Successful surgical intervention for acute pyothorax caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus thoracic pyogenic spondylitis: a case report.

Background: Pyogenic spondylitis or intervertebral discitis rarely spreads into the thoracic cavity, resulting in pyothorax. Moreover, no study has reported methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) as a cause. Conservative and surgical treatments are reportedly effective for the above-mentioned situations; however, there have been no comprehensive reports owing to the disease's rarity.

Association between sore throat and early immune responses against COVID-19 before and after the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Background: Sore throat is a prevalent symptom of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), particularly when caused by the Omicron variants. However, the association between sore throat and immune responses to different severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of immune responses associated with sore throat in patients with COVID-19 before and after the emergence of Omicron.

Low pre-infection levels of neutralizing antibody in breakthrough infections after bivalent BA.4-5 vaccine and practical application of dried blood spots.

The level of neutralizing antibodies required to confer protection against COVID-19 breakthrough infections (BIs) is unclear, and the ability to know the immune status of individuals against the rapidly changing endemic variants is limited. We assessed longitudinal serum anti-RBD antibody levels and neutralizing activities (NTs) against Omicron BA.5 and XBB.

High interleukin-6 levels induced by COVID-19 pneumonia correlate with increased circulating follicular helper T cell frequency and strong neutralization antibody response in the acute phase of Omicron breakthrough infection.

Background: Acute immune responses to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are influenced by variants, vaccination, and clinical severity. Thus, the outcome of these responses may differ between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients and those with and without COVID-19-related pneumonia. In this study, these differences during infection with the Omicron variant were investigated.

Mortality risk factors and fulminant sub-phenotype in anaerobic bacteremia: a 10-year retrospective, multicenter, observational cohort study.

Purpose: During the last decade, the incidence of anaerobic bacteremia (AB) has been increasing. Patients with AB may develop complex underlying diseases, which can occasionally be accompanied by fatal or fulminant outcomes. However, the risk factors for AB-related mortality remain unclear.