Takeyuki Kurihara

Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae in adolescents with community-acquired pneumonia

BackgroundAlthough the prevalence of macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae isolates in Japanese pediatric patients has increased rapidly, there have been no reports concerning macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae infection in adolescents aged 16 to 19 years old. The purpose of this study was to clarify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae in adolescent patients with community-acquired pneumonia.MethodsA total of 99 cases with M. pneumoniae pneumonia confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and culture were analyzed. Forty-five cases were pediatric patients less than 16 years old, 26 cases were 16 to 19-year-old adolescent patients and 28 cases were adult patients. Primers for domain V of 23S rRNA were used and DNA sequences of the PCR products were compared with the sequence of an M. pneumoniae reference strain.ResultsThirty of 45 pediatric patients (66%), 12 of 26 adolescent patients (46%) and seven of 28 adult patients (25%) with M. pneumoniae pneumonia were found to be infected with macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (MR patients). Although the prevalence of resistant strains was similar in pediatric patients between 2008 and 2011, an increase in the prevalence of resistant strains was observed in adolescent patients. Among 30 pediatric MR patients, 26 had an A-to-G transition at position 2063 (A2063G) and four had an A-to-G transition at position 2064 (A2064G). In 12 adolescent MR patients, 10 showed an A2063G transition and two showed an A2064G transition, and in seven adult MR patients, six showed an A2063G transition and one showed an A2064G transition.ConclusionsThe prevalence of macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae is high among adolescent patients as well as pediatric patients less than 16-years old. To prevent outbreaks of M. pneumoniae infection, especially macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae, in closed populations including among families, in schools and in university students, physicians should pay close attention to macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae.

Clinical features of Q fever pneumonia

Abstract:  The aim of the study was to assess the clinical features of Q fever pneumonia in Japan. Four cases of Q fever pneumonia (a female aged 21 and males aged 53, 74 and 87 years) who were diagnosed using the PanBio ELISA test kit, were assessed and their clinical features are described. The frequency of Q fever pneumonia among our cases of community‐acquired pneumonia was 1.4% (4/284). A 21‐year‐old female had a typical case of the disease with (i) a history of owning a cat, (ii) onset with fever and dry cough, (iii) multiple soft infiltrative shadows on CXR, (iv) a normal white blood cell count, and (v) good response to clarithromycin. The pneumonias in the other three cases were considered mixed infections with bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae. Their clinical features included the following: (i) an elderly person with an underlying disease, (ii) onset with fever and purulent sputum, (iii) coarse crackles on auscultation, (iv) infiltrative shadows and pleural effusion on CXR, (v) increased white blood cells with elevated BUN and hyponatraemia, and (vi) modest responses to combined therapy with carbapenem and minocycline. Our observations suggest that two types of pneumonia caused by Coxiella burnetti exist; one with the usual features of atypical pneumonia, and the other presenting with the clinical features of bacterial pneumonia in the elderly due to mixed bacterial infection.

Procalcitonin and severity of community-acquired pneumonia

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship between procalcitonin and the severity and prognosis of community-acquired pneumonia. The subjects were 162 patients with community-acquired pneumonia (disease severity, mild, 39 patients; moderate, 81 patients; severe, 37 patients; and super severe, 5 patients) in whom we examined the serum procalcitonin concentration at the start of treatment; we determined the relationship of procalcitonin status with disease severity and prognosis. The results showed that procalcitonin was positive in 12.8% of the patients with mild disease, 27.1% of the patients with moderate disease, 59.5% of the patients with severe disease, and 80.0% of the patients with super severe disease. The mortality of procalcitonin-positive patients was 37.7%, whereas that of the procalcitonin-negative patients was 12.8%. Based on the above findings, it is concluded that the more severe the community-acquired pneumonia, the higher is the positivity rate for procalcitonin, and the prognosis in procalcitonin-positive patients is worse than that in procalcitonin-negative patients.

Influence of age on the clinical differentiation of atypical pneumonia in adults

Background and objective:  The Japanese Respiratory Society (JRS) scoring system is a useful tool for the early and simple presumptive diagnosis of atypical pneumonia (Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae pneumonia). However, it has been suggested that it is difficult to diagnose atypical pneumonia in the elderly using this system. In the present study, we evaluated the accuracy and usefulness of the JRS scoring system for diagnosing atypical pneumonia in different age groups.

Clinical predictors for the detection of community-acquired pneumonia in adults as a guide to ordering chest radiographs

Objective:  To identify sensitive clinical predictors for the detection of community‐acquired pneumonia in adults as a guide to when to order a CXR.

Clinical features of Proteus mirabilis pneumonia

In this study, we clinically reviewed 13 patients with Proteus mirabilis pneumonia who were admitted for treatment to Kawasaki Medical School Kawasaki Hospital, Okayama, Japan, between April 2006 and July 2009. Clinical features were retrospectively reviewed. Results showed that: (1) hospital-acquired pneumonia occurred in elderly patients with underlying diseases such as cerebrovascular disease; (2) some patients had complications of urinary tract infection due to P. mirabilis; (3) preadministration of antibacterial agents did not become a risk factor; (4) resistance for levofloxacin (LVFX) was observed; (5) prognosis was comparatively good (effective rate 84.7%).

Coxiella burnetii and acute exacerbations/infections in patients with chronic lung disease

The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence of Q fever in patients with an acute exacerbation of a chronic lower respiratory tract infection. Eighty patients treated for acute exacerbation of chronic lower respiratory tract infections during a 30‐month period were studied. Q fever was diagnosed by ELISA. Two elderly woman with pre‐existing bronchiectasis (2.5%) were diagnosed as having an acute infection by Coxiella burnetii. The acute illness was considered to be a result of mixed infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Haemophilus influenzae with C. burnetii. Co‐infection with C. burnetii can occur during a bacterial exacerbation of a chronic lower respiratory tract infection.

Clinical features of Escherichia coli pneumonia

Escherichia coli pneumonia was clinically reviewed. Twenty-two patients with E. coli pneumonia were admitted for treatment to Kawasaki Medical School Kawasaki Hospital, between January 2006 and December 2008. Clinical features were retrospectively reviewed. Results showed that: (1) hospital-acquired pneumonia occurred in elderly patients with underlying diseases, such as cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; (2) more patients had complications of urinary-tract infection or alimentary infection due to E. coli; (3) previous administration of antibacterial agents did not become a risk factor; (4) resistance to ampicillin (ABPC) and levofloxacin (LVFX) was observed; and (5) mortality was 22.7%.

Clinical effect of biapenem on nursing and healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP)

The clinical effect of Biapenem (BIPM) on Nursing and Healthcare-associated pneumonia (NHCAP) was evaluated. One hundred and three NHCAP patients (Group B: 52 patients, Group C: 51 patients) to whom BIPM was administered were included in this study. Clinical effect, bacteriological effect, and adverse events were examined. Results revealed efficacy in 45 of 52 patients (efficacy rate: 86.5%) of NHCAP Group B, and 43 of 51 patients (efficacy rate: 84.3%) of NHCAP Group C, 88 of 103 patients (efficacy rate: 85.4%) as a whole. As for bacteriological effect, 10 (76.9%) of 13 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, 9 (90.0%) of 10 Klebsiella pneumoniae strains, 7 (87.5%) of 8 methicillin-sensitive Staphlococcus aureus strains, and 7 (100%) of 7 Streptococcus pneumonia strains were eradicated. As a whole, 38 (80.9%) of 47 strains were eradicated. Adverse events included drug fever and drug eruption in one patient each, and abnormal laboratory findings, including mild hepatic dysfunction in 18 patients and mild renal dysfunction in 5 patients. Based on the above, it was concluded that BIPM shows excellent clinical effect on NHCAP with fewer adverse events.

Fulminant Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Complicated with a Life-threatening Electrolyte Abnormality and Abnormal Electrocardiogram Findings

Fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is idiopathic T1DM with the rapid destruction of pancreatic β-cells. We herein report a 48-year-old man who developed fulminant T1DM complicated with a life-threatening electrolyte abnormality and abnormal electrocardiogram findings. He had no remarkable medical history, but one day, he developed general fatigue. His blood glucose level and HbA1c were 806 mg/dL and 6.3%, and his insulin secretion was markedly suppressed. He had ketoacidosis, hyponatremia and hyperkalemia. Furthermore, a life-threatening abnormality was noted on electrocardiogram. After fluid infusion and insulin therapy, the abnormality disappeared. In conclusion, we should bear in mind the possibility of fulminant T1DM in patients complaining of general malaise.