxin gene cluster-positive clinical Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Taiwan.

The pks gene cluster encodes enzymes responsible for the synthesis of colibactin, a genotoxin that has been shown to induce DNA damage and contribute to increased virulence. The present study investigated the prevalence of pks in clinical K. pneumoniae isolates from a national surveillance program in Taiwan, and identified microbiological and molecular factors associated with pks-carriage.

Yeast oropharyngeal colonization in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients in central taiwan.

A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at a medical center in central Taiwan to understand the prevalence, associated factors, and microbiologic features for oropharyngeal yeast colonization in human immunodeficiency virus-infected outpatients. Oral yeast colonization was detected in 127 (45 %) patients, including 21 (16.5 %) colonized by more than one species.

Epidemiology and molecular characterization of macrolide-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes in Taiwan.

Our multicenter nationwide surveillance data indicated that erythromycin (ERY) resistance among group A Streptococcus (GAS) isolates in Taiwan declined from 53.1% in 1998 and 2000 to 14.6% in 2002 and 2004 and 10.

Predisposing factors for oropharyngeal colonization of yeasts in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients: a prospective cross-sectional study.

Background: Oropharyngeal candidiasis continues to be a major opportunistic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence, associated factors, and microbiologic features for oropharyngeal yeast colonization in HIV-infected patients.

Methods: From October to December 2009, consecutive HIV-infected patients older than 18 years were recruited in this study.

Susceptibilities to amphotericin B, fluconazole and voriconazole of Trichosporon clinical isolates.

A total of 35 Trichosporon isolates were collected from the Taiwan Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance of Yeasts (TSARY) project from 1999 to 2006, and their identifications as well as drug susceptibilities were determined. The most frequently isolated species was T. asahii (62.

Characterization of Candida species from different populations in Taiwan.

The opportunistic Candida species existing as part of commensal microbiota in humans are usually the etiological agents causing infections. We investigated whether isolates collected from different age groups, hospital units, and sources have distinct characteristics. A total of 913 isolates comprising 395 Candida albicans, 230 Candida tropicalis, 202 Candida glabrata, 62 Candida parapsilosis, 13 Candida krusei, and 11 of other six species were analyzed.

Comparison of plasma and intake levels of antioxidant nutrients in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and healthy people in Taiwan: a case-control study.

The imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant plays an important role in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is increasing evidence that individuals with high antioxidative nutrient levels in the diet or in blood tend to maintain better lung function. This study was conducted to determine whether COPD patients in Taiwan have lower plasma concentrations of antioxidative nutrients than do healthy people, and whether the dietary habits of COPD patients in Taiwan affect their intake of vitamin C and carotenoids.