Clinical characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of infection over a 5-year trend at a university hospital in Japan.

() is known to cause intra-abdominal and anaerobic bloodstream infections. However, clinical insights and information on antimicrobial susceptibility in infections are limited. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility of infections.

A 15-Year Observational Cohort of Acute Empyema at a Single-Center in Japan.

Despite the advancements in diagnostic methods and antibiotic treatment, empyema is a critical respiratory infection, showing a high mortality rate of 10-25%. To evaluate the bacterial etiology and prognostic factors of acute empyema, we conducted this long-term retrospective cohort study at our institute between 2008 and 2022. A total of 80 patients were enrolled in this cohort.

Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Congenital Syphilis in Japan, 2023: Executive Summary.

Congenital syphilis (CS) is a mother-to-child infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, transmitted through the placenta. In Japan, the number of syphilis cases has recently increased, accompanied by an increase in CS cases. Thus, automated methods for serum antibodies with serial values, without a 2× dilution sequence, have been widely used.

Efficacy and safety of ceftazidime-avibactam in combination with metronidazole in Japanese patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection: A phase 3, multicentre, open-label study.

Background: This phase 3 open-label study evaluated the efficacy and safety of ceftazidime-avibactam in Japanese patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections (cIAIs).

Methods: Hospitalised adults with cIAI received ceftazidime-avibactam + metronidazole for 5-14 days. The primary efficacy endpoint was clinical cure at the test-of-cure (TOC) visit in the clinically evaluable (CE) analysis set.

Clinical efficacy and safety assessment of tedizolid using therapeutic drug monitoring.

Thrombocytopenia derived from tedizolid (TZD) has been reported but less frequently than that from linezolid. Only a few reports have investigated the relationship between the efficacy and safety of TZD administration. This study aimed to measure TZD concentration and investigate the relationship between efficacy and safety.

Effects of Adding P2Y12 Inhibitor to Anti-staphylococcal Therapy on Bacterial Clearance in Patients With Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia.

Background:  () bloodstream infection (SAB) remains a major clinical challenge despite appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Recent studies have suggested the potential benefits of P2Y12 inhibitors in SAB treatment, but controversy persists regarding their optimal use. Moreover, the effects of P2Y12 inhibitors in Japanese patients remain unclear.

Days of Antibiotic Spectrum Coverage (DASC) as a Metric for Evaluating the Impact of Prospective Audit and Feedback (PAF) against Long-Term Broad-Spectrum Antibiotic Use.

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of prospective audit and feedback (PAF) on the use of inpatient broad-spectrum antibiotics for more than 10 days using days of therapy (DOT) and a novel metric called days of antibiotic spectrum coverage (DASC) to assess whether the antimicrobial spectrum was narrowed. Conducted at Aichi Medical University Hospital in Japan, the study compared a six-month baseline period (April to September 2022) with a six-month intervention period (April to September 2023). The primary outcome measures were changes in DOT/patient and DASC/patient for broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Modified R-GLIM Score Is a Good Prognostic Tool to Predict a Long-Term Prognosis in Poor Conditioned Elderly Patients with Aspiration Pneumonia, a Pilot Study.

Background: While prognostic guidelines for pneumonia have widely allowed clinicians to treat patients, poor prognostic factors for 1- or 2-year survival times have never been mentioned to our knowledge.

Patients And Methods: We conducted this retrospective study to evaluate whether malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria is a poor prognostic factor for 1- or 2-year survival among patients with aspiration pneumonia. All patients with community-onset aspiration pneumonia who were admitted to Aichi Medical University and had intervention from our nutrition support team (NST) in 2019 and 2020 were enrolled in this study.

Knowledge and awareness of human papillomavirus (HPV) influence HPV vaccination uptake among the catch-up generation in Japan.

Introduction: Despite its importance for young women, the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination coverage remains low in Japan. Previous studies have examined behaviors related to HPV catch-up vaccination. Uniquely, this study aimed to investigate perceptions and factors influencing vaccination coverage among female university students in the catch-up program, focusing on both medical and non-medical undergraduates.

Comparison of incidence of hyponatremia between linezolid and vancomycin in neonates and infants.

A previous study reported that the incidence of hyponatremia after linezolid (LZD) use was higher than that with vancomycin (VCM) use in adults. However, hyponatremia due to LZD in neonates and infants was not investigated. This study aimed to compare the incidence of hyponatremia between LZD and VCM use in neonates and infants.

Detection of Legionella species other than Legionella pneumophila in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue: An autopsy case study.

Diagnosing the cause of death can be challenging, particularly for patients with no prior history of visits to the treating hospital. We encountered a case involving a 76-year-old male who was discovered in a state of cardiopulmonary arrest at his home and subsequently declared deceased in our hospital due to severe pneumonia. He had exhibited symptoms of fever over 37°C and severe coughing for several days.

Distribution and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of CTX-M-type Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated in Chubu Region, Japan.

The widespread prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli limits treatment options and is a worldwide problem. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility and ESBL types of 204 strains of CTX-M-type ESBLsproducing E. coli isolated from 2011 to 2017 in the Chubu region of Japan and to identify factors correlated with susceptibility.

Effectiveness and safety of the simulation-based first-dose design of voriconazole.

Background: We investigated whether the initial voriconazole (VRCZ) dosing design, as determined using simulation software with a population pharmacokinetic model of Japanese patients, impacts the effectiveness and safety when compared with VRCZ initiation according to the package insert.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective observational study, we employed records from Tosei General Hospital (a 633-bed hospital), dated April 2017 to September 2023. Eligible patients were divided into the software-based simulation group, comprising patients administered initial VRCZ dosage adjustment by pharmacists using software-based simulation, and the standard therapy group, whose dosage was administered by a physician following the package insert recommendations without simulation.

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.

Epidemiological study of respiratory syncytial virus infection in adults during the pandemic of COVID-19.

Introduction: While respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common pathogens in adults admitted to the ICU due to respiratory diseases, no reports regarding the occurrence rate of RSV infections in adults in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic exist.

Patients And Methods: We conducted this retrospective study to examine the exact occurrence rate of RSV infections in adults. We reviewed all patients (≥18 years) with any respiratory symptoms who received quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using nasopharyngeal samples for respiratory viruses by GeneLEAD at the Aichi Medical University Hospital between November 2022 and November 2023.

Retrospective study to investigate appropriate duration of antibiotic treatment for uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in patients with immunodeficiency.

Background: Since the appropriate antibiotic duration for uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteremia (u-SAB) in an immunocompromised state is still unclear, physicians are likely to extend antibiotic therapy from 2 weeks to 4-6 weeks. To examine the appropriate duration of antibiotic therapy for u-SAB, we performed this study.

Rapid screening of positive blood cultures for extended-spectrum β-lactamases and metallo-β-lactamases using a drug susceptibility testing microfluidic method.

Objectives: An increasing number of drug-resistant bacteria have been identified recently. In particular, drug-resistant bacteria have been linked to unfavorable prognoses in patients with bacteremia, highlighting the need for rapid testing. Our previous studies have focused on the utility of a drug susceptibility testing microfluidic (DSTM) method using microfluidic channels.

Evaluation of effectiveness, hyperkalaemia, and hepatotoxicity of trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole prophylaxis for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in paediatric patients: A single-centre retrospective study.

Background: American guidelines recommend trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for preventing Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) in paediatric patients at doses of 5-10 mg/kg/d of the TMP component, administered either daily, three times weekly, or twice weekly. However, limited studies describe the effectiveness and safety of these prophylactic regimens. Our study aimed to assess the clinical effectiveness and incidence of adverse events associated with each TMP-SMX regimen in paediatric patients, and to identify risk factors for adverse events.