• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.76 no.4
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• pp.160-162
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• 2014

Increasing incidence of pleural infection has been reported worldwide in recent decades. The pathogens responsible for pleural infection are changing and differ from those in community acquired pneumonia. The main treatments for pleural infection are antibiotics and drainage of infected pleural fluid. The efficacy of intrapleural fibrinolytics remains unclear, although a recent randomized control study showed that the novel combination of tissue plasminogen activator and deoxyribonuclease had improved clinical outcomes. Surgical drainage is a critical treatment in patient with progression of sepsis and failure in tube drainage.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.219-223
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• 2007

A case of Diphyllobothrium latum infection in a 49-year old man is described, and diphyllobothriasis latum in the Republic of Korea is briefly reviewed. An incomplete strobila of a tapeworm, 95 cm in length, without scolex and neck, was spontaneously discharged in the feces of a patient. On the basis of morphologic characteristics of the worm and eggs, the worm was identified as D. latum. The patient was successfully treated with a single dose (15 mg/kg) of praziquantel. The most probable source of infection was salmon flesh according to the past history of the patient. The first case of D. latum infection was documented in 1971, and this is the 43rd recorded case in the Republic of Korea. The 43 cases were briefly reviewed. The patients' main complaints were gastrointestinal troubles, such as mild abdominal pain, indigestion, and diarrhea, and discharge of tapeworm segments in the feces. The suspected infection sources included raw or improperly cooked flesh of fresh or brackish water fish, including the perch, mullet, salmon, and trout.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.463-470
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• 2023

This study aimed to identify the recent risk factors for Opisthorchis viverrini infection and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) to improve disease prevention. The participants were divided into the following 3 groups based on their health status: healthy control (nonOV and nonCCA), those with O. viverrini infection (OV), and those with CCA. A questionnaire was used to explore their lifestyle and behaviors. Multivariate logistic regression and backward elimination were used to identify the significant risk factors. The results showed that the significant risk factors for both O. viverrini infection and CCA were age>50 years (odd ratio (OR)=8.44, P<0.001, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.98-23.90 and OR=43.47, P=0.001, 95% CI 14.71-128.45, respectively) and raw fish consumption (OR=8.48, P<0.001, 95% CI 3.18-22.63 and OR=3.15, P=0.048, 95% CI 1.01-9.86, respectively). A history of O. viverrini infection was identified as an additional risk factor for CCA (OR=20.93, P=0.011, 95% CI 2.04-215.10). This study provided an update on the risk factors for O. viverrini infection and CCA. Asymptomatic patients with O. viverrini infection, particularly those>50 years old, should be carefully monitored to prevent CCA.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.425-437
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• 2000

As we enter the new millennium, there have been dramatic improvements in the care of patients with HIV infection. These have prolonged life and decreased morbidity and mortality. There are fourteen currently available antiretrovirals approved in the United States for the treatment of this infection. The medications, including their pharmacokinetic properties, side effects, and dosing are reviewed. In addition, the current approach to the use of these medicines is discussed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.121-123
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• 2019

Urinary tract infection is common in the pediatric population. The most common causative agents are bacteria, among which Escherichia coli is the most frequent uropathogen. Although fungal urinary tract infection is rare in the healthy pediatric population, it is relatively common among hospitalized patients. Fungus may be isolated from the urine of immunocompromised patients or that of patients with indwelling catheters. The most common cause of funguria is Candida albicans. Although more than 50% of Candida isolates belong to non-albicans Candida, the prevalence of non-albicans candiduria is increasing. Herein, we report a case of community-acquired candiduria in a 4-month-old immunocompetent male infant who had bilateral vesicoureteral reflux and was administered antibiotic prophylaxis. He was diagnosed with urinary tract infection caused by Candida lusitaniae and was managed with fluconazole.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.56-63
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• 2015

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 2017

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is a severe and life-threatening disease in patients with community-onset (CO) pneumonia. However, the current guidelines lack specificity for a screening test for MRSA infection. Methods: This study was retrospectively conducted in elderly patients aged ${\geq}65years$, who had contracted CO-pneumonia during hospitalization at the Jeju National University Hospital, between January 2012 and December 2014. We analyzed the risk factors of MRSA in these patients and developed a scoring system to predict MRSA infection. Results: A total of 762 patients were enrolled in this study, including 19 (2.4%) with MRSA infection. Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) showed more frequent MRSA infection compared to community-acquired pneumonia (4.4% vs. 1.5%, respectively; p=0.016). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, admissions during the influenza season (odds ratio [OR], 2.896; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.022-8.202; p=0.045), chronic kidney disease (OR, 3.555; 95% CI, 1.157-10.926; p=0.027), and intensive care unit admission (OR, 3.385; 95% CI, 1.035-11.075; p=0.044) were identified as predictive factors for MRSA infection. However, the presence of HCAP was not significantly associated with MRSA infection (OR, 1.991; 95% CI, 0.720-5.505; p=0.185). The scoring system consisted of three variables based on the multivariate analysis, and showed moderately accurate diagnostic prediction (area under curve, 0.790; 95% CI, 0.680-0.899; p<0.001). Conclusion: MRSA infection would be considered in elderly CO-pneumonia patients, with three risk factors identified herein. When managing elderly patients with pneumonia, clinicians might keep in mind that these risk factors are associated with MRSA infection, which may help in selecting appropriate antibiotics.

• Clinical and Molecular Hepatology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.384-391
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• 2018

Backgrounds/Aims: The objective of our study was to determine the epidemiological, laboratory, and serological characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and normal transaminases. The study also aimed to evaluate liver damage by measuring the liver fibrosis (LF) grade and to identify possible factors associated with the presence of fibrosis. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients with chronic HBV infection and classified as inactive carriers or immune-tolerant. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, immigrant, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI), as well as virological variables (HBV DNA) and transaminase level were collected throughout the follow-up. The LF grade was evaluated by transient elastography. The cutoff value for significant fibrosis (SF) was liver stiffness ${\geq}7.9kPa$. Results: A total of 214 patients were included in the analysis, and 62% of them had a BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$. During follow-up, 4% of patients showed transaminase elevation (<1.5 times normal). Most patients had a viral DNA level <2,000 IU/mL (83%). Data on LF were available in 160 patients; of these, 14% had SF, 9% F3, and 6% F4. The variables associated with the presence of SF were transaminase alteration during follow-up, as 23% of patients with SF had elevated transaminases versus 3% of patients without SF (P<0.005), and BMI, as the vast majority of patients with SF (88%) had a BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$ versus 56% of patients without SF (P<0.05). Conclusions: In patients with chronic HBV infection and normal transaminases, liver damage does not seem to be related to DNA levels, alcohol consumption, or immigrant status. SF seems to be associated with transaminase alteration during follow-up and elevated BMI. It is therefore recommended to measure LF grade with validated non-invasive methods in such patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.69 no.4
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• pp.298-302
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• 2010

Scedosporium apiospermum, the anamorph of Pseudallescheria boydii, is a ubiquitous saprophytic fungus. S. apiospermum can cause life-threatening infections usually in immunocompromised patients or after near-drowning incidents. Here, we report the first case of disseminated infection caused by S. apiospermum after near-drowning in Korea. A 44-year-old healthy man developed aspiration pneumonia, followed by multiple brain abscesses, and endopthalmitis, after a near-drowning incident in a septic tank. S. apiospermum infection was diagnosed on the 33rd day after the incident had occurred. The patient died from the progressive renal failure 255 days after incident, although he had been treated with voriconazole.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2021

Helicobacter pylori infection has declined over recent decades. However, its prevalence remains high, and nearly 50% of the global population has been infected. In Korea, seroprevalence has steadily decreased in adults, but the status of H. pylori infection in children is unknown. The current status or trend of H. pylori infection in children is important because it can help estimate H. pylori-related diseases including gastric cancer in later life. In this review, the authors discuss the change in H. pylori infection rate among children and adolescents based on literature reviews and our research.