The third nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility against Neisseria gonorrhoeae from male urethritis in Japan, 2016-2017.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the important pathogens of sexually transmitted infections. N. gonorrhoeae is rapidly becoming antimicrobial resistant, and there are few drugs that are effective in the initial treatment of gonorrhea. To understand the trends of antimicrobial susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae, the Surveillance Committee of the Japanese Society of Infectious Diseases, the Japanese Society for Chemotherapy, and the Japanese Society of Clinical Microbiology conducted the third nationwide antimicrobial susceptibility surveillance of N. gonorrhoeae isolated from male urethritis. The specimens were collected from male patients with urethritis at 30 facilities from May 2016 to July 2017. From the 159 specimens collected, 87 N. gonorrhoeae strains were isolated, and 85 were tested for susceptibility to 21 antimicrobial agents. All strains were non-susceptible to penicillin G. Seven strains (8.2%) were ß-lactamase-producing strains. The rates of susceptibility to cefixime and cefpodoxime were 96.5% and 52.9%, respectively. Three strains were non-susceptible with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.5 mg/L for cefixime. None of the strains were resistant to ceftriaxone or spectinomycin. The susceptibility rate for ciprofloxacin was 23.5% (20 strains), and no strains showed intermediate susceptibility. The susceptibility rate against azithromycin was 81.2%, with one strain isolated with a MIC of 8 mg/L against azithromycin. The results of this surveillance indicate that ceftriaxone and spectinomycin, which are currently recommended for gonococcal infections in Japan, appear to be effective. It will be necessary to further expand the scale of the next surveillance to understand the current status of drug-resistant N. gonorrhoeae in Japan.

Nationwide surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis from male urethritis in Japan: Comparison with the first surveillance report.

The Urogenital Sub-committee and the Surveillance Committee of the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy, The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases, and the Japanese Society for Clinical Microbiology conducted the second nationwide surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis. In this second surveillance study, clinical urethral discharge specimens were collected from patients with urethritis in 26 hospitals and clinics from May 2016 to July 2017. Based on serial cultures, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) could be determined for 41 isolates; the MICs (MIC90) of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, tosufloxacin, sitafloxacin, doxycycline, minocycline, erythromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin and solithromycin were 2 µg/ml (2 µg/ml), 1 µg/ml (0.5 µg/ml), 0.25 µg/ml (0.25 µg/ml), 0.125 µg/ml (0.063 µg/ml), 0.125 µg/ml (0.125 µg/ml), 0.25 µg/ml (0.25 µg/ml), 0.031 µg/ml (0.031 µg/ml), 0.25 µg/ml (0.125 µg/ml), and 0.016 µg/ml (0.008 µg/ml), respectively. In summary, this surveillance project did not identify any strains resistant to fluoroquinolone, tetracycline, or macrolide agents in Japan. In addition, the MIC of solithromycin was favorable and lower than that of other antimicrobial agents. However, the MIC of azithromycin had a slightly higher value than that reported in the first surveillance report, though this might be within the acceptable margin of error. Therefore, the susceptibility of azithromycin, especially, should be monitored henceforth.

Second nationwide surveillance of bacterial pathogens in patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis conducted by Japanese Surveillance Committee from 2015 to 2016: antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

The Japanese Surveillance Committee conducted a second nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogens responsible for acute uncomplicated cystitis (AUC) in premenopausal patients aged 16-40 years old at 31 hospitals throughout Japan from March 2015 to February 2016. In this study, the susceptibility of causative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus saprophyticus) for various antimicrobial agents was investigated by isolation and culturing of organisms obtained from urine samples. In total, 324 strains were isolated from 361 patients, including E. coli (n = 220, 67.9%), S. saprophyticus (n = 36, 11.1%), and K. pneumoniae (n = 7, 2.2%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 20 antibacterial agents for these strains were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) manual. At least 93% of the E. coli isolates showed susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, whereas 100% of the S. saprophyticus isolates showed susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. The proportions of fluoroquinolone-resistant and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli strains were 6.4% (13/220) and 4.1% (9/220), respectively. The antimicrobial susceptibility of K. pneumoniae was retained during the surveillance period, while no multidrug-resistant strains were identified. In summary, antimicrobial susceptibility results of our second nationwide surveillance did not differ significantly from those of the first surveillance. Especially the numbers of fluoroquinolone-resistant and ESBL-producing E. coli strains were not increased in premenopausal patients with AUC in Japan.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Chlamydia trachomatis isolated from the urethra and pharynx of Japanese males.

OBJECTIVES: Sexually transmitted infections due to Chlamydia trachomatis (C. trachomatis) are a worldwide public health problem. The aim of this study was to investigate the drug susceptibilities of C. trachomatis strains isolated from the urethra and pharynx of Japanese males. METHODS: Urethral and pharyngeal swabs were collected between 2013 and 2014 from Japanese males with urethritis. Using a McCoy cell line, 18 chlamydial strains were isolated from urethra in 18 patients and 7 from the pharynx in 7 of the 18 patients. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of levofloxacin (LVFX) and azithromycin (AZM) were measured using the standard method of the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy. RESULTS: The MICs of LVFX and AZM against urethral chlamydial strains were 0.125-0.5 µg/mL and 0.125-0.25 µg/mL, respectively. In pharyngeal strains, the MICs of LVFX and AZM were 0.125-0.25 µg/mL and 0.125-0.25 µg/mL, respectively. In 7 patients with chlamydial strains isolated from both the urethra and pharynx, the MICs of LVFX between these strains were identical in 3 of 6 patients (no growth was observed for one pharyngeal strain), while the MICs of AZM between these strains were identical in all 6 patients (not performed for one patient). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that C. trachomatis strains isolated from the urethra and pharynx of Japanese males are susceptible to LVFX and AZM. Although measuring the MICs of chlamydial strains is labor intensive, it is a significant surveillance tool for treating chlamydial infections and preventing the spread of STIs.

Nationwide surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Chlamydia trachomatis from male urethritis in Japan.

Genital chlamydial infection is a principal sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Chlamydia trachomatis can cause male urethritis, acute epididymitis, cervicitis, and pelvic inflammatory disease as sexually transmitted infections. Fortunately, homotypic resistant C. trachomatis strains have not been isolated to date; however, several studies have reported the isolation of heterotypic resistant strains from patients. In this surveillance study, clinical urethral discharge specimens were collected from patients with urethritis in 51 hospitals and clinics in 2009 and 38 in 2012. Based on serial cultures, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) could be determined for 19 isolates in 2009 and 39 in 2012. In 2009 and 2012, the MICs (MIC90) of ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, tosufloxacin, sitafloxacin, doxycycline, minocycline, erythromycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin were 2 µg/ml and 1 µg/ml, 0.5 µg/ml and 0.5 µg/ml, 0.125 µg/ml and 0.125 µg/ml, 0.063 µg/ml and 0.063 µg/ml, 0.125 µg/ml and 0.125 µg/ml, 0.125 µg/ml and 0.125 µg/ml, 0.016 µg/ml and 0.016 µg/ml, and 0.063 µg/ml and 0.063 µg/ml, respectively. In summary, this surveillance project did not identify any resistant strain against fluoroquinolone, tetracycline, or macrolide agents in Japan.

The second nationwide surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from male urethritis in Japan, 2012-2013.

Worldwide, the most important concern in the treatment of sexually transmitted infections is the increase in antimicrobial resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains including resistance to cephalosporins, penicillins, fluoroquinolones or macrolides. To investigate the trends of antimicrobial susceptibility among N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated from male patients with urethritis, a Japanese surveillance committee conducted the second nationwide surveillance study. Urethral discharge was collected from male patients with urethritis at 26 medical facilities from March 2012 to January 2013. Of the 151 specimens, 103 N. gonorrhoeae strains were tested for susceptibility to 20 antimicrobial agents. None of the strains was resistant to ceftriaxone, but the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 90% of ceftriaxone increased to 0.125 µg/ml, and 11 (10.7%) strains were considered less susceptible with an MIC of 0.125 µg/ml. There were 11 strains resistant to cefixime, and the MICs of these strains were 0.5 µg/ml. The distributions of the MICs of fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and tosufloxacin, were bimodal. Sitafloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, showed strong activity against all strains, including strains resistant to other three fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and tosufloxacin. The azithromycin MICs in 2 strains were 1 µg/ml.

Nationwide surveillance of bacterial pathogens from patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis conducted by the Japanese surveillance committee during 2009 and 2010: antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

The Japanese surveillance committee conducted the first nationwide surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of uropathogens responsible for female acute uncomplicated cystitis at 43 hospitals throughout Japan from April 2009 to November 2010. In this study, the causative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus saprophyticus) and their susceptibility to various antimicrobial agents were investigated by isolation and culturing of bacteria from urine samples. In total, 387 strains were isolated from 461 patients, including E. coli (n = 301, 77.8 %), S. saprophyticus (n = 20, 5.2 %), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 13, 3.4 %), and Enterococcus faecalis (n = 11, 2.8 %). S. saprophyticus was significantly more common in premenopausal women (P = 0.00095). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 19 antibacterial agents used for these strains were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute manual. At least 87 % of E. coli isolates showed susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins, and 100 % of S. saprophyticus isolates showed susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides. The proportions of fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli strains and extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli strains were 13.3 % and 4.7 %, respectively. It is important to confirm the susceptibility of causative bacteria for optimal antimicrobial therapy, and empiric antimicrobial agents should be selected by considering patient characteristics and other factors. However, the number of isolates of fluoroquinolone-resistant or ESBL-producing strains in gram-negative bacilli may be increasing in patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Japan. Therefore, these data present important information for the proper treatment of UTIs and will serve as a useful reference for future surveillance studies.

Nationwide surveillance of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Neisseria gonorrhoeae from male urethritis in Japan.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of the most important pathogens causing sexually transmitted infection, and strains that are resistant to several antimicrobials are increasing. To investigate the trends of antimicrobial susceptibility among N. gonorrhoeae strains isolated from male patients with urethritis, a Japanese surveillance committee conducted the first nationwide surveillance. The urethral discharge was collected from male patients with urethritis at 51 medical facilities from April 2009 to October 2010. Of the 156 specimens, 83 N. gonorrhoeae strains were tested for susceptibility to 18 antimicrobial agents. The prevalence of ß-lactamase-producing strains and chromosomally mediated resistant strains were 7.2 % and 16.5 %, respectively. None of the strains was resistant to ceftriaxone, but the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ceftriaxone for 7 strains (8.4 %) was 0.125 µg/ml. One strain was resistant to cefixime (MIC 0.5 µg/ml). The MICs of fluoroquinolones, such as ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and tosufloxacin, showed a bimodal distribution. The MIC of sitafloxacin was lower than those of the three fluoroquinolones listed here, and it was found that the antimicrobial activity of sitafloxacin was stronger than that of the fluoroquinolones. The MIC of azithromycin in 2 strains was 2 µg/ml, but no high-level resistance to macrolides was detected.

Comparison of 7 α(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia:a short-term crossover study.

A crossover study was conducted to identify the best α1-adrenoceptor (α1AR) antagonist for individual patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). One hundred thirteen patients (mean age 70.8 years) were enrolled. All patients met BPH clinical study guidelines. Seven agents were utilized:tamsulosin 0.2mg, silodosin 8mg, urapidil 60mg, naftopidil 50mg, prazosin 1mg, terazosin 2mg, and doxazosin 1mg. Patients were initially prescribed tamsulosin or silodosin for a week and then urapidil for a week. Two weeks later, they were prescribed the better of the 2 agents for a week and a new agent for the next week. This cycle was repeated until all 7 agents were tested. Efficacy was evaluated with the International Prostate Symptom Score. The agent rankings were doxazosin (25 [22%]), silodosin (22 [19%]), urapidil (19 [17%]), naftopidil (17 [15%]), terazosin (12 [11%]), tamsulosin (11 [10%]), prazosin (7 [6%]). Only 12 patients (11%) changed agents after the crossover study was completed. The major reason was adverse events (83%). We found that each of the 7 α1AR antagonists has its own supporters. Further, the one-week crossover study was useful in identifying the best agent for the treatment of each individual with LUTS.

[Prospective multi-institutional analysis according to the "Japanese guidelines for prevention of perioperative infections in urological field"].

OBJECTIVE: The "Japanese guidelines for prevention of perioperative infections in urological field" was edited by the Japanese Urological Association in 2007. They are the first Japanese guidelines for antimicrobial prophylaxis specifically to prevent perioperative infections in the urological field. We report here the results of a multicenter prospective study conducted to examine the validity and usefulness of these guidelines. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 513 patients who had undergone urological surgeries between July and September 2008 at 10 nationwide university institutions in the Japanese Society of UTI Cooperative Study Group. These surgeries were transurethral resection of bladder (TURBT), transurethral resection of prostate (TURP), adrenalectomy, nephrectomy, nephroureterectomy, radical prostatectomy and total cystectomy. Analysis was performed on patient information, surgical procedures, types and durations of administration of prophylactic antibiotic agents, and the presence of surgical site infections (SSI) and remote infections (RI). RESULTS: Of 513 patients, 387 (75.4%) were administered prophylactic antibiotic agents according to the guidelines. In these patients, the incidences of SSI and RI were 5.9% and 4.1%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that significant factors for SSI were the surgical risk (according to the ASA physical status classification system), diabetes, and operation time, and that the only significant factor for RI was the operation time. CONCLUSIONS: More large-scale study and evidences are necessary in order to demonstrate the validity and usefulness of these guidelines.

Sensitivities of major causative organisms isolated from patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis against various antibacterial agents: results of subanalysis based on the presence of menopause.

We investigated whether the presence of menopause influenced the species and distribution of causative bacteria isolated from patients with acute uncomplicated cystitis (the most common urinary tract infection), and we also investigated the sensitivity of the isolated species to antibacterial agents. Using multivariate analysis, we also investigated risk factors for infection with quinolone-resistant Escherichia coli, because its frequency has increased and it is now a clinical problem in Japan. Six hundred and thirty-four strains were isolated from 489 premenopausal patients (mean age 32.3 ± 10.1 years). Major causative bacteria detected were Escherichia coli (65.0 %), Enterococcus faecalis (12.0 %), Streptococcus agalactiae (5.5 %), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.6 %). From 501 postmenopausal patients (mean age 68.7 ± 10.29 years), 657 strains were isolated, and the major causative bacteria detected were E. coli (61.5 %), E. faecalis (13.7 %), K. pneumoniae (5.2 %), and S. agalactiae (4.0 %). The sensitivities to fluoroquinolones (FQs) and cephems of E. coli isolated from premenopausal patients were both ≥90 %, while the sensitivities to FQs of E. coli isolated from postmenopausal patients were about 5 % lower. In regard to infection with quinolone-resistant E. coli (minimal inhibitory concentration of levofloxacin [LVFX] ≥4 µg/mL), significant risk factors were observed in patients with more than two episodes of cystitis within a year (p = 0.0002), patients to whom antibacterial agents were used previously for this episode of cystitis (p = 0.0175), and patients who had a history of FQ administration within 1 month. Although the species and distribution of causative bacteria of acute uncomplicated cystitis were the same regardless of the presence of menopause, the sensitivities to FQs of E. coli detected in postmenopausal patients were significantly lower than those in the premenopausal women. The major risk factors for infection with quinolone-resistant E. coli were a history of FQ administration and the morbidity of cystitis rather than the menopausal status. It was considered that taking an appropriate history including the morbidity of cystitis and history of FQ administration, and the appropriate selection of an antibacterial agent, would be important when empirical therapy is required.

Prevalence of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae among heterosexual men in Japan.

Pharyngeal chlamydial and gonococcal infections can occur as a consequence of oral sex, and they also can be transmitted from the pharynx to the genital tract of sex partners. There have been many reports on the prevalence of pharyngeal Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in men who have sex with men; however, there have been few reports on the prevalence of these pathogens in the pharynges of heterosexual men. In this study, we determined the prevalence of pharyngeal C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae in 42 heterosexual men diagnosed with urethritis. Pharyngeal swabs and first-voided urine specimens were tested using the Gen-Probe APTIMA Combo 2 transcription-mediated amplification assay. The prevalence of pharyngeal C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae in patients with urethritis was 2.4 % (1/42) and 11.9 % (5/42), respectively. Among patients with either chlamydial or gonococcal urethritis, 9.1 % (1/11) and 25.0 % (5/20) had pharyngeal C. trachomatis or N. gonorrhoeae, respectively. Our results suggest that screening for pharyngeal colonization by N. gonorrhoeae and C. trachomatis using validated nucleic acid amplification tests should be performed in heterosexual men diagnosed with urethritis.

Nerve growth factor level in the prostatic fluid of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is correlated with symptom severity and response to treatment.

OBJECTIVE: • To explore whether levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in expressed prostatic secretions (EPS) are correlated with symptom severity in chronic prostatitis (CP) and chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: • All patients with CP/CPPS underwent a complete history and physical examination, and were scored according to the National Institutes of Health Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI). • Expressed prostatic secretion samples from 20 patients with CP/CPPS and from four asymptomatic control patients were collected and frozen, and NGF levels in EPS were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. • Patients were asked to complete NIH-CPSI questionnaires at baseline and 8 weeks after treatment and patients with at least a 25% decrease in total NIH-CPSI score from the baseline values were classified as responders to treatment. RESULTS: • The mean (± sd) NGF levels in EPS of patients with CP/CPPS and asymptomatic control patients were 7409 (± 3788) pg/mL and 4174 (± 1349) pg/mL, respectively. The NGF level in patients with CP/CPPS correlated directly with pain severity (P= 0.014, r= 0.541). • There were no significant differences between NGF levels in EPS before and after treatment. However, successful treatment significantly decreased NGF levels in responders (P= 0.001). CONCLUSION: • Nerve growth factor might contribute to the pathophysiology of CP/CPPS as changes in NGF level in EPS occurred in proportion to pain severity. Therefore, these results suggest that NGF could be used as a new biomarker to evaluate the symptoms of CP/CPPS and the effects of treatment.

The nationwide study of bacterial pathogens associated with urinary tract infections conducted by the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy.

This study was conducted by the Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and is the first nationwide study on bacterial pathogens isolated from patients with urinary tract infections at 28 hospitals throughout Japan between January 2008 and June 2008. A total of 688 bacterial strains were isolated from adult patients with urinary tract infections. The strains investigated in this study are as follows: Enterococcus faecalis (n = 140), Escherichia coli (n = 255), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 93), Proteus mirabilis (n = 42), Serratia marcescens (n = 44), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 114). The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 39 antibacterial agents used for these strains were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) manual. All Enterococcus faecalis strains were susceptible to ampicillin and vancomycin. Although a majority of the E. faecalis strains were susceptible to linezolid, 11 strains (7.8%) were found to be intermediately resistant. The proportions of fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, and S. marcescens strains were 35.7%, 29.3%, 18.3%, and 15.2%, respectively. The proportions of E. coli, P. mirabilis, K. pneumoniae, and S. marcescens strains producing extended-spectrum ß-lactamase were 5.1%, 11.9%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. The proportions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains resistant to carbapenems, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones were 9.2%, 4.4%, and 34.8%, respectively, and among them, 2 strains (1.8%) were found to be multidrug resistant. These data present important information for the proper treatment of urinary tract infections and will serve as a useful reference for periodic surveillance studies in the future.

Indications for ureteropyeloscopy based on radiographic findings and urine cytology in detection of upper urinary tract carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the indication of diagnostic ureteropyeloscopy based on clinical features for upper urinary tract urothelial cancer with over 100 patients and over a 10-year series. METHODS: From January 1997 to December 2008, consecutive 129 units in 124 patients underwent ureteropyeloscopy to obtain a definitive diagnosis of upper urinary tract cancer or to rule out a malignancy. Patients were divided into four subgroups based on voided urine cytology and preoperative radiographic findings: group A (n = 8), positive urine cytology and positive radiographic findings; group B (n = 4), positive cytology and negative radiographic findings; group C (n = 55), negative cytology and positive radiographic findings and group D (n = 62), gross hematuria originating from the upper urinary tract with negative cytology and negative radiographic findings. Ureteropyeloscopic findings were compared with radiographic and cytological results. Adverse effects were also investigated. RESULTS: In group A, all patients had confirmed cancer. In group B, one revealed small cancer and the remaining three confirmed carcinoma in situ by biopsy with ureteropyeloscopy. In groups C and D, 33 patients (60%) and four (6.5%) revealed cancer. Seventy-eight patients out of 80 (97.5%) in groups C and D were confirmed to have benign disease. No patient was found with malignancy during follow up after negative finding of ureteropyeloscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteropyeloscopy can help in detecting upper urinary tract cancer or to rule out malignancy for patients with negative voiding cytology. However, ureteropyeloscopy is redundant for patients with positive radiographic findings and positive voiding cytology.

Epidemiology of Chlamydophila caviae-like Chlamydia isolated from urethra and uterine cervix.

In 2000, chlamydial strains OK133 and OK135 were isolated from 2 female patients with cervicitis. These strains were unresponsive to commercially available PCR and LCR test kits for the diagnosis of Chlamydia trachomatis infection, and their phenotypic characteristics were very similar. The OK135 nucleotide sequence in MOMP-VD2 gene closely resembled that of Chlamydophila caviae GPIC. A similar strain was isolated in 2003 from a male patient OKM2 with urethritis, from which the strain SC10-6 was cloned by the plaque purification method. The nucleotide sequence of the entire MOMP gene of SC10-6 was exactly the same as that of OK135. Thus, the strains OK135 and SC10-6, together with OK133, have been called C. caviae-like Chlamydia. We designed primers for nested PCR assay, the product of which showed a single-band 311-bp fragment, to detect C. caviae-like Chlamydia. Of swab specimens obtained from 202 patients from 2003 to 2006 (119 male and 83 female patients), 18 specimens (8.9%) from 14 male and 4 female patients were positive, suggesting that C. caviae-like Chlamydia infection is rather common. Thus far, it has not been determined whether C. caviae-like Chlamydia is pathogenic for humans.

Genetic profiles of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli isolates obtained from patients with cystitis: phylogeny, virulence factors, PAIusp subtypes, and mutation patterns.

The low virulence of quinolone- and fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli strains is known, although the reasons for this remain unclear. We surveyed the mutation patterns of quinolone resistance determining regions (QRDRs), phylogenetic distribution, prevalence of 18 urovirulence genes, and PAIusp subtypes in 89 fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli (FQREC) isolates obtained from patients with cystitis and compared them with those of their fluoroquinolone-susceptible counterparts (FQSEC). Phylogenetic group B2 was significantly less prevalent in FQREC than in FQSEC (49% versus 78%; P=0.0138), but it still dominated, followed by phylogroup D (35%), in FQREC. When the prevalences of virulence factor (VF) genes were compared between FQREC and FQSEC, sfa/foc, cnf1, hly, kpsMT, ompT, ibeA, usp, and iroN showed significantly lower prevalences in FQREC than in FQSEC (1.1% versus 24% [P<0.0001], 0% versus 29% [P<0.0001], 7.9% versus 33% [P<0.0001], 74% versus 90% [P=0.01], 71% versus 87% [P=0.017], 5.6% versus 37% [P<0.0001], 54% versus 82% [P<0.0001], and 7.9% versus 32% [P=0.0001], respectively), whereas aer, iha, and ETTT showed significantly higher prevalences in FQREC (85% versus 36% [P<0.0001], 66% versus 29% [P<0.0001], and 53% versus 16% [P<0.0001], respectively). Furthermore, a similar difference in prevalences of uropathogenic VF genes was seen between FQREC and FQSEC in phylogroup B2. This indicated that the low virulence in FQREC was intimately correlated with a lesser distribution of VFs in phylogroup B2, which dominated in FQREC and FQSEC. It was interesting that the mutation pattern of Ser83Leu and Asp87Asn encoded in gyrA and Ser80Ile and Glu84Val encoded in parC was frequently found in FQREC isolates that belonged to phylogroup B2 and that most of these isolates showed PAIusp subtype 2a. PAIusp subtypes 1a, 1b, and 2b, which were frequently seen in FQSEC, were rarely found in FQREC. These results suggested that the acquisition of fluoroquinolone resistance, e.g., mutations in QRDRs, might be a specific event in limited strains, such as those that possess PAIusp subtype 2a in phylogroup B2.

Experimental and clinical studies on fluoroquinolone-insusceptible Escherichia coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infections from 1994 to 2007.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) due to fluoroquinolone-insusceptible Escherichia coli have become increasingly common in recent years. We investigated the potential relationships between clinical measures to combat fluoroquinolone-insusceptible E. coli and experimental analyses on E. coli isolates. Over a 14-year period from 1994 through 2007, a total of 828 E. coli isolates were collected from patients (one isolate per patient) with UTI at the urology ward of Okayama University Hospital. We analyzed the mutations in quinolone resistance-determining regions of DNA gyrase (gyrA) and topoisomerase IV (parC). The production of biofilm by these isolates was also examined and the associated medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Seven of 189 (3.7%) strains from uncomplicated UTIs and 82 of 639 (12.8%) strains from complicated UTIs were insusceptible to fluoroquinolones. Amino acid replacements of type II topoisomerases were frequently observed at positions 83 and 87 in GyrA and at positions 80 and 84 in ParC. No significant difference in the biofilm-forming capabilities was observed between fluoroquinolone-susceptible and -insusceptible E. coli. Our study suggests that biofilm formation of fluoroquinolone-insusceptible E. coli isolates is not a major mechanism of resistance in patients with UTI.

[Genital chlamydial infection].

Genital chlamydial infection is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) of public health importance. Infection with Chlamydia trachomatis can cause urethritis, cervicitis, pharyngitis, or epididymitis, although asymptomatic infections are quite common. Chlamydial infection remains asymptomatic in approximately 50% of infected men and 70% of infected women. Genital infection with C. trachomatis markedly enhances the risk for reproductive tract sequelae in women, including tubal factor infertility and ectopic pregnancy. A proper detection of C. trachomatis and its treatment is of importance to prevent outbreaks of genital chlamydial infection. We review the pathology, diagnosis and treatment of this entity.

A pilot study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Lactobacillus vaginal suppositories in patients with recurrent urinary tract infection.

Changes in the indigenous vaginal microflora with uropathogenic bacteria can predispose women to frequently recurring bacterial cystitis. Lactobacilli used as probiotics have played an important role in preventing the colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the vagina. A prospective clinical pilot study was performed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of Lactobacillus vaginal suppositories against the recurrence of bacterial urinary tract infection (UTI). The patients enrolled in the study were instructed to administer vaginal suppositories containing the strain Lactobacillus crispatus GAI 98322. A significant reduction in the number of recurrences was noted, without any adverse complication (P=0.0007). The administration of vaginal suppositories containing L. crispatus GAI 98332 seemed to be a safe and promising treatment for the prevention of recurrent UTI.