Predictive Factors, Treatment, and Outcomes of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococcal Peritonitis in Malaysian Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: A Single-Center Study.

Aims: Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) are frequently isolated in peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis with a high rate of relapse and repeat peritonitis after initial response to antimicrobials. The optimal treatment regimen for CoNS peritonitis remains debatable. Hence, this study aimed to describe the clinical and microbiologic characteristics of CoNS peritonitis in a PD center and determine predictive factors influencing the outcomes. Methods: All cases of CoNS peritonitis in Selayang Hospital between 2011 and 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: A total of 906 episodes of peritonitis were recorded; 140 episodes (15%) in 98 patients were caused by CoNS. The oxacillin and gentamicin resistance rates were 47% and 46%, respectively. The overall primary response rate was 90%, and the complete cure rate was 79%. Patients with concomitant exit-site infection (odds ratio (OR) 0.06, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01 to 0.40, P < 0.01) and history of recent systemic antibiotic use (OR 0.04, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.82, P=0.04) were less likely to achieve primary response. CoNS episodes that were treated with beta-lactam-based or vancomycin-based therapy had a similar primary response rate and complete cure rate. The rates of relapse and repeat were 12% and 16%, respectively. Relapsed episodes (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.97, P=0.04) had a significantly lower complete cure rate than the first episodes. Conclusion: Relapsed CoNS peritonitis was common and was associated with worse outcomes than the first episode of CoNS peritonitis. Oxacillin resistance was common, but the treatment outcome remained favourable when a beta-lactam-based regimen was used as empirical therapy.

Cryptococcus gattii meningitis complicated by immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an apparent immunocompetent host in Malaysia.

Cryptococcosis is a systemic fungal infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans or Cryptococcus gattii. Cryptococcus causes a wide range of diseases, ranging from asymptomatic pulmonary lesions to disseminated disease involving the central nervous system, particularly meningoencephalitis. C. gattii infection has rarely been reported in Malaysia. We present a case of C. gattii meningitis with pulmonary cryptococcosis complicated by immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome in an apparently immunocompetent person with no prior travel history.

G1896A Precore Mutation and Association With HBeAg Status, Genotype and Clinical Status in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B.

BACKGROUND: Precore stop codon (G1896A) mutation is one of the commonest mutations found in patients with chronic hepatitis B. However, over the years, this mutation was not reported much in Malaysia. OBJECTIVES: We therefore investigated the presence of G1896A mutation in Malaysian population and its association with HBeAg status, clinical stage, hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotype and e-seroconversion rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum samples from 93 patients confirmed as hepatitis B carriers were collected for molecular assay. The whole genome of HBV was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and directly sequenced. The precore and basal core promoter regions were analyzed for presence of mutations. RESULTS: The most commonly observed mutation in the precore region was C1858T with 64.5% prevalence. The precore mutation of interest (G1896A) was identified in 25.8% of isolates. The basal core promoter mutations detected were A1762T-G1764A (26.9%), C1653T (8.6%), A1752G (10.8%) and C1766T (2.2%). No significant association was observed between G1896A mutation and HBeAg-negativity. Nonetheless, G1896A was highly prevalent among HBV genotype B. Clinical association revealed that subjects with G1896A mutations were mainly detected in asymptomatic chronic hepatitis B (58.3%) and liver cirrhosis (41.7%). One subject was diagnosed with fulminant hepatitis (4.2%) and 8.3% had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested an intermediate prevalence of G1896A mutation among Malaysian hepatitis B carriers. The stop codon mutation has a significant association with genotype B and patients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis.

Drug-resistance associated mutations in polymerase (p) gene of hepatitis B virus isolated from malaysian HBV carriers.

BACKGROUND: Mutations in the polymerase (P) gene of hepatitis B virus are often associated with drug resistance. The pattern of mutations varies geographically, thus giving rise to genotypes diversity. OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to detect mutations in P gene of hepatitis B virus isolated from Malaysian HBV carriers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 58 sera samples were analyzed by PCR and sequencing, of which the P gene of isolated HBV was successfully amplified and sequenced from 40 samples. RESULTS: Genotyping of these samples revealed that the predominant genotype was genotype C (22/40, 55.0%), followed by genotype B (17/40, 42.5%), and only 1 sample showed genotype D (2.5%). A number of significant drug resistant mutations were found in five patients including S202I, N236T, M250L, L180M/V, M204I, A181T, T184G, M250V, and V173L. Of these, L180M/V and M204I were most frequently detected (80%) and associated with lamivudine in combination with emtricitabine and telbivudine drug resistance. Association with age, sex, and clinical symptoms revealed that these patients were all male, mid to elderly age and almost all hadcirrhotic liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: Detection and surveillance of the significant sites of mutations in HBV is crucial for clinicians to decide on the choice of antiviral treatment and further management of hepatitis B carriers.

S gene mutants occurrence among hepatitis B carriers in malaysia.

BACKGROUND: The S gene region of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) codes for surface antigen (HBs Ag) and is responsible for classification of HBV strains. OBJECTIVES: The current study aimed to identify important mutations in the S gene in Hepatitis B virus (HBV) isolated from Malaysian HBV carriers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated HBV DNAs were subjected for PCR amplification and sequencing of HBV full genome. RESULTS: A total of 76 HBV full genome and 17 partial genome sequences were obtained from the 93 sequenced sera samples Genotyping of the full genome sequences by HEPSEQ software revealed a distribution of 49.46%, 48.39% and 2.15% of genotypes C, B, and D, respectively; whereas phylogenetic and jumping profile Hidden Markov Model (jpHMM) analysis identified six (7.89%) recombinant B/C strains. The distribution of sub-genotypes were B2 (78.79%) and B3 (21.21%) for genotype B, sub genotype D2 (100%) for genotype D and sub genotype C1 (75.76%), C2 (15.15%), C3 (6.06%) and C5 (3.13%) for genotype C. Mutation analysis in the S gene demonstrated two significant mutations which were W182 stop codon and deletion at open reading frame (ORF) of pre-S1 with the frequency occurrence of 2.2% (2/93) and 5.4% (5/93), respectively. The two patients with W182 stop codon were both male, infected with HBV genotype C and one showed progression of liver disease to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CONCLUSIONS: Association with sex, genotype and clinical symptoms revealed that the pre-S1 ORF deletion occurred in 40% , 40%,and 20% of genotypes B,C, and D respectively, and 80% of the female population, of which all but one were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B. Additionally, several mutations were found in the BCP region with the following incidence rate; C1653 T (8.6%), A1752 G (10.8%),1762 AGG--TGA 1764 (26.9%), C1766T(2.2%),T1768 A (10.8%), C1858 T (64.5%), G1896 A (25.8%).

Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Malaysian tertiary centre.

Abstract. Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) is a pathogen recognized to be distinct in both phenotype and genotype from hospital-acquired MRSA. We have identified CA-MRSA cases in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, including their antibiotic susceptibility patterns and genotypic characteristics. Cases were identified during January to December 2009 from routine clinical specimens, where culture and antibiotic susceptibility results yielded pauci-resistant MRSA isolates suspected as being CA-MRSA. The patients' clinical data were collected and their specimens were sent for molecular confirmation and analysis. Five cases of CA-MRSA were identified, which had a multi-sensitive pattern on antibiotic susceptibility tests and were resistant to only penicillin and oxacillin. All cases were skin and soft-tissue infections, including diabetic foot with gangrene, infected scalp hematoma, philtrum abscess in a healthcare worker, thrombophlebitis complicated with abscess and infected bedsore. All five cases were confirmed MRSA by detection of mecA. SCCmec typing (ccr and mec complex) revealed SCCmec type IV for all cases except the infected bedsore case. Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene was positive in all isolates. As clinical features among methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, CA-MRSA and "nosocomial CA-MRSA" are indistinct, early recognition is necessary in order to initiate appropriate antibiotics and infection control measures. Continual surveillance of pauci-resistant MRSA and molecular analysis are necessary in order to identify emerging strains as well as their epidemiology and transmission, both in the community and in healthcare setting.