Identification of favorable subgroups for alternative anti-androgen therapy in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Although alternative anti-androgen therapy (switching to secondary anti-androgens) is no longer recommended in the clinical guidelines of prostate cancer in light of the new hormonal and cytotoxic agents available, this therapy has proven beneficial for some patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). The objective of this study was to identify favorable subgroups for alternative anti-androgen therapy among CRPC patients. Eighty-eight consecutive CRPC patients treated with alternative anti-androgen therapy were included in this study. All patients were treated with bicalutamide in the initial maximum androgen blockade (MAB) and switched to flutamide in the subsequent alternative anti-androgen therapy, combined with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue. Several clinical and pathological factors for predicting the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline and PSA progression-free survival (PSA-PFS) of alternative anti-androgen therapy were investigated. Of all patients, 45 (51.1%) patients showed ≥50% PSA decline. The median PSA-PFS was 7.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 5.7-10.3]. Notably, 15 (17.0%) patients had a PSA-PFS over 2 years. A multivariate analysis showed that ≥3 bone metastatic lesions and a duration <12 months of initial MAB were significant factors shortening the duration of PSA-PFS, with hazard ratios of 2.11 (95% CI, 1.23-3.62; P=0.007) and 2.08 (95% CI, 1.20-3.57; P=0.008), respectively. Patients without any of these factors had a median PSA-PFS of 22.8 months (95% CI, 6.7-48.8). The overall survival in patients with a ≥7.5-month PSA-PFS receiving alternative anti-androgen therapy was significantly longer than that of patients with a <7.5-month PSA-PFS (109.1 vs. 40.8 months; P<0.001). In conclusion, a longer duration of initial MAB and the absence of severe bone metastasis may predict a favorable response to alternative anti-androgen therapies in CRPC patients. Alternative anti-androgen therapy may still be beneficial for these patients, but this needs to be investigated further.

Protocol for a comparison study of 1-day (single dose) versus 2-day prophylactic antibiotic administration in Holmium Laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP): a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The best method of antimicrobial prophylaxis administration for surgical site infection (SSI) in transurethral holmium laser resection and enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP)/bipolar transurethral enucleation (TUEB) remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare one-day and two-day cefazolin in a randomized 2 nd-phase study to help establish a protocol with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for SSI prevention. Methods: Patients undergoing HoLEP/TUEB for benign prostate hyperplasia without preoperative pyuria will be enrolled and randomized to receive prophylactic antibiotic administration for HoLEP/TUEB in two groups, 1-day cefazolin and 2-day cefazolin. The primary endpoint is the occurrence rate of postoperative urinary tract infection or urogenital infection within 30 days after HoLEP/TUEB with a statistical 95% CI in comparison between those groups. Secondary outcomes include the kind of infectious disease and evidence of diagnosis, day of diagnosis of infectious disease, performance of urine or blood culture, detection of bacteria, treatments, duration of treatments, AEs other than surgical site infection, and drug-induced AEs. Discussion: The results of this study will provide evidence for defining the optimal duration of cefazolin prophylactic antibiotic administration for SSI. Trial registration: This study was registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network-Clinical Trial Registry ( UMIN000027955) based on recommendations from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) on July 1 st 2017.

Molecular epidemiologic study of Clostridium difficile infections in university hospitals: Results of a nationwide study in Japan.

We conducted a nationwide molecular epidemiological study of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in Japan investigated the correlation between the presence of binary toxin genes and CDI severity. This is the first report on molecular epidemiological analyses for CDI in multiple university hospitals in Japan, to our knowledge. We examined 124,484 hospitalized patients in 25 national and public university hospitals in Japan between December 2013 and March 2014, investigating antimicrobial susceptibilities and toxin-related genes for C. difficile isolates from stools. Epidemiological genetic typing was performed by PCR-ribotyping and repetitive sequence-based (rep)-PCR to examine the genetic similarities. The results detected toxin A-positive, toxin B-positive, binary toxin-negative (A+B+CDT-) detected from 135 isolates (80.8%) and toxin A-negative, toxin B-positive, binary toxin-negative (A- B+CDT-) in 23 (13.8%). Toxin A-positive, toxin B-positive, and binary toxin-positive (A+B+CDT+) were seen in 9 isolates (5.4%). Vancomycin (n = 81, 37.7%) or metronidazole (n = 88, 40.9%) therapies were undertaken in analyzed cases. Ribotypes detected from isolates were 017/subgroup 1, 070, 078, 126, 176, 449, 475/subgroup 1, 499, 451, 566 and newtypes. Rep-PCR classified 167 isolates into 28 cluster groups including 2-15 isolates. In addition, 2 pairs of strains isolated from different institutions belonged to the same clusters. Seven out of 9 (77.8%) of the patients with binary toxin producing strains had "mild to moderate" outcome in evaluated symptoms. In conclusion, we found that binary toxin did not show regional specificity and had no relevance to severity of CDI.

Comparison of antibiotics use, urinary tract infection (UTI)-causative bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibilities among 4 hospitals with different backgrounds and regions in Japan.

In this study, we compared the antibiotic use, urinary tract infection-causative bacteria and their antibiotic susceptibilities among four hospitals with different backgrounds and regions in Japan in 2014. Frequency of antibiotic use (antibiotic use density: AUD/all AUD) were: ampicillin: 0.21-20.3 (median: 1.6) and cefazolin: 0.8-34.2 (2.5), representatively. The antibiotic resistant rates of Escherichia coli were ampicillin: 1.1-52.3% (median: 51.8%), piperacillin: 47.9-49.1% (48.0%), cefazolin: 23.2-34.1% (28.9%), levofloxacin: 36.6-43.8% (40.2%).We found that there were significant correlations (1) between antibiotic resistance of E. coli and annual total amount of antibiotic use (p = 0.017), annual number of days of antibiotic use (p = 0.002) and days of therapy (DOT, p = 0.002), and (2) between antibiotic resistance of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase-producing bacteria and annual number of days of antibiotic use (p = 0.004) and DOT (p = 0.004) in a rehabilitation hospital. These results suggested that more antibiotic uses could lead to antibiotic resistances. Further analyses with more number of data are being undertaken.

Comparative Assessment of Efficacies Between 2 Alternative Therapeutic Sequences With Novel Androgen Receptor-Axis-Targeted Agents in Patients With Chemotherapy-Naïve Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare the efficacies of sequential therapies with novel androgen receptor-axis-targeted (ARAT) agents in patients with docetaxel-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 108 consecutive patients with mCRPC who sequentially received abiraterone acetate (AA) and enzalutamide (Enz), in either order, without prior treatment with docetaxel. The combined prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression-free survival (PFS) was defined as the sum of PFS1 and PFS2, representing PSA PFSs on the first and second ARAT agents, respectively. RESULTS: Of these patients, 49 and 59 received ARAT therapy with the AA-to-Enz sequence (AA-to-Enz group) and with the reverse sequence (Enz-to-AA group), respectively. No significant differences in the baseline characteristics were noted between the 2 groups. In the overall patient population, the PSA response rate to the second-line ARAT agent (21.3%) was significantly lower than that of the first-line ARAT agent (58.3%). The combined PSA PFS in the AA-to-Enz group (median, 18.4 months) was significantly superior to that of the Enz-to-AA group (median, 12.8 months). Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified the treatment sequence (ie, AA-to-Enz vs. Enz-to-AA group) in addition to performance status as an independent predictor of combined PSA PFS in these patients. However, there was no significant difference in overall survival (OS) between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although cross-resistance between ARAT agents is a common phenomenon in docetaxel-naïve patients with mCRPC, different efficacies were observed favoring the AA-to-Enz rather than Enz-to-AA sequence in this series with respect to combined PSA PFS but not OS.

Clinical outcomes of anti-androgen withdrawal and subsequent alternative anti-androgen therapy for advanced prostate cancer following failure of initial maximum androgen blockade.

The present study aimed to investigate the significance of anti-androgen withdrawal and/or subsequent alternative anti-androgen therapy in patients with advanced prostate cancer (PC) who relapsed after initial maximum androgen blockade (MAB). The present study evaluated the clinical outcomes of 272 consecutive advanced PC patients undergoing anti-androgen withdrawal and/or subsequent alternative anti-androgen therapy with flutamide following the failure of initial MAB using bicalutamide. With the exception of 41 patients (15.1%) who did not undergo anti-androgen withdrawal due to the characteristics of PC suggesting aggressive diseases, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) declined from the baseline value in 83 patients (35.9%), including 18 (7.8%) with PSA decline >50%, but not in the remaining 148 (64.1%). No significant difference in the overall survival (OS) or cancer-specific survival (CSS) among the three groups was observed based on the response to anti-androgen withdrawal. Following the introduction of alternative anti-androgen therapy with flutamide, PSA decline was observed in 185 patients (68.0%), including 103 (37.9%) who achieved a PSA reduction of >50%; however, the PSA level continued to elevate in the remaining 87 (32.0%). Furthermore, of the numerous factors examined, only the duration of the initial MAB therapy was shown to be significantly correlated with the PSA decline following alternative anti-androgen therapy. Multivariate analysis of several factors identified revealed that only PSA decline following alternative anti-androgen therapy was an independent predictor of CSS and OS. If initial MAB is effective, the introduction of alternative anti-androgen therapy may be considered; however, anti-androgen withdrawal should be omitted, irrespective of the characteristics of advanced PC.

Early Tumor Shrinkage Under Treatment with First-line Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors as a Predictor of Overall Survival in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: a Retrospective Multi-Institutional Study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic significance of early tumor shrinkage following treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has not been fully elucidated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of early tumor shrinkage induced by first-line TKIs on overall survival (OS) in mRCC patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively included 185 consecutive Japanese patients with mRCC treated with either sunitinib or sorafenib for at least 3 months as first-line molecular-targeted therapy between April 2011 and December 2014 at Kobe University Hospital and its affiliated institutions. RESULTS: Median OS in the 185 patients was 33.6 months. At 12 weeks after the introduction of TKIs, 9 patients had achieved tumor shrinkage from -100 to -50 %, 43 from -49 to -25 %, 61 from -24 to 0 %, and the remaining 72 patients showed an increase in tumor size. The median OS stratified according to tumor shrinkage as shown above was 59.2, 39.1, 31.4, and 16.1 months, respectively. Univariate analysis identified prior nephrectomy, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) risk classification, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, liver metastasis, number of metastatic organs, histological subtype, sarcomatoid feature, and early tumor shrinkage as significant predictors of OS. Of these significant factors, only the MSKCC classification, CRP level, liver metastasis, and early tumor shrinkage were shown to be independently associated with OS on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Early tumor shrinkage could be a useful predictor of OS in mRCC patients receiving TKIs as a first-line molecular-targeted agent.

Improved health-related quality of life of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with a 2 weeks on and 1 week off schedule of sunitinib.

The objective of this study was to investigate the significance of changes from the standard dosing schedule of sunitinib, which is 4 weeks of treatment and 2 weeks off (schedule 4/2), to an alternative schedule with 2 weeks of treatment and 1 week off (schedule 2/1), after encountering dose-limiting toxicity in 45 consecutive Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Despite a definitively improved relative dose intensity of sunitinib by changing from schedule 4/2 to 2/1, this difference was not significant. Adverse events (AEs) occurred in all patients on both schedules 4/2 and 2/1; however, the proportion of patients experiencing AEs ≥ grade 3 on schedule 2/1 was significantly lower than that on schedule 4/2. Quality of life (QOL) analysis using SF-36 revealed that all eight scores during schedule 2/1 were more favorable than those during schedule 4/2, and there were significant differences in 2 of the 8 scores between these two schedules. Furthermore, multivariate analyses, which were performed to evaluate the contribution of several AEs on schedule 2/1 to the improvement of each score in SF-36, revealed that fatigue had independent impacts on two scores, despite the lack of an independent association between any scores and the remaining AEs examined. These findings suggest that schedule 2/1 is the optimal dosing schedule of sunitinib against mRCC that balances efficacy and toxicity, since treatment on schedule 2/1 resulted in a markedly improved QOL compared with that on schedule 4/2 by relieving the profile of sunitinib-related AEs.

Hedgehog signaling and urological cancers.

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling is aberrantly activated in several hematological and solid cancers. Therapeutic options are sometimes lacking for urological cancers because their mechanisms of progression are imperfectly understood. Studies establishing the anti-tumor effects and safety of inhibitors of Hh pathways are needed for tumors in which the Hh pathways are activated. At present vismodegib is clinically available for basal cell carcinoma, and is expected to be extended to treat other cancers. Cholecalciferol, the precursor of active vitamin D3, is a strong inhibitor of Shh-Gli signaling and may have growth inhibitory effects in renal cancer. As a supplementary therapy it may promote tumor regression. Preclinical data in prostate cancer suggest that while suppressing Hh signaling could reduce invasion and metastasis, it may also result in acquired drug resistance after long-term use. Combining Hh inhibitors with ionizing radiation and/or chemotherapy could improve treatment while lessening the risk of acquired drug resistance. Expression of Shh-related ligand gene and Shh-Gli-inducible target genes like FOXM1 or IGF2 is characteristic of urothelial tumor samples. Overexpression of Shh is observed in 96% of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and 52% of muscle invasive bladder cancer samples. This review summarizes recently reported trends in Hh signaling activation studies in urological cancer, especially focusing on possible clinical applications.

Hyponatremia as a powerful prognostic predictor for Japanese patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to evaluate the prognostic significance of hyponatremia in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). METHODS: This study included a total of 209 consecutive Japanese patients undergoing radical nephrectomy who were subsequently treated with either sunitinib or sorafenib as a first-line therapy for metastatic clear cell RCC. In this series, normal natremia and hyponatremia prior to the introduction of TKI was defined as a serum sodium level >136 and ≤136 mEq/L, respectively. RESULTS: Patients were classified into 165 (78.9 %) with normal natremia and 44 (21.1 %) with hyponatremia. Progression-free survival (PFS) in the hyponatremia group (median 10.0 months) was significantly poorer than that in the normal natremia group (median 28.4 months). Overall survival (OS) in the hyponatremia group (median 20.9 months) was significantly poorer than that in the normal natremia group (median 38.5 months). Multivariate analyses identified hyponatremia, in addition to the existence of sarcomatoid components in radical nephrectomy specimens, high serum C-reactive protein levels, and low serum albumin levels, as poor prognostic factors for both PFS and OS. There were significant differences in both PFS and OS according to the number of these 4 independent risk factors that were positive (negative for any risk factors vs positive for 1 or 2 risk factors vs positive for 3 or 4 risk factors). CONCLUSIONS: Hyponatremia appears to be one of the most powerful prognostic predictors in Japanese patients treated with a TKI as a first-line agent against metastatic clear cell RCC.

Anti-MRSA drug use and antibiotic susceptibilities of MRSA at a university hospital in Japan from 2007 to 2011.

The purpose of this study is to examine the use of anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) drugs, such as vancomycin (VCM), teicoplanin (TEIC), arbekasin (ABK) and linezolid (LZD), and the antibiotic susceptibilities of MRSAs in Kobe University Hospital. We investigated MRSA isolation and use of anti-MRSA drugs and susceptibilities of MRSA, using linear regression analysis, from 2007 to 2011, and checked for correlation between the use of these drug and the antibiotic susceptibilities of MRSA. The overall monthly isolation rates of MRSA decreased from a mean of 84.8% in 2007 to 70.0% in 2011 (r=0.946, P=0.015, b=-0.220), and the monthly isolation rate of MRSA in inpatients decreased from a mean of 78.6% in 2007 to 57.7% in 2011 (r=0.952, P=0.012, b=-0.160). From 2007 to 2011, VCM consumption significantly increased (r=0.916, P=0.029, b=0.055), whereas TEIC and LZD use remained stable during the study period. In addition, ABK use significantly decreased from 23.8 defined daily dose (DDD) per 1000 patient-days in 2007 to 5.2 DDD per 1000 in 2011 (r=0.902, P=0.036, b=-0.216). Susceptibility rates of MRSA were almost 100% to TEIC and VCM. The rates of MRSA to ABK and LZD significantly increased (r=0.959, P=0.010, b=2.137 for ABK and r=0.933, P=0.020, b=3.111 for LZD). In conclusion, our findings indicated a decreased MRSA isolation rate and the effective use of anti-MRSA drugs (VCM, TEIC, ABK and LZD), and improved susceptibility rates to anti-MRSA drugs, suggesting the possibilities that appropriate and early use of anti-MRSA drugs may cause the decrease of MRSA isolation.

Third-line sunitinib following sequential use of cytokine therapy and sorafenib in Japanese patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of sunitinib as third-line therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). METHODS: This study included a total of 35 consecutive Japanese patients with mRCC who were treated with third-line sunitinib after sequential use of cytokine therapy (interferon-α and/or interleukin-2) and sorafenib between September 2008 and December 2010. The clinical outcomes of third-line sunitinib in these patients were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 35 patients, 3 (8.6%), 28 (80.0%) and 4 (11.4%) were judged to have a partial response, stable disease and progressive disease, respectively, as the best response to sunitinib. The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of these patients following the introduction of sunitinib were 10.9 and 14.2 months, respectively. Of several factors examined, response to sorafenib and performance status appeared to be independently associated with PFS and OS, respectively, on multivariate analyses. The common grade 3-4 adverse events related to third-line sunitinib were thrombocytopenia (51.4%), neutropenia (42.9%) and hypertension (14.3%). CONCLUSION: Despite the low response rate, third-line sunitinib is well tolerated and could provide comparatively favorable prognostic outcomes in Japanese patients with mRCC after first-line cytokine therapy and second-line sorafenib; therefore, treatment with sunitinib could be one on the therapeutic options for patients with mRCC even after the failure of sequentially performed systemic therapies, such as cytokine therapy and sorafenib.

Prognostic prediction in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma treated with sorafenib based on expression levels of potential molecular markers in radical nephrectomy specimens.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression levels of multiple molecular markers in radical nephrectomy specimens from patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with sorafenib in order to identify factors predicting susceptibility to this agent. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 45 consecutive patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for clear cell RCC who were diagnosed as having metastatic diseases refractory to cytokine therapy and subsequently treated with sorafenib. Expression levels of 19 molecular markers involved in the regulation of apoptosis, cell cycle, signal transduction, and angiogenesis in primary RCC specimens were measured by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: There was no molecular marker having significant impact on the prediction of response to sorafenib. However, progression-free survival (PFS) was significantly associated with the expression levels of Bcl-xL and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR)-α in addition to the presence of bone metastasis and C-reactive protein level on univariate analysis. Of these significant factors, PDGFR-α expression and the presence of bone metastasis appeared to be independently related to PFS by multivariate analysis. Furthermore, there were significant differences in PFS according to positive numbers of these 2 independent risk factors; that is, disease progression occurred in 2 of 7 patients who were negative for risk factor, 19 of 34 positive for a single risk factor, and 6 of 6 positive for both risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these findings suggest that it would be useful to consider expression levels of potential molecular markers, particularly PDGFR-α, as well as clinical parameters to select metastatic RCC patients likely to benefit from treatment with sorafenib.

Relationship between urinary tract infection categorization and pathogens' antimicrobial susceptibilities.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be hard to treat and treatment plans need to include accurate categorization such as uncomplicated or complicated UTI, or catheterized or uncatheterized UTI. We investigated the antibiotic susceptibilities of representative uropathogens in UTI categories. METHODS: We isolated uropathogens and analyzed their antimicrobial susceptibilities according to UTI categorization such as: (1) urology outpatients, urology inpatients, or other department inpatients; (2) uncomplicated or complicated UTIs; (3) upper or lower UTIs, and (4) non-catheterized or catheterized UTIs. RESULTS: Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were representative uropathogens. Susceptibilities to levofloxacin (LVFX) in E. coli in urology outpatients (p = 0.0179), those to ceftadizime in E. coli in other department inpatients (p = 0.0327), and those to LVFX in E. faecalis in complicated UTI (p = 0.0137) significantly decreased in these 3 years compared with the previous 3 years. Susceptibilities of upper UTI to LVFX in E. coli were significantly lower in the recent 4 years compared to lower UTI (p = 0.0452) and those of catheterized UTI to LVFX in E. faecalis were significantly lower than in non-catheterized UTI (p = 0.0153). CONCLUSIONS: Data demonstrated different tendencies of uropathogens' antibiotic susceptibilities according to UTI categorizations and they could be useful for planning UTI treatments.

Thyroid size change by CT monitoring after sorafenib or sunitinib treatment in patients with renal cell carcinoma: comparison with thyroid function.

OBJECTIVE: Hypothyroidism is a common complication in patients receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors. We evaluated the relationship between thyroid size evident on CT and thyroid function in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with metastatic RCC receiving tyrosine kinase inhibitors (sorafenib n=25; sunitinib n=17) and, followed-up for ≥12 months were eligible. Patients who had ever shown an elevated thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level of >10 mU/l were defined as having "hypothyroidism". CT scans were performed before, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the start of treatment. The area of the thyroid in the maximum section at each examination was measured and compared with that before treatment. Using repeated-measures ANOVA, differences in thyroid size were compared over time between patients with and without "hypothyroidism", in relation to the type of drug employed. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients (sorafenib 9, sunitinib 12) developed "hypothyroidism" 95±88 days (range 12-315 days) after the start of treatment. In such patients, the thyroid was reduced in size to 89±16% after 3 months, 81±21% after 6 months, 71±21% after 9 months and 68±21% after 12 months, whereas the patients without "hypothyroidism" maintained a thyroid size of 90±12% even after 12 months (p=0.0030). Among the patients with "hypothyroidism", those treated with sunitinib tended to show greater thyroid size reduction than those with sorafenib (59±23% vs. 79±13%, after 12 months). CONCLUSION: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors cause an apparent thyroid size reduction in patients with "hypothyroidism".

Chronological change of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections.

Overuse of antibiotics can cause the emergence of resistant bacterial strains. This study retrospectively investigated recent trends in Escherichia coli causing urinary tract infections (UTIs), focusing on antibiotic use and antibiotic susceptibilities. Patients diagnosed with UTIs caused by E. coli in Akashi Municipal Hospital between April 2004 and March 2010 were enrolled in the study. A total of 858 UTI cases were examined. Antibiotics used in our hospital during that period and the antibiotic susceptibilities of E. coli in UTI cases were assessed. We analyzed the data on a yearly basis, with the year being defined as the period from April to the following March (e.g., in this study the period from April 2004 to March 2005 represents 2004). The first 3 years (2004-2006) were compared to the last 3 years (2007-2009). The use of piperacillin, cephazolin, amikacin, oral cefotiam, and levofloxacin decreased significantly and the use of imipenem, gentamicin (GM), cefcapene, and oral minocycline (MINO) increased significantly in the last 3 years compared to the previous 3 years. The susceptibilities of MINO in complicated cystitis significantly increased and those of GM in uncomplicated pyelonephritis significantly decreased in these 3 years (2007-2009) compared to the previous 3 years (2004-2006) (P < 0.05). Additionally, extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli tended to be isolated more often; this was statistically significant in the last 3 years (2007-2009) compared to the previous 3 years (2004-2006) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, we found changes in our pattern of antibiotic use associated with changes in antibiotic susceptibilities and an increase in ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from our UTI cases. Monitoring of antibiotic use and emergence of resistant strains should be continued.

Selection of first-line i.v. antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis in patients requiring emergency hospital admission.

Febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) often require the intravenous infusion of antibiotics and/or hospitalization. Acute pyelonephritis (AP) is one of the most severe forms of UTI, and the antibiotics we should use as the first line and the risk factors for treatment failure remain controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of i.v. antibiotics selected for the treatment of febrile AP and to examine the risk factors for antibiotic resistance. We set risk factors for antibiotic treatment failure such as age, sex, and the presence of underlying urinary tract disease. We classified all cases into 49 cases of complicated AP and 24 cases of uncomplicated AP according to the presence of underlying urinary tract diseases, and examined the characteristics of the patients and the efficacy of the antibiotics used in this study. We investigated risk factors which relate to initial treatment failure and the duration of antibiotic treatment. Initial antibiotic treatment failure was significantly correlated to C-reactive protein in complicated AP and to positive blood culture in uncomplicated AP. We revealed a significant correlation between the duration of the given antibiotics and diabetes mellitus or positive blood culture in uncomplicated AP, and tazobactam/piperacillin was significantly related to prolongation of antibiotic treatment in complicated AP. In conclusion, in this study, a positive blood culture was the representative risk factor that related to both initial treatment failure and longer duration of the given antibiotics in uncomplicated AP.