• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2011

The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is a Serious clinical problem in the treatment of infectious diseases that increase mortality, morbidity, hospitalization length, and the cost of healthcare. In particular, $Streptococcus$ $pneumoniae$ is a major etiologic pathogen of pneumonia, sinusitis, otitis media, and meningitis. As the definition of penicillin resistance to $S.$ $pneumoniae$ was recently changed, macrolide-resistant $S.$ $pneumoniae$ is a major resistant pathogen in the community. Infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains are associated with incorrect use of antibiotics and critical clinical outcomes. For the appropriate use of antibiotics to treat infections, physicians always should have up-to-date information on the current epidemiologic status of antibiotic resistance for common pathogens and their susceptibility to antimicrobials. Appropriate selection of antimicrobials, strict control of infection, vaccination, and development of a feasible national policy of infection control are important strategies for the control of antimicrobial resistance. This review article focuses on the current status of antibiotic-resistant $S.$ $pneumoniae$ in community-acquired pneumonia in Korea.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2019

Bacillus cereus causes serious central nervous system infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Successful treatment requires adequate antimicrobial concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid; however, in some cases, achieving this with systemic treatment alone is difficult. We treated intractable B. cereus ventriculitis with intraventricular vancomycin, with no major adverse events.

• Korean Journal of Neurotrauma
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2017

Cranioplasty is an in evitable operation conducted after decompressive craniectomy (DC). The primary goals of cranioplasty after DC are to protect the brain, achieve a natural appearance and prevent sinking skin flap syndrome (or syndrome of the trephined). Furthermore, restoring patients' functional outcome and supplementing external defects helps patients improve their self-esteem. Although early cranioplasty is preferred in recent year, optimal timing for cranioplasty remains a controversial topic. Autologous bone flaps are the most ideal substitute for cranioplasty. Complications associated with cranioplasty are also variable, however, post-surgical infection is most common. Many new materials and techniques for cranioplasty are introduced. Cost-benefit analysis of these new materials and techniques can result in different outcomes from different healthcare systems.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.200-203
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• 2019

Syringoma is a benign eccrine sweat gland tumor that predominantly appears in females during puberty with multiple smooth papules measuring 1-2 mm in diameter. Common locations are on lower eyelids and cheeks. Vulvar syringoma is quite a rare, occurring condition with only a few cases reported. Here, we are reporting a case of 31-year-old female with vulvar syringoma associated with pruritus. The lesion was treated with carbon dioxide (CO2) laser ablation and 50% trichloroacetic acid (TCA) chemical peeling. Jaungo was used for wound care after laser abrasion. The combination treatment was effective for removing syringoma lesions. Post laser management with fusidic acid cream and jaungo cream was sufficient to prevent infection and promote wound healing.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2008

Objectives: Bioterrorism (BT) preparedness and response plans are particularly important among healthcare workers who will be among the first involved in the outbreak situations. This study was conducted to evaluate the current status of education for BT preparedness and response in health care-related colleges/junior colleges and to develop learning objectives for use in their regular curricula. Methods: We surveyed all medical colleges/schools, colleges/junior colleges that train nurses, emergency medical technicians or clinical pathologists, and 10% (randomly selected) of them that train general hygienists in Korea. The survey was conducted via mail from March to July of 2007. We surveyed 35 experts to determine if there was a consensus of learning objectives among healthcare workers. Results: Only 31.3% of medical colleges/schools and 13.3% of nursing colleges/junior colleges had education programs that included BT preparedness and responses in their curricula. The most common reason given for the lack of BT educational programs was 'There is not much need for education regarding BT preparedness and response in Korea'. None of the colleges/junior colleges that train clinical pathologists, or general hygienists had an education program for BT response. After evaluating the expert opinions, we developed individual learning objectives designed specifically for educational institutions. Conclusions: There were only a few colleges/junior colleges that enforce the requirement to provide education for BT preparedness and response in curricula. It is necessary to raise the perception of BT preparedness and response to induce the schools to provide such programs.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.8
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• 2014

Healthcare-associated infection represents a frequent cause of mortality that increases hospital costs. Due to increasing microbial resistance to antibiotics, it is necessary to search for alternative therapies. Consequently, novel alternatives for the control of resistant microorganisms have been studied. Among them, plant antimicrobial protein presents enormous potential, with flowers being a new source of antimicrobial molecules. In this work, the antimicrobial activity of protein-rich fractions from flower tissues from 18 different species was evaluated against several human pathogenic bacteria. The results showed that protein-rich fractions of 12 species were able to control bacterial development. Due its broad inhibition spectrum and high antibacterial activity, the protein-rich fraction of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis was subjected to DEAE-Sepharose chromatography, yielding a retained fraction and a non-retained fraction. The retained fraction inhibits 29.5% of Klebsiella pneumoniae growth, and the non-retained fraction showed 31.5% of growth inhibition against the same bacteria. The protein profile of the chromatography fractions was analyzed by using SDS-PAGE, revealing the presence of two major protein bands in the retained fraction, of 20 and 15 kDa. The results indicate that medicinal plants have the biotechnological potential to increase knowledge about antimicrobial protein structure and action mechanisms, assisting in the rational design of antimicrobial compounds for the development of new antibiotic drugs.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-98
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• 2023

In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, Korea took the lead in implementing "social distancing" policies more strongly than other countries. In addition to making it mandatory to wear a mask according to the policy, all patients using medical institutions are tested for COVID-19 to prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections, and only those patients who test negative have been regulated to receive face-to-face medical treatment. In this process, situations such as the disabled, who have difficulty wearing masks, were not taken into account, and emergency patients did not receive timely treatment or surgery from medical personnel. In response, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea has decided that forcing everyone to wear a mask and restricting access to medical institutions constitutes discrimination against the disabled. Therefore, the purposes this study has that, the first is to review cases of human rights discrimination against persons with disabilities due to measures to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases that did not consider the characteristics of persons with disabilities in the COVID-19 situation and issues regarding the decisions of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, the second is to find a reasonable plan and the need for measures to prevent refusal of treatment by medical institutions for the disabled who have difficulty wearing masks.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.33-38
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• 2023

A case of persistent Ralstonia mannitolilytica bacteremia in the neonatal intensive care unit prompted source investigation due to its rarity. After an extensive investigation, a contaminated ultrasonic nebulizer was identified as the source, and the infection was controlled by removing the source. This study emphasizes the importance of further investigations, even in single cases of rare pathogens.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.76-83
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• 2022

Purpose: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most common nosocomial infection in patients with mechanical ventilation. In 2013, the new concept of ventilator-associated events (VAEs) replaced the traditional concept of ventilator-associated pneumonia. We analyzed risk factors for VAE occurrence and in-hospital mortality in trauma patients who received mechanical ventilatory support. Methods: In this retrospective review, the study population comprised patients admitted to the Jeju Regional Trauma Center from January 2020 to January 2021. Data on demographics, injury characteristics, and clinical findings were collected from medical records. The subjects were categorized into VAE and no-VAE groups according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network VAE criteria. We identified risk factors for VAE occurrence and in-hospital mortality. Results: Among 491 trauma patients admitted to the trauma center, 73 patients who received ventilator care were analyzed. Patients with a chest Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score ≥3 had a 4.7-fold higher VAE rate (odds ratio [OR], 4.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.46-17.9), and those with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <75 mL/min/1.73 m² had 4.1-fold higher odds of VAE occurrence (OR, 4.15; 95% CI, 1.32-14.1) and a nearly 4.2-fold higher risk for in-hospital mortality (OR, 4.19; 95% CI, 1.30-14.3). The median VAE-free duration of patients with chest AIS ≥3 was significantly shorter than that of patients with chest AIS <3 (P=0.013). Conclusions: Trauma patients with chest AIS ≥3 or GFR <75 mL/min/1.73 m² on admission should be intensively monitored to detect at-risk patients for VAEs and modify the care plan accordingly. VAEs should be closely monitored to identify infections early and to achieve desirable results. We should also actively consider modalities to shorten mechanical ventilation in patients with chest AIS ≥3 to reduce VAE occurrence.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.19-27
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• 2018

The goal of this study was to survey the degree of nursing students' knowledge of standard precaution, intention about performance, attitude toward performance, safety climate, performance of standard precaution and to identify factors influencing performance. A cross-sectional survey was implemented with samples of 296 nursing students. We collected the data from June 15 to 30, 2018 and analyzed by SPSS 21.0 program. There were significant correlation between intention about performance, attitude toward performance, safety climate and performance. The factors that affecting performance of standard precaution among nursing students are intention about performance and safety climate, which explained 20% of the variances. Therefore, It needs to develop an infection management education program and to prepare an safe nursing practice environments in hospitals for nursing students to improve their implementation of standard precautions for preventing clinical infection.