[Microbiological and clinical features of nine cases with nocardial infections].

Following recent advance in medical technology, the increase of immunocompromised patients results in an increase of opportunistic infections such as nocardiosis. However, little is known about relationships between clinical features of nocardial infections and each Nocardia species, especially newly identified ones. Therefore, we identified clinical isolates of Nocardia species by genetic methods and analyzed clinical features of nocardiosis.

Clonal spread in Eastern Asia of ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli serogroup O25 strains, and associated virulence factors.

A significant problem in the field of infectious diseases is the increase in fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant Escherichia coli. Although mutation of strains and clonal dissemination are supposed to be the cause of this increase, little is known about the prevalence of this organism. We investigated 219 FQ-resistant E.

Geographic distribution of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli strains in Asia.

Fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance is usually caused by point mutations within the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of gyrA, gyrB, parC and/or parE. However, little is known about the worldwide increase in FQ-resistant Escherichia coli or, more specifically, about the geographical distribution of QRDR mutations and the clonal spread of isolates. In this study, we analysed 68 FQ-resistant E.

[ISO 15189 accreditation acquisition and the procedure].

Recently, the transparency of customer service and organization administration has been required in many fields. Objective evaluation by a third person is necessary. This also applies to medical institutions; whether the responsibility for explanation to patients and the transparency of medical activities are open is currently emphasized.