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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a respiratory and systemic disease affecting more than 300 million people globally every year, and it also becomes a substantial economic burden. COPD is commonly comorbid with various underlying diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, etc. It has been shown that statins can improve a significant decline in pulmonary function among COPD patients due to their pleiomorphic effect. Some systematic reviews also reported that statins reduced the risk of COPD-related events such as cancer and cardiovascular events, eventually resulting in more favorable outcomes than for non-statin user COPD patients. However, the physiological mechanism is still elucidated. Recently, it has been reported that statins influence the gut microbial composition with increased relative abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and act with pleiomorphic effects such as anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects through modulating gut dysbiosis. We described this review to focus on whether statins can be a useful preventive option for COPD.

Abstract Voriconazole is a second-generation azole used to treat serious fungal infections. Visual hallucinations constitute a representative adverse event caused by voriconazole. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In patients with schizophrenia or Parkinson’s disease, the frequency of visual hallucinations is associated with brain dopamine levels. This study investigated the frequency of visual hallucinations in patients treated with voriconazole alone or in combination with dopaminergic medicines or dopamine antagonists, using data collected from the Food and Drug Administration Adverse event Reporting System (FAERS). The frequency of visual hallucinations with voriconazole alone and in combination with a dopaminergic medicine (levodopa) or dopamine antagonists (risperidone and chlorpromazine) was compared using data from the FAERS between 2004 and 2023, using the reporting odds ratio (ROR) with relevant 95% confidence intervals (CI). The reference group comprised patients who had been administered voriconazole without dopaminergic medication or dopamine antagonists. Of the patients, 22,839, 90,810, 109,757, 6,435, 20, 83, and 26, respectively were treated with voriconazole, levodopa, risperidone, chlorpromazine, voriconazole plus levodopa, voriconazole plus risperidone, and voriconazole plus chlorpromazine. The occurrence of visual hallucinations increased when used in combination with levodopa (ROR = 12.302, 95% CI = 3.587–42.183). No increase in incidence was associated with the concomitant use of dopamine antagonists (risperidone, ROR = 1.721, 95% CI = 0.421–7.030; chlorpromazine, ROR = none, 95% CI = none). Dopaminergic medicine may increase the risk of visual hallucinations in patients treated with voriconazole. Whether voriconazole positively modulates dopamine production warrants further investigation using a translational research approach.

Tuberculous otitis media (TOM) is a rare manifestation caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis with low incidence rates among extrapulmonary tuberculosis cases. Diagnosis is often delayed because of the presence of several clinical manifestations and the high prevalence of secondary bacterial infections. Few reports have attributed secondary bacterial infections in patients with TOM to commensal Neisseria. Thus, understanding the pathogenic mechanisms and clinical features of commensal Neisseria is important, considering its recent presentation as an infection-causing pathogen. Neisseria mucosa is a commensal inhabitant in humans and is generally considered non-pathogenic but can cause infection in rare cases. Here, we report an atypical secondary infection caused by Neisseria mucosa in an 81-year-old woman with TOM being treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. Direct purulent otorrhea smear microscopy revealed no acid-fast bacilli using Ziehl-Neelsen staining, whereas the phagocytosis of gram-negative cocci by white blood cells was confirmed using Gram staining. Otorrhea culture revealed the growth of N. mucosa. Subsequently, M. tuberculosis infection in the otorrhea was identified using a culture-based method. Vigilance is critical for the early detection of TOM to prevent further complications. This report raises awareness regarding TOM and provides insight into the pathogenicity of N. mucosa in otitis media.

Jun Hirai,1,2 Nobuaki Mori,1,2 Yuichi Shibata,2 Nobuhiro Asai,1,2 Mao Hagihara,3 Hiroshige Mikamo1,2 1Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 2Department of Infection, Prevention, and Control, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 3Department of Molecular Epidemiology and Biomedical Sciences, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, JapanCorrespondence: Jun Hirai, Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, 1-1, Yazako-karimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan, Tel +81-561-62-3311, Fax +81-561-76-2673, Email hiraichimed@gmail.comBackground: The incidence of tetanus has significantly declined in developed countries owing to widespread vaccination efforts. However, it remains a threat worldwide, including in Japan, because of the sharp decline in antibody titers against tetanus in adults. Animal bites, including canine bites, are potential sources of tetanus infection. This case highlights the rarity of tetanus caused by canine bites and the need for continued vigilance for tetanus prevention. This case report and literature review aimed to shed light on the clinical course and outcomes of tetanus following a canine bite.Case Presentation: A 46-year-old Japanese man with no medical history presented with symptoms of tetanus, such as difficulty in opening his mouth, 19 days after a canine bite on his right hand. He was born and brought up in Japan. He had never been vaccinated against tetanus. Despite washing the wound and receiving human tetanus immunoglobulin (HTIG) and a tetanus toxoid vaccine, the patient developed tetanus. After intravenous metronidazole and HTIG were administered, the symptoms improved gradually. The patient was discharged after a 12-day hospital stay.Discussion: This is the first reported case of canine bite-induced tetanus in Japan, where tetanus toxoid vaccination is provided routinely. This case highlights the waning immunity in adults and the critical need for education on tetanus immunization, including catch-up immunization, particularly for adults and individuals in high-risk occupations. A review of the existing literature revealed only four cases of tetanus following canine bites between 1889 and 2018. All patients experienced symptom onset between 3 and 19 days post injury. Treatment typically involved HTIG, metronidazole, and toxoid administration. A higher risk of mortality is seen in unvaccinated individuals than in vaccinated individuals, highlighting the critical role of tetanus vaccination.Conclusion: Physicians should consider canine bite-induced tetanus in the differential diagnosis when patients exhibit relevant symptoms.Keywords: tetanus, Clostridium tetani, canine, bite, vaccine, Japan

Background. While prognostic guidelines for pneumonia have widely allowed clinicians to treat patients, poor prognostic factors for 1- or 2-year survival times have never been mentioned to our knowledge. Patients and methods. We conducted this retrospective study to evaluate whether malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria is a poor prognostic factor for 1- or 2-year survival among patients with aspiration pneumonia. All patients with community-onset aspiration pneumonia who were admitted to Aichi Medical University and had intervention from our nutrition support team (NST) in 2019 and 2020 were enrolled in this study. Results. A total of 56 patients were enrolled in the study. The mean age was 86 ± 6.5 and 25 (45%) were male. Thirty-one patients died during this observational period. Comparing the survival and death group, higher respiratory rate (RR) and malnutrition were seen more frequently in the death group than in the survival group. Then, the patients were divided into the following three groups: those with an RR ≥ 22 and malnutrition, those with malnutrition, and a control group [patients who were not malnourished and had a low RR (p = 0.009 by Log-Rank test) for 1-year prognosis. The result of 2-year prognosis displayed a statistical significance that was the same as that for 1-year prognosis (p = 0.004 by Log-Rank test). The Cox hazard regression model showed that a higher RR was an independent poor prognostic factor for 1- and 2-year survival among aspiration pneumonia patients. Conclusions. This pilot study showed that combined scores of higher RR and malnutrition according to the GLIM criteria (modified R-GLIM score) was an independent poor prognostic factor for 1 or 2-year survival among super-elderly patients (aged over 80 years) with aspiration pneumonia.

Objectives: We performed a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the clinical or microbiological outcomes and safety of a combination of daptomycin (DAP) and β-lactams compared to DAP monotherapy in patients with blood stream infection (BSI) due to gram-positive cocci (GPC). Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Ityuushi databases up to January 30, 2023. Outcomes included all-cause mortality, clinical failure, and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation. Results: Six cohorts or case-control studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were included in the final meta-analysis. Combination therapy of DAP and β-lactams significantly reduced the mortality and clinical failure rate for all BSI due to GPC compared with the DAP monotherapy (mortality, odds ratio [OR] = 0.63, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 0.41–0.98; clinical failure, OR = 0.42, 95 % CI = 0.22–0.81). In contrast, no significant difference was noted in the incidence of CPK elevation between the two groups (OR = 0.85, 95 % CI = 0.39–1.84). Conclusion: Altogether, combination therapy of DAP and β-lactams can improve the prognosis for patients with BSI due to GPC compared with DAP alone. Therefore, it should be considered as an option for the empirical treatment of BSI caused by GPC.

Jun Hirai,1,2 Nobuaki Mori,1,2 Daisuke Sakanashi,2 Yuichi Shibata,2 Nobuhiro Asai,1,2 Mao Hagihara,3 Hiroshige Mikamo1,2 1Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 2Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 3Department of Molecular Epidemiology and Biomedical Sciences, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, JapanCorrespondence: Jun Hirai, Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, 1-1, Yazako-karimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan, Tel +81-561-62-3311, Fax +81-561-76-2673, Email hiraichimed@gmail.comAbstract: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is increasingly recognized as a pathogen responsible for nosocomial infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. The most common types of S. maltophilia infections are pneumonia and catheter-related bloodstream infection, and clinical cases of intra-abdominal abscesses due to S. maltophilia are rare. We present a rare case of intra-abdominal abscess and bacteremia as a surgical site infection (SSI) caused by S. maltophilia in a patient following total gastrectomy. We also reviewed previous literature to elucidate the clinical characteristics of intra-abdominal abscess due to S. maltophilia. The patient, a 75-year-old man with diabetes and polymyositis (treated with prednisolone), developed a fever 17 days after undergoing a total gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a hypodense solid mass at the esophagojejunostomy site, which appeared to be an intra-abdominal abscess. The culture of both blood and drained abscess pus confirmed only S. maltophilia. Treatment with intravenous trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and abscess drainage led to complete resolution. The patient recovered and was discharged and did not experience a recurrence. We reviewed the English literature and found only two additional case reports of intra-abdominal abscesses caused by S. maltophilia. As in our case, the intra-abdominal abscess occurred after abdominal surgery and the source was suspected to be deep SSI. This case highlights the importance of considering S. maltophilia as a potential pathogen in patients with atypical post-surgical abdominal infections. Physicians should be aware that S. maltophilia has the potential to cause intra-abdominal abscesses secondary to SSI, in addition to Enterobacteriaceae, a major causative pathogen of SSI. Further studies are required to elucidate the etiology, epidemiology, and risk factors for SSI caused by S. maltophilia.Keywords: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, abdominal abscess, surgical site infection

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of prospective audit and feedback (PAF) on the use of inpatient broad-spectrum antibiotics for more than 10 days using days of therapy (DOT) and a novel metric called days of antibiotic spectrum coverage (DASC) to assess whether the antimicrobial spectrum was narrowed. Conducted at Aichi Medical University Hospital in Japan, the study compared a six-month baseline period (April to September 2022) with a six-month intervention period (April to September 2023). The primary outcome measures were changes in DOT/patient and DASC/patient for broad-spectrum antibiotics. Propensity score matching was performed between two periods and a total of 172 patients were included in the study (pre-intervention, n = 86; intervention, n = 86). The DASC/patient of broad-spectrum antibiotics was statistically decreased in the intervention period compared to that in the baseline period (153.3 vs. 122.7, p < 0.05). Additionally, our PAF intervention led to a switch to narrow-spectrum antimicrobial therapy without increasing all-cause 30-day mortality (5.8% vs. 5.8%, p = 1.0). However, the DOT/patient, DASC/patient, and DASC/DOT of all antimicrobials were not significantly changed. Our study concluded that we should reconsider the timing of PAF intervention by evaluating the effort of PAF by using DOT and DASC.

Background: Among the micronutrient deficiencies, iron and folic acid are the most common and frequently occur in pregnant women. So, the objective of this study was to assess the adherence to iron and folic acid among pregnant women booking antenatal services in the study area. Materials and Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was used from January to April 2022. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data using systematic sampling techniques to approach 339 pregnant women. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 20. A descriptive analysis was performed. Adjusted odds ratios and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used, and statistical significance was reported at p-values

Abstract Background Accurate diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) enables early and effective treatment. However, there is currently no gold standard test for microbial detection of PJI and traditional synovial fluid culture is relatively insensitive. Recently, it has been reported that sonicating fluid culture and next-generation sequencing (NGS) improve microbial detection rates. Hence, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare microbial detection rates in microbial culture methods with and without sonication versus NGS. Methods We systematically searched EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Ichushi databases and other sources (previous reviews) until August 2022. We evaluated the detection rates of pathogens in NGS and microbial cultures using samples of synovial or sonicated fluid. Results Of the 170 citations identified for screening, nine studies were included. Pooled analysis indicated that NGS had the highest detection rate among the microbial detection methods (NGS vs. sonicated, odds ratios [OR] 5.09, 95% confidential interval [CI] 1.67–15.50; NGS vs. synovial, OR 4.52, 95% CI 2.86–7.16). Sonicated fluid culture showed a higher detection rate than synovial fluid culture (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.23–3.62). Conclusion NGS might be useful as a screening tool for culture-negative patients. In clinical settings, sonicated fluid culture is a practical method for diagnosing PJI.

Endometritis occurs frequently in humans and animals, which can negatively affect fertility and cause preterm parturition syndrome. Orally administered Clostridium butyricum, a butyrate-producing gram-positive anaerobe, exhibits anti-inflammatory effects. However, the precise mechanism by which Clostridium butyricum attenuates endometritis remains unclear. This in vivo study evaluated the anti-inflammatory effects of orally administered Clostridium butyricum on uterine tissues. In addition, we conducted uterine microbiome and lipid metabolome analyses to determine the underlying mechanisms. Female Balb/c mice were divided into the following four groups (n = 5–20): (1) mock group, (2) only operation group (mice only underwent operation to exposed uterine horns from the side), (3) control group (mice underwent the same operation with the operation group + perfusion of lipopolysaccharide solution from uterine horns), and (4) Clostridium butyricum administration group (mice underwent the same operation with the control group + oral Clostridium butyricum administration from days 0 to 9). Clostridium butyricum was administered via oral gavage. On day 10, we investigated protein expression, uterine microbiome, and lipid metabolism in uterine tissues. Consequently, orally administered Clostridium butyricum altered the uterine microbiome and induced proliferation of Lactobacillus and Limosilactobacillus species. The effects can contribute to show the anti-inflammatory effect through the interferon-β upregulation in uterine tissues. Additionally, oral Clostridium butyricum administration resulted in the upregulations of some lipid metabolites, such as ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid resolvin D5, in uterine tissues, and resolvin D5 showed anti-inflammatory effects. However, the orally administered Clostridium butyricum induced anti-inflammatory effect was attenuated with the deletion of G protein-coupled receptor 120 and 15-lipooxgenase inhibition. In conclusion, Clostridium butyricum in the gut has anti-inflammatory effects on uterine tissues through alterations in the uterine microbiome and lipid metabolism. This study revealed a gut-uterus axis mechanism and provided insights into the treatment and prophylaxis of endometritis.

Despite advances in medical technology, lung cancer still has one of the highest mortality rates among all malignancies. Therefore, efforts must be made to understand the precise mechanisms underlying lung cancer development. In this study, we conducted lung and gut microbiome analyses and a comprehensive lipid metabolome analysis of host tissues to assess their correlation. Alternations in the lung microbiome due to lung cancer, such as a significantly decreased abundance of Firmicutes and Deferribacterota, were observed compared to a mock group. However, mice with lung cancer had significantly lower relative abundances of Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria and higher relative abundances of Cyanobacteria and Patescibacteria in the gut microbiome. The activations of retinol, fatty acid metabolism, and linoleic acid metabolism metabolic pathways in the lung and gut microbiomes was inversely correlated. Additionally, changes occurred in lipid metabolites not only in the lungs but also in the blood, small intestine, and colon. Compared to the mock group, mice with lung cancer showed that the levels of adrenic, palmitic, stearic, and oleic (a ω-9 polyunsaturated fatty acid) acids increased in the lungs. Conversely, these metabolites consistently decreased in the blood (serum) and colon. Leukotriene B4 and prostaglandin E2 exacerbate lung cancer, and were upregulated in the lungs of the mice with lung cancer. However, isohumulone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activator, and resolvin (an ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid) both have anti-cancer effects, and were upregulated in the small intestine and colon. Our multi-omics data revealed that shifts in the microbiome and metabolome occur during the development of lung cancer and are of possible clinical importance. These results reveal one of the gut-lung axis mechanisms related to lung cancer and provide insights into potential new targets for lung cancer treatment and prophylaxis.

Abstract Management of extensive, chronic, dissecting aortic aneurysms after prior repair of the ascending aorta presents a technical challenge for surgeons. A symptomatic 64-year-old patient was admitted for elective surgical repair of an aortic annular dilatation, causing severe aortic regurgitation, and a Crawford type II extended thoracoabdominal aneurysm, 4 years after he underwent primary repair of an acute aortic dissection. The aorta was diffusely dilated, and there were no sites beyond the distal aortic arch where anastomosis could be performed. We successfully performed total aortic replacement with a 2-stage strategy, using an arch translocation technique and an intra-arch elephant-trunk technique.

Abstract Background Deep sternal wound infection after cardiac surgery carries high morbidity and mortality. Our strategy for deep sternal wound infection is aggressive strenal debridement followed by vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) therapy and omental-muscle flap reconstrucion. We describe this strategy and examine the outcome and long-term quality of life (QOL) it achieves. Methods We retrospectively examined 16 patients treated for deep sternal wound infection between 2001 and 2007. The most recent nine patients were treated with total sternal resection followed by VAC therapy and secondary closure with omental-muscle flap reconstruction (recent group); whereas the former seven patients were treated with sternal preservation if possible, without VAC therapy, and four of these patients underwent primary closure (former group). We assessed long-term quality of life after DSWI by using the Short Form 36-Item Health Survey, Version 2 (SF36v2). Results One patient died and four required further surgery for recurrence of deep sternal wound infection in the former group. The duration of treatment for deep sternal wound infection in the recent group was significantly shorter than that in previous group (63.4 ± 54.1 days vs. 120.0 ± 31.8 days, respectively; p = 0.039). Despite aggressive sternal resection, the QOL of patients treated for DSWI was only minimally compromised compared with age-, sex-, surgical procedures-matched patients without deep sternal wound infection. Conclusions Aggressive sternal debridement followed by VAC therapy and secondary closure with an omental-muscle flap is effective for deep sternal wound infection. In this series, it resulted in a lower incidence of recurrent infection, shorter hospitalization, and it did not compromise long-term QOL greatly.

Abstract Background Proteus spp. are widespread in the environment and comprise a part of the normal flora of the human gastrointestinal tract. Only six species in this genus, including Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Proteus terrae, Proteus penneri, Proteus hauseri, and Proteus faecis, have been isolated from human clinical specimens. However, there are no reports of Proteus alimentorum isolated from humans, and the clinical characteristics of P. alimentorum infection are unknown. Case presentation An 85-year-old female patient with peritoneal cancer was hospitalized for complicated pyelonephritis and bacteremia caused by P. alimentorum. The patient received antimicrobial therapy and was discharged on day 7 of hospitalization. No recurrence was observed 14 days after the treatment. Various methods were used to identify the Proteus sp. Furthermore, the VITEK-2 GN ID card resulted in low discrimination between P. hauseri and P. penneri. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry showed P. hauseri with a spectral score of 2.22 as the best match. Nevertheless, the pathogen was identified as P. alimentorum based on genetic investigation using 16 S rRNA gene sequencing and biochemical tests. Conclusion Proteus alimentorum is a human pathogen, and its infection has an excellent therapeutic response to antimicrobials based on antimicrobial susceptibility. Genomic methods may be helpful for the precise identification of P. alimentorum.

Jun Sada,1 Jun Hirai,2,3 Koki Ota,1 Shingo Numoto,1 Hitoshi Honma,1 Nobuaki Mori,2,3 Daisuke Sakanashi,3 Hiroshige Mikamo,2,3 Akihisa Okumura1 1Department of Pediatrics, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 2Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 3Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, JapanCorrespondence: Jun Sada, Department of Pediatrics, Aichi Medical University Hospital, 1-1, Yazako-karimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan, Tel +81-561-62-3311, Fax +81-561-76-2673, Email sada.jun.043@mail.aichi-med-u.ac.jpAbstract: Kalamiella piersonii is rare pathogen, and its pathogenicity to humans has been unknown. We describe an infant with bacteremia caused by Kalamiella piersonii. The patient was a 2-month-old girl presented with diarrhea, poor oral intake, and vomiting. The patient was tentatively diagnosed with acute enterocolitis. After admission, the patient developed a fever and blood culture yielded Gram-negative cocci, first determined to be Pantoea septica by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. However, genetic analysis of 16S rRNA allowed its identification as Kalamiella piersonii (GenBank accession number is OQ547240). Other housekeeping genes such as gyrB, rpoB, and atpD also identified the isolated strain as Kalamiella piersonii. The patient was successfully treated with cefotaxime without sequelae. Later, the patient was diagnosed as non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergy. Our experience indicated that Kalamiella piersonii is a potential human pathogen that can cause invasive infections even in infants and children. Identification of Kalamiella piersonii is difficult with routine conventional tests, and detailed studies including genetic analyses are necessary to clarify the pathogenicity of Kalamiella piersonii in humans.Keywords: Kalamiella piersonii, 16S rRNA, non-IgE-mediated gastrointestinal food allergy, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Jun Hirai,1,2 Nobuaki Mori,1,2 Hideo Kato,3 Nobuhiro Asai,1,2 Mao Hagihara,4 Hiroshige Mikamo1,2 1Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 2Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Aichi Medical University Hospital, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 3Department of Pharmacy, Mie University Hospital, Mie, Japan; 4Department of Molecular Epidemiology and Biomedical Sciences, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, JapanCorrespondence: Jun Hirai, Department of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Aichi Medical University Hospital, 1-1, Yazako-karimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan, Tel +81-561-62-3311, Fax +81-561-76-2673, Email hiraichimed@gmail.comAbstract: Currently, atovaquone is not recommended for treating severe Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) due to insufficient evidence in clinical studies. This report describes a case of severe PCP in a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-negative immunosuppressed patient who was successfully treated with oral atovaquone and corticosteroids. A 63-year-old Japanese woman complained of fever and dyspnea for 3 days. She had been treated with oral prednisolone (30 mg/day) for interstitial pneumonia for 3 months without PCP prophylaxis. Although we could not confirm P. jirovecii from the respiratory specimen, a diagnosis of PCP was indicated by marked elevation of serum beta-D-glucan levels and bilateral ground-glass opacities in the lung fields. Based on the arterial blood gas test results (alveolar-arterial oxygen difference > 45 mmHg), the disease status of PCP was defined as severe. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SXT) is the first-line drug for treating severe PCP. However, given the patient’s history of SXT-induced toxic epidermal necrolysis, she was administered atovaquone instead of SXT. Her clinical symptoms and respiratory condition gradually improved, with a 3-week treatment showing a good clinical course. Previous clinical studies on atovaquone have only been conducted in HIV-positive patients with mild or moderate PCP. Accordingly, the clinical efficacy of atovaquone for severe PCP cases or PCP in HIV-negative patients remains unclear. There is a rising incidence of PCP among HIV-negative patients, given the increasing number of patients receiving immunosuppressive medications; moreover, atovaquone has less severe side effects than SXT. Therefore, there is a need for further clinical investigation to confirm the efficacy of atovaquone in cases of severe PCP, especially among HIV-negative patients. In addition, it also remains unclear whether corticosteroids are beneficial for severe PCP in non-HIV patients. Thus, the use of corticosteroids in cases of severe PCP in non-HIV patients should also be investigated.Keywords: Pneumocystis pneumonia, severe, atovaquone, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, corticosteroid

In 2016, Tosei General Hospital, a tertiary emergency medical facility with 633 beds in Japan, experienced a large nosocomial outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) that had spread to numerous sink outlets. Based on our experience with using steam cleaners to suppress CPE on environmental surfaces, we report the efficacy of steam cleaners in the disinfection of sink outlets. Steam cleaners were used to disinfect 22 target areas. CPE disappeared in 90.9% of the sink outlets within the first two months after disinfection, and, after 12 months, 54.5% of the sink outlets remained negative throughout the remainder of the study period. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of using steam cleaners to disinfect sink outlets contaminated with CPE.