Article
Virology
Heyon-Na Jo, Jieun Kim, Seong-Yeon Hwang, Jun-Won Seo, Da Young Kim, Na-Ra Yun, Dong-Min Kim, Choon-Mee Kim, Sook In Jung, Uh Jin Kim, Seong Eun Kim, Hyunah Kim, Eu Suk Kim, Jian Hur, Young Keun Kim, Hye Won Jeong, Jung Yeon Heo, Dong Sik Jung, Hyungdon Lee, Sun Hee Park, Yee Gyung Kwak, Sujin Lee, Seungjin Lim
Summary: The study analyzed the clinical characteristics and the effect of viral RNA loads on fatality in 56 patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). Age and viral copy numbers were found to be important factors affecting survival rates. Viral RNA loads can be useful markers for the clinical prediction of mortality and survival in SFTS patients.
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Julia Szymczyk, Michelle Mansson, Wioletta Medrzycka-Dabrowska
Summary: The use of reusable tourniquets may contribute to the transmission of pathogens between patients, posing a risk to patient safety. The contamination of reusable tourniquets includes various species of microorganisms, with Staphylococcus being the most common genus. Therefore, the use of disposable tourniquets is recommended.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Virology
Ji-Soo Kwon, Sol Jin, Ji-Yeun Kim, Sang-Hyun Ra, Taeeun Kim, Se-Yoon Park, Min-Chul Kim, Seong-Yeon Park, Dasarang Kim, Hye-Hee Cha, Hyun-Jung Lee, Min-Jae Kim, Yong-Pil Chong, Sang-Oh Lee, Sang-Ho Choi, Yang-Soo Kim, Keun-Hwa Lee, Sun-Ho Kee, Sung-Han Kim
Summary: The study found that non-survivors of SFTS had higher viral loads at admission, which increased during hospitalization, and inadequate antibody response. Compared to survivors, non-survivors had more severe inflammatory symptoms during the disease course.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Prateek Sehgal, Marion Elligsen, Jennifer Lo, Philip W. Lam, Jerome A. Leis, Rob Fowler, Ruxandra Pinto, Nick Daneman
Summary: The study evaluated the long-term uptake of an antimicrobial stewardship program in a diverse ICU population and identified factors associated with stewardship suggestions and acceptance rates. The findings showed sustained suggestion and acceptance rates over a decade and highlighted the importance of persistent presence of audit-and-feedback, especially for potentially nephrotoxic agents and specialized care units.
CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Chloe E. Myers, Charlotte J. Houldcroft, Sunando Roy, Ben K. Margetts, Timothy Best, Cristina Venturini, Jose A. Guerra-Assuncao, Charlotte A. Williams, Rachel Williams, Helen Dunn, John C. Hartley, Kanchan Rao, Kathryn J. Rolfe, Judith Breuer
Summary: A recent study investigated a surge in human mastadenovirus cases among hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients using whole genome sequencing. The study found that mixed infections were common and comprehensive surveillance is needed for immunosuppressed patients. This led to routine incorporation of HAdV WGS into clinical practice to influence infection prevention and control policies.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Hyung Woo Kim, Jun-Pyo Myong, Ju Sang Kim
Summary: The burden of nosocomial exposure to TB in South Korea is still substantial. Hospitalization with unrecognized active TB, especially among the elderly TB patients could be a serious public health issue in South Korea. Patients above 60 years of age accounted for 63.99% of the total number and 69.70% of the total duration of hospitalization, with those in their 80s showing the highest risk.
KOREAN JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiao Fei, Baobao Feng, Kai Fang, Wanhua Ren
Summary: This study investigated the risk factors for mortality in SFTS patients with central nervous system involvement and found that low platelet count and high CK-MB were independent risk factors for mortality.
MEDICAL SCIENCE MONITOR
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Franziskus Buechner, Marc Hoffman, Ute-Helke Dobermann, Birgit Edel, Thomas Lehmann, Frank Kipp
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of waste container construction on microbial air contamination in hospitals, showing that closed waste containers have lower bacterial and fungal contamination levels compared to hands-free opening and open containers.
Article
Immunology
Yusuke Sakai, Yuko Kuwabara, Keita Ishijima, Saya Kagimoto, Serina Mura, Kango Tatemoto, Ryusei Kuwata, Kenzo Yonemitsu, Shohei Minami, Yudai Kuroda, Kenji Baba, Masaru Okuda, Hiroshi Shimoda, Masashi Sakurai, Masahiro Morimoto, Ken Maeda
Summary: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a newly emerged tickborne infectious disease caused by SFTS virus (SFTSV). This study reports seven fatal cases of SFTS in felines, with necropsy findings providing insights for diagnosing feline SFTS and demonstrating the similarity between feline and human SFTS cases. The study also identified blastic lymphocytes as predominant targets of SFTSV and highlighted the involvement of thymic epithelial cells in the infection process.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Toshie Manabe, Dung Phan, Yasuhiro Nohara, Dan Kambayashi, Thang Huu Nguyen, Thanh Van Do, Koichiro Kudo
Summary: Understanding the spatiotemporal distribution of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam can help in implementing effective control measures, with the disease clustering around large cities, tourist destinations, and nosocomial infection locations. The behavior of the population and quick governmental countermeasures likely contributed to the low incidence and severity of COVID-19 cases in the country.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Michael Lu, Yuh-Mou Sue, Han-Lin Hsu, Jun-Fu Zhang, Yi-Jun Liu, Yu-Chun Yen, Tzu-Yun Yu, Ming-Chih Yu, Chih-Hsin Lee
Summary: The nationwide nested case-control study revealed that nosocomial exposure, attributed to delayed diagnosis of pulmonary TB, plays a significant role in TB transmission among patients undergoing regular hemodialysis. Further investigations into strategies for early TB diagnosis and treatment are warranted.
JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY IMMUNOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jeffrey Scott Weese, Nathan Slovis, Joyce Rousseau
Summary: This study longitudinally evaluated Clostridium difficile shedding in neonatal foals and mares in a referral hospital neonatal intensive care unit. The results showed Clostridium difficile was isolated from 25% of samples, with at least one positive sample in 40% of foals and 31% of mares. Various ribotypes were identified, with ribotype 078 predominating.
JOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiao Fei, Kai Fang, Xiuying Ni, Wan-hua Ren
Summary: Patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome who develop neurological complications tend to have higher mortality rates, longer hospital stays, and distinct symptoms such as involuntary tremors, cognitive disorders, and limb tremors. Various factors such as abnormal heart rhythms, subcutaneous bleeding, and changes in biochemical indicators are closely related to the occurrence of neurological complications, with a significant decrease in chloride ion concentration within 1 to 5 days of disease onset being a potential risk factor. Early monitoring of specific clinical and laboratory parameters can help predict the development of neurological complications in these patients.
MEDICAL SCIENCE MONITOR
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Huijuan Song, Siyu Zou, Yi Huang, Yun Wang, Ting Wang, Wei Wei, Ziyong Sun, Hongyan Hou
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed the pathogenic and clinical characteristics of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) patients with co-infections. The findings revealed a higher mortality rate among SFTS patients with co-infection compared to those without co-infection. The pathogens responsible for co-infection were primarily isolated from respiratory specimens, with fungal and bacterial infections being the most common. SFTS patients with co-infection displayed significant alterations in inflammatory markers, coagulation function, and liver function indicators compared to non-co-infection patients.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Nazli Ayhan, Marc Lopez-Roig, Abir Monastiri, Remi N. Charrel, Jordi Serra-Cobo
Summary: A study tested 329 bats from eight species collected in southern Spain for neutralizing antibodies specific to TOSV and SFSV, finding bats are not likely major players in the natural cycle of these sandfly-borne viruses; large breeding colonies can be used as sentinels for virus surveillance in specific locations.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Jae Hong Choi, Soo-Han Choi, Ki Wook Yun
Summary: This study aimed to identify risk factors for severe COVID-19 in children and provide guidance for hospital admission and vaccination priority. The study found that comorbidities such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung diseases, neonates, and premature infants were associated with a higher prevalence of severe COVID-19 in children.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Misun Kim, Sang Taek Heo, Hyunjoo Oh, Miyeon Kim, Jaemin Jo, Young Ree Kim, Keun Hwa Lee, Jeong Rae Yoo
Summary: SEZ is a highly contagious infectious organism that causes disease in horses, and while rarely isolated from humans, zoonotic infections can occur in individuals exposed to horses and other livestock. Genotypes of SEZ isolates from human cases in South Korea were found to be similar to isolates from the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
ZOONOSES AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Jae Hong Choi, Young Ree Kim, Sang Taek Heo, Hyunjoo Oh, Misun Kim, Hyang Ran Lee, Jeong Rae Yoo
Summary: In this study, the antibody response of healthcare workers after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination was evaluated. The vaccine was found to be effective in protecting healthcare personnel, but neutralizing antibody levels gradually declined over a period of 6 months after the second dose, suggesting the need for a booster vaccination after 6 months of full vaccination.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Gyeongmin Kim, Seung Jin Yoo, Jeong Rae Yoo, Kyu Bum Seo
Summary: This case is the first report of thorn-induced Alternaria alternata infection of the hand in an immunocompetent host. Surgical incision and drainage along with oral itraconazole were effective in treating the chronic infection.
BMC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jae Hong Choi, Ki-Soo Kang, Kyoung Hee Han
Summary: Researchers report two cases of acute kidney injury in adolescents following the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. These are the first pediatric cases of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis linked to the vaccine.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Jeong Rae Yoo, Keun Hwa Lee, Misun Kim, Hyun Joo Oh, Sang Taek Heo
Summary: This study reports the administration of an anti-interleukin (IL)-6 antibody in a case of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) with an increase in IL-6. The results show that the SFTS viral load decreased while IL-6 levels increased after tocilizumab treatment, and the patient fully recovered without any adverse events.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jeong Rae Yoo, Sang Taek Heo, Misun Kim, Miyeon Kim, Myeong Jin Kang, Eui Tae Kim, Su Yeon Kang, Keun Hwa Lee
Summary: This study revealed the co-infection of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) and Coxiella burnetii in ticks on Jeju Island, South Korea. The results demonstrated a high prevalence of SFTSV in ticks, with Haemaphysalis longicornis being the most commonly infected species. Co-infection with C. burnetii was primarily observed in nymphs of H. longicornis. These findings are crucial for understanding the risk of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome and Q fever in the population of South Korea.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Soo -Han Choi, Jae Hong Choi, Joon Kee Lee, Byung-Wook Eun, Seung Ha Song, Bin Ahn, Ye Kyung Kim, Ki Wook Yun
Summary: A study conducted in Korea found that during the omicron variant dominance, the proportions of young children and patients with complex comorbidities were higher compared to the delta period. Patients with complex chronic diseases, especially neurologic diseases, had a high risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 in the two distinct variant-dominant periods.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Pediatrics
Soo-Han Choi, Jae Hong Choi, Ki Wook Yun
Summary: COVID-19 is generally a mild to moderate respiratory illness in children and adolescents, but some may develop severe or critical illness. This review summarizes clinical data on antiviral agents and immunomodulators for COVID-19 treatment in children and adolescents. The article also discusses the current recommendations for therapeutics in this population. Remdesivir is suggested for pediatric patients with severe COVID-19 who require supplemental oxygen but not mechanical ventilation, as well as for adolescents aged ≥12 years and weighing at least 40 kg with COVID-19 without the need for supplemental oxygen and within 7 days of symptom onset and at high risk of progression to severe illness. Nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is considered for adolescents aged ≥12 years and weighing at least 40 kg without the need for supplemental oxygen and within 5 days of symptoms onset and at high risk of progression to severe disease. Corticosteroids are not recommended for children and adolescents with mild to moderate COVID-19, but are recommended for those with severe to critical COVID-19.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Youn Young Choi, Soo-Han Choi, Jae Hong Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Joon Kee Lee, Byung Wook Eun, Hyunju Lee, Ye Kyung Kim, Bin Ahn, Seung Ha Song, Ki Wook Yun
Summary: While the risk of severe outcomes with SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant remains low in most SARS-CoV-2-naive children and adolescents, it may affect the severity of COVID-19 in those with high-risk underlying medical conditions. High-risk children and adolescents, particularly those with obesity, may experience severe COVID-19, highlighting the importance of considering vaccination for high-risk children.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Misun Kim, Hyunjoo Oh, Sang Taek Heo, Sung Wook Song, Keun Hwa Lee, Myeong Jin Kang, Jeong Rae Yoo
Summary: This study identified the correlation between the viral load of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) and laboratory parameters, and identified three correlation patterns. The dynamic changes in laboratory parameters can be used to predict the changes in viral load, and to promptly assess the clinical course of patients.
INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ye Kyung Kim, Seung Ha Song, Bin Ahn, Joon Kee Lee, Jae Hong Choi, Soo-Han Choi, Ki Wook Yun, Eun Hwa Choi
Summary: The epidemiology and clinical presentation of PIV3 and RSV B infections in Korean children have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, including delayed peak circulation of viruses, changes in the median age of infected children, and differences in hospitalization rates and respiratory assistance needed.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Si-Ho Kim, Jin Yeong Hong, Seongman Bae, Hojin Lee, Yu Mi Wi, Jae-Hoon Ko, Bomi Kim, Eun-Jeong Joo, Hyeri Seok, Hye Jin Shi, Jeong Rae Yoo, Miri Hyun, Hyun Ah Kim, Sukbin Jang, Seok Jun Mun, Jungok Kim, Min-Chul Kim, Dong-Sik Jung, Sung-Han Kim, Kyong Ran Peck
Summary: This study evaluated the risk factors and clinical outcomes of COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) in critically ill patients. The results showed that the dose of corticosteroid use and chronic pulmonary disease were independently associated with CAPA development. CAPA patients had a higher mortality rate and lower respiratory support-free rate.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Han Sol Kang, Ju Eun Kim, Jeong Rae Yoo, Hyunjoo Oh, Misun Kim, Young Ree Kim, Sang Taek Heo
Summary: COVID-19 vaccines may lead to rare neurological adverse events, including aseptic meningitis. A 32-year-old man developed headaches after receiving the vaccine, and his symptoms improved with treatment.
INFECTION AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Jae Hong Choi, Jihyun Moon, Seulgi Kim, Hyuna Bae, Jia Lee, Young June Choe
Summary: This study aimed to organize expert opinions on adolescent vaccination against COVID-19 in Korea to guide vaccination policy. The study found that COVID-19 had a significant impact on adolescents and the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the potential risks.
JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2022)
