• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.147-153
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the contamination rates of blood culture in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to examine the clinical characteristics related to the contamination. Methods: Eight hundred thirty cases of blood culture performed from March 2013 to February 2014 were analyzed. We evaluated the contamination rates of blood culture by blood sampling sites and compared the clinical characteristics such as real name system and body weights of the contaminated cases and those of non-contaminated ones. The clinical characteristics were retrospectively reviewed by medical records. Results: The overall contamination rate was 3.6% (30/830). The contamination rates by blood sampling sites were as follows: peripheral vein 15.6% (10/64), peripheral artery 2.6% (20/759), and umbilical arterial catheter 0% (0/7). There was no difference in the contamination rates between cases with and without real name system (P=0.484). However, there were significant differences in the contamination rates by the physicians who performed the culture (P=0.038) and body weight (<1,000 g vs. ${\geq}1,000g$) at the time of blood culture (P<0.001). Conclusions: These results suggest that neonates with a body weight less than 1,000 g have more risks of the contamination of blood culture. Furthermore, there is a necessity to provide blood culture performers with active feedbacks and individualized education plans that can help diminish blood culture contamination rates. Prospective studies in a systematic manner that can be applied in actual clinical settings are needed in order to figure out factors that can diminish the contamination rates of blood culture in NICU.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Emergency Medicine
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.474-484
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• 2018

Objective: The time to positivity (TTP) of blood culture reflects bacterial load and has been reported to be associated with outcome in bloodstream infections. This study was performed to evaluate the relationship between the TTP of blood culture and the mortality rates associated with sepsis and septic shock according to the site of infection. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study on patients with sepsis and septic shock. The rates of blood culture positivity and mortality as well as the relationship between the TTP and 28-day mortality rate were compared among patients with different sites of infection, such as the lungs, abdomen, urogenital tract, and other sites. Results: A total of 2,668 patients were included, and the overall mortality rate was 21.6%. The rates of blood culture positivity and mortality were different among the different infection sites. There was no relationship between the TTP and mortality rates of total, lung, and urogenital infections. Patients with abdominal infections showed a negative correlation between the TTP and 28-day mortality rate. In patients with abdominal infections, a TTP<20 hours was independently associated with 28-day mortality compared with patients with negative blood culture (hazard ratio, 1.73; 95% confidence interval, 1.16-2.58). However, there was no difference in mortality rates of patients with a $TTP{\geq}20$ hours and a negative blood culture. Conclusion: The shorter TTP in patients with abdominal infections in sepsis and septic shock was associated with a higher 28-day mortality rate.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2018

Purpose: Blood culture is an essential diagnostic tool and requires clear indications, proper techniques, and quality control. We aimed to investigate whether blood cultures in children are appropriate for indications, are performed correctly, and receive proper quality control. Methods: We conducted an online survey targeting pediatric infectious diseases (ID) specialists working in general hospitals and neonatologists (Neo) working at hospitals operating a neonatal intensive care unit in Korea. Results: Approximately 81.1% (30/37) of pediatric ID specialists and 72.2% (52/72) of Neo responded to the survey. Some of the respondents (33.3% of ID and 59.6% of Neo) performed blood culture as a regular test irrespective of the indication. Approximately 40% of ID and 65.4% of Neo ordered only one set of blood culture in patients suspected with bacteremia. The most commonly used disinfectant for skin preparation was povidone-iodine, while the skin preparation method varied by institution. Approximately two-thirds of the institutions were monitoring the blood culture contamination rate, whereas relatively few provided staff with feedback on that rate. In addition, less than half of the institutions were providing regular staff training on blood culture (40% of ID and 28.8% of Neo). Conclusions: The indication and methods of blood culture for children varied according to institution, and few hospitals exert effort in improving the quality of blood culture. Institutions have to strive constantly toward improvement of blood culture quality and evidence-based recommendations for pediatric blood cultures should be standardized.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.245-253
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• 2013

To provide reference data or guideline for empirical treatment of bloodstream infection, we studied a change pattern in causative microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility in a general hospital at Gyeonggi province during five years. We retrospectively reviewed the frequency of causative microorganisms and antimicrobial susceptibility results of 5,782 microorganisms isolated from blood culture in a general hospital during the period from January 2008 to December 2012. The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli (14.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (7.5%), Streptococcus viridans group (4.9%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (4.1%). The multiple microorganisms were isolated in 4.3% of bloodstream infection patients. The average contamination rate of blood culture during five years was 3.0%. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE), and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae were isolated at 62%, 27% and 11%, respectively. Cefotaxime-resistant E. coli and K. pneumoniae was 20% and 18%, respectively. Imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IRPA) and Acinetobacter baumannii (IRAB) was 25% and 66%, respectively. E. coli and S. aureus were most common pathogens isolated from blood culture for five years. The increase of multidrug-resistant microorganisms, such as MRSA, VRE, ESBL, IRPA and IRAB, requires more strict control of antibiotics and causes the need of the more updated guideline for the treatment of blood stream infection.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.73-80
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• 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida spp. from blood culture to provide useful information on empirical treatment of Candidemia. We investigated distribution and antifungal susceptibilities of Candida spp. isolated from blood culture during an 8-years (2016-2023) in a C-University hospital. Over 8 years, 1,182 Candida strains from blood culture were isolated, which was fourth most common cause of bloodstream infection. Among nonduplicated 350 Candida strains, C. albicans was the most common with 45.43%, followed by C. glabrata (17.43%), C. tropicalis (17.43%), C. parapsilosis (14.86%), C. guilliermondii (1.71%), C. krusei (0.86%), C. lusitaniae (0.86%), C. ciferrii (0.57%). In the antifungal susceptibility testing on 323 Candida strains, the non-susceptibility rate was 2.48% for amphotericin B, 1,71% for flucytosine, 3.09% for fluconazole, 4.66% for voriconazole, 5.57% for caspofungin, and 0.62% for micafungin. In particular, C. albicans showed non-susceptibility of 8.23% to voriconazole, and C. glabrata showed 14.81% and 24.59% to fluconazole and caspofungin, respectively. These data showed that the prevalence of candidemia is very common, and antifungal resistance in Candida spp., especially C. glabrata, is increasing. Therefore, periodic surveillance of prevalence and antifungal susceptibility of blood culture is very important for clinical laboratory.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Electromagnetic Engineering and Science
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• v.16 no.8 s.99
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• pp.810-814
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• 2005

Input power for TEM cell apparatus due to SAR(Specific Absorption Rate) for culture blood cell is determined by the transmission and reflection measurement of blood into the TEM cell. Blood cell with skin cell are reference culture cells for the study of EM wave effect. Exposure RF power from exposure apparatus to culture cell should not only exact for SAR value, but also should be based on the theoretical theory. In this paper, insertion loss of 50 g blood was measured to know exposure power per gram for culture blood cell, and input power of TEM cell due to SAR 0.8, 1.6, 3, 4 mW/g using the measured data are delivered. This study is for applying to EM wave exposure apparatus to culture cell.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing infection-related characteristics and patient safety culture on awareness of blood-borne infection prevention between operating room nurses and general ward nurses. Methods: Participants were 198 nurses(operating room nurses 98 and general ward nurses: 100) working at three general hospitals and three university hospitals in three cities. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from September 11 to October 14, 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple regression with IBM SPSS/WIN 26.0 program. Results: Typically, 39.8% of nurses in the operating room and 24.0% of ward nurses experienced injuries such as needles and sharp instruments used by the patient. The awareness of patient safety culture was identified to be higher for the ward nurses. Factors influencing the awareness of blood-borne infection prevention in operating room nurses were patient safety culture and wearing protective equipment for infection prevention while nursing infected patients. Moreover, the explanatory power of these variables was 19.4%. In general ward nurses, the patient safety culture was identified as a significant predictor, which accounted for 16.5% of awareness of blood-borne infection prevention. Conclusion: To prevent hospital infection, a strategy is needed to improve the level of awareness of blood-borne infection prevention and patient safety culture of operating room nurses. To this end, the difference in infection-related characteristics and influencing factors between the operating room nurses and the general ward nurses should be considered and planned.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 2021

Culture tests are very important in choosing the appropriate antibiotics for bacterial infections. In some cases, bacteria that could not be identified in standard culture bottles could be detected using blood culture bottles. A previously healthy 13-year-old boy visited our emergency room. He experienced pain, redness, and hardness of periumbilical skin and a fever for five days. There was no history of abdominal surgery and penetrating trauma. Computed tomography showed abscess with cellulitis at the periumbilical soft tissue with no congenital anomaly. Ultrasonography-guided aspiration was performed, and about 8.5 mL of the purulent abscess was aspirated. The abscess was cultured using blood culture bottle. The pus grew Actinomyces radingae and Clostridium ramosum. When performing the pus culture, using blood culture bottles can be more effective and rapid than the standard culture method for the detection of bacterial pathogens.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.195-199
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• 2018

Zinc is necessary for normal functions in the immune system. The objective of the study is to examine the effect of zinc on the chemotactic activity of porcine peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). A modified Boyden chamber was used to determine the directional migration distance of PMNs. Various concentrations of zinc showed no chemotactic activity to PMNs. However, culture supernatant from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with zinc remarkably increased the chemotactic activity of PMNs when compared with culture supernatant from PBMCs treated without zinc. Culture supernatant from PBMCs treated without zinc also increased the migration distance of PMNs relative to vehicle control (medium alone). Increasing effect in chemotactic activity of PMNs by culture supernatant from PBMCs treated with zinc was inhibited by treatment of porcine anti-interleukin (IL)-8 polyclonal antibody (pAb). This effect was not affected by heat treatment ($4-85^{\circ}C$). This corresponded with heat stable physical characteristics of IL-8. These results suggest that zinc can upregulate the chemotaxis of PMNs, which is primary mediated by IL-8 chemotactic factor released from PBMCs treated with zinc.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.205-213
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• 2018

This research is about effects of obesity adults participating in 12weeks of boxing diets program on weight loss, blood pressure and blood sugar improvements. The exercise program was conducted three times a week with a maximum heart rate of 50 to 65 percent for first to forth weeks and 65 to 85 percent for fifth to twelfth. The study included 59 obese people in their 20s and 50s, with a BMI of 25kg/m2 or higher, blood pressure of 140/90mmHg, and high blood pressure and diabetes patients of 125 mg/dl per fasting blood sugar. The following results were obtained by observing the results before and after the boxing exercise program. High blood pressure, diabetes, high blood pressure + diabetes after 12 weeks showed significant weight, BMI and body fat reduction, as well as significant decrease in blood pressure and fasting blood sugar. Consequently, through this study, obese adults can lower their weight, blood pressure, and blasting fasting blood sugar through a 12-week high-strength boxing exercise program and it is believed to help improve and prevent obesity, cardiovascular disease and metabolic diseases.