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Multicenter study to evaluate bloodstream infection by Helicobacter cinaedi in Japan
Tetsuya Matsumoto1, Mieko Goto, Hinako Murakami
1Department of Microbiology, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8402, Japan. tetsuya@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Insights
Helicobacter cinaedi bloodstream infections are rare in Japan, affecting compromised hosts without HIV. This study assessed its incidence in Japanese hospitals.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Bacteriology
Background:
- Helicobacter cinaedi is an emerging pathogen causing human bloodstream infections.
- The prevalence of H. cinaedi bacteremia in Japan remains largely unknown since its first reported case in 2003.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of Helicobacter cinaedi bacteremia in Japan.
- To identify the characteristics of patients with H. cinaedi bloodstream infections.
Main Methods:
- Prospective, multicenter study conducted in 13 Tokyo hospitals over six months (October 2003 - March 2004).
- Identification of suspected Helicobacter species isolates using biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Analysis of 16,743 blood culture samples.
Main Results:
- Six out of nine suspected Helicobacter isolates were identified as H. cinaedi.
- The incidence rate of H. cinaedi bacteremia was 0.06% of all blood cultures and 0.22% of positive cultures.
- Patients with H. cinaedi bacteremia were predominantly immunocompromised due to malignancy, renal failure, or prior surgery, and were HIV-negative.
Conclusions:
- Bacteremia caused by Helicobacter cinaedi is infrequent in Japan.
- The pathogen affects non-HIV compromised hosts, including those with underlying conditions like malignancy or renal failure.
Abstract:
Helicobacter cinaedi has being recognized as an important human pathogen which causes bloodstream infections. Although the first case of bacteremia with this pathogen in Japan was reported in 2003, the true prevalence of H. cinaedi as a pathogen of bloodstream infections in this country is not yet known. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the incidence of bacteremia with H. cinaedi in Japan. We conducted a prospective, multicenter analysis in 13 hospitals during 6 months in Tokyo, Japan. Among positive blood cultures from 1 October 2003 to 31 March 2004, isolates suspected of being Helicobacter species were studied for further microbial identification. Identification of the organisms was based on their biochemical traits and the results of molecular analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences. A total of 16,743 blood culture samples were obtained during the study period, and 2,718 samples (17.7%) yielded positive culture results for coagulase-negative staphylococci. Among nine isolates suspected to be Helicobacter species, six isolates were finally identified as H. cinaedi. The positivity rate for H. cinaedi in blood culture was 0.06% of total blood samples and 0.22% of blood samples with any positive culture results. All patients with bacteremia with H. cinaedi were found to have no human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but many of them had complications with either malignancy, renal failure, or a history of surgical operation. Therefore, our results suggest that bacteremia with H. cinaedi is rare but can occur in compromised hosts other than those with HIV infection in Japan.
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