Polymicrobial bloodstream infection involving Aeromonas species: Analysis of 62 cases

AbstractObjectiveTo better understand Aeromonas-involved polymicrobial bacteremia (AIPMB).Materials and MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with AIPMB admitted to three large referral hospitals in Taiwan between 2001 and 2008.ResultsOf a total of 62 patients with AIPMB, 22 had healthcare-associated infection and 40 had community-acquired infection. Enterobacteriaceae was the most common concurrent pathogen (82%). The leading underlying diseases/conditions in the affected patients were solid cancers (45%), recent gastric acid suppressant therapy (39%) and liver cirrhosis (26%). More than 95% of the Aeromonas isolates were susceptible to an aminoglycoside, a third- or fourth-generation cephalosporin, imipenem or ciprofloxacin. Antibiotic susceptibilities did not significantly differ between Aeromonas isolates in patients with healthcare-associated AIPMBs and those in patients with community-acquired AIPMBs. Coinfection with Enterobacteriaceae occurred more commonly in community-acquired AIPMB (93% vs. 64%; p=0.012).ConclusionsAIPMB occurred commonly in patients with liver cirrhosis, solid cancers or recent gastric acid suppressant therapy. Enterobacteriaceae were the most common concurrent pathogens. Similar antibiotic profiles were found in Aeromonas isolates of healthcare-associated and community-acquired AIPMBs

A Novel Role of RASSF9 in Maintaining Epidermal Homeostasis

The physiological role of RASSF9, a member of the Ras-association domain family (RASSF), is currently unclear. Here, we report a mouse line in which an Epstein-Barr virus Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP1) transgene insertion has created a 7.2-kb chromosomal deletion, which abolished RASSF9 gene expression. The RASSF9-null mice exhibited interesting phenotypes that resembled human ageing, including growth retardation, short lifespan, less subcutaneous adipose layer and alopecia. In the wild-type mice, RASSF9 is predominantly expressed in the epidermal keratinocytes of skin, as determined by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR, immunofluorescence and in situ hybridization. In contrast, RASSF9−/− mice presented a dramatic change in epithelial organization of skin with increased proliferation and aberrant differentiation as detected by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assays and immunofluorescence analyses. Furthermore, characteristic functions of RASSF9−/− versus wild type (WT) mouse primary keratinocytes showed significant proliferation linked to a reduction of p21Cip1 expression under growth or early differentiation conditions. Additionally, in RASSF9−/− keratinocytes there was a drastic down-modulation of terminal differentiation markers, which could be rescued by infection with a recombinant adenovirus, Adv/HA-RASSF9. Our results indicate a novel and significant role of RASSF9 in epidermal homeostasis

Factors affecting vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium colonization of in-hospital patients in different wards

Objectives: The prevalence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) infection at a medical center in Eastern Taiwan rose to 80.6%, exceeding the average prevalence of 55.6% among all medical centers nationwide during the same period. In recent years, the number of cases of VRE infection detected among hospitalized patients has increased annually. However, most of these patients in different wards are asymptomatic carriers. Therefore, restricting active screening to high-risk units will not improve the current situation, and it is necessary to review the risk factors for VRE colonization to provide a reference for future infection control policies. Materials and Methods: Between 2014 and 2019, there were 3188 VRE-positive cultures reported at our institution, as per the electronic medical records system. Results: In the medical and surgical wards, patients who received penicillin (odds ratios [ORs]: 2.84 and 4.16, respectively) and third-generation cephalosporins (ORs: 3.17 and 6.19, respectively) were at higher risk of VRE colonization. In intensive care units, the use of carbapenems (OR: 2.08) was the most significant variable. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the risk factors for VRE colonization differed between wards. Thus, policies should be established according to the attributes of patients in each ward, and active screening tests should be performed according to individual risks, instead of a policy for comprehensive mass screening

Small-angle Sensor Based on the SPR Technology and Heterodyne Interferomery

A small-angle sensor based on the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology and heterodyne interferometry is proposed. In the paper, we try to measure the phase difference variation between s and p polarizations due to attenuated total reflection (ATR). The phase difference variation depends on the incident angle. Therefore, only evaluating the phase difference variation can perform small-angle measurement. The resolution of the method can reach 2.4 x 10-7 radian. The method has some merits, e.g., a simple optical setup, easy operation, high measurement accuracy, high resolution, rapid measurement, and high stability etc. And its feasibility is demonstrated

Periocular Infection of Mycobacterium avium Complex in a Patient with Interferon-γ Autoantibodies: A Case Report

The neutralizing anti-interferon-γ autoantibody (nAIGA)-associated immunodeficiency is an emerging entity frequently associated with the nontuberculosis mycobacterium (NTM) infection and other opportunistic infections. We present a female patient with a mysterious periocular Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection, accompanied by sequential opportunistic infections including Salmollelosis and herpes zoster infection. Her condition stabilized after long-term antimycobacterial treatment. Nevertheless, neutralizing anti-interferon-γ autoantibody was found in her serum, which was compatible with the scenario of adult-onset immunodeficiency

Increased Production and Water Remediation by Land-Based Farm-Scale Sequentially Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Systems—An Example from Southern Taiwan

Wastewater effluent from aquaculture ponds can affect aquatic ecosystems. To mitigate this problem, we designed 2 sets (southern and northern) of land-based and farm-scale sequential integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems in order to reduce water pollution and to diversify and optimize aquaculture products in coastal southern Taiwan. In each system, the 1st pond cultivated milkfish as the main aquaculture product, the 2nd pond cultivated Portuguese oysters as the product to reduce suspended particles, and the 3rd pond cultivated the seaweed Gracilaria sp. as feed and to absorb nutrients. Photosynthetic bacteria (PSB) were added to the southern system in order to reduce nutrients. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare performance parameters of the compartments and the overall IMTA systems preliminarily. Our results showed that the southern system with the addition of PSB had lower PO4−3-P, slightly higher turbidity, and higher brown algal biomass than the northern system. In the southern system, PO4−3-P and cyanobacteria levels were lowest at the end of the seaweed pond. In the northern system, NO2−-N and phytoplankton levels were lowest at the end of the seaweed pond. Turbidity was reduced in the oyster pond and further reduced in the Gracilaria pond in both systems. The high seaweed yield in the northern system indicated substantial nutrient absorption. Advantages and limitations in terms of water purification and aquaculture production of these IMTA systems are evaluated in the present paper

The Risk Factors, Costs, and Survival Analysis of Invasive VRE Infections at a Medical Center in Eastern Taiwan

Objective: To analyze 48 cases the risk factors of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections, the antibiotic costs after infection, and the survival conditions. Design: 1:3 matched case-control study a medical center in the eastern Taiwan area. The case group, patients with VRE bacterial strains detected at the sterile sites, and the control group were randomly selected from invasive vancomycin-sensitive Enterococcus (VSE) infected patients at the nearest time point by taking the occurrence time of each VRE infection case as the reference time. Fisher exact tests were conducted in order to verify the existence of differences between the case and control groups; survival analysis was applied to explore the prognoses of the VRE infection cases. Results: The mortality rate of the invasive VRE infection cases was 64.6%, which is obviously higher than that of the invasive VSE infection cases (39.4%); the fact of taking chemotherapy during a hospital stay as well as the use of third-generation cephalosporin, glycopeptides, and medicines of the metronidazole category before the infections, are the risk factors of future invasive VRE infections. Moreover, the antibiotic costs after the infections of invasive VRE infection cases are much higher than those of the VSE infection cases (the average daily cost is 3,433 new Taiwan dollars (NTD) vs. 1,742 NTD). Conclusions: The history of receiving chemotherapy, the use of third-generation cephalosporin, glycopeptides, and medicines of the metronidazole category before the infections are the risk factors of VRE infections. The antibiotic costs after the infections of invasive VRE infection cases are much higher than those of the VSE infection cases