ABSTRACT
The prevalence of RhD-negative individuals in the Korean population is approximately 0.15-0.30% and the supply of RhD-negative blood often faces potential shortage. Furthermore, 15-17% of serologically RhD-negative Korean individuals were revealed to be DEL variants and should be treated as RhD-positive when being considered as blood donors. This change is expected to result in a further shortage of RhD-negative blood supply, whereas surplus DEL variant blood stock is created. Therefore, it is now required to amend blood donation and supply policies, and transfusion strategies. In this review, a new transfusion strategy for patients with RhD-negative or variant blood in Korea is discussed, with particular interest in women of child-bearing age, patients with anti-D, and Asia type DEL (c.1227G>A) variants.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Asia , Blood Donors , Korea , PrevalenceABSTRACT
No abstract available.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Blood culture remains the definitive method for diagnosing bacteremia and fungemia. In this study, we investigated the incidence of bacterial and fungal infections along with the trends in antimicrobial susceptibility in blood cultures collected from 2008 to 2013. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of blood cultures performed at Kyung Hee University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea, between 2008 and 2013 to determine the bacterial and fungal species isolated, and their antimicrobial susceptibilities. Additional analyses were performed comparing these results to that of a prior study examining blood cultures collected from 2003-2007. RESULTS: Of the 102,257 specimens collected, 8,452 (8.3%) were culture positive, with Staphylococcus epidermidis being the most common species isolated (17.3%), followed by Escherichia coli (16.9%), Staphylococcus aureus (8.1%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.5%). Fungal species accounted for 3.7% of all isolates. Methicillin resistance was seen in 54.3% of S. aureus isolates. The frequencies of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae were 13.1% and 10.3%; imipenem resistance was seen in 19.5% of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates. CONCLUSION: Although the number of blood specimens analyzed increased steadily over the course of this study, the rate of positive blood cultures declined. The most common microorganisms isolated were coagulase-negative staphylococci, E. coli, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae, consistent with our prior analysis. This analysis of blood culture isolate frequencies and antibiotic susceptibilities can be used to inform antibiotic therapy decisions.
Subject(s)
Bacteremia , beta-Lactamases , Escherichia coli , Fungemia , Imipenem , Incidence , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Korea , Methicillin Resistance , Pneumonia , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Retrospective Studies , Seoul , Staphylococcus aureus , Staphylococcus epidermidisABSTRACT
The efflux pump system has been suggested as an important mechanism in the drug resistance of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). In this study, molecular analysis of five genes in the efflux pump system of MTB isolates from Korean patients was performed in order to identify appropriate molecular targets. In this study, 35 culture-positive specimens were included. PCR was performed for five efflux genes, mmpL7, efpA, mmr, p55 and tap-like gene. In the 35 clinical isolates, molecular analysis of five kinds of efflux pump genes was performed. Only one clinical isolate showed negative PCR results for all five efflux pump genes. All the rest 34 isolates presented concurrent positive results for the five efflux pump genes. In the near future, gene expression study with quantitative PCR should be performed using these genes.
Subject(s)
Humans , Drug Resistance , Gene Expression , Genes, MDR , Mycobacterium tuberculosis , Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
No abstract available.