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Background@#Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRPA) have been on the rise worldwide, and delayed active antimicrobial therapy is associated with high mortality. However, few studies have evaluated increases in P. aeruginosa infections with antimicrobial resistance and risk factors for such antimicrobial resistance in Korea. Here, we analyzed changes in antimicrobial susceptibility associated with P. aeruginosa bacteremia and identified risk factors of antimicrobial resistance. @*Methods@#The medical records of patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia who were admitted to a tertiary hospital between January 2009 and October 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Antibiotic resistance rates were compared among the time periods of 2009–2012, 2013–2016, and 2017–2020 and between the intensive care unit (ICU) and non-ICU setting. Empirical antimicrobial therapy was considered concordant, if the organism was susceptible to antibiotics in vitro, and discordant, if resistant. @*Results@#During the study period, 295 patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia were identified. The hepatobiliary tract (26.8%) was the most common primary site of infection. The rates of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA), MDRPA, and extensively drug-resistant P. aeruginosa (XDRPA) were 24.7%, 35.9%, and 15.9%, respectively. XDRPA showed an increasing trend, and CRPA, MDRPA, and XDRPA were also gradually increasing in non-ICU setting. Previous exposure to fluoroquinolones and glycopeptides and urinary tract infection were independent risk factors associated with CRPA, MDRPA, and XDRPA. Previous exposure to carbapenems was an independent risk factor of CRPA. CRPA, MDRPA, and XDRPA were associated with discordant empirical antimicrobial therapy. @*Conclusion@#The identification of risk factors for antimicrobial resistance and analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility might be important for concordant empirical antimicrobial therapy in patients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia.
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Background@#There is limited information describing the presenting characteristics and dynamic clinical changes in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection diagnosed in the early phase of illness. This study is a case series of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to 11 hospitals in Korea. @*Methods@#Patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of respiratory specimens by active surveillance that were finally discharged between February 20 and April 30, 2020 were included. Patients were classified into mild and non-mild groups on initial admission according to oxygen demand and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, and the mild group was followed up and subgrouped into non-aggravation and aggravation groups. @*Results@#A total of 161 patients with SARS-CoV2 infection were enrolled. Among the mild group of 136 patients, 11.7% of patients experienced clinical aggravation during hospitalization, but there was no initial clinical parameter on admission predicting their aggravation. Fever (odds ratio [OR], 4.56), thrombocytopenia (OR, 12.87), fever (OR, 27.22) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) > 300 U/L (OR, 18.35), and CRP > 1 mg/dL (OR, 11.31) significantly indicated aggravation in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th 5-day periods, respectively.PCR positivity lasted for a median of 22 days and 32 days after the onset of illness in the nonaggravation and aggravation groups, respectively. @*Conclusion@#Old age was associated with early severe presentation. Clinical aggravation among asymptomatic or mild patients could not be predicted initially but was heralded by fever and several laboratory markers during the clinical course.
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Background@#Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a disabling condition that often necessitates total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although ONFH occurs more frequently among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than among the general population, there is little epidemiological information regarding ONFH in Korean patients with HIV. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and clinical features of ONFH among Korean patients with HIV. @*Materials and Methods@#In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 1,250 Korean patients with HIV treated from January 1990 to December 2019. A standardised data collection sheet was used to obtain clinical information. Imaging data were analysed by a radiologist in accordance with the 2019 revised version of the Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) staging system for ONFH. @*Results@#Among the 1,250 included patients, 13 patients (1.04%; 3 women, 10 men) were diagnosed with ONFH. The overall incidence of ONFH was 1.29 per 1,000 person-years (PYs) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7 – 2.4 per 1,000 PYs). Median age among the 13 patients with ONFH was 47 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 41 – 57 years). The median duration since HIV diagnosis was 4.8 years (IQR: 2.3 – 10.1 years). The median CD4 cell count at the time of ONFH diagnosis was 381 cells/ mm3 (IQR: 161 – 551 cells/mm3 ). At the initial diagnosis of ONFH, 83.3% of patients exhibited bilateral involvement. ARCO stage 3 or 4 osteonecrosis was observed in 83% of patients. Among 22 hips, stage 1 ONFH was noted in 2 (9.1%), stage 2 ONFH was noted in 7 (31.8%), stage 3 ONFH was noted in 9 (40.9%), and stage 4 ONFH was noted in 4 (18.2%). THA was eventually performed in 84.6% of patients.Five (38.5%) patients had a history of steroid use, 4 (30.8%) patients had a history of alcohol abuse and 10 (76.9%) were smokers. Eight (61.5%) patients had a history of acquired immune deficiency syndrome-defining illness, including 7 with tuberculosis and 1 with pneumocystis pneumonia. Nine patients (69.2%) had a nadir CD4 cell count <200/µL, and 3 (23.1%) had a history of bone fracture. Overall, 84% of patients were exposed to antiretroviral therapy, while 54% had taken protease inhibitors for more than 1 year. @*Conclusion@#Considering that relatively high incidence of ONFH in patients with HIV, a high index of suspicion for those with risk factors and those with groin or hip pain for is required in HIV-infected patients.
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Background@#Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a disabling condition that often necessitates total hip arthroplasty (THA). Although ONFH occurs more frequently among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) than among the general population, there is little epidemiological information regarding ONFH in Korean patients with HIV. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the incidence and clinical features of ONFH among Korean patients with HIV. @*Materials and Methods@#In this retrospective study, we reviewed the medical records of 1,250 Korean patients with HIV treated from January 1990 to December 2019. A standardised data collection sheet was used to obtain clinical information. Imaging data were analysed by a radiologist in accordance with the 2019 revised version of the Association Research Circulation Osseous (ARCO) staging system for ONFH. @*Results@#Among the 1,250 included patients, 13 patients (1.04%; 3 women, 10 men) were diagnosed with ONFH. The overall incidence of ONFH was 1.29 per 1,000 person-years (PYs) (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7 – 2.4 per 1,000 PYs). Median age among the 13 patients with ONFH was 47 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 41 – 57 years). The median duration since HIV diagnosis was 4.8 years (IQR: 2.3 – 10.1 years). The median CD4 cell count at the time of ONFH diagnosis was 381 cells/ mm3 (IQR: 161 – 551 cells/mm3 ). At the initial diagnosis of ONFH, 83.3% of patients exhibited bilateral involvement. ARCO stage 3 or 4 osteonecrosis was observed in 83% of patients. Among 22 hips, stage 1 ONFH was noted in 2 (9.1%), stage 2 ONFH was noted in 7 (31.8%), stage 3 ONFH was noted in 9 (40.9%), and stage 4 ONFH was noted in 4 (18.2%). THA was eventually performed in 84.6% of patients.Five (38.5%) patients had a history of steroid use, 4 (30.8%) patients had a history of alcohol abuse and 10 (76.9%) were smokers. Eight (61.5%) patients had a history of acquired immune deficiency syndrome-defining illness, including 7 with tuberculosis and 1 with pneumocystis pneumonia. Nine patients (69.2%) had a nadir CD4 cell count <200/µL, and 3 (23.1%) had a history of bone fracture. Overall, 84% of patients were exposed to antiretroviral therapy, while 54% had taken protease inhibitors for more than 1 year. @*Conclusion@#Considering that relatively high incidence of ONFH in patients with HIV, a high index of suspicion for those with risk factors and those with groin or hip pain for is required in HIV-infected patients.
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BACKGROUND@#The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases recommends non-mandatory vaccination of newly employed healthcare workers (HCWs) with 2 measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine doses. Here, we aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of mumps among HCWs exposed to index patients with mumps and the efficacy of MMR vaccination as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) when a mumps outbreak was encountered among HCWs in a tertiary university hospital in Korea.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#Four HCWs were diagnosed with mumps over a 4-day period in January 2016. Three were working at a dental clinic and one visited the clinic on the day of symptoms onset of the first patient. We investigated all HCWs who either worked in that dental clinic, visited the clinic, or being within 1.5 meter of the patients with mumps without wearing surgical masks. Seventy HCWs were exposed to 4 HCWs with mumps. We interviewed all the exposed HCWs to investigate mumps infection and MMR vaccination history; they were all tested for mumps IgG.@*RESULTS@#Of the 70 exposed HCWs, 56 (80%) were females; the median age was 34 years (range 21–59 years) and 3 had a history of mumps infection. The vaccination status verification of mumps among the HCWs was unavailable. As for serologic testing, 54 (77.1%) were seropositive. Seropositivity rate for the mumps virus in males was significantly lower than that in females (50.0% vs. 83.9% respectively, P = 0.007). A lower seroprevalence of mumps was observed among HCWs aged ≥40 years than those aged 2 days. Thirty-four (62.9%) of 54 seropositive HCWs and 16 seronegative HCWs were administered MMR vaccines as PEP and following this, no additional cases of mumps were encountered during the maximum incubation period.@*CONCLUSION@#Of the exposed HCWs, 77.1% were mumps-seropositive. Seropositive rates differed according to factors such as age and sex. Eligible HCWs received a MMR vaccine as PEP and no additional mumps cases occurred during the incubation period. It was useful in our infection control activities during the mumps outbreak.
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BACKGROUND@#The reports about fertility desire and pregnancy outcome among women infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Korea are scarce. This study aimed to determine the changing trend in pregnancy incidence among women infected with HIV in Korea.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of women infected with HIV visiting Pusan National University Hospital between January 1990 and October 2018.@*RESULTS@#A total of 149 women with HIV infection visited the study hospital. Among them, 33 pregnancies in 24 (16.1%) women were identified. There were 17 live births (51.5%) and 13 abortions (39.4%), whereas 3 women (9.1%) were transferred to another hospital or were lost to follow-up. The number of live birth rose from 0 in 1990-1998 to 17 in 1999-2018. The proportion of repeated pregnancies after HIV diagnosis also increased steeply, from 14.3% in 1999-2008 to 50% in 2009-2018. However, the number of abortions also increased over time. There were 8 induced abortions, 7 (87.5%) of them were diagnosed with HIV infection during pregnancy and 3 (37.5%) were unplanned pregnancies. Eighteen babies, including 1 twin case, were born from 17 births. There was no mother-to-child HIV transmission in our study.@*CONCLUSION@#The number of pregnancies among women with HIV infection and repeated pregnancies after HIV diagnosis has been increasing in Korea, probably due to the desire of HIV patients to have more children. However, the number of abortions also increased, probably due to health concerns and uncertain pregnancy outcome.
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BACKGROUND@#Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are common in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. There are few reports on the epidemiology and endoscopic findings of gastric cancer in patients with HIV infection in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We retrospectively analyzed upper GI endoscopic findings in patients with HIV infection and investigated their role as gastric cancer screening.@*MATERIALS AND METHODS@#We retrospectively investigated endoscopies conducted in Korean patients with HIV infection referred for endoscopy at a tertiary hospital between January 2004 and December 2018. Endoscopic and pathologic findings were analyzed according to the reason for endoscopy, patient age, and cART duration. All endoscopic findings were reevaluated by gastroenterologists.@*RESULTS@#Three hundred ten endoscopies in 201 patients with HIV infection were investigated. Of these, 118 (38.1%) endoscopies in 81 (40.1%) patients were performed for cancer screening purposes. Gastric cancer was found in 4 patients (2.0%); one of them presented with gastric cancer at the time of HIV diagnosis, and the other 3 patients were diagnosed with early gastric cancer on screening endoscopy, which was cured with endoscopic submucosal dissection or surgery. The prevalence of gastric cancer in screening endoscopies was 3.7%. Atrophic gastritis was a more common finding in screening endoscopies than in diagnostic endoscopies (P <0.001), and was significantly associated with longer durations of cART (P <0.001). The overall prevalence of gastric cancer, atrophic gastritis, and intestinal metaplasia was 2.0, 57.8, and 25.4%, respectively. The prevalence of atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia increased with age.@*CONCLUSION@#Regular gastric cancer screening might be useful for early diagnosis and treatment of gastric cancer in patients with HIV infection.
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BACKGROUND: Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are associated with high mortality rates and their treatment is difficult because treatment is limited to certain antibiotics, such as colistin and tigecycline. We aimed to perform active surveillance culture of CRE (ASC-CRE) to monitor the prevalence of CRE acquisition during intensive care unit (ICU) care and to examine the potential risk factors associated with CRE acquisition. METHODS: We conducted ASC-CRE on patients who were admitted to the ICU in the emergency room at a tertiary hospital. Rectal swabs were analyzed using methods established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To detect carbapenemase-producing CRE, a polymerase chain reaction assay to detect five carbapenemase genes (bla(NDM), bla(KPC), bla(VIM), bla(IMP-1), and bla(OXA-48)) was performed. RESULTS: There were 22 CRE acquisition in 21 patients (2.6%, 21/810) and the incidence of CRE acquisition was 4.3/1,000 person-days, respectively. The most common species detected was Klebsiella pneumoniae (72.7%, 16/22), and 9 carbapenemase-producing CREs (7 bla KPC and 2 bla NDM) were detected. Independent risk factors associated with CRE acquisition were men gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3–21.3), history of admission within one year (aOR, 3.9; 95% CI, 1.2–12.1), co-colonization with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (aOR, 15.6; 95% CI, 3.6–67.8) and extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing bacteria (aOR, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.5–14.6), and exposure to glycopeptide antibiotics (aOR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3–9.9). CONCLUSION: The identification of patients with risk factors for CRE acquisition and early detection of CRE acquisition using ASC-CRE may be useful for CRE control.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Acinetobacter baumannii , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Bacteria , Case-Control Studies , Colistin , Critical Care , Emergencies , Emergency Service, Hospital , Enterobacteriaceae , Incidence , Intensive Care Units , Klebsiella pneumoniae , Korea , Mortality , Odds Ratio , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Tertiary Care CentersABSTRACT
Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy, the life span of people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or AIDS (PWHA) has been extended significantly. Therefore, the importance of non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADCs), as well as AIDS-defining cancers (ADCs) has increased. There is little information concerning the epidemiology of malignancies in PWHA in Korea. A descriptive epidemiologic study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Korea. PWHA who visited Pusan National University Hospital from January 2000 to October 2014 were included. Demographics and clinical data were obtained from the medical records and analyzed. A total of 950 PWHA were observed for 4,439.71 person-years. Forty-eight episodes (5.05%) of cancers were diagnosed in 47 patients. Mean age of the enrolled patients was 40.66 ± 12.15 years and 88% were male. Among the 48 cancer episodes, 20 (42%) were ADCs and 28 were NADCs. The most common ADCs was non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (53.6%), followed by Kaposi's sarcoma (17.9%). The most common NADCs were lung cancer (25%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (25%). The overall incidence of total cancers, ADCs, and NADCs was 10.8 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0–14.3), 4.5 (95% CI, 2.8–7.0), and 6.3 (95% CI, 4.2–9.1)/1,000 person-years, respectively. NADCs accounted for 12/15 (80%) of cancers among PWHA with good adherence to care. The 5-year survival rate of PWHA and NADC was 26.3%. NADCs have become the main type of malignancy among Korean PWHA with good adherence to care. Effective strategies to improve screening of NADCs among PWHA are required in Korea.
Subject(s)
Humans , Humans , Male , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Demography , Epidemiologic Studies , Epidemiology , HIV , Incidence , Korea , Lung Neoplasms , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin , Mass Screening , Medical Records , Sarcoma, Kaposi , Survival Rate , Tertiary HealthcareABSTRACT
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a human neurotropic alphaherpesvirus that causes chickenpox (varicella) in children. VZV reactivation may lead to neurological complications, including transverse myelitis. However, transverse myelitis caused by VZV reactivation is rare in immunocompetent patients. Herein, we report a case of transverse myelitis caused by VZV in an immunocompetent older patient, and confirmed this case by polymerase chain reaction. A 79-year-old woman visited our service with complaints of weakness in the right lower leg, generalized vesicular eruptions, and throbbing pain in the right flank for ten days. Spine MRI showed transverse myelitis in the thoracic spine at level T4–T11. The patient was treated with acyclovir and her neurological functions improved, except for sensory impairment below level T10. For older patients, early and aggressive antiviral treatment against VZV may be necessary even though these patients are immunocompetent.
Subject(s)
Aged , Child , Female , Humans , Acyclovir , Chickenpox , Herpesvirus 3, Human , Leg , Magnetic Resonance Imaging , Myelitis, Transverse , Polymerase Chain Reaction , SpineABSTRACT
Malperfusion syndrome is a complication of acute descending aortic dissection (DAD) and it is associated with a poor clinical outcome. Surgical treatment for it has a high rate of mortality. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for DAD with malperfusion syndrome has resulted in good clinical outcomes. However, when both common iliac arteries are compromised by a false lumen, it is impossible to conduct TEVAR because there is no accessible artery. We successfully treated a case of DAD with malperfusion syndrome in which both common iliac arteries were compromised by placing stents in both arteries using the left brachial approach.
Subject(s)
Aorta , Arteries , Iliac Artery , Mortality , StentsABSTRACT
BAlthough intraductal radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been reported to be a feasible treatment of malignancy biliary obstruction in unresectable cholangiocarcinoma, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)-guided intraductal RFA has a disadvantage that cannot be directly visualize the biliary tract using the fluoroscopic image. On the other hand, direct peroral cholangioscopy-guided intraductal RFA is easy to insert catheter and apply treatment by visualizing the bile duct lesions. We present a case of direct peroral cholangioscopy-guided intraductal RFA without biliary stent in 67-year-old woman patient with cholangiocarcinoma for treatment of malignancy biliary obstruction. In the past, she underwent choledochoduodenostomy for intrahepatic stones. She underwent direct peroral cholangioscopy-guided intraductal RFA via choledochoduodenostomy orifice, and biliary patency was preserved for 90days without additional treatment such as biliary stent and severe complication. Direct peroral cholangioscopy-guided intraductal RFA is expected to be able to reduce the complications of the procedure by ensuring the bile duct lesions. Prospective studies with long term follow up are warranted.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Bile Ducts , Biliary Tract , Catheter Ablation , Catheters , Cholangiocarcinoma , Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde , Choledochostomy , Hand , StentsABSTRACT
We report the case of a patient with cardiac tamponade and pericarditis in type B intramural hematoma. A 75-year-old woman was admitted to the emergency department presenting with general weakness and dizziness for several hours and hemodynamic collapse. Thoracic echocardiography and computed tomography (CT) showed a large pericardial effusion and aortic intramural hematoma but no evidence of aortic dissection. Therefore, we concluded that the intramural hematoma did not involve the ascending aorta and thus immediately performed pericardiocentesis. Follow-up CT showed no pericardial effusion or specific changes in the range or depth of the intramural hematoma, and she was discharged continuing colchicines and ibuprofen therapy for acute pericarditis. Cardiac tamponade in type B intramural hematoma is extremely rare. Prompt diagnosis and initial treatment resulted in a substantial improvement in clinical status.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Aorta , Cardiac Tamponade , Diagnosis , Dizziness , Echocardiography , Emergency Service, Hospital , Follow-Up Studies , Hematoma , Hemodynamics , Ibuprofen , Pericardial Effusion , Pericardiocentesis , PericarditisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Few clinical studies have clarified the prognostic factors that affect clinical outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) after immunochemotherapy. METHODS: A total of 158 patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL were enrolled. All patients underwent positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) before and after salvage therapy. All enrolled patients previously received the ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide regimen. Clinical outcomes were compared according to several factors (age > or = 65 years, low age-adjusted International Prognostic Index [aa-IPI], maximum standardized uptake value [SUVmax] or =12 months, complete response after salvage therapy). A low aa-IPI, SUVmax or = 12 months were independent prognostic factors for survival. RESULTS: In univariate analysis and multivariate analysis, SUVmax below 6.0 (P<0.001 for progression-free survival (PFS), P<0.001 for overall survival (OS)) and low aa-IPI (P<0.001 for PFS, P<0.001 for OS) were independent prognostic factors associated with favorable outcome. CONCLUSION: The aa-IPI and initial SUVmax were powerful prognostic factors in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL.