Journal of infection and chemotherapy : official journal of the Japan Society of Chemotherapy
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Feb 2014
Multicenter Study Observational StudyA multicenter, prospective evaluation of quality of care and mortality in Japan based on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines.
To elucidate the standard Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC) guidelines-based quality of care and mortality related to severe sepsis in Japan, we conducted a multicenter, prospective, observational study using a new web-based database between June 1, 2010, and December 31, 2011. A total of 1104 patients with severe sepsis were enrolled from 39 Japanese emergency and critical care centers. All-cause hospital mortality was 29.3% in patients with severe sepsis and 40.7% in patients with septic shock. ⋯ From these results, we concluded that our prospective multicenter study was successful in evaluating SSC guidelines-based standard quality of care and mortality related to severe sepsis in Japan. Although mortality in Japan was equivalent to that reported worldwide in the above-mentioned international sepsis registry study, compliance with severe sepsis bundles was low. Thus, there is scope for improvement in the initial treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock in Japanese emergency and critical care centers.
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Feb 2014
Pneumocystis polymerase chain reaction and blood (1→3)-β-D-glucan assays to predict survival with suspected Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia.
Pneumocystis polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and blood (1→3)-β-D-glucan assays are known to be useful for the diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP). However, their impact on the outcome of clinically suspected PCP patients has not yet been elucidated. Between January 2008 and July 2011, we prospectively observed 190 immunocompromised patients who had ground-glass opacity on chest computed tomography scans and were suspected to have PCP. ⋯ All of the 13 definite PCP patients had positive PCR and β-D-glucan results, received anti-PCP treatments, and survived. Among the 72 patients who were negative for microscopic detection of P. jirovecii but received anti-PCP treatments, positive PCR results (odds ratio [OR], 0.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-0.74), a high Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (OR, 1.42; CI, 1.08-1.88), and positive β-D-glucan levels (OR 0.25, CI 0.06-1.02) were associated with mortality rates using stepwise logistic regression analyses. A positive Pneumocystis PCR or β-D-glucan test was a candidate predictor of survival in patients who were suspected of having PCP, even though negative for visual detection by microscopy.
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Feb 2014
Serial quantification of procalcitonin (PCT) predicts clinical outcome and prognosis in patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).
Procalcitonin (PCT), a calcitonin precursor, is commonly measured in the setting of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). However, the clinical significance of serial PCT changes has not been established. We conducted a prospective observational study of 122 patients with CAP. Thirty-day mortality was the primary endpoint. Secondary endpoints included: (1) initial treatment failure, (2) 30-day mortality and/or initial treatment failure, and (3) intensive care unit (ICU) admission. In subgroup analysis, we classified patients into pneumococcal pneumonia and non-pneumococcal pneumonia groups. The baseline frequency of 30-day mortality was 10.7%. Increases in serum PCT levels from admission to Day 3 were observed with statistically higher frequency in patients with 30-day mortality (P = 0.002). For secondary endpoints, only the 30-day mortality and/or initial treatment failure group was statistically significant (P = 0.007). Subgroup analysis revealed statistically significant changes in the non-pneumococcal pneumonia group (N = 85) across several endpoints, including 30-day mortality (P = 0.001), initial treatment failure (P = 0.013), and 30-day mortality and/or initial treatment failure (P < 0.001). No significant changes in endpoint measurements were found in the pneumococcal pneumonia group (N = 28). Interestingly, serum PCT levels at the time of diagnosis were higher in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia than those with non-pneumococcal pneumonia (P = 0.006), and this positively correlated with disease severity scores for all patients (PCT vs. PSI: R = 0.380, P < 0.001; PCT vs. ⋯ R = 0.448, P < 0.001), but not for pneumococcal pneumonia. In conclusion, serial quantification of PCT can predict clinical outcomes for patients with CAP.
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Feb 2014
Case ReportsA 3-year-old boy with Guillain-Barré syndrome and encephalitis associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory tract illness in children. Among the most common extrapulmonary manifestations are disorders of the central nervous system, including meningitis, meningoencephalitis, cerebellitis, polyneuropathy, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Guillain-Barré syndrome, also known as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy, is an acute-onset, immune-mediated disorder of the peripheral nervous system. ⋯ We speculate that anti-GM1 ganglioside was associated more with encephalitis, and anti-galactocerebroside antibody was associated more with GBS in our case. Our patient is the youngest report of Guillain-Barré syndrome with central nervous system involvement, and the first report of a pediatric patient with associated M. pneumoniae infection. Such cases are rarely reported, but highlight the need for awareness of the association of the infection with Guillain-Barré syndrome with central nervous system involvement.
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J. Infect. Chemother. · Feb 2014
In vitro neuraminidase inhibitory activity of four neuraminidase inhibitors against influenza virus isolates in the 2011-2012 season in Japan.
The neuraminidase inhibitors oseltamivir phosphate (Tamiflu®), zanamivir (Relenza®), laninamivir octanoate (Inavir®), and peramivir (Rapiacta®) have been available for the treatment of influenza in Japan since 2010. To assess the extent of viral resistance, we measured the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of each drug for influenza virus isolates from the 2011-2012 influenza season. Specimens were obtained from patients prior to treatment. ⋯ IC50 values for A(H3N2) were similar between the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons. In contrast, the IC₅₀ values for influenza B viruses in the 2011-2012 season to the four drugs were significantly lower than those found in the 2010-2011 season. These results indicate that the currently epidemic influenza viruses are susceptible to all four neuraminidase inhibitors, with no trend for IC₅₀ values to increase in Japan at present.