ABSTRACT
The personal protective equipment (PPE) used to minimize exposure to hazards can hinder healthcare workers from performing sophisticated procedures. We retrospectively reviewed 77,535 blood cultures (202,012 pairs) performed in 28,502 patients from January 2020 to April 2022. The contamination rate of all blood cultures was significantly elevated in the coronavirus disease 2019 ward at 4.68%, compared to intensive care units at 2.56%, emergency rooms at 1.13%, hematology wards at 1.08%, and general wards at 1.07% (All of P < 0.001). This finding implies that wearing PPE might interfere with adherence to the aseptic technique. Therefore, a new PPE policy is needed that considers the balance between protecting healthcare workers and medical practices.
ABSTRACT
Thyroglossal duct cyst (TGDC) is the most common congenital cyst in the neck and usually presents in children. It is most commonly located at the infrahyoid level. However, intrathyroid TGDC in the adult is extremely rare and its pathogenesis remains unclear. Curiously, an intrathyroid TGDC was found on the lateral aspect of the inferior pole of the thyroid gland. Given the unique position of this lesion, and its capacity to stimulate other nodules in the thyroid, it should be differentiated from other lateral neck masses, such as: thymic cysts, branchial cleft cysts, cystic hygroma, lipomas, lymphadenopathies, cervical teratomas, and lymphomas. In this case, a separate cystic mass was found in the right inferior pole of the thyroid gland and extended to the mediastinum. We confirmed it as TGDC by pathology and histological examination.
ABSTRACT
Despite the low prevalence of secondary bacterial infection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, most of them were administered antibiotic therapy empirically.However, the prognostic impact of empirical antibiotic therapy has not been evaluated.We conducted retrospective propensity score-matched case-control study of 233 COVID-19 patients with moderate to severe illnesses who required oxygen therapy and evaluated whether empirical antibiotic therapy could improve clinical outcomes. Empirical antibiotic therapy did not improve clinical outcomes including length of stay, days with oxygen requirement, the proportion of patients with increased oxygen demand, the proportion of patients who required mechanical ventilation, and overall mortality. This finding implies that routine administration of antibiotics for the treatment of COVID-19 is not essential and should be restricted.
ABSTRACT
Background@#The clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in the COVID-19 vaccination era need to be clarified because breakthrough infection after vaccination is not uncommon. @*Methods@#We retrospectively analyzed hospitalized COVID-19 patients during a delta variantdominant period 6 months after the national COVID-19 vaccination rollout. The clinical characteristics and risk factors for severe progression were assessed and subclassified according to vaccination status. @*Results@#A total of 438 COVID-19 patients were included; the numbers of patients in the unvaccinated, partially vaccinated and fully vaccinated groups were 188 (42.9%), 117 (26.7%) and 133 (30.4%), respectively. The vaccinated group was older, less symptomatic and had a higher Charlson comorbidity index at presentation. The proportions of patients who experienced severe progression in the unvaccinated and fully vaccinated groups were 20.3% (31/153) and 10.8% (13/120), respectively. Older age, diabetes mellitus, solid cancer, elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase and chest X-ray abnormalities were associated with severe progression, and the vaccination at least once was the only protective factor for severe progression. Chest X-ray abnormalities at presentation were the only predictor for severe progression among fully vaccinated patients. @*Conclusion@#In the hospitalized setting, vaccinated and unvaccinated COVID-19 patients showed different clinical features and risk of oxygen demand despite a relatively high proportion of patients in the two groups. Vaccination needs to be assessed as an initial checkpoint, and chest X-ray may be helpful for predicting severe progression in vaccinated patients.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Regdanvimab is a monoclonal antibody targeted against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and a treatment option for patients with mild-to moderate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, there has been limited information on the clinical effectiveness of regdanvimab in the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of regdanvimab after the Delta variant was dominant using chronological analysis of regdanvimab use in a real-world setting. @*Materials and Methods@#The electrical medical records of patients infected with mildto-moderate COVID-19 who received regdanvimab within 7 days of symptom onset were reviewed before (February – June 2021) and after (August – November 2021) the Delta variant became predominant in Korea. Clinical outcomes were assessed by the need for oxygen supplementation, time from symptom onset to oxygen requirement, in-hospital mortality, and length of hospitalization. To match the difference between the basic characteristics of the two groups, the clinical outcomes were compared again after 1 : 1 propensity score matching. @*Results@#Patients treated with regdanvimab in the Delta-predominant group were more likely to require oxygen supplementation (17.5% vs. 6.0%, P = 0.019) and had shorter times from symptom onset to supplemental oxygen use (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 5.8 ± 2.8 vs. 10.0 ± 3.7, P = 0.007) than those in the control group. After propensity score matching, the percentage of patient requiring oxygen supplementation was higher (15.2% vs. 6.1%, P = 0.156), while the time from symptom onset to oxygen supplementation was significantly shorter in the Delta-predominant group (mean ± SD: 4.9 ± 2.1 vs. 10.0 ± 3.7, P = 0.007) than that in the control group. @*Conclusion@#Considering that high proportion of vaccinated patients in the Deltapredominant group, this finding suggests the uncertainty whether the effect of regdanvimab is maintained even during the Delta-predominant period. It is hence necessary to continuously monitor the effectiveness of regdanvimab as new SARS-CoV-2 variants emerge.
ABSTRACT
Rhabdomyomas are rare benign tumors. Most extracardiac rhabdomyomas are found in the head and neck region, especially in the pharynx and larynx. Herein, we have described the case of a 1-year-old boy presenting with recurrent otorrhea and postauricular swelling. His symptoms were due to a mass that was histologically diagnosed as fetal rhabdomyoma (FR). Here, we report the first case of FR in the postauricular area. Clinicians should keep in mind the possibility of FR if a child presents with external auditory canal mass associated with recurrent otorrhea and signs of mastoiditis.
ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis (TB) is a common opportunistic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. Patients with multidrug-resistant (MDR)-TB have poor outcomes.This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MDR-TB in HIV/TB co-infected patients in the Korea. We reviewed the medical records of HIV/TB co-infected patients at two university hospitals between January 1998 and December 2020. During the study period, a total of 87 HIV/TB co-infected patients were identified, and drug susceptibility test results were available for 44 of them. The prevalence of MDR-TB in the study population was 15.9% (7/44, 95% confidence interval, 5.1 - 26.7).
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of regular Nordic walking exercise on the physical indicators and subjective happiness of middle-aged rural residents. @*Methods@#A pretest and posttest design with a nonequivalent control group was conducted. The participants of experimental and control group were each 21 subjects from 40 to 64 years old. The Nordic walking exercise program consisted of 24 sessions which were focused on group exercise, and was conducted three times a week for eight weeks. @*Results@#The experimental group showed significant decreases in body mass index (p=.042), body fat (p<.001), and abdominal fat (p=.026). The experimental group showed significant increases in muscle mass of right lower limb (p=.009) and left lower limb (p=.016) but was not statistically significant in right, left upper limbs and body. On the other hand, the control group showed significant decreases in muscle mass of right upper limb (p=.034), left upper limb p=.038), and body (p=.034). There were no significant differences in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and subjective happiness between the experimental and the control group. @*Conclusion@#The Nordic walking exercise should be actively encouraged to improve health of the middle-aged in rural area.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of regular Nordic walking exercise on the physical indicators and subjective happiness of middle-aged rural residents. @*Methods@#A pretest and posttest design with a nonequivalent control group was conducted. The participants of experimental and control group were each 21 subjects from 40 to 64 years old. The Nordic walking exercise program consisted of 24 sessions which were focused on group exercise, and was conducted three times a week for eight weeks. @*Results@#The experimental group showed significant decreases in body mass index (p=.042), body fat (p<.001), and abdominal fat (p=.026). The experimental group showed significant increases in muscle mass of right lower limb (p=.009) and left lower limb (p=.016) but was not statistically significant in right, left upper limbs and body. On the other hand, the control group showed significant decreases in muscle mass of right upper limb (p=.034), left upper limb p=.038), and body (p=.034). There were no significant differences in systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and subjective happiness between the experimental and the control group. @*Conclusion@#The Nordic walking exercise should be actively encouraged to improve health of the middle-aged in rural area.