• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.18.1-18.6
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• 2018

Background: Cutaneous bacterial pathogens including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Propionibacterium acnes are often involved in acne vulgaris. The currently available therapeutic option for these skin pathogens is an antibiotic treatment, resulting in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The objective of this study was to discover an alternative antibacterial agent with lower side effect from marine algae. Results: The ethanolic extract of edible brown algae Ishige okamurae exhibits potent antibacterial activity against cutaneous bacterial pathogens. Among the ethanol soluble fractions, the n-hexane (Hexane)-soluble fraction exhibited the strongest antibacterial activity against the pathogens with MIC values ranging 64 to $512{\mu}g/mL$ and with minimum bactericidal concentration values ranging 256 to $2048{\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, the combination with Hexane fraction and antibiotics (ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, and meropenem) exhibited synergistic effect. Conclusion: This study revealed that the I. okamurae extract exhibited a synergistic antibacterial effect against acnerelated cutaneous bacterial pathogens acquired antibiotic resistant. Thus, the results of the present study suggested that the edible seaweed extract will be a promising antibacterial therapeutic agent against antibiotic-human skin pathogens and its infections.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.215-222
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• 2005

Purpose: To identify the incidence of cutaneous injury in clinical nurses. Method: From Feb.1 to 28, 2005, 276 clinical nurses were surveyed by questionnaire. Results: 1. Of the nurses, 53.6% had at least one incidence of cutaneous injury, and the mean number of injuries was 1.34. A higher incidence rate for cutaneous injury was found in nurses who were under the age of 25, unmarried and who had less than 3 years career experience. 2. The major causes of injury were syringe needles at 65.0%, and medical instrument were next followed by sharp objects or blades. The injuries occurred when the nurses were rearranging equipment after care (25.2%), taking blood samples (22.8%), separating syringes and needles (17.1%), during surgical operations (14.2%), and distribution of medications, treatments and recapping of needles (5.7% each). The hands were the most common body parts injured, and the most prevalent pathogens contaminating the instruments causing the injury were HBV syphilis, HCV and HIV in that order. 3. Of the injured nurses, 77.9% did not report the accident and 25.8% did not receive any treatment because there were no pathogens, it was a bother or there was difficulty reporting the incident. Conclusion: To reduce cutaneous injuries, intensive training and supervision may be needed for those of nurses under the age of 25, unmarried and with less than 3 years career experience.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2016

The object of this study was to develop an alternative way to treat human skin pathogens using marine algae. During this study, we observed that the ethanolic extract of the edible brown algae [Sargassum serratifolium (C. Agardh) C. Agardh] exhibited potential antimicrobial activity against pathogenic commensal bacteria related with acne vulgaris (Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), and Candida albicans which causes cutaneous candidiasis. Among the solvent-soluble fractions from the ethanolic extract, a hexane-soluble fraction showed the strongest antimicrobial activity against all tested human skin pathogens with MIC values ranging from 32 to $512{\mu}g/mL$. In addition, the hexane fraction exhibited a synergistic antimicrobial activity with commercial antibiotics used in the treatment of acne vulgaris or cutaneous candidiasis. Thus, this study suggests that S. serratifolium extract could be a potential source of natural antimicrobial agents or a pharmaceutical component against human skin pathogens.

• Mycobiology
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.160-171
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• 2017

Larvae of Bradysia agrestis, an insect vector that transports plant pathogens, were sampled from geographically isolated regions in Korea to identify their cutaneous fungal and bacterial flora. Sampled areas were chosen within the distribution range of B. agrestis; each site was more than 91 km apart to ensure geographical segregation. We isolated 76 microbial (fungi and bacteria) strains (site 1, 29; site 2, 29; site 3, 18 strains) that were identified on the basis of morphological differences. Species identification was molecularly confirmed by determination of universal fungal internal transcribed spacer and bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequences in comparison to sequences in the EzTaxon database and the NCBI GenBank database, and their phylogenetic relationships were determined. The fungal isolates belonged to 2 phyla, 5 classes, and 7 genera; bacterial species belonged to 23 genera and 32 species. Microbial diversity differed significantly among the geographical groups with respect to Margalef's richness (3.9, 3.6, and 4.5), Menhinick's index (2.65, 2.46, and 3.30), Simpson's index (0.06, 0.12, and 0.01), and Shannon's index (2.50, 2.17, and 2.58). Although the microbial genera distribution or diversity values clearly varied among geographical groups, common genera were identified in all groups, including the fungal genus Cladosporium, and the bacterial genera Bacillus and Rhodococcus. According to classic principles of co-evolutionary relationship, these genera might have a closer association with their host insect vector B. agrestis than other genera identified. Some cutaneous bacterial genera (e.g., Pseudomonas) displaying weak interdependency with insect vectors may be hazardous to agricultural environments via mechanical transmission via B. agrestis. This study provides comprehensive information regarding the cutaneous microflora of B. agrestis, which can help in the control of such pests for crop management.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.67-72
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• 2013

Pathogenic microbes secrete various enzymes with lipolytic activities to facilitate their survival within the host. Lipolytic enzymes include extracellular lipases and phospholipases, and several lines of evidence have suggested that these enzymes contribute to the virulence of pathogenic fungi. Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans are the most commonly isolated human fungal pathogens, and several biochemical and molecular approaches have identified their extracellular lipolytic enzymes. The role of lipases and phospholipases in the virulence of C. albicans has been extensively studied, and these enzymes have been shown to contribute to C. albicans morphological transition, colonization, cytotoxicity, and penetration to the host. While not much is known about the lipases in C. neoformans, the roles of phospholipases in the dissemination of fungal cells in the host and in signaling pathways have been described. Lipolytic enzymes may also influence the survival of the lipophilic cutaneous pathogenic yeast Malassezia species within the host, and an unusually high number of lipase-coding genes may complement the lipid dependency of this fungus. This review briefly describes the current understanding of the lipolytic enzymes in major human fungal pathogens, namely C. albicans, C. neoformans, and Malassezia spp.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.135-138
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• 2024

A patient suffered from chronic ulcer due to recalcitrant fungal infection for 3.5 years. Five antifungal agents and 40 times of debridement—all failed. Finally, radical microscopic debridement was performed for eradication of fungal conidiospores. Since then, there was no recurrence at 2 years of follow-up. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis is one of the rarest pathogens of cutaneous fungal infections, for which multidrug resistance increased the complexity and difficulty of treatment. Radical excision, especially microscopic debridement, was the key for eradication of fungal conidiospores in this case.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.473-475
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• 2015

A 12-year-old intact male, Alaskan Malamute dog, which lives in the countryside, was presented with inflammation and pain around perineal areas. Thorough examination revealed maggots and punched-out round holes lesion around the perineal region. Complete blood counts (CBC) and serum biochemical examinations showed no remarkable findings except mild anemia and mild thrombocytosis. The diagnosis was easily done, based on clinical signs and maggots identification. Cleaning with chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine lavage and hair clipping away from the lesions were performed soon after presentation. SNAP 4Dx Test (IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME, USA) was performed to rule out other vector-borne diseases since the ticks were found on the clipped area and vector-borne pathogens. The test result was negative. The dog in this case was treated with ivermectin (300 mcg/kg SC) one time. Also, treatments with amoxicillin clavulanate (20 mg/kg PO, BID) was established to prevent secondary bacterial infections. Then, myiasis resolved with 2 weeks and the affected area was healed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.605-622
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• 1996

Needle stick injury, in which blood-borne pathogens including Human Immune-Deficiency virus and hepatitis B virus are transmitted, is one of the major occupational hazards that health professionals face everyday. In order to provide basic data for the development of educational programs for health professionals aimed at preventing and effectively managing needle stick injuries, a retrospective descriptive study was carried out .The subjects of the study were 630 health professionals, 499 nurses and 131 physicians, from two university hospitals in Seoul, Korea. Data on episodes of needle stick experiences over the past is months September 1994 through August 1995, were collected between September 1 and 7, 1995. A Questionaire developed by the researcher was used. The frequencies and the percentile score for episodes of needle stick injuries were calculated using the PC-SAS program. The differences and similarities in reference to the structure, career, and specialty variables were analysed by X$^2$-tests. Results are as follows : 1. Of the sample, 521(82.7%) reported a needle stick injury, 33.4% reported 3 or more episodes of needle stick injuries. 2. The needle stick injuries occured in the following processes : process of percutaneous venepuncture for intra-venous injection and infusion(55.3%), medical examination and treatment(48.9%), per-cutaneous venepuncture for blood sampling (46.3%) and intra-muscular injection(42.2%). 3. The study showed that needle stick injuries occured before(19%), during(25%), and after (56%) client treatment. The major causes of needle stick injuries were perceived to be hastiness(82.2%) and carelessness(48.3%). Of these injuries, 91.8% occured in emergency situations. 4. Follow of care for the injury consisted of : treating the injured site immediately using disinfectants(89.7%), reviewing the clinical records of the patient involved(84.2%), immunological investigation for the status of antibodies(11.1%) and self-medication of antibiotics (10.7%). Only 16.3% of the total episodes were founded to have been reported to the administrative unit. 5. The length of clinical experience of the nurses, clinical specialty and length of clinical experience in physicians were found to have influenced the episodes of needle stick injuries ; nurses with less than 1 year and with more than 6 years of clinical experiences had significantly lower levels (X$^2$=25.04, P=.00), surgeons had significantly higher levels (X$^2$=9.89, P=.02) compared to that of internists and interns, higher(X$^2$=4.54, P=.03)than residents.