Dual therapy with dolutegravir plus boosted protease inhibitor as maintenance or salvage therapy in highly experienced people living with HIV.

Real-world experience with dolutegravir (DTG) plus boosted protease inhibitor (bPI) as a two-drug regimen is limited for highly experienced HIV-positive patients with virological failure or intolerance to antiretroviral therapy. Patients receiving DTG plus bPI between September 2016 and June 2019 at 15 designated hospitals for HIV care in Taiwan were retrospectively included in this study. A standardised case record form was used to collect clinical data.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus nasal colonization among HIV-infected patients in Taiwan: prevalence, molecular characteristics and associated factors with nasal carriage.

Background: To evaluate nasal carriage, antibiotic susceptibility and molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), as well as the risk factors of MRSA colonization, in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients in northern Taiwan.

Methods: From September 2014 to November 2015, HIV-infected patients seeking outpatient care at four hospitals were eligible for this study. A nasal specimen was obtained from each subject for the detection of S.

Colistin for pneumonia involving multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex.

Objectives: To investigate clinical and microbiological response, and 30-day mortality of pneumonia involving multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii (Acb) complex treated with colistin, and identify associated factors of these outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective study of 183 adult patients with colistin treatment for at least 7 days between January 2014 and October 2017.

Results: The mean age was 76.

Demographic differences in people living with HIV according to recruitment sources: comparison between health-care systems and social media networks.

With the improvement of internet technology in health applications, the utilization of internet and social media as new survey methodologies and recruitment source for research participants have been encouraged, yet evidence of the feasibility in people living with HIV (PLHIV) study is still lacking. We conducted a cross-sectional survey to determine whether there are differences among PLHIV recruited from social media networks and health-care systems using an HIV stigma and discrimination questionnaire. The result revealed that PLHIV recruited from social media networks were younger, more sexually active, and had higher educational status and awareness of the country's HIV rights protection laws than those recruited from hospitals.

Phenylalanine- and leucine-defined metabolic types identify high mortality risk in patients with severe infection.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of phenylalanine and leucine in patients with severe infection.

Methods: Ninety-three patients with infection who had a quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score ≥2 were enrolled. Plasma phenylalanine, leucine, albumin, C-reactive protein, pre-albumin, and transferrin were measured and the SOFA score at enrollment was calculated after hospitalization.

Less Severe but Prolonged Course of Acute Hepatitis A in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected Patients Compared With HIV-Uninfected Patients During an Outbreak: A Multicenter Observational Study.

Background: This multicenter retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the clinical presentations and evolution of acute hepatitis A (AHA) between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and HIV-uninfected counterparts during the AHA outbreak.

Methods: Clinical and laboratory data were collected from the medical records of the patients with AHA at the 14 hospitals around Taiwan between May 2015 and May 2017.

Results: A total of 297 adult patients with AHA were included during the study period.

A procalcitonin-based algorithm to guide antibiotic therapy in secondary peritonitis following emergency surgery: a prospective study with propensity score matching analysis.

Background: Procalcitonin (PCT)-based algorithms have been used to guide antibiotic therapy in several clinical settings. However, evidence supporting PCT-based algorithms for secondary peritonitis after emergency surgery is scanty. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether a PCT-based algorithm could safely reduce antibiotic exposure in this population.

Risk factors for scabies in Taiwan.

Background: Scabies is a global problem. Transmission of scabies is usually due to direct or indirect contact. Delay in diagnosis may result in the spread of the scabies mite.

In vitro activities of nine current antibiotics against culprit bacteria in nosocomial infections in an institution in Northern Taiwan.

Background: In recent years, there has been a rapid worldwide emergence of multidrugresistant (MDR) pathogens, especially in cases of nosocomial infections. This study assesses the in vitro activities of ampicillin/sulbactam, cefpirome, colistin, daptomycin, ertapenem, meropenem, teicoplanin, tigecycline and vancomycin against 208 aerobic bacterial pathogens that caused 197 nosocomial infections in 184 patients.

Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by Etest.

Hookworm infection in a healthy adult that manifested as severe eosinphilia and diarrhea.

A 54-year-old male was admitted because of having suffered from progressive watery diarrhea for 12 days. He had no history of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart disease, organ transplantation, or malignancy. After admission, he still complained of diarrhea despite medical treatment.

Comparative antimicrobial susceptibility of aerobic and facultative bacteria from community-acquired bacteremia to ertapenem in Taiwan.

Background: Ertapenem is a once-a-day carbapenem and has excellent activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative aerobic, facultative, and anaerobic bacteria. The susceptibility of isolates of community-acquired bacteremia to ertapenem has not been reported yet. The present study assesses the in vitro activity of ertapenem against aerobic and facultative bacterial pathogens isolated from patients with community-acquired bacteremia by determining and comparing the MICs of cefepime, cefoxitin, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, ertapenem, piperacillin, piperacillin-tazobactam, ciprofloxacin, amikacin and gentamicin.

Comparison of in vitro activities of levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam against aerobic bacterial pathogens from patients with nosocomial infections.

Background And Purpose: There is a rapid worldwide emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens, especially in nosocomial isolates. This study compared the in vitro activities of levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam against 208 aerobic bacterial pathogens that caused 197 nosocomial infections in 184 patients.

Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by E test in accordance with the guidelines of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards.

Bacteremia due to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae other than Escherichia coli and Klebsiella.

Background And Purpose: Carbapenems are considered the drugs of choice for the treatment of serious infections caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Klebsiella and Escherichia coli. However, controversy exists about the antibiotic choice for infections due to ESBL-producing organisms of other genera.

Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the risk factors and outcomes of 54 adult patients with bacteremia due to ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae other than Klebsiella spp.