Breaking away from an endemic state of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa by daily sink disinfection.

The detection rate of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients admitted to 2 wards and the intensive care unit decreased from 20.3% (129 of 636 isolates) to 4.2% (37 of 889 isolates) after the start of disinfection of hand washing sinks using alkyl diaminoethylglycine hydrochloride.

Factors associated with household transmission of SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant to health care workers: A retrospective cohort study.

AIM: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for household transmission of the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2. BACKGROUND: The household infection rate has been reported to be higher for the omicron variant than for non-omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2. Determination of the risk factors for household transmission of the omicron variant is therefore important. DESIGN: A Retrospective Cohort Study was conducted. METHODS: When family members of health care workers (HCWs) were found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, the HCWs had to receive two nucleic acid amplification tests for SARS-CoV-2: immediately after and 5 to 10 days after the onset of COVID-19 in the family members. Risk factors of household transmission were analysed by comparing cases (HCWs infected with SARS-CoV-2) and controls (HCWs not infected with SARS-CoV-2) using multivariable analysis. RESULTS: Unvaccinated status (OR: 3.97), age of index cases (≤6 years) (OR: 1.94) and staying at home with index cases (OR: 10.18) were risk factors for household transmission. CONCLUSION: If there is a strong desire to avoid household infection, family members infected with SARS-CoV-2 should live separately during the period of viral shedding.

Correlation between antibiotic use and resistance of gram-negative bacteria at a university hospital in Japan from 2013 to 2021: a study using the Japan Surveillance for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology (J-SIPHE) system.

OBJECTIVES: The Japan Surveillance for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology (J-SIPHE) system aggregates information related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) measures. We aimed to investigate the correlation between antibiotic use and AMR at a university hospital from 2013 to 2021 in a time series analysis using the J-SIPHE system. We also studied this correlation in each ward (inter-ward analysis). METHODS: Data on antibiotic use and resistance rates were collected from the J-SIPHE system, except for the resistance rate in each ward, which was calculated from the source data prepared for this system. RESULTS: Piperacillin/tazobactam use was positively correlated with piperacillin/tazobactam resistance in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in the inter-ward analysis, and in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in both analyses. Carbapenem use was positively correlated with meropenem resistance in Enterobacter cloacae in the time series analysis and in P. aeruginosa in both analyses, and imipenem/cilastatin resistance in P. aeruginosa in inter-ward analysis. Quinolone use was positively correlated with levofloxacin resistance in E. coli in both analyses, and in K. pneumoniae in inter-ward analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to investigate the correlation between antibiotic use and AMR at a single hospital in time series and inter-ward analyses using the J-SIPHE system and data prepared for this system, suggesting that this system may be useful for promoting AMR measures.

Correlation between antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance: A multicenter study using the Japan Surveillance for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology (J-SIPHE) system in Hokkaido, Japan.

BACKGROUND: The Japan Surveillance for Infection Prevention and Healthcare Epidemiology (J-SIPHE) system aggregates information related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR) measures in participating medical institutions nationwide and is intended to be used for promotion of AMR measures in participating facilities and their communities. This multicenter study aimed to determine the usefulness of the J-SIPHE system for evaluating the correlation between antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance in Hokkaido, Japan. METHODS: Data on antibiotic use and detection rate of major resistant Gram-negative bacteria at 19 hospitals in 2020 were collected from the J-SIPHE system, and data correlations were analyzed using JMP Pro. RESULTS: The detection rate of carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly positively correlated with carbapenem use (Spearman's ρ = 0.551; P = .015). There were significant positive correlations between the detection rate of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli and the use of piperacillin/tazobactam, carbapenems, and quinolones [ρ = 0.518 (P = .023), ρ = 0.76 (P < .001), and ρ = 0.502 (P = .029), respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first multicenter study to investigate the correlation between antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance using the J-SIPHE system. The results suggest that using this system may be beneficial for promoting AMR measures.

Efficacy and safety of colistin for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of colistin for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli have been poorly investigated in Japanese patients. This study was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of colistin in Japanese patients by analyzing a considerable number of cases. Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between the plasma concentration and efficacy and safety of colistin in some cases. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted at Hokkaido University Hospital, analyzing patients treated with colistin (colistimethate sodium) during the period from January 2007 to December 2019. RESULTS: Overall, 42 cases were enrolled. Favorable clinical response was observed in 25 cases (59.5%), with an all-cause 30-day mortality of 33.3% (14/42 cases). Microbiological eradication was achieved in 18 cases (42.9%). Nephrotoxicity was observed in 20 cases (47.6%) and was mild and reversible in all cases. Plasma trough concentrations of colistin determined in nine patients correlated with changes in serum creatinine concentration (⊿) and creatinine clearance (%). The cutoff value of colistin trough concentration for nephrotoxicity was 2.02 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: Our results showed approximately 60% clinical efficacy of colistin therapy against infections caused by multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli in the patients. Further studies with larger populations are needed to elucidate the efficacy and safety of colistin in Japanese patients.

Neurofibrillary tangles and deposition of oxidative products in the brain in cases of myotonic dystrophy.

Myotonic dystrophy (MyD) is a neuromuscular degenerative disorder that is neuropathologically characterized by minor changes, such as the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFT), thalamic inclusions and functional brainstem lesions. In the current study, we conducted an immunohistochemical analysis to examine the distribution of NFT and formation of oxidative products in the brain specimens of 12 patients with MyD. Neurofibrillary tangles were found in the limbic system and/or the brainstem of all the cases examined but there were no senile plaques. The density of distribution of the NFT was not significantly correlated with clinicopathological findings, although cases with fewer NFTin the brain frequently showed sleep disturbances and lack of spontaneity. Nuclear and cytoplasmic immunoreactivities for 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine and advanced glycation end products were observed in the glial cells and/or neurons in the brainstem, but not in the cerebral cortex. On the other hand, 10 out of the 12 cases showed cytoplasmic immunoreactivity for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-modified protein (4-HNE) in neurons of the temporal cortex and raphe nucleus. Deposition of 4-HNE was also recognized in the hippocampus and mesencephalic central gray matter, but not in the subiculum. The distribution pattern of the immunoreactivity for 4-HNE showed no clear correlation with either the psychological disturbances or the distribution of the NFT. Altered expression of monoaminergic neurons in the brainstem of MyD patients has already been reported, and it is worth noting that most of our cases showed NFT in the brainstem. The selective deposition of 4-HNE in the limbic system and brainstem suggests that lipid peroxidation may be involved in the neurodegenerative process in MyD. Using immunohistochemical analysis to determine the distribution of neurotransmitters in the mesencephalic central gray matter and/or pontine raphe nucleus may help elucidate the relationship between the clinical abnormalities, distribuion of NFT, and 4-HNE deposition in the brain in patients with MyD.

First episodes of behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer's disease patients at age 90 and over, and early-onset Alzheimer's disease: comparison with senile dementia of Alzheimer's type.

We evaluated dementia symptoms to clarify the character of dementia with Alzheimer's disease (AD) observed in the oldest old patients and that of dementia with early-onset AD. Subjects were consecutive AD inpatients admitted for the first time at age of 90 years and over because of behavioral symptoms (demented nonagenarian group: D90G; n=18) and those with 24 consecutive inpatients with AD with early-onset (EOG). The Gottfries, Brane and Steen's scale and the Dementia Behavior Disturbance scale were used to evaluate the symptoms and troublesome behaviors. The scores of these scales in D90G and in EOG were compared with those of 26 sex distribution-, severity of dementia-, and disease duration-matched inpatients with AD with late-onset (LOG). Compared with LOG, wakefulness was more impaired and waking up at night was more frequent in D90G, while memory, orientation and inappropriate behaviors were more severe in EOG. These results suggest that the clinical features of dementia in EOG were quantitatively different from those of LOG. In contrast, the clinical feature of dementia of D90G were sleep-wake pattern disturbance and were qualitatively different from those of LOG.