Antimicrobial susceptibility of common pathogens isolated from postoperative intra-abdominal infections in Japan.

The principle of empirical therapy for patients with intra-abdominal infections (IAI) should include antibiotics with activity against Enterobacteriaceae and Bacteroides fragilis group species. Coverage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, and Enterococcus faecalis is also recommended for hospital-associated IAI. A nationwide survey was conducted to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens isolated from postoperative IAI. All 504 isolates were collected at 26 institutions and referred to a central laboratory for susceptibility testing. Lower susceptibility rates to ciprofloxacin and cefepime were demonstrated in Escherichia coli. Among E. coli, 24.1% of strains produced extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL). Carbapenems, piperacillin/tazobactam, cephamycins/oxacephem, aminoglycosides, and tigecycline had high activity against E. coli, including ESBL-producing isolates. Among E. cloacae, low susceptibility rates to ceftazidime were demonstrated, whereas cefepime retained its activity. P. aeruginosa revealed high susceptibility rates to all antimicrobials tested except for imipenem. Among B. fragilis group species, low levels of susceptibility were observed for cefoxitin, moxifloxacin, and clindamycin, and high susceptibility rates were observed for piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, and metronidazole. Ampicillin, piperacillin, and glycopeptides had good activity against E. faecalis. Imipenem had the highest activity against E. faecalis among carbapenems. In conclusion, we suggested the empirical use of antimicrobials with the specific intent of covering the main organisms isolated from postoperative IAI. Piperacillin/tazobactam, meropenem, or doripenem, are appropriate in critically ill patients. Combination therapy of cefepime (aztreonam in patients with ß-lactam allergy) plus metronidazole plus glycopeptides, imipenem/cilastatin or cephamycins/oxacephem plus ciprofloxacin plus metronidazole are potential therapeutic options.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens isolated from surgical site infections in Japan: Comparison of data from nationwide surveillance studies conducted in 2010 and 2014-2015.

A nationwide survey was conducted in Japan from 2014 to 2015 to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogens isolated from surgical site infections (SSI). The resulting data were compared with that obtained in an earlier survey, conducted in 2010. Seven main organisms were collected, and 883 isolates were studied. A significant reduction in methicillin resistance was observed among Staphylococcus aureus isolates, dropping from 72.5% in 2010 to 53.8% in 2014-2015 (p < 0.001). MRSA isolates with a vancomycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 2 µg/mL accounted for 1.2% of all MRSA isolates, which was significantly lower than in 2010 (9.7%, p = 0.029). Of the Escherichia coli isolates, 23.0% produced an extended spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) in the 2014-2015 survey, which was a significant increase from 9.5% in 2010 (p = 0.011). The geometric mean MICs for ESBL-producing isolates were 0.07 µg/mL for meropenem, 9.51 µg/mL for tazobactam/piperacillin, 0.15 µg/mL for flomoxef, and 1.56 µg/mL for gentamycin. There was a significant increase in the isolation rate of non-fragilis Bacteroides among Bacteroides fragilis group species between the two study periods (35.2% vs. 53.1%, p = 0.007). More than 90% of isolates belonging to the B. fragilis group remained susceptible to tazobactam/piperacillin, meropenem, and metronidazole. In contrast, lower levels of susceptibility were observed for cefmetazole (49.6%), moxifloxacin (61.9%), and clindamycin (46.9%). Non-fragilis Bacteroides isolates had lower rates of antibiotic susceptibility compared with B. fragilis. Overall, the surveillance data clarified trends in antimicrobial susceptibility for organisms commonly associated with SSI.

Peripheral vein infusions of amino acids facilitate recovery after esophagectomy for esophageal cancer: Retrospective cohort analysis.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the efficacy of amino acid administration via peripheral veins in addition to conventional enteral feeding following esophagectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of data pertaining to 33 patients with esophageal cancer who underwent radical esophagectomy and satisfied the required nutrition control. Patients were divided into the amino acid group (n = 17) and control group (n = 16). Primary outcomes were albumin (Alb) and prealbumin (PreAlb) levels, urinary 3-methylhistidine/creatinine (3-MeHis/Cre) ratios, nitrogen balance, and weight; postoperative complications were noted as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: Alb levels were significantly higher in the amino acid group on postoperative day (POD)-14 (3.4 ± 0.3 vs. 3.1 ± 0.4 mg/dL in the control group, p = 0.018) and at 1 month after surgery (3.8 ± 0.4 vs. 3.5 ± 0.3 mg/dL, p = 0.045). No significant differences were observed in PreAlb and urinary 3-MeHis/Cre rates between the treatment groups. Body weights at 3 months postoperatively were decreased by 6% and 3% in the control and amino acid groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Peripheral venous administration of amino acids soon after surgical stress is an effective method for nutritional control.

Downregulation of ST6GALNAC1 is associated with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma development.

Tylosis is an inherited disorder characterized by abnormal palmoplantar skin thickening and a highly elevated risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Analyses of tylosis in families have localized the responsible gene locus to a region of chromosome 17q25.1. Frequent loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in 17q25.1 was also observed in the sporadic form of ESCC. A putative tumor suppressor gene for ESCC may exist at this locus. We investigated the expression patterns of genes on 17q25.1 in tumor and corresponding normal tissues from patients with sporadic ESCC using RNA sequence analysis. For candidate genes, quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR), direct sequence, LOH and methylation analyses were performed using 93 clinical ESCC samples and 10 cell lines. A significant downregulation of ST6GALNAC1 was demonstrated in ESCC tissues compared to its expression in normal tissues by qRT-PCR (n=93, p<0.0001). Frequent LOH (17/27, 62.9%) and hyper­methylation in ST6GALNAC1 were also observed in all cell lines. Our results indicated that ST6GALNAC1 was downregulated in sporadic ESCC via hyper-methylation and LOH, and it may be a candidate responsible gene for ESCC. Furthermore, recent studies suggest that multiple genes on chromosome 17q25 are involved in ESCC development.

Curative two-stage resection for synchronous triple cancers of the esophagus, colon, and liver: Report of a case.

INTRODUCTION: Cases of synchronous triple cancers of the esophagus and other organs curatively resected are rare. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 73-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with bloody feces. He was diagnosed with synchronous triple cancers of the esophagus, colon, and liver. We selected a two-stage operation to safely achieve curative resection for all three cancers. The first stage of the operation comprised a laparoscopy-assisted sigmoidectomy and partial liver resection via open surgery. The patient was discharged without complications. Thirty days later, he was readmitted and thoracoscopic esophagectomy was performed. Although pneumonia-induced pulmonary aspiration occurred as a postoperative complication, it was treated conservatively. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 24. DISCUSSION: Esophagectomy is a highly invasive procedure; thus, simultaneous surgery for plural organs, including the esophagus, may induce life-threatening, severe complications. Two-stage surgery is useful in reducing surgical stress in high-risk patients. For synchronous multiple cancers, the planning of two-stage surgery should be considered for each cancer to maintain organ function and reduce the stress and difficulty of each stage. CONCLUSION: We successfully treated synchronous triple cancers, including esophageal cancer, by a two-stage operation.

Hyperglycemia 3 days after esophageal cancer surgery is associated with an increased risk of postoperative infection.

PURPOSE: Postoperative hyperglycemia is associated with infectious complications after various types of surgery. Our objective was to determine whether postoperative blood glucose levels up to 1 week after highly invasive esophageal cancer surgery are associated with the incidence of postoperative infections (POIs). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 109 consecutive thoracic esophageal squamous cell cancer patients who underwent invasive esophagectomy with thoracotomy and laparotomy. The incidence of postoperative POIs and risk factors for POIs, including postoperative blood glucose levels, were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 109 patients, 37 (34.0 %) developed POIs. Clinically, 73.0 % of the POIs became evident on or after postoperative day 4 (median, 5.25 days; interquartile range, 3.00-9.25 days). On and after postoperative day 3, chronological changes in blood glucose levels were significantly different between two groups of patients with or without POIs, as indicated by repeated measures ANOVA (P = 0.006). Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that an increased blood glucose concentration on postoperative day 3 was a significant risk factor for POIs. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested that postoperative hyperglycemia on postoperative day 3 was a predictive factor of POIs after highly invasive esophageal cancer surgery.

[Usefulness of esophageal stenting for esophagorespiratory fistula with esophageal cancer].

We evaluated the outcome of esophageal stenting for esophagorespiratory fistula in patients with advanced esophageal cancer. Six patients with such fistula underwent esophageal stenting at our department from January 2000 to May 2012. Intraoral ingestion improved in all patients. Cough decreased immediately after stenting in 3 patients, and pneumonia detected by chest radiography improved within 1 week in 2 patients. Ventilation was weaned 2 days after stenting in 1 patient. The median survival duration after stenting was 31 days, and the cause of death was cancer in all patients. The following background factors were identified at the time of death: bleeding(n=3), mediastinitis(n=1), and pneumonia(n=1). Esophageal stenting, which should always be performed with the informed consent of the patient, improves respiratory symptoms, intraoral ingestion, and quality of life. Therefore, it is one of the best palliative therapies for patients with esophagorespiratory fistula associated with advanced esophageal cancer.

[A case of advanced adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction with severe esophageal invasion effectively treated by chemoradiotherapy using paclitaxel and cisplatin, and S-1 after chemoradiotherapy].

The patient was a 66-year-old male with adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction and severe esophageal invasion, which was diagnosed as cType 3, cT4a (SE) cN3cM1 (LYM), cStage IV(histopathology: por 1). We tried concurrent chemoradiotherapy consisting of PTX 60 mg/m(2) and CDDP 25 mg/m(2), respectively (once a week), and a total of 45 Gy of radiotherapy treatment. Then, for effective continuation, chemotherapy using S-1 was performed as second-line therapy. A complete response was achieved and continued for more than 2 years after initial chemoradiotherapy; his complaints abated and his quality of life improved. Although gastro-intestinal symptoms and bone marrow suppression were observed as adverse effects, they were within a tolerable range and did not interfere with the concurrent chemoradiotherapy. This regimen appears to be feasible and effective for advanced gastric carcinoma refractory to other regimens.