Efficacy and safety of early administration of remdesivir in hemodialysis patients with COVID-19: A case report and literature review.

Rationale: Although the mortality of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has decreased after the emergence of the Omicron variant, it remains high in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Remdesivir (RDV) is considered as the first line drug for hospitalized COVID-19 patients, however the evidence regarding the usage in HD patients is lacking because clinical trials of RDV have excluded HD patients for safety reasons. Thus, accumulation of knowledge on the regimen, efficacy, and tolerability of RDV in HD patients is important.

Complete genome sequence of a metallo-β-lactamase-producing strain, RYU-Ah62, isolated from a patient with an abdominal abscess.

is highly virulent but often misidentified in clinical settings. The entire genome sequence of a metallo-β-lactamase-producing strain from a clinical specimen has been presented in this study. The genome comprised a single chromosome of 4.

Clinical characteristics and analysis of prognostic factors in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis: A retrospective multicenter study in Japan.

Background: Infective endocarditis (IE) caused by MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is associated with a high mortality rate. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of patients with MRSA-IE in Japan and identify the factors associated with prognosis.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of IE caused by MRSA, between January 2015 and April 2019.

Impact of G29179T mutation on two commercial PCR assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection.

Nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) is the gold standard for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection. However, genetic mutations in the virus can affect the result. Cycle threshold (Ct) values of N genes and their association with mutations using SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens diagnosed by the Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 were examined in this study.

Clinical and bacterial features of Group B streptococci with reduced penicillin susceptibility from respiratory specimens: a case-control study.

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B Streptococcus, GBS) is an invasive pathogen that causes sepsis and meningitis among infants, elderly adults, and immunosuppressed patients. Generally, GBS is susceptible to penicillin; however, GBS with reduced penicillin susceptibility (PRGBS) has been reported. PRGBS are commonly isolated from respiratory specimens, but clinical features of patients with PRGBS remain unclear.

Revised hospital antibiotic formulary reduces antimicrobial consumption and promotes a shift towards narrow-spectrum antibiotic usage.

Background: In Japan, the national action plan to adress antimicrobial resistance problems aimed to reduce the use of oral cephalosporins, quinolones, and macrolides per day per 1000 inhabitants by 50% from the levelin 2013 by 2020. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of a revised antibiotic formulary on in- and out-hospital oral antibiotic prescribing practices at a 600-bed university hospital.

Method: A retrospective before-and-after comparison study was conducted.

Critical respiratory failure in pregnancy complicated with COVID-19: A case report.

The case is presented of a 29-year-old primiparous woman who was COVID-19-positive at 34 weeks of gestation and who developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. After a four-day history of fever and mild dyspnea, she was referred to hospital. Ciclesonide, dexamethasone, heparin sodium, and sulbactam/ampicillin were initiated, followed by remdesivir and tocilizumab.

Case Report: Ischemic Enterocolitis Associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019: Two Case Reports and a Review of the Literature.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious health and social concerns worldwide. Although the primary target of SARS-CoV-2 is the respiratory tract, SARS-CoV-2 infection also causes extrapulmonary symptoms. Previous articles have reported ischemic colitis in COVID-19 patients; however, information regarding its clinical manifestations and pathophysiology is limited.

Case Report: Iliopsoas Hematoma during the Clinical Course of Severe COVID-19 in Two Male Patients.

Anticoagulation plays a major role in reducing the risk of systematic thrombosis in patients with severe COVID-19. Serious hemorrhagic complications, such as intracranial hemorrhage, have also been recognized. However, intra-abdominal hemorrhage is under-recognized because of its rare occurrence, despite high mortality.

Emergence of a colistin-resistant Escherichia coli clinical isolate harboring mcr-1 in Japan.

The mcr-1 is a gene encoding a phosphoethanolamine transferase, which confers resistance to colistin by transferring phosphoethanolamine to lipid A. We describe here the emergence of a colistin-resistant Escherichia coli clinical isolate harboring plasmid-mediated mcr-1 in Japan. The isolate belonged to ST5702 and is suspected to come from livestock and transmitted to human.

The clinical and phylogenetic investigation for a nosocomial outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus infection in an adult hemato-oncology unit.

Although many reports have already shown RSV outbreaks among hemato-oncology patients, genomic studies detecting similar RSV strains prior to an outbreak in the hospital are rare. In 2014, the University of the Ryukyus hospital hemato-oncology unit experienced, and successfully managed, a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) nosocomial outbreak. During the outbreak investigation, genotyping and phylogenetic analysis was used to identify a potential source for the outbreak.

Long-term Treatment of Teicoplanin for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Sternal Osteomyelitis with Renal Impairment: A Case of High Teicoplanin Trough Levels Maintained by Therapeutic Drug Monitoring.

Teicoplanin, a glycopeptide antibiotic for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is recommended for therapeutic drug monitoring during treatment. Maintaining a high trough range of teicoplanin is also recommended for severe infectious disease. However, the optimal dose and interval of treatment for severe renal impairment is unknown.

Role of interferon-gamma in Valpha14+ natural killer T cell-mediated host defense against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection in murine lungs.

Previously, we demonstrated that Valpha14+ NKT cells and IFN-gamma are important upstream components in neutrophil-mediated host defense against infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. In the present study, we extended these findings by elucidating the role of IFN-gamma in this Valpha14+ NKT cell-promoted process. Administration of recombinant IFN-gamma to Jalpha18KO mice prolonged the shortened survival, promoted the attenuated clearance of bacteria and improved the reduced accumulation of neutrophils and synthesis of MIP-2 and TNF-alpha in the lungs, in comparison to wild-type (WT) mice.

Accumulation of gamma/delta T cells in the lungs and their roles in neutrophil-mediated host defense against pneumococcal infection.

The present study was designed to elucidate the role of Vgamma4(+) gammadelta T cells, a major subset of pulmonary gammadelta T cells, in host defense against infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae. The proportion and number of whole gammadelta T cells, identified as CD3(+) and TCR-delta(+) cells, and Vgamma4(+) gammadelta T cells, identified as CD3(+) and TCR-Vgamma4(+) cells, increased in the lungs at 3, 6 and 12h post-infection. Survival of infected mice and lung bacterial clearance were severely impaired in TCR-Vgamma4(-/-) mice compared with control wild-type (WT) mice.

NKT cells play a limited role in the neutrophilic inflammatory responses and host defense to pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

CD1d-restricted NKT cells are reported to play a critical role in the host defense to pulmonary infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the contribution of a major subset expressing a Valpha14-Jalpha18 gene segment remains unclear. In the present study, we re-evaluated the role of NKT cells in the neutrophilic inflammatory responses and host defense to this infection using mice genetically lacking Jalpha18 or CD1d (Jalpha18KO or CD1dKO mice).

Essential role for the p40 subunit of interleukin-12 in neutrophil-mediated early host defense against pulmonary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae: involvement of interferon-gamma.

Interleukin (IL)-12 is a critical cytokine in the T helper (Th)1 response and host defense against intracellular microorganisms, while its role in host resistance to extracellular bacteria remains elusive. In the present study, we elucidated the role of IL-12 in the early-phase host defense against acute pulmonary infection with Streptococcus pneumoniae, a typical extracellular bacterium, using IL-12p40 gene-disrupted (IL-12p40KO) mice. IL-12p40KO mice were highly susceptible to S.