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Meningitis caused by Cryptococcus tetragattii fungus is rare and has been found in specific geographic regions. We report a case of meningitis caused by C. tetragattii (molecular type VGIV) in an immunocompetent patient in Taiwan. The patient had traveled to Egypt and was positive for granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor autoantibody. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium abscessus complex comprises a group of rapidly growing, multidrug-resistant, nontuberculous mycobacteria that are responsible for a wide spectrum of skin and soft tissue diseases, central nervous system infections, bacteremia, and ocular and other infections. M. abscessus complex is differentiated into 3 subspecies: M. abscessus subsp. abscessus, M. abscessus subsp. massiliense, and M. abscessus subsp. bolletii. The 2 major subspecies, M. abscessus subsp. abscessus and M. abscessus subsp. massiliense, have different erm(41) gene patterns. This gene provides intrinsic resistance to macrolides, so the different patterns lead to different treatment outcomes. M. abscessus complex outbreaks associated with cosmetic procedures and nosocomial transmissions are not uncommon. Clarithromycin, amikacin, and cefoxitin are the current antimicrobial drugs of choice for treatment. However, new treatment regimens are urgently needed, as are rapid and inexpensive identification methods and measures to contain nosocomial transmission and outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed samples from 13,652 patients who had respiratory cultures positive for mycobacteria in Taiwan during 2000-2012 and found that 56.9% were positive for nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Whereas annual prevalence of tuberculosis decreased during the study period, prevalence of NTM disease and colonization increased, particularly among older patients and male patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine clinical characteristics and outcome of patients with Clostridium difficile bacteremia (CDB), we identified 12 patients with CDB in 2 medical centers in Taiwan; all had underlying systemic diseases. Five had gastrointestinal diseases or conditions, including pseudomembranous colitis (2 patients); 4 recalled diarrhea, but only 5 had recent exposure to antimicrobial drugs. Ten available isolates were susceptible to metronidazole and vancomycin. Five isolates had C. difficile toxin A or B. Of 5 patients who died, 3 died CDB. Of 8 patients treated with metronidazole or vancomycin, only 1 died, and all 4 patients treated with other drugs died (12.5% vs. 100%; p = 0.01). C. difficile bacteremia, although uncommon, is thus associated with substantial illness and death rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A retrospective observational study in Taiwan, 1998- 2004, identified 92 patients with group G streptococcal bacteremia; 86 had Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis. The most common diagnosis was cellulitis (48 cases), followed by primary bacteremia (34 cases). Infection recurred in 9 patients. Mortality rate was low (3.3%); resistance to quinupristin-dalfopristin was high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated an enzyme-linked immunospot assay for interferon-γ (T SPOT-TB) for rapid diagnosis of active tuberculosis (TB) in a disease-endemic area. From January to June 2005, patients whose clinical symptoms and radiographic findings were compatible with TB were recruited, and a blood sample was obtained for T SPOT-TB assay within 7 days of microbiologic studies. Sixty-five patients were studied, including 39 (60%) with active TB. Thirty-five (53.8%) patients had underlying medical conditions. Thirty-seven patients had positive cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and 11 patients had positive cultures for nontuberculous mycobacteria. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of the T SPOT-TB assay were 87.2%, 88.5%, 91.9%, and 82.1%, respectively. The accuracy of this test in diagnosing active TB is >80%, even in an area with a high incidence of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2003 to 2005, we prospectively collected 118 isolates of pneumococci belonging to 7 serotypes to investigate their competence under the influence of the synthetic competence-stimulating peptides. The degree of competence of the various serotypes differed significantly. Serotype 6B had the highest competence, followed by serotypes 14, 19F, 9V, 23F, 3, and 18C. Isolates belonging to serotype 6B had greater genetic diversity than isolates belonging to serotype 3, which has high genetic clustering. Isolates belonging to serotypes 3 and 18C that were 100% sensitive to penicillin were significantly less competent than isolates belonging to serotypes 6B, 14, 19F, 9V, and 23F, which were frequently resistant to penicillin. Under the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine program, enhanced molecular surveillance of virulent clones with higher competence to detect serotype switching will become more important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) can be used for retrospective serosurveillance of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) by helping identify undetected chains of disease transmission. The assay was developed by epitope mapping, using synthetic peptides from the spike, membrane, and nucleocapsid protein sequences of SARS-associated coronavirus. The new peptide ELISA consistently detected seroconversion by week 2 of onset of fever, and seropositivity remained through day 100. Specificity was 100% on normal blood donor samples, on serum samples associated with infection by other pathogens, and on an interference panel. The peptide-based test has advantages of safety, standardization, and automation over previous immunoassays for SARS. The assay was used for a retrospective survey of healthy healthcare workers in Taiwan who treated SARS patients. Asymptomatic seroconversions were detected in two hospitals that had nosocomial disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residents in Taiwan are often exposed to marine microorganisms through seafood and occupational exposure. The number of reported cases of infection attributable to this organism has increased since the first case was reported in 1985. The increasing number of cases may be caused by greater disease activity of improved recognition by clinicians or laboratory workers. We analyze a clinical case series of 84 patients with Vibrio vulnificus infection from 1995 to 2000 and describe the molecular epidemiologic features of pathogens isolated from these patients. The spectrum of clinical manifestations and outcomes, options of antimicrobial therapy, and virulence mechanisms were investigated. Results of molecular typing of isolates from humans and marine environment in this country had a high genetic divergence among these isolates. Education and measures are needed to prevent this emerging disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is thought to be transmitted primarily through dispersal of droplets, but little is known about the load of SARS-CoV in oral droplets. We examined oral specimens, including throat wash and saliva, and found large amounts of SARS-CoV RNA in both throat wash (9.58 x 10² to 5.93 x 106 copies/mL) and saliva (7.08 x 10³ to 6.38 x 108 copies/mL) from all specimens of 17 consecutive probable SARS case-patients, supporting the possibility of transmission through oral droplets. Immunofluorescence study showed replication of SARS-CoV in the cells derived from throat wash, demonstrating the possibility of developing a convenient antigen detection assay. This finding, with the high detection rate a median of 4 days after disease onset and before the development of lung lesions in four patients, suggests that throat wash and saliva should be included in sample collection guidelines for SARS diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of the first 10 patients in the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Taiwan, 4 were closely associated with a SARS patient in an airplane. Loose stools or diarrhea, hemophagocytosis syndrome, and high serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α associated with lung lesions were found in all 10 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the disk susceptibility data of 671 nontyphoid Salmonella isolates collected from different parts of Taiwan from March 2001 to August 2001 and 1,261 nontyphoid Salmonella isolates from the National Taiwan University Hospital from 1996 to 2001. Overall, ciprofloxacin resistance was found in 2.7% (18/671)of all nontyphoid Salmonella isolates, in 1.4% (5/347) of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium and in 7.5% (8/107) in S. enterica serotype Choleraesuis nationwide. MICs of six newer fluoroquinolones were determined for the following isolates: 37 isolates of ciprofloxacin-resistant (human) S. Typhimurium (N = 26) and Choleraesuis (N = 11), 10 isolates of ciprofloxacin-susceptible (MIC <1 mg/mL) (human) isolates of these two serotypes, and 15 swine isolates from S. Choleraesuis (N = 13) and Typhmurium (N = 2) with reduced susceptibility to ciprofioxacin (MIC >0.12 µg/mL). Sequence analysis of the gryA, gyrB, parC, parE, and acrR genes, ciprofioxacin accumulation, and genotypes generated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis with three restriction enzymes (Spel, Xbal, and Blnl) were performed. All 26 S. Typhimurium isolates from humans and pigs belonged to genotype I. For S. Choleraesuis isolates, 91% (10/11) of human isolates and 54% (7/13) of swine isolates belonged to genotype B. These two genotypes isolates from humans all exhibited a high-level of resistance to ciprofloxacin (MIC 16-64 mg/mL). They had two-base substitutions in the gyrA gene at codons 83 (Ser83Phe) and 87 (Asp87Gly or Asp87Asn) and in the parc gene at codon 80 (Ser80Arg, Ser80lle, or Ser84Lys). Our investigation documented that not only did these two S. enterica isolates have a high prevalence of ciprofloxacin resistance nationwide but also that some closely related ciprofloxacin-resistant strains are disseminated from pigs to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which discussed the trends of pneumococcal resistance in Taiwan. Information on the antibiotic-resistant pneumococcus; Disease burden and severity; Discussion of the occurrence of multi-drug resistance; Implication of antibiotic-resistance in cases of respiratory tract infections.

Deals with a study which characterized a hospitalwide nosocomial infection outbreak in Taipei, Taiwan due to pandrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii by investigating antibiotypes and genotypes by pulsed field gel electrophoresis and arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction. Methods; Results; Discussion.

Discusses the trends in antimicrobial resistance in Taiwan. Table which present the year of approval of selected antimicrobial agents; Information on gram-positive bacteria; Data on gram-negative bacilli; Strategy for resistance control in the 21st century.

Deals with a study which determined the distribution and antimicrobial drug resistance in bacterial pathogens causing nosocomial infections at a university hospital in Taiwan from 1981 through 1999. Data collection; Antimicrobial susceptibility testing; Results and discussion.

The article discusses the results of a study that examines cases of Cronobacter infections in Taiwan. An overview of the Cronobacter species is given including Cronobacter sakazakii, Cronobacter malonaticus and Cronobacter turicensis. The systems used to identify the isolates belonging to the Cronobacter sakazakii group are cited. The study shows that isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime, cefepime and imipenem.

Capsular serotypes of 225 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Taiwan were identified by using PCR. Patients infected with K1 serotypes (41 isolates) had increased community-onset bacteremia, more nonfatal diseases and liver abscesses, lower Pittsburgh bacteremia scores and mortality rates, and fewer urinary tract infections than patients infected with non-K1/K2 serotypes (147 isolates). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Taipei City, class suspensions were implemented beginning September 1, 2009 when transmission of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection was suspected. The uptake rate of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccination (starting on November 16, 2009) among students 7-18 years of age was 74.7%. Outbreaks were mitigated after late November 2009. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the species distribution and epidemiologic trends of nontuberculous mycobacteria, we examined isolates from patients in Taiwan. During 2000-2008, the proportion increased significantly from 32.3% to 49.8%. Associated disease incidence increased from 2.7 to 10.2 cases per 100,000 patients. Mycobacterium avium complex and M. abscessus were most frequently isolated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a letter to the editor about Coccidioidomycosis.

Of 193 emergency department workers exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), 9 (4.7%) were infected. Pneumonia developed in six workers, and assays showed anti-SARS immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG. The other three workers were IgM-positive and had lower IgG titers; in two, mild illness developed, and one remained asymptomatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents letters on infectious diseases in the June 2002 issue of the periodical 'Emerging Infectious Diseases.' Evidence of human granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Greece; Facts on a hantavirus infection with marked sinus bradycardia in Taiwan.

Reports the case of two diabetic patients diagnosed with primary liver abscess caused by a single clone of Kleibsiella pneumoniae with two different colonial morphotypes and resistotypes. Case summaries; Discussion on the medical condition; Genetic basis for the resistance to cephalosporins.

Presents a letter to the editor on Empyema thoracis from Salmonella choleraesuis.

Presents a letter to the editor in response to an article about the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Taiwan from May 5 to June 4, 2003.