Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in an Adult after COVID-19 Vaccination: a Case Report and Literature Review

As the number of people vaccinated increases, people who complain of adverse reactions continue to occur. We experienced a case characterized by low blood pressure, persistent fever, edema due to increased systemic vascular permeability, and systemic inflammation confirmed by image and laboratory examinations after ChAdOx1 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination. The diagnostic criteria for multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) in adults are known as fever of 3 days or more in adults, 2 or more mucocutaneous/ gastrointestinaleurologic symptoms, elevation of inflammatory markers, and clinical/ imaging diagnosis of heart failure. A 67-year-old man who was medicated for hypertension and diabetes was admitted complaining of fever, maculopapular rash, diarrhea, headache, chills, and dizziness 6 days after the first vaccination of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in Korea.The COVID-19 test was negative but with low blood pressure, leukocytosis, skin rash, pulmonary edema, and increased inflammation markers. His lab findings and clinical course were consistent with those of MIS after COVID-19 vaccination. He was medicated with methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg and diuretics and recovered rapidly. He was discharged after 2 weeks and confirmed cure at outpatient clinic. We report an MIS case after COVID-19 vaccination in Korea.

Infectious Diseases Physician Workforce in Korea

This study aimed to evaluate the infectious disease (ID) physician workforce in Korea. We investigated the acquisition of ID physicians from 1992 to 2019 with their current working place in the Health Care System. We defined ID physicians working at general or tertiarycare hospitals as active ID physicians. A total 275 physicians acquired ID as a sub-specialty.Among the 275, 242 were active ID physicians. The density of active ID physicians was 0.47 per 100,000 population. Of all the 17 administrative districts, 11 (64.7%) fell short of 0.47, and 131 medical institutions employed the service of ID physicians. The median number of beds per adult ID physician was 372 (interquartile range, 280–507). It is essential to secure human resources to respond to emerging infectious diseases and perform the inherent work of ID physicians.

Infectious Diseases Physician Workforce in Korea

This study aimed to evaluate the infectious disease (ID) physician workforce in Korea. We investigated the acquisition of ID physicians from 1992 to 2019 with their current working place in the Health Care System. We defined ID physicians working at general or tertiarycare hospitals as active ID physicians. A total 275 physicians acquired ID as a sub-specialty.Among the 275, 242 were active ID physicians. The density of active ID physicians was 0.47 per 100,000 population. Of all the 17 administrative districts, 11 (64.7%) fell short of 0.47, and 131 medical institutions employed the service of ID physicians. The median number of beds per adult ID physician was 372 (interquartile range, 280–507). It is essential to secure human resources to respond to emerging infectious diseases and perform the inherent work of ID physicians.

Early Intravenous Colistin Therapy as a Favorable Prognostic Factor for 28-day Mortality in Patients with CRAB Bacteremia: a Multicenter Propensity Score-Matching Analysis

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) infection is associated with high mortality. One of the strategies to reduce the mortality in patients with CRAB infections is to use intravenous colistin early but the effect of this strategy has not been proven. Therefore, we investigated the association of early colistin therapy with 28-day mortality in patients with CRAB bacteremia. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter propensity score-matching analysis was conducted in the Korea by reviewing the medical records of adult patients with CRAB bacteremia between January 2012 and March 2015. Early colistin therapy was defined as intravenous colistin administration for > 48 hours within five days after the blood culture collection. To identify the risk factors associated with the 28-day mortality in CRAB bacteremia, the clinical variables of the surviving patients were compared to those of the deceased patients. RESULTS: Of 303 enrolled patients, seventy-six (25.1%) patients received early colistin therapy. The 28-day mortality was 61.4% (186/303). Fatal or rapidly-fatal McCabe classifications, intensive care unit admission, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores ≥ 8, vasopressor use, and acute kidney injury were statistically independent poor prognostic factors. Catheter-related infection and early colistin therapy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21–0.94) were independent favorable prognostic factors associated with 28-day mortality in patients with CRAB bacteremia. Early colistin therapy was still significantly associated with lower 28-day mortality in the propensity score-matching analysis (aOR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11–0.88). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that early colistin therapy might help reduce the mortality of patients with CRAB bacteremia.

Modified Measles in an Anti-Measles Immunoglobulin G-negative Healthcare Worker who had Received Two Doses of Measles-Containing Vaccine / 감염과화학요법

To date, documentation of two doses of measles-containing vaccine (MCV) has been accepted as confirmation of measles immunity among healthcare workers (HCWs). However, we encountered measles in an HCW who had received two doses of MCV. A patient with measles was admitted to our hospital. Among 62 exposed HCWs, one nurse who had previously received two doses of MCV was shown to be negative for anti-measles immunoglobulin G (IgG), and was confirmed to have measles 14 days after exposure. Based on this experience, we suggest that all HCWs should be tested for anti-measles IgG to confirm their immunity to measles.

Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System, Intensive Care Unit Module Report: Data Summary from July 2012 through June 2013 / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: The Korean Society for Nosocomial Infection Control (KOSNIC) ran a surveillance system, called as Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (KONIS), since July 2006. Here, we report the annual data of the intensive care unit (ICU) module of the system from July 2012 through June 2013. METHODS: This is a prospective surveillance of nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTI), bloodstream infections (BSI), and pneumonia (PNEU) at 161 ICUs in 91 hospitals using the KONIS system. The nosocomial infection (NI) rate was calculated as the number of infections per 1,000 patient days or device days. RESULTS: A total of 3,042 NIs were reported during the study period: 877 UTIs (854 cases were urinary catheter-associated), 1,272 BSIs (1,096 were central line-associated), and 893 PNEUs (526 cases were ventilator-associated). The rate of urinary catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) was 1.26 cases per 1,000 device days (95% confidence interval; 1.18-1.34) and urinary catheter utilization ratio was 0.78 (0.779-0.781). The rate of central line-associated BSIs was 2.57 (2.42-2.72) and the utilization ratio was 0.49 (0.489-0.491). The rate of ventilator-associated PNEUs was 1.64 (1.50-1.78) and the utilization ratio was 0.37 (0.369-0.371). The urinary catheter utilization ratio was lower in the ICUs of hospitals with 400-699 beds than in those of hospitals with more than 900 beds; nevertheless, CAUTIs were more common in the hospitals with 400-699 beds. The central line-associated BSI (CLABSI) rate was lower in the study period than in the previous period of July 2011-June 2012 [2.57 (2.42-2.72) vs. 3.01 (2.84-3.19)]. CONCLUSION: The CLABSI rates were lower in the study period than those in the previous years. CAUTIs were more common in the ICUs of hospitals with 400-699 beds than in those of larger hospitals.

Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System, Intensive Care Unit Module Report: Summary of Data from July 2011 through June 2012 / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: This article reports annual data of intensive care units (ICU) module of the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (KONIS) system from July 2011 through June 2012. METHODS: We performed a prospective surveillance of nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTI), bloodstream infections (BSI), and pneumonia (PNEU) at 143 ICUs in 81 hospitals using the KONIS system. Nosocomial infection (NI) rates were calculated as the number of infections per 1,000 patient days or device days. Asymptomatic bacteriuria was excluded on or after October 1, 2011. RESULTS: A total of 3,374 NIs were found during the study period: 1,356 UTIs (1,336 cases were urinary catheter-associated), 1,253 BSIs (1,091 were central line-associated), and 765 PNEUs (481 were ventilator-associated). The rate of urinary catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) was 2.26 cases per 1,000 device-days (95% confidence interval, 2.14-2.39) and urinary catheter utilization ratio was 0.85 (0.849-0.851). The rate of central line-associated BSIs was 3.01 (2.84-3.19) and the utilization ratio was 0.52 (0.519-0.521). The rate of ventilator-associated PNEUs (VAPs) was 1.70 (1.56-1.86) and the utilization ratio was 0.40 (0.399-0.401). Ventilator and urinary catheter utilization ratios were lower in the ICUs of hospitals with 400-699 beds than those in hospitals with 700-899 beds or more than 900 beds. Nevertheless, VAPs and CAUTIs were more common in hospitals with 400-699 beds. CONCLUSION: Nosocomial infection rates were similar to the findings of those of the previous period, July 2010-July 2011. Implementation of proven infection-control strategies are needed, especially in the hospitals having fewer than 700 beds.

Necrotizing Fasciitis in Three University Hospitals in Korea: A Change in Causative Microorganisms and Risk Factors of Mortality During the Last Decade / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Necrotizing fasciitis is a life-threatening infectious disease with rapidly progressive involvement of the affected site. Because of the high mortality rate of this disease, early diagnosis, surgical exploration, and administration of appropriate antibiotics are necessary. The present study aimed to further review the changes in the clinical and microbiological characteristics of necrotizing fasciitis using patients' medical records from consecutive databases of 3 hospitals in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with necrotizing fasciitis who were clinically diagnosed between May 2001 and February 2012 in 3 university hospitals in Korea. In total, the data of 83 patients were analyzed, including those of 20 patients from our previous study in 2006. An organism found in a blood culture or surgical specimen was regarded as a causative organism. RESULTS: Of the 83 patients, 68(81.9%) had community-acquired infections. Ninety microorganism species were indentifed by culture. Streptococcus was the most commonly identified pathogen. Non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria and Candida species have recently emerged, especially in immunocompromised hosts. CONCLUSIONS: Gram-positive organisms are still the most common pathogens of necrotizing fasciitis. However in our study, various gram-negative bacteria with different levels of susceptibility to antibiotics, as well as Candida species, were responsible for the necrotizing fasciitis. Initial empirical antimicrobial agents for necrotizing fasciitis should be considered depending on the individual patient's condition.

Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System, Intensive Care Unit Module Report: Data Summary from July 2010 through June 2011 / 병원감염관리

BACKGROUND: We present here the annual data of the intensive care unit (ICU) module of the Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System (KONIS) from July 2010 through June 2011. METHODS: We performed a prospective surveillance of nosocomial urinary tract infections (UTI), bloodstream infections (BSI), and pneumonia (PNEU) at 130 ICUs in 72 hospitals using KONIS. Nosocomial infection (NI) rates were calculated as the number of infections per 1,000 patient-days or device-days. RESULTS: A total of 3,757 NIs were found: 1,978 UTIs (1,949 cases were urinary catheter-associated), 1,092 BSIs (with 932 being central line-associated), and 687 PNEUs (410 were ventilator-associated). The rate of urinary catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs) was 3.87 cases per 1,000 device-days (95% confidence interval, 3.70-4.05), and the urinary catheter utilization ratio was 0.86 (0.859-0.861). The rate of central line-associated BSIs was 3.01 per 1,000 device-days (2.82-3.21), and the utilization ratio was 0.53 (0.529-0.531). The rate of ventilator-associated PNEUs (VAPs) was 1.75 per 1,000 device-days (1.59-1.93), and the utilization ratio was 0.40 (0.399-0.401). Although both the ventilator utilization ratiosand the urinary catheter utilization ratios were lower in hospitals with 400-699 beds than thosein hospitals with 700-899 beds ormore than 900 beds, the rates of VAPsand CAUTIs were higher in hospitals with 400-699 beds than thosein hospitals with 700-899 beds or more than 900 beds. CONCLUSION: The risk of acquiring VAP and CAUTI is higher in the ICUs of 400-699 bed hospitals than in ICUs oflarger hospitals. Therefore, ongoing targeted surveillance and implementation of proven infection control strategies are needed especially for hospitals having fewer than 700 beds.

A Case of Plasmodium Vivax Malaria with Cerebral Complications / 대한내과학회지

A 51-year-old man diagnosed with Plasmodium vivax malaria was transferred to our clinic with newly developed drowsy mentality and myoclonus after the initiation of hydroxychloroquine therapy. Following therapy to treat the vivax malaria and supportive care, the patient recovered completely with no sequelae. Cerebral complications caused by vivax malaria are very rare worldwide, and only two cases have been reported in Korea. Here, we report the third published case of P. vivax infection with cerebral complications in Korea.

A Case of Plasmodium Vivax Malaria with Cerebral Complications / 대한내과학회지

A 51-year-old man diagnosed with Plasmodium vivax malaria was transferred to our clinic with newly developed drowsy mentality and myoclonus after the initiation of hydroxychloroquine therapy. Following therapy to treat the vivax malaria and supportive care, the patient recovered completely with no sequelae. Cerebral complications caused by vivax malaria are very rare worldwide, and only two cases have been reported in Korea. Here, we report the third published case of P. vivax infection with cerebral complications in Korea.

A Case of Pyogenic Liver Abscess Complicated by Hepatobronchial Fistula / 감염과화학요법

Hepatobronchial fistula, an anatomic communication between the liver parenchyma and the bronchial tree, is a rare condition, which usually develops as a complication of amoebiasis, hydatid cysts, and trauma. We report on a case of a pyogenic liver abscess complicated by a hepatobronchial fistula, which responded well to treatment with antibiotics and percutaneous drainage. A 36-year-old male patient presented with a two-week history of dry cough, shortness of breath, right side abdominal pain, and fever. Chest computed tomography scan showed a heterogeneously enhanced abscess measuring approximately 6 cm in the right liver dome. Percutaneous drainage was performed and antibiotics were administered against Group C Streptococcus cultured from the abscess. After nine days of therapy, repositioning of the drainage catheter was performed and the patient coughed suddenly during injection of contrast media, and communication from abscess to bronchus was discovered. While maintaining abscess drainage and antibiotic therapy, the fistula diminished gradually and disappeared completely with resolution of the liver abscess.

Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 2009 Infection among Patients with Malignancy in Korea / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Patients with malignancy are considered to be at high risk of severe pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009. This study was conducted to identify the severity of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 among patients with malignancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 2009 and December 2009, we reviewed clinical data and medical records of 31 patients with malignancy and 63 hospitalized patients without malignancy. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients with laboratory-confirmed pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 were admitted. The rate of ICU admission was higher among patients with malignancy (without malignancy 13% vs with malignancy 35%, P=0.024). The mortality rate was higher among patients with malignancy (without malignancy 6% vs with malignancy 25%, P=0.033). Patients using immunosuppressants showed a higher rate of lower respiratory tract infection (83% vs 24%, P=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 in patients with malignancy was more severe than in patients without malignancy.

A Fetal Case of Pandemic Influenza (H1N1 2009) by the Aggravated Heart Faiure / 감염과화학요법

On April, 2009, pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) emerged in the United States at first. Clinical outcomes of this infection are reported as ranging from self-limited illness to respiratory failure or death. There were more than 250 deaths due to pandemic influenza until March 2010. Influenza-related deaths occurred in the elderly and in patients with underlying medical conditions. Most of the critically ill patients showed severe hypoxia and acute respiratory distress syndrome and required ventilator care. We experienced a 70-year-old man presenting with pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) with heart failure. He was treated with antival agents, ventalator and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. But his heart function was aggravared and resulted in his death.

The Bacterial Etiology of Community-Acquired Pneumonia in Korea: A Nationwide Prospective Multicenter Study / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Successful therapy for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) requires appropriate empirical antimicrobial therapy based on the local microbe and resistance patterns. However, the available data on the bacterial etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of CAP in Korea is very limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A nationwide prospective multicenter study of CAP in adult patients was carried out between March 2009 and February 2010. Most patients underwent detailed assessment for bacterial and viral pathogens (cultures, urinary antigen testing, serological methods and polymerase chain reaction). RESULTS: A total of 619 patients were studied. More than half (50.4%) of the patients were > or =65 years, 59.3% were males and 48.1% had underlying illness. The etiology was identified in 246 (39.7%) of the patients. The most common etiologic agent was Streptococcus pneumoniae (52 episodes, 21.1%), and the majority (36/52) of which were diagnosed by a positive urinary antigen test alone. The other common bacterial agents included Mycoplasma pneumoniae (41, 16.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (26, 10.6%), Chlamydia pneumoniae (13, 5.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11, 4.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus (8, 3.1%). All S. pneumoniae isolates were susceptible to penicillin with MIC of 2 microg/mL or less, only 1/16 (6.2%) was resistant to levofloxacin and 10/16 (62.5%) were resistant to erythromycin. Of the 26 K. pneumoniae isolates, 25 (96.2%) were susceptible to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: S. pneumoniae remains the most frequent pathogen in adults with CAP and this should be covered with empirical antimicrobial treatment. Atypical pathogens such as M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae were the second most common etiologic agents and they should be tested for. The rate of CAP caused by gram-negative bacilli such as K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa was high, which is similar to that of the previous Korean studies. Further study, with excluding healthcare-associated pneumonia, is needed to clarify the etiology of CAP in Korea.

Study of Empirical Antifungal Therapy in Febrile Neutropenia and Invasive Fungal Infection after Introduction of Novel Antifungal Agents / 대한의진균학회지

BACKGROUND: Patients with prolonged empirical broad spectrum antibiotics for febrile neutropenia (FN) with cancer, inevitably have increased risk of invasive fungal infections owing to the altered endogenous microbial environment. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of empirical antifungal therapy on occurrence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) during FN with cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients with FN after cytotoxic chemotherapy due to cancer from July, 2003 to June, 2007. RESULTS: We identified 91 patients with FN after cytotoxic chemotherapy. Most common underlying conditions were lymphoma (20/91, 22%) and leukemia (20/91, 22%). IFIs occurred in 10% (9/91). In a comparison of patients with empirical antifungal therapy with no antifungal therapy, the duration of neutropenia was significantly increased with IFIs (p=0.09). The mortality of IFIs was 55.5% (5/9). CONCLUSION: We found that the duration of FN than empirical antifungal therapy affected occurrence of IFIs.

Experience of Osteomyelitis of the Pubic Symphysis Following Surgical Treatment of Perianal Necrotizing Fasciitis / 감염과화학요법

Osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis is not common and has often been reported to occur after urological or gynecological procedures. It can be spontaneous in origin but it also is associated with trauma, athletic exertion, pregnancy, and parturition. The early symptoms of osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis mimic those of osteitis pubis, and therefore, the differential diagnosis between these two entities is of clinical importance. A fifty nine-year-old man who had previously received debridement and wide excision of perianal necrotizing fasciitis visited our hospital with pain on both inguinal areas. The core biopsy of the pubic symphysis and aspiration culture were performed, from which Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered. He was treated with parenteral ceftazidime for 5 days followed by cefepime for 7 weeks and showed favorable clinical response. To our knowledge, this is the first report on osteomyelitis of pubic symphysis resulting from debridement and wide excision of perianal necrotizing fasciitis in Korea.

Experience of Osteomyelitis of the Pubic Symphysis Following Surgical Treatment of Perianal Necrotizing Fasciitis / 감염과화학요법

Osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis is not common and has often been reported to occur after urological or gynecological procedures. It can be spontaneous in origin but it also is associated with trauma, athletic exertion, pregnancy, and parturition. The early symptoms of osteomyelitis of the pubic symphysis mimic those of osteitis pubis, and therefore, the differential diagnosis between these two entities is of clinical importance. A fifty nine-year-old man who had previously received debridement and wide excision of perianal necrotizing fasciitis visited our hospital with pain on both inguinal areas. The core biopsy of the pubic symphysis and aspiration culture were performed, from which Pseudomonas aeruginosa was recovered. He was treated with parenteral ceftazidime for 5 days followed by cefepime for 7 weeks and showed favorable clinical response. To our knowledge, this is the first report on osteomyelitis of pubic symphysis resulting from debridement and wide excision of perianal necrotizing fasciitis in Korea.

Two Cases of Vivax Malaria Accompanied by Splenic Complications (such as splenic rupture and splenic infarction) / 감염과화학요법

Malaria is a protozoan disease transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes. Since Plasmodium vivax malaria reemerged in the north west areas of South Korea in 1993, many cases with various manifestations have been reported. Clinicians should be aware of the rare and severe complications as well as the common complications. Splenic complications such as hematoma formation, rupture, torsion, cyst formation, and infarction are unusual manifestations of tertian malaria; therefore, we present two cases of P. vivax malaria with severe splenic complications with review of literature. One had a splenic infarction and the other had a splenic rupture, which was diagnosed by computed tomography. Both patients were successfully treated with a conservative approach.

A Case of 'True' Fungus-Infected Aneurysm of Abdominal Aorta in an Immunocompetent Patient / 감염과화학요법

Infected aneurysms are uncommon, frequently fatal lesions. "True" fungus-infected aneurysms are even rarer. Fungal infections have high morbidity and mortality. However, diagnosis is frequently difficult, since the symptoms are non-specific and standard diagnostic procedures are often insensitive. We experienced a patient with persistent fever and negative blood cultures. The patient was immunocompetent and had no risk factors, and was diagnosed with a fungus-infected aneurysm based on computed tomography and vascular surgery. The vascular tissue revealed some narrow-based budding yeast within the thrombus, suggesting Candida infection. Seventeen cases of infected aneurysm of the abdomen were reported in Korea from 1988 to 2007, although none were "true" fungus-infected aneurysms, making this the first fungus-infected aneurysm of the abdomen in Korea. Prompt diagnostic procedures and aggressive treatment modalities are necessary for patients with occult infection and negative blood cultures, regardless of their immunocompetence, because of the high morbidity and mortality of this condition.