The Clinical Usefulness of the SD Bioline Influenza Antigen Test(R) for Detecting the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Virus

Though the 2009 worldwide influenza A (H1N1) pandemic has been declared to have ended, the influenza virus is expected to continue to circulate from some years as a seasonal influenza. A rapid antigen test (RAT) can aid in rapid diagnosis and allow for early antiviral treatment. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of RAT using SD Bioline Influenza Antigen Test(R) kit to detect the influenza virus, considering various factors. From August 1, 2009 to October 10, 2009, a total of 938 patients who visited the outpatient clinic at Korea University Guro Hospital with influenza-like illnesses were enrolled in the study. Throat or nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from each of the patients. Using these specimens, we evaluated the influenza detection rate by rapid antigen test based on the real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) method. In comparison with rRT-PCR, the sensitivity and specificity of the RAT were 44.0% and 99.9%, respectively. The cyclic threshold values of RAT negative specimens were higher than RAT positive specimens (30.1+/-3.1 vs. 28.3+/-3.9, p=0.031). The sensitivity of the RAT kit was higher in patients who visited clinics within two days of symptom onset (60.4% vs. 11.1%, p=0.026). The results of this study show that the RAT cannot be recommended for general use in all patients with influenza-like illness because of its low sensitivity. The RAT may be used, only in the settings with limited diagnostic resources, for patients who visit a clinic within two days of symptom onset.

Clinical Features of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in Korea

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most important causes of pneumonia, meningitis, bacteremia, and other invasive diseases in children and adults. The 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine (PPV) has been recommended to adults with high risk conditions by the Korea Society of Infectious Diseases in 2007, but there is no data on the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in Korean adults to support this recommendation. Therefore, we performed a study to investigate the epidemiology of invasive pneumococcal disease in Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected clinical and microbiologic data of patients diagnosed with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in 3 university-hospitals located in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do from January 2002 to December 2007. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients were diagnosed with IPD in the selected hospitals during the study period. Invasive pneumonia and meningitis were the most common forms of IPDs. The mean length of hospitalization of patients with IPD was 18.5+/-26.7 days and mortality rate of IPD was 18.6%. Among the isolates from patients with IPD, 59.7% was susceptible to penicillin and 38.3% was susceptible to erythromycin. Mortality rate of IPD increased with age and in patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 4. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiology of IPD in Korean population was described. Further studies should be performed to secure the risk factors of invasive pneumococcal diseases and to confirm the appropriateness of recommendation for vaccination with the 23-valent PPV.

Diabetic Foot Infection: Microbiologic Analysis Based on Deep Tissue Biopsy

BACKGROUND: The annual prevalence of foot ulcer in Korea is 99.5 per 100,000 people with diabetes and 49.8 cases among them go through amputation. Moreover, amputation due to uncontrolled infection accounts for 50% of all non-traumatic limb amputations. Therefore, reliable microbiological documentation is important. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 74 patients with diabetic foot infection, who referred to Korea University Hospital from September 2006 to March 2007. Deep tissue biopsies were taken from the base of ulcer after surgical debridement and cleansing at admission. We analyzed the microbiological differences according to the sex, age, type and duration of diabetes, glycemic control, presence of neuropathy or angiopathy, diabetic nephropathy, osteomyelitis, transcutaneous oxygen tension and prior antibiotic use. RESULTS: Gram-positive aerobic bacteria were the most common organisms isolated (76.4%), followed by Gram-negative aerobic bacteria (33.3%) and fungus (2.0%). Of the Gram-positive aerobes, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found most frequently (29.4%). The clinical and laboratory findings showed no significant clinical differences between gram-positive and gram-negative infections. Moreover, there was no difference in clinical findings between methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections. Mixed infection was not common (average, 1.2 organisms with each diabetic foot infection). Of note, mixed infection was more frequently found in patients with prior antibiotic use. CONCLUSION: MRSA was the most common pathogen in diabetic foot infection among patients referred to tertiary hospital. There was no significant difference of clinical and laboratory findings with regard to gram stain results and methicillin resistance in S. aureus. Mixed infection was not common, but broad spectrum antibiotics are recommended for severe diabetic foot infection with prior antibiotic exposure.

Diabetic Foot Infection: Microbiologic Analysis Based on Deep Tissue Biopsy

BACKGROUND: The annual prevalence of foot ulcer in Korea is 99.5 per 100,000 people with diabetes and 49.8 cases among them go through amputation. Moreover, amputation due to uncontrolled infection accounts for 50% of all non-traumatic limb amputations. Therefore, reliable microbiological documentation is important. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 74 patients with diabetic foot infection, who referred to Korea University Hospital from September 2006 to March 2007. Deep tissue biopsies were taken from the base of ulcer after surgical debridement and cleansing at admission. We analyzed the microbiological differences according to the sex, age, type and duration of diabetes, glycemic control, presence of neuropathy or angiopathy, diabetic nephropathy, osteomyelitis, transcutaneous oxygen tension and prior antibiotic use. RESULTS: Gram-positive aerobic bacteria were the most common organisms isolated (76.4%), followed by Gram-negative aerobic bacteria (33.3%) and fungus (2.0%). Of the Gram-positive aerobes, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found most frequently (29.4%). The clinical and laboratory findings showed no significant clinical differences between gram-positive and gram-negative infections. Moreover, there was no difference in clinical findings between methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections. Mixed infection was not common (average, 1.2 organisms with each diabetic foot infection). Of note, mixed infection was more frequently found in patients with prior antibiotic use. CONCLUSION: MRSA was the most common pathogen in diabetic foot infection among patients referred to tertiary hospital. There was no significant difference of clinical and laboratory findings with regard to gram stain results and methicillin resistance in S. aureus. Mixed infection was not common, but broad spectrum antibiotics are recommended for severe diabetic foot infection with prior antibiotic exposure.