Increased Detection of Viruses in Children with Respiratory Tract Infection Using PCR.

Respiratory viruses are a common cause of respiratory tract infection (RTI), particularly in neonates and children. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of viral infections could improve clinical outcomes and reduce the use of antibiotics and treatment sessions. Advances in diagnostic technology contribute to the accurate detection of viruses.

Persistence and continuous evolution of the human respiratory syncytial virus in northern Taiwan for two decades.

The study aimed to characterize the molecular epidemiology, phylogenetic relationship, and population dynamics of the G protein gene in clinical respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains isolated from northern Taiwan. We analyzed a total of 160 and 116 G protein gene sequences of RSV-A and RSV-B representative strains, respectively, from 804 clinical viral stocks collected between July 2000 and June 2016. Population dynamic patterns of the RSV G protein gene were analyzed using Bayesian inference through the Markov chain Monte Carlo framework.

Clinical characteristics in adult patients with Salmonella bacteremia and analysis of ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible isolates.

Background/purpose: The purpose of this study is to describe clinical characteristics of Salmonella bacteremia in adult patients and analyze ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible isolates.

Methods: A total of 101 Salmonella blood isolates from adult patients were collected from January 2011 to December 2013 in MacKay Memorial Hospital. Eight ciprofloxacin-nonsusceptible Salmonella blood isolates were screened for carbapenemase and other β lactamase genes.

Risk factor analysis and molecular epidemiology of respiratory adenovirus infections among children in northern Taiwan, 2009-2013.

Background/purpose: Respiratory infections caused by human adenoviruses (HAdV) are worldwide, and have significantly increased recently in Taiwan. This study aimed to clarify the molecular epidemiology and risk factors of HAdV severe infections and pneumonia among Taiwanese children.

Methods: Patients with HAdV infections and hospitalized in a medical center between 2009 and 2013 were divided into severe or nonsevere HAdV infections based on whether or not they received intensive care.

Identification of DHA-23, a novel plasmid-mediated and inducible AmpC beta-lactamase from Enterobacteriaceae in Northern Taiwan.

Objectives: AmpC β-lactamases are classified as Amber Class C and Bush Group 1. AmpC β-lactamases can hydrolyze broad and extended-spectrum cephalosporins, and are not inhibited by β-lactamase inhibitors such as clavulanic acid. This study was conducted to identify DHA-23, a novel plasmid-mediated and inducible AmpC β-lactamase obtained from Enterobacteriaceae.

A novel six consecutive monthly doses of palivizumab prophylaxis protocol for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus infection in high-risk preterm infants in Taiwan.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulates year round in Taiwan. A novel six consecutive monthly doses of palivizumab for RSV prevention protocol has been approved for high risk preterm infants since December 2010. This study aimed to determine the clinical effectiveness and safety of this novel protocol for the prevention of RSV infection.

Types and prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex in Northern Taiwan.

The frequency of the carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii (CRACB) complex increases annually in our hospitals. However, the types and prevalence of carbapenemases among isolates still remain unclear. In this study, we identified and collected 672 carbapenem-resistant isolates from a medical center in Northern Taiwan between April and December of 2010.

Molecular epidemiology and phylodynamics of the human respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein in northern Taiwan.

Background And Aims: The glycoprotein (G protein) and fusion protein (F protein) of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) both show genetic variability, but few studies have examined the F protein gene. This study aimed to characterize the molecular epidemiology and phylodynamics of the F protein gene in clinical RSV strains isolated in northern Taiwan from 2000-2011.

Methods: RSV isolates from children presenting with acute respiratory symptoms between July 2000 and June 2011 were typed based on F protein gene sequences.

Viral etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infections in hospitalized young children in Northern Taiwan.

Background: Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) comprise a great proportion of diagnoses among hospitalized children. This study identifies the viral pathogens causing LRTIs in young children and compares their clinical features and disease severity.

Methods: Children younger than 36 months old, hospitalized at a medical center in Northern Taiwan with acute bronchiolitis or pneumonia from April to December 2007, were prospectively enrolled.

Roles of trans and cis variation in yeast intraspecies evolution of gene expression.

Both cis and trans mutations contribute to gene expression divergence within and between species. We used Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model organism to estimate the relative contributions of cis and trans variations to the expression divergence between a laboratory (BY) and a wild (RM) strain of yeast. We examined whether genes regulated by a single transcription factor (TF; single input module, SIM genes) or genes regulated by multiple TFs (multiple input module, MIM genes) are more susceptible to trans variation.

Antimicrobial therapy and control of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia in a teaching hospital in Taiwan.

Background And Purpose: The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a challenging clinical problem. This study investigated the source of an outbreak of MDR P. aeruginosa infections and the role of combination therapy in its management.

Cefotaxime-resistant Citrobacter freundii in isolates from blood in a tertiary teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan.

From January 2002 to December 2003, 12 patients in a tertiary teaching hospital in northern Taiwan had bloodstream infections caused by Citrobacter freundii. Seven of the 12 isolates were resistant to cefotaxime. Using polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing, 3 of the 7 cefotaxime-resistant C.

Ceftriaxone resistance of nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica isolates in Northern Taiwan attributable to production of CTX-M-14 and CMY-2 beta-lactamases.

Among 3,027 nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica isolates identified between January 1999 and December 2002 in a medical center in northern Taiwan, 31 were resistant to the extended-spectrum cephalosporin ceftriaxone (1.02% [31/3,027]), including 2 in 1999 (0.36% [2/549]), 13 in 2000 (1.