Clinical manifestations and susceptibility of Scedosporium/Lomentospora infections at a tertiary medical centre in Taiwan from 2014 to 2021: A retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Scedosporiosis/lomentosporiosis is a globally emerging and crucial fungal infection. However, clinical data on Scedosporium/Lomentospora infections in Taiwan are scarce. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of Scedosporium/Lomentospora-infected patients and evaluate the susceptibility of these isolates to antifungal agents. METHODS: The clinical features of Scedosporium/Lomentospora-infected patients at a tertiary teaching hospital in Northern Taiwan between 2014 and 2021 were retrospectively reviewed; isolates from these patients were identified to species level for antifungal susceptibility testing. RESULTS: Among 44 patients, 27 (61.4%) had scedosporiosis/lomentosporiosis, whereas 17 (38.6%) were colonised with Scedosporium/Lomentospora species. Scedosporium apiospermum was the main coloniser; scedosporiosis was primarily caused by S. boydii. Trauma history, steroid and immunosuppressant use were the most common risk factors for developing these infections. Among 27 patients with scedosporiosis/lomentosporiosis, one was lost to follow-up and seven (7/26, 26.9%) died. Most patients with S. apiospermum infection have a history of trauma, leading to cutaneous, bone and ocular infections. Pulmonary, sinus and disseminated infections and mortality were frequently reported in patients with S. boydii infection. Voriconazole's minimum inhibitory concentration was low for S. boydii, S. apiospermum and S. aurantiacum. Caspofungin, micafungin and anidulafungin were active against S. boydii and S. apiospermum. A potentially novel Scedosporium species was identified in this study, with distinct clinical manifestations and antifungal susceptibility. CONCLUSIONS: At our centre, S. boydii is the main causative species of scedosporiosis; voriconazole could be the first-line treatment in Taiwan. Our study supports the importance of speciation, rather than only categorising these isolates into S. apiospermum species complex.

Clinical manifestations and antimicrobial susceptibility of Nocardia species at a tertiary hospital in Taiwan, 2011-2020.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to assess the clinical characteristics of patients with nocardiosis, to evaluate the in vitro susceptibility of antimicrobial agents against Nocardia species, and to explore changes in antimicrobial susceptibilities in this era of multidrug resistance. METHODS: Nocardia isolates were identified to the species level using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rRNA, hsp65, and secA1 gene sequencing, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 15 antimicrobial agents were assessed with the broth microdilution method. RESULTS: Eighty-nine isolates from 68 patients were identified to species level. The most common species were Nocardia brasiliensis (n = 28, 31.5%), followed by N. farcinica (n = 24, 27%) and N. cyriacigeorgica (n = 16, 18%). Skin and soft tissue were the most common sites of nocardiosis. In multivariate analysis, cutaneous infection (OR, 0.052; p = 0.009), immunosuppressant use (OR, 16.006; p = 0.013) and Charlson combidity index (OR, 1.522; p = 0.029) were significant predictors for death. In total, 98.9% isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and linezolid. Further, the MIC range and resistance rate of all Nocardia species to ceftriaxone, imipenem, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid were found to generally increase over time. CONCLUSION: Considering that trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is effective against most Nocardia species, it is the antibiotic of choice in Taiwan. Besides, amikacin, tigecycline, and linezolid showed high activity against Nocardia species and are thus good alternatives or additional therapies to treat nocardiosis, depending on patient's underlying conditions and site of infection.

Disseminated Mycobacterium peregrinum and Mycobacterium avium infection in a patient with AIDS: A case report and review of literature.

Disseminated nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are frequently recognized in patients living with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAIC) is the most common species. Mycobacterium peregrinum is a rapidly growing mycobacterium that accounts for 1-2% of community-acquired and healthcare-associated infections. It mainly causes skin and soft tissue infection. Disseminated infection by M. peregrinum has never been reported in patients with AIDS. We describe a case of disseminated co-infection of M. peregrinum and M. avium in a 33-year-old male with newly diagnosed AIDS, and review the literature regarding M. peregrinum infection. The patient's bone marrow culture grew M. peregrinum and his blood culture grew M. avium. The diagnosis of disseminated co-infection of M. peregrinum and M. avium was confirmed. Disseminated infection due to M. peregrinum is rare and diagnosis can be challenging. Due to limited case numbers, there is no treatment guideline for M. peregrinum nowadays. Further study is warranted for better understanding M. peregrinum related infections.

Nasal Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus Carriage among Janitors Working in Hospitals in Northern Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of infection, and brings additional concern with methicillin resistance. In addition, nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization rates among health care workers are higher than that for general population. To determine the prevalence rate and risk factors for the colonization of S. aureus, including MRSA, among janitors working in hospitals in northern Taiwan, we conducted this study. METHODS: Between June and August, 2014, a total of 186 janitors, 111 working in hospitals and 75 working in non-medical institutions, were recruited. Specimens were obtained from the nares of the subjects for the detection of S. aureus, with a questionnaire completed for each subject. All the S. aureus isolates, including MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA), were further molecularly characterized. RESULTS: The nasal carriage rate of S. aureus was 15.3% for hospital janitors and 13.3% for non-medical janitors. The carriage rate of MRSA was 3.6% for hospital janitors and 1.3% for non-medical janitors. No statistically significant difference was found in the nasal carriage rate of S. aureus (p = 0.707) and MRSA (p = 0.65) between hospital janitors and non-medical janitors. Hospital janitors working in hospital more than 6 years and cleaning microbiologic laboratories were significantly associated with nasal S. aureus colonization. All 5 MRSA isolates carried either staphylococcal cassette chromosome type IV or V and three of them belonged to sequence type (ST) 59, the community clone prevailing in Taiwan. Of the 22 MSSA isolates, six pulsotypes were identified, with one major type for 14 isolates (shared by five STs) and another type for 4 isolates (all belonged to ST 188). CONCLUSION: Exposure to the hospital environment may not increase the nasal carriage rate of S. aureus, including MRSA, among janitors in hospitals in Taiwan. However, for janitors in the hospital setting, working for more than six years in hospital and cleaning laboratories may be risks factors for carrying S. aureus.