Therapeutic Drug Concentrations of Teicoplanin in Clinical Settings

BACKGROUND: Teicoplanin is a glycopeptide antibiotic that is widely used in clinical practice for the treatment of infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria. The aim of this study was to analyze plasma teicoplanin concentrations to determine the percentage of patients in whom therapeutic concentrations of teicoplanin were achieved in clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The plasma teicoplanin concentrations of hospitalized patients receiving treatment at a teaching hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The target level was defined as a plasma teicoplanin concentration of 10 mg/L or greater, since this was generally regarded as the lower limit of the optimal concentration range required for the effective treatment of a majority of infections. RESULTS: Patients with sub-optimal (< 10 mg/L) plasma teicoplanin concentrations constituted nearly half of the total study population. The majority of these patients received the recommended loading dose, which were three 400 mg doses administered every 12 hours. Sub-group analysis showed a trend that the group receiving loading dose was more likely to reach the optimal teicoplanin concentration. CONCLUSIONS: The data revealed that a significant proportion of patients in clinical practice achieved only sub-optimal teicoplanin concentrations, which emphasizes the importance of the mandatory use of loading dose and routine therapeutic drug monitoring. Treatment reassessment and simulation of individual dose regimens may also be necessary to achieve optimal drug concentrations.

Mesocolon Laceration Following Colonoscopy / 대한소화기학회지

Colonoscopic examination is a safe procedure, however, unexpected complications can sometimes occur. Bleeding and perforation of the colon have been reported as the most common complications. Hemoperitoneum after colonoscopy is an unusual complication, but it may be catastrophic. We report on a 20-year-old man who experienced left low quadrant pain after undergoing colonoscopy. Hemoperitoneum was diagnosed using abdominal CT. A laparoscopic exploration was urgently performed, revealing a lacerated mesocolon of the descending colon. Bleeding of the injured site was controlled without complication. The patient recovered fully without signs of recurrent bleeding. This report implies that if the patient has persistent abdominal pain after undergoing colonoscopy, we should consider hemoperitoneum as one of the causes. To the best of our knowledge, no case of isolated laceration of the mesocolon of the descending colon after colonoscopy has been reported.

Carriage Rates and Serogroups of Neisseria meningitidis among Freshmen in a University Dormitory in Korea

PURPOSE: Neisseria meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in young adults. University students, especially those living in dormitories, have been known to be at increased risk of meningococcal disease. We performed a longitudinal study to determine the carriage rates of N. meningitidis and the changes thereof. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited Inha University freshmen who were, at that time, admitted to a student dormitory. A pharyngeal swab was taken from all participant who were also asked to complete a questionnaire. This was repeated four weeks later. RESULTS: A total of 136 students were enrolled at the first culture. After four weeks, 128 students were enrolled, including 106 re-participants. The overall carriage rates changed from 11.8% to 14.1%. In analysis of the 106 re-participants, "visiting to pubs" was associated with carriage of N. meningitis for both the first (p=0.047) and second cultures (p=0.026). Serogroup C was found to be the most frequent serogroup (5 isolates), while 3 isolates were found from serogroup B. The most prevalent PorA types were P1.22,14-6 (4 isolates) and P1.19,15 (3 isolates). The DNA sequences of PorA VR2 were changed in 2 students during prolonged carriage. CONCLUSION: The meningococcal carriage rate among first year university students who resided in a dormitory did not significantly increase over 4-week interval between cultures, which is markedly different from those reported in Western studies. Close social contact appeared to be related with carriage. Our data also revealed diversity in PorA types, suggesting the possibility of rapid mutation of the PorA gene during the 4-week interval.

Variations in Number of Hospitalized Patients with Cardiopulmonary Diseases Associated with 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza in a Tertiary Teaching Hospital - Comparison with Seasonal Influenza

BACKGROUND: The world encountered the global outbreak of an H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009. Influenza has accounted for grave outcomes, not only through infectious complications, but also through the exacerbation of underlying chronic diseases. A substantial number of confirmed or probable cases of influenza had been reported during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic in South Korea, but a review of the development of influenza-related complications or the exacerbation of underlying chronic diseases has been absent. This study aims to understand the influence of the 2009 pandemic on the exacerbation of existing cardiopulmonary diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We surveyed the number of hospitalized patients with a diagnosis of pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute myocardial infarctions, and heart failure during the period of the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic in a 950-bed teaching hospital in Korea. Three influenza seasons from 2007 to 2009 were compared via a medical records review. Data collection included the number of hospitalizations, patient age, number of deaths from all causes, and underlying medical conditions of fatal patients. RESULTS: The weekly number of cardiopulmonary hospitalizations showed no differences between the 2009 pandemic influenza period and seasonal influenza epidemics (53 and 56 on average, respectively), but the total number of hospitalized patients during the pandemic influenza period was 1481, whereas there were 625 on average for seasonal influenza. The hospitalization rate for patients under five years of age exceeded that of the patients sixty years of age or older in pandemic influenza, and the hospitalization rate of patients twentyfive to fifty-nine during pandemic influenza was significantly higher than that of seasonal influenza outbreaks (P=0.012). On the other hand, the hospitalization rate of the patients sixty years of age or older during the pandemic influenza period significantly fell short of that in past seasonal influenza periods (P<0.001). However, the patients sixty years of age or older had the highest case fatality rate during both periods. The total number of deaths among hospitalized patients with cardiopulmonary diseases in pandemic influenza and seasonal influenza epidemics was 87 and 46 on average, respectively. Weekly fatal cases were 3 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiopulmonary hospitalization rate during the pandemic period outnumbered that of preceding seasonal influenza epidemics by its extended length. But, the virulence or disease severity of the 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza seems to be little different. A larger-scale epidemiological investigation is necessary.