Comparison of tocilizumab and corticosteroid treatment with baricitinib and corticosteroid treatment in severely and critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Background: Several guidelines recommend that systemic therapies involving tocilizumab, baricitinib, and corticosteroids are crucial in treating severely and critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the efficacy of the tocilizumab and corticosteroid combination compared with the baricitinib and corticosteroid combination in severely and critically ill hospitalized patients with COVID-19 remains unclear.

Methods: We analyzed severely and critically ill hospitalized patients with COVID-19 aged ≥18 years between 1 January 2020 and 31 March 2023 using a Japanese inpatient database.

The effect of antibiotic prescription in non-critically ill hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A Japanese inpatient database study.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing global pandemic. Bacterial coinfections with COVID-19 occur in 3.5% of COVID-19 cases, with a higher incidence in severe cases.

The relationship between severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 omicron variant epidemic and acute myocardial infarction: A self-controlled case series study.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to various complications, including cardiovascular events. Despite the widespread impact of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant in 2022, no studies have evaluated the relationship between the Omicron variant epidemic and acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods: We utilized a Japanese claims database to identify patients diagnosed with COVID-19 between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022.

The effect of baricitinib and corticosteroid compared to that of corticosteroid monotherapy in severely and critically ill patients with COVID-19: A Japanese multicenter inpatient database study.

Background: Systemic baricitinib and corticosteroids play important roles in treating severely and critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the efficacy of the combination of baricitinib and corticosteroids compared to that of corticosteroid monotherapy in severely and critically ill hospitalized patients with COVID-19 remains unclear.

Methods: We analyzed severely and critically ill hospitalized patients with COVID-19 aged >18 years between January 1, 2020 and May 31, 2023, using a Japanese multicenter inpatient database.

A retrospective observational study on disseminated herpes zoster in immunocompetent patients.

Introduction: Disseminated herpes zoster (DHZ) is a severe infection associated with high incidences and mortality rates in immunocompromised patients. Although studies have shown its occurrence in immunocompetent patients, its epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment outcomes in this cohort remain unknown. Thus, this study aimed to examine the clinical presentation, treatment, complications, and outcomes of DHZ in immunocompetent patients and compare these findings with previous studies.

The Epidemiology of Circulating Respiratory Pathogens during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective To survey the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods Specimens were assayed using multiplex nested PCR. Materials Specimens were obtained from outpatients who presented with symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection and asymptomatic outpatients who had contact with patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection at Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University Hospital in Sendai, Japan, from November 1, 2020, to May 31, 2023.

A multicenter, single-arm, open-label interventional study of adherence to brexpiprazole during switching from previous antipsychotic drugs in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

The rate of medication persistence was examined in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder during switching from previously administered antipsychotics to brexpiprazole, a new dopamine D receptor partial agonist. A multicenter, single-arm, open-label 24-week interventional study was conducted, consisting of two 12-week consecutive periods: an initial switch (by plateau cross-titration) with the subsequent period, followed by a second maintenance period. Prior antipsychotics were olanzapine or risperidone/paliperidone.

Genetic relatedness of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant among livestock, farmers, and patients in Japan.

Objectives: The third-generation cephalosporin (3GC)-resistant strains have been detected worldwide in humans and animals. Hence, in this study, we evaluated the prevalence and genetic characteristics of 3GC-resistant in livestock, farmers, and patients to further analyse if livestock serves as a potential reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Methods: Faecal samples were collected from 330 healthy livestock (216 cattle and 114 swine), 61 healthy livestock farmers (52 cattle farmers and 9 swine farmers), and 68 non-duplicate 3GC-resistant isolates were also obtained from the clinical specimens of patients in Japan between 2013 and 2015.

Clinical evaluation of cell-direct polymerase chain reaction-based nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay for rapid detection of bacterial pathogens in clinically suspected sepsis: A multi-center study in Japan.

Blood culture, a method for identifying causative agents of bacterial sepsis, requires several days. The combination of cell-direct polymerase chain reaction and nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay (cdPCR-NALFIA) is a simple and sensitive detection method for identifying pathogenic bacteria. Furthermore, this assay, when applied directly to blood samples yields results within 4.

Use of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for the early detection of an outbreak of human parainfluenza virus type 3 infection in a nursery school during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Although outbreaks of parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV-3) have been reported in children, to our knowledge none have been reported in a nursery school. As the symptoms of PIV-3 infection are similar to those of COVID-19 infection, accurate diagnosis of PIV-3 and other respiratory viruses is important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aims: We experienced an outbreak of upper respiratory symptoms at a nursery school in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, from 29/5/2021 to 13/6/2021 and aimed to determine the causative organism(s).

Utility of a Cell-Direct Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Nucleic Acid Lateral Flow Immunoassay for Detection of Bacteria in Peripheral Blood Leukocytes of Suspected Sepsis Cases.

Background: The detection of the pathogens in the blood is essential for the management of septic patients; however, conventional blood culture takes 2-3 days. Therefore, rapid and convenient methods may be useful to aid clinical decision-making.

Methods: Blood samples with sepsis clinically diagnosed in cases that fulfilled the diagnostic criteria were used and analyzed the utility of a novel bacterial nucleic acid identification test using a cell-direct polymerase chain reaction (cdPCR)-based nucleic acid lateral flow immunoassay (NALFIA) which were named as "DiagnoSep" to detect representative bacteria in peripheral blood leukocytes in patients admitted to our hospital and compared the conventional blood culture results simultaneously taken from the patients.

Ba813 harboring Bacillus cereus, genetically closely related to Bacillus anthracis, causing nosocomial bloodstream infection: Bacterial virulence factors and clinical outcome.

Bacillus cereus commonly causes catheter-related bloodstream infections (BSIs) in hospital settings, and occasionally occurs fatal central nervous system (CNS) complications. B. cereus harboring Ba813, a specific chromosomal marker of Bacillus anthracis, has been found in patients with severe infection and nosocomial BSI.

Abdominal Aortic Graft Infection Caused by stG485.0, ST29 Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis.

In recent years, the prevalence of invasive Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) infections has increased gradually throughout the world, including Japan. Here, we report the case of an abdominal aortic graft infection caused by stG485.

A Novel Mismatched PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism Assay for Rapid Detection of and Mutations Associated With Fluoroquinolone Resistance in .

Background: Mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of DNA gyrase () and topoisomerase IV () are linked to fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance. We developed a mismatched PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) assay to detect mutations in the and QRDRs associated with FQ resistance in .

Methods: Based on the conserved sequences of and , two primer sets were designed for mismatched PCR-RFLP to detect mutations in (codons 83 and 87) and (codons 80 and 84) by introducing an artificial restriction enzyme cleavage site into the PCR products.

Mutant selection window of disinfectants for Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the mutant selection window (MSW) of various disinfectants against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa clinical isolates to determine the tendency of these strains to acquire resistance to disinfectants.

Methods: A total of 60 S. aureus isolates [30 methicillin-resistant S.

Evaluation of the FilmArray Blood Culture Identification Panel on Detection of Pathogenic Microorganisms in Positive Blood Cultures: the First Clinical Report in Japan.

FilmArray (FA) is a multiplex PCR-based desktop microbial detection system. The blood culture identification (BCID) panel is an adaptable panel for FA, which diagnoses sepsis and/or systemic infections by detecting 14 bacterial species, 4 bacterial genera, 1 bacterial family, 5 yeast species, and 3 antimicrobial resistance genes (mecA, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase [KPC], and vanA/B) in positive blood cultures within 1 h. We retrospectively evaluated the FA-BCID panel using 54 positive blood cultures, in which 57 bacterial and 3 yeast strains were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

The first case report of septic abortion resulting from β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant non-typeable infection.

This is the first case report of septic abortion due to β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant (BLNAR) non-typeable infection. In Japan, BLNAR is widespread and has become a clinical concern, especially in paediatrics and otolaryngology, but has not been previously recognized as a causative agent of obstetric or gynaecological infection. A 31-year-old pregnant woman presented at 17 weeks and 6 days of gestation with a high fever; she was admitted with a diagnosis of threatened premature delivery.

Extraintestinal Clostridium difficile infection due to a ribotype different from that isolated from the feces of the patient: A case report.

Extraintestinal infections due to Clostridium difficile are uncommon. When such infections occur, extraintestinal C. difficile isolates are usually identical to fecal isolates.