In vivo pharmacodynamics of lascufloxacin and levofloxacin against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Prevotella intermedia in a pneumonia mixed-infection mouse model.

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a new quinolone, lascufloxacin, for the treatment of complicated pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae and Prevotella intermedia using a neutropenic mice pneumonia mixed-infection model. In this study, one S. pneumoniae and four P.

Population Pharmacokinetics Analysis of Amikacin Initial Dosing Regimen in Elderly Patients.

There are limited data of amikacin pharmacokinetics (PK) in the elderly population. Hence, we aimed to describe the population PK of amikacin in elderly patients (>70 years old) and to establish optimized initial dosing regimens. We simulated individual maximum concentrations in plasma (Cmax) and minimal concentrations (Cmin) for several dosing regimens (200-2000 mg every 24, 48, and 72 h) for patients with creatinine clearance (CCr) of 10-90 mL/min and analyzed efficacy (Cmax/minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥ 8) for MICs of 4, 8, and 16 mg/L and safety (Cmin < 4 mg/L).

A rare case of synchronous bilateral epididymal and testicular metastases of urothelial carcinoma of the bladder after intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

A 68-year-old man was diagnosed with non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and underwent transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) in June 2014. The pathological diagnosis was urothelial carcinoma (UC), Grade 2, pT1. He was treated with intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) instillation after TURBT.

Usefulness of serum procalcitonin for necrotizing fasciitis as an early diagnostic tool.

Introduction: While the early diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis (NF) is crucial and could lead to a favorable outcome, it is difficult to differentiate NF from cellulitis, resulting in delay for the appropriate treatment.

Patients And Methods: For the purpose of examining which diagnostic tools could correctly differentiate NF from cellulitis, we conducted this case-control study. We retrospectively reviewed all patients who were diagnosed with NF at our institute during 2014-2019.

Combination of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) could predict the severity and prognosis of candidemia more accurately than the Acute Physiology, Age, Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score.

Background: Candidemia has emerged as an important nosocomial infection, with a mortality rate of 30-50%. It is the fourth most common nosocomial bloodstream infection (BSI) in the United States and the seventh most common nosocomial BSI in Europe and Japan. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score for determining the severity and prognosis of candidemia.

An unexpected case of Cardiobacterium valvarum prosthetic arthritis without cardiac lesions: Case report and literature review.

We report a case of prosthetic arthritis caused by Cardiobacterium valvarum, which has been exclusively reported to cause intravascular infections. A 81-year-old Japanese female complained prosthetic knee joint pain. Arthrocentesis cultured no pathogen, and surgical replacement of the implant surface was performed.

Meta-analysis of vancomycin versus linezolid in pneumonia with proven methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Objective: American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America (ATS/IDSA) guidelines suggest that linezolid (LZD) is preferred over vancomycin (VCM) for treating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia. We conducted a systematic review and comparative meta-analysis to compare VCM and LZD efficacy against proven MRSA pneumonia.

Methods: We searched EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and PubMed up to November 2019.

First case report of fungal meningitis due to a polypore mushroom Irpex lacteus.

A 73-year-old Japanese man with a medical history of sarcoidosis was diagnosed with meningitis caused by an undetermined fungus. For further identification, the cerebrospinal fluid sample was analyzed for the rDNA internally transcribed spacer regions, and the fungus was identified as Irpex lacteus. I.

To what degree could clinical trials in evidence based medicine reflect reality in the treatment of candidemia?

Introduction: Evidenced based medicine (EBM) is necessary to standardize or treatment for infection since EBM is established based on the results of clinical trials. Entry criteria for clinical trials are very strict, and many patients have difficulties in being enrolled in any clinical trials regarding candidemia. It is questionable if the results of clinical trials reflect the real world of general medicine in this case.

Successful treatment with mepolizumab for allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis complicated with bilateral septic arthritis of the knee joints caused by Methicillin-resistant .

We report the case of a 50-year-old man with allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM) complicated with bilateral septic arthritis of the knees caused by Methicillin-resistant (MRSA). He had a background of bronchial asthma and end-stage renal failure on maintenance dialysis. He was treated with 30 mg/day of prednisolone for 14 days for ABPM.

Meta-analysis of fluoroquinolones versus macrolides for treatment of legionella pneumonia.

Background: Only a single meta-analysis has reported the clinical benefit of fluoroquinolones (FQs) for Legionella pneumonia; however, there is no robust data available to confirm this result, based on current guidelines.

Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing FQs with macrolides (MCs) on their efficacy and safety in Legionella pneumonia, using studies published until January 2020. The outcomes included mortality (overall; 30-day), clinical cure, time to apyrexia, length of hospital stay, and adverse events.

MIYAIRI 588-Induced Protectin D1 Has an Anti-inflammatory Effect on Antibiotic-Induced Intestinal Disorder.

Metabolites are thought as the end products in cellular regulatory processes and their levels show the strongest relationships with the phenotype. Previously, we showed that the administration of MIYAIRI 588 (CBM 588) upregulated protectin D1, an anti-inflammatory lipid metabolite, in colon tissue under antibiotic therapy. However, how CBM 588 induces protectin D1 expression and whether the metabolite has anti-inflammatory effects on antibiotic-induced inflammation are unclear.

Evaluation of a novel urinary antigen test kit for diagnosing Legionella pneumonia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of a novel test kit that could theoretically detect all serogroups of Legionella pneumophila for diagnosing Legionella pneumonia, in comparison with existing kits.

Methods: This study was conducted in 16 hospitals in Japan from April 2016 to December 2018. Three urinary antigen test kits were used: the novel kit (LAC-116), BinaxNOW Legionella (Binax), and Q-line Kyokutou Legionella (Q-line).

Comparative evaluation of nasopharyngeal swab and saliva specimens for the molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Japanese patients with COVID-19.

Considering the issues of shortage of medical resources and the invasiveness and infection risk involved in the collection of nasopharyngeal swab specimens, there is a need for an effective alternative test specimen for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection. Here, we investigated suitability of saliva as a non-invasively obtained specimen for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Japanese patients with COVID-19. In total, 28 paired clinical specimens of saliva and nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 12 patients at various time points after symptom onset.

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activity of nitrofurantoin against clinical isolates of E. coli in Japan and evaluation of biological cost of nitrofurantoin resistant strains using a mouse urinary tract infection model.

Introduction: Nitrofurantoin is a well-established antibiotic, and is an important first-line oral treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections. However, little information is available with respect to its antibacterial activity in Japan, in vivo efficacy, or the in vivo biological cost of resistant strains.

Methods: We compared the susceptibility of six representative antibacterial agents-nitrofurantoin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, fosfomycin, mecillinam, ciprofloxacin, and cefdinir-against E.

Efficacy and safety of cefiderocol or best available therapy for the treatment of serious infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CREDIBLE-CR): a randomised, open-label, multicentre, pathogen-focused, descriptive, phase 3 trial.

Background: New antibiotics are needed for the treatment of patients with life-threatening carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections. We assessed the efficacy and safety of cefiderocol versus best available therapy in adults with serious carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative infections.

Methods: We did a randomised, open-label, multicentre, parallel-group, pathogen-focused, descriptive, phase 3 study in 95 hospitals in 16 countries in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Determination of norvancomycin epidemiological cut-off values (ECOFFs) for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus hominis.

Objectives: To determine the epidemiological cut-off values (ECOFFs) of norvancomycin for Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus hominis.

Methods: We collected 1199 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus species from five laboratories located in four cities in China. MICs and inhibitory zone diameters of norvancomycin were determined by broth microdilution and the disc diffusion method, separately.

External Evaluation of Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics in Linezolid-Induced Thrombocytopenia: The Transferability of Published Models to Different Hospitalized Patients.

Background: The objective of this study was to perform an external evaluation of published linezolid population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic models, to evaluate the predictive performance using an independent data set. Another aim was to offer an elegant environment for display and simulation of both the concentration and platelet count after linezolid administration.

Methods: We performed a systematic literature search in PubMed for all studies evaluating the population pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of linezolid in patients and selected the models to be used for the external validation.

Could threshold cycle value correctly reflect the severity of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)?

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is diagnosed by positive result of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the novel coronavirus. We concluded that cycle threshold value (Ct-value) of real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) assay could decrease as patients recover. Results of rRT-PCR assay could remain positive among asymptomatic patients for longer than 2 weeks.

Evaluation of the relationship between linezolid exposure and hyponatremia.

Introduction: Aims of this study were (a) to assess the development ratio of hyponatremia during treatment with linezolid and (b) to evaluate the relationship between the risk of hyponatremia and linezolid exposure and patient background.

Method: Clinical data including linezolid serum concentrations and serum sodium values were collected at Toyama University Hospital and Kyorin University Hospital. Data from 89 patients were used for the analysis, and a nadir serum sodium level ≤130 mmol/L during the treatment with linezolid was defined as hyponatremia.