ABSTRACT
Since the first case was diagnosed on May 20, 2015, there were 186 confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) until the end of outbreak in South Korea. Although medical institutions were the most identifiable sources of MERS transmission in South Korea, similar to other countries, in-depth epidemiological investigation was required for some confirmed cases with indefinite contact history or hospital visit records. The subject of epidemiological investigation in the present study was a 35 year-old male patient diagnosed with MERS (#119) who lived in Asan-city and worked in Pyeongtaek-city. Various potential sources of transmission were carefully investigated. While he could have been exposed to MERS through a friend from Saudi Arabia or confirmed MERS cases in his workplace, neighboring areas, and medical institutions, as well as contacts in his home, the chances of transmission were low; however, the potential for transmission through his local community could not be excluded. Practically, it was difficult to determine the modes of transmission for all outbreak cases in communicable disease that occurred in this short period of time. The investigation to identify the mode of transmission in this case was ultimately unsuccessful. However, the various data collected and analyzed to reveal modes of transmission provided detailed information that could not be collected using only interview surveys.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Communicable Diseases , Community-Acquired Infections , Coronavirus , Disease Outbreaks , Disease Transmission, Infectious , Friends , Korea , Middle East , Republic of Korea , Saudi ArabiaABSTRACT
Ankylosing spondylitis(AS) and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis(DISH) increase the risk of spinal fracture after minor trauma in an ankylosed spine. There are few reports on a spinal fracture in people with both conditions. A 67-year-old man visited our emergency room with moderate back pain developed after slipping. No neurological deficit was noted. On physical examination, direct tenderness was noted in the back at the level of the thoracolumbar(TL) junction. Radiological evaluations showed the compression fracture of ankylosed spine and the coexistence of AS and DISH. Vertebroplasty was performed in fractured spine due to persistent back pain. Several weeks later, neurological deficits were developed. Finally, decompressive laminectomy and posterior screw fixations were performed. After operation, neurological deficits were fully recovered and patient was discharged. Patient who had a fracture of an ankylosed spine in association with coexisting AS and DISH could be considered the early surgical treatment.