Invasive Group G streptococcal infection (iGGS) has increasingly been recognized as a cause of severe disease, mainly among elderly people with chronic illnesses. This study aimed to examine age-related differences in clinical characteristics of iGGS and describe its characteristics among very elderly individuals (≥80 years). Fifty-four iGGS patients for whom detailed clinical information was available were identified from 2002 to 2014 in a tertiary care hospital in Japan. iGGS (n = 54) was compared with invasive Group A (iGAS; n = 17) and B streptococcal infection patients (iGBS; n = 52) based on patient age. The incidence of iGGS in our catchment area significantly increased during the study period. The prevalence of iGGS in the very elderly population was higher than that of iGAS or iGBS (p<0.001). Among iGGS patients, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, oxygen demand, and bacteremia with unknown focus of infection were more frequent in the very elderly population (p = 0.009, p = 0.02, p = 0.04, and p = 0.04, respectively). Altered mental status was present in half of iGGS patients aged ≥60 years (p = 0.03). In contrast, alcohol drinking and liver cirrhosis were significantly more frequent in patients with iGGS aged <60 years than in other age groups (p<0.001, p = 0.001, respectively). Levofloxacin resistance in GBS isolates was significantly more frequent among very elderly patients than among other age groups (p<0.001). The burden of iGGS has been increasing in our catchment area. Different iGGS-associated clinical characteristics were found in each age group. Unclear and atypical clinical manifestations and syndromes were likely to be observed in very elderly patients. Alcohol drinking and liver cirrhosis may contribute to iGGS even in patients aged <60 years. Understanding these age-related differences could be helpful for optimal diagnosis and treatment.

Limited information is available regarding the clinical efficacy of azithromycin for the treatment of enteric fever due to fluoroquinolone-resistant Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi among travelers returning to their home countries. We report a case of a 52-year-old Japanese man who returned from India, who developed a fever of 39°C with no accompanying symptoms 10 days after returning to Japan from a 1-month business trip to Delhi, India. His blood culture results were positive for Salmonella Paratyphi A. He was treated with 14 days of ceftriaxone, after which he remained afebrile for 18 days before his body temperature again rose to 39°C with no apparent symptoms. He was then empirically given 500 mg of azithromycin, but experienced clinical and microbiological failure of azithromycin treatment for enteric fever due to Salmonella Paratyphi A. However, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of azithromycin was not elevated (8 mg/L). He was again given ceftriaxone for 14 days with no signs of recurrence during the follow-up. There are limited data available for the treatment of enteric fever using azithromycin in travelers from developed countries who are not immune to the disease, and thus, careful follow-up is necessary. In our case, the low azithromycin dose might have contributed the treatment failure. Additional clinical data are needed to determine the rate of success, MIC, and contributing factors for success and/or failure of azithromycin treatment for both Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi infections.

Introduction. Among the causative agents of bloodstream infections (BSIs), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) are the key causative pathogens. Their rapid detection directly from Gram-positive cocci-positive blood culture specimens will promote timely treatment and help to implement effective infection control measures. Aim. We aim to develop a PCR-dipstick technique for the rapid detection of MRSA and VRE directly from positive blood culture specimens. Methodology. PCR-dipstick is a PCR-based multiplex detection technique where DNA–DNA hybridization is employed, and the results are interpreted with the naked eye. It was designed to target three drug resistance genes: mecA in MRSA and vanA/vanB in VRE from positive blood culture specimens. A total of 120 clinical isolates were used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of PCR-dipstick. Then, PCR-dipstick was examined for MRSA and VRE detection directly from positive blood cultures. Results. PCR-dipstick showed 100 % sensitivity and specificity in detecting mecA, vanA and vanB genes directly from bacterial colonies in comparison with multiplex PCR for genomic DNA followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Further, it could differentially detect multiple resistant genes in pooled bacterial colonies (n=10). Ultimately, PCR-dipstick could detect MRSA and VRE in positive blood cultures in ~3 h. Conclusion. The results of the current study substantiate that PCR-dipstick can be used as an efficient detection system for MRSA and VRE directly from Gram-positive cocci-positive blood cultures. Its affordability and rapidity indicate that PCR-dipstick can be an effective tool for controlling nosocomial pathogens.