• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.354-359
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• 2003

Multiplex-PCR protocols were designed in order to make a rapid identification of MRSA. MecA, femB, and 165 rRNA genes were amplified for making a detection of MRSA. The incidence of MRSA in the clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus was examined by using a multiplex-PCR assay. The mecA gene was detected in 266 strains out of 336 clinical isolates of S. aureus, thus the incidence of MRSA was approximately 76.5%. The MRSAs of 247 strains (96.1%) showed resistance to more than eight species of the antimicrobial agents tested. The isolates of MRSA showed 27 different antimicrobial-resistant patterns. The results indicate that many different MRSA strains having high multidrug resistance are actually prevalent in Korea. Also, VISA was screened from the MRSA. Two strains were grown on the BHI agar plate supplemented with $8\;\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of vancomycin at a frequency of $1/10^8$ colony forming units or higher.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.115-122
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• 2021

Phenol-soluble modulins (PSMs) are responsible for regulating biofilm formation, persister cell formation, pmtR expression, host cell lysis, and anti-bacterial effects. To determine the effect of psm deletion on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, we investigated psm deletion mutants including Δpsmα, Δpsmβ, and Δpsmαβ. These mutants exhibited increased β-lactam antibiotic resistance to ampicillin and oxacillin that was shown to be caused by increased N-acetylmannosamine kinase (nanK) mRNA expression, which regulates persister cell formation, leading to changes in the pattern of phospholipid fatty acids resulting in increased anteiso-C15:0, and increased membrane hydrophobicity with the deletion of PSMs. When synthetic PSMs were applied to Δpsmα and Δpsmβ mutants, treatment of Δpsmα with PSMα1-4 and Δpsmβ with PSMβ1-2 restored the sensitivity to oxacillin and slightly reduced the biofilm formation. Addition of a single fragment showed that α1, α2, α3, and β2 had an inhibiting effect on biofilms in Δpsmα; however, β1 showed an enhancing effect on biofilms in Δpsmβ. This study demonstrates a possible reason for the increased antibiotic resistance in psm mutants and the effect of PSMs on biofilm formation.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) nasal carriage in Korean children attending day care centers. Methods : During September and October 2009, a survey for nasal carriage of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was conducted among children attending day care centers located in Seoul with questionnaire survey for evaluation of risk factors of acquisition of MRSA was obtained from their guardians. A culture of the anterior nares swabs using enrichment broth was executed for isolating S. aureus and oxacillin susceptibility was assessed by the disk diffusion method. Results : Out of the 428 children enrolled whose mean age was 55 months old, 163 (38.1%) were colonized with S. aureus. Of the 163 isolates, 40 (24.5%) were MRSA. The nasal carriage rate of S. aureus showed an increasing trend with increase of age. Based on the answer to the questionnaire, 9.2% and 3.6% of children had a recent history of hospitalization and surgery, respectively, and approximately 40% of children had a history of prescription of antibiotics within 1 year prior to enrollment. Of the 428 subjects, 40 (9.3%) were MRSA nasal carriers. Conclusion : S. aureus and MRSA carriage rate of children attending day care center in Korea was 38.1% and 9.3%, respectively. Continued surveillance for nasal carriage rate of S. aureus and MRSA (especially community-associated MRSA) is mandatory.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2009

Three hundred lactic acid bacteria isolated from human feces were studied their probiotic characters to develop potential probiotics. The properties were tested on the basis of guideline for probiotic selection protocol such as tolerance for acid or bile salt, thermal stability, antimicrobial, anticancer cell, and antiviral activity. Strain Miny-148 was selected as a potential probiotic bacterium which showed resistance to low pH, bile salts and thermal stability. On the basis of fatty acid profiles and 16S rDNA sequences analysis, the strain was identified as Lactobacillus pentosus (similarity 99.9%). The strain, L. pentosus Miny-148, showed broad antimicrobial spectrum against E. coli O157:H7, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus anthracis, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Vibrio cholerae, V. vulnificus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Cell-free culture supernatant of the strain also inhibited against the growth of HT-29 colon cancer cell and transmissible gastroenterits virus.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors in staphylococci isolated from canine otitis externa. A total 295 causative microorganisms were isolated. The most common isolated species were Staphylococcus (S) pseudintermedius (94 isolates) followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (60 isolates), S. schleiferi (25 isolates), Escherichia coli (23 isolates) and Proteus mirabilis (20 isolates). Staphylococci isolates were showed high resistance to penicillin (78.6%), erythromycin (55.9%), tetracycline (52.4%), clindamycin (51.7%) and ciprofloxacin (42.8%). Of the 145 staphylococci isolates, 49 (33.8%) methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) were observed, distributed among S. pseudintermedius (n=34), S. schleiferi (n=6), S. epidermis (n=4), S. hominis (n=2), S. aureus, S. caprae and S. saprophyticus (n=1, respectively). Forty-three (87.8%) of 49 MRS and 10 (10.4%) of 96 methicillin-susceptibility staphylococci harbored mecA gene. About 80% of MRS were multidrug-resistant with resistance to at least one antibiotic in three or more antibiotic classes. Resistance genes blaZ (93/114, 81.5%), ermB (35/81, 43.2%), ermC (3/81, 3.7%), aacA-aphD (50/54, 92.5%), tetM (69/76, 90.7%) and tetK (6/76, 7.8%) were detected among resistant isolates. Virulence factors genes lukF and lukS were found in 100%(145/145) and 43.4%(63/145), respectively. Genes encoding ermA, eta, etb and tsst were not detected. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study which investigated for the presence of genes encoding antimicrobial resistance and staphylococcal toxins in staphylococci isolated from canine otitis externa. A continuous monitoring and surveillance program to prevent antimicrobial resistance in companion animals is demanded.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2010

Purpose : Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) is a relatively uncommon superficial blistering skin disease that is due to Staphylococcus aureus. We had experienced a regional outbreak of SSSS over 3 years in healthy children. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of those patients diagnosed as SSSS. Most of neonatal cases were nosocomial infections and excluded from the analysis. The clinical features, laboratory findings, the isolation and antibiotic resistance of S. aureus, the antibiotic management and other supportive treatments were analyzed. Results : Fifty-five patients with SSSS were admitted to our hospital from October 2001 to September 2004. The median age of patients was 3.0 years. Of the 55 patients, 9 were the generalized type, 13 were the intermediate type and 33 were the scarletiniform rash. All the patients were living in neighborhood of the Jinju area. S. aureus were isolated from 9 of the patients and all of the isolated S. aureus were methicillin resistant. All the patients except two were treated with intravenous flocloxacillin or nafcillin and/or cefotaxime. All the patients recovered during the follow-up period of 2 to 3 weeks. Conclusion : We experienced a regional outbreak of SSSS in previous healthy children. Further study for finding the carriers of S. aureus caused SSSS and preventing the spread of this disease is needed. Additionally, guidelines for treating SSSS due to methicillin resistant S. aureus should be established.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 2020

Human infections with livestock-associated methicillin-resistant/-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA/LA-MSSA) have recently been increasing significantly. These LA-MRSA and LA-MSSA strains can be transmitted to individuals who have frequent contact with livestock animals and foods of animal origin. In this study, major virulence potentials of S. aureus such as biofilm formation, antimicrobial peptide resistance, and in vitro hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) resistance were assessed using 20 MRSA and MSSA strains isolated from raw milk, beef cattle, and workers in the livestock industry. Static biofilm formation assays revealed that there is no difference in levels of biofilm production between MRSA versus MSSA or bovine- versus human-associated strains. In vitro BMAP (bovine myeloid antimicrobial peptide)-28 susceptibility assays also revealed no difference in the resistance to the antimicrobial peptide between MRSA versus MSSA or bovine- versus human-associated S. aureus strains. However, LA-MRSA strains displayed increased resistance to H₂O₂, which may play an important role in survival and dissemination of the pathogen in livestock. These results provide an important basis for understanding pathogenic potentials of LA-MRSA and LA-MSSA strains in human and animal hosts.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2019

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in Korean children. Methods: We retrospectively collected and analyzed data from the medical records of the patients with S. aureus bacteremia ${\leq}18years$ of age in Gil Medical Center from 2002 to 2016. Results: A total of 212 SAB cases were detected. The annual incidence of SAB from 2002 to 2016 ranged from 0.77 to 1.95 per 1,000 patients hospitalized. The neonate group (<28 days of age) and the pediatric group (28-18 years of age) were 51.4% (n=109) and 48.6% (n=103), respectively. According to the origin of infection, there were 93 cases (43.9%) of community-associated (CA)-SAB and 119 cases (56.1%) of healthcare-associated (HA)-SAB. The rates of HA-SAB among the neonate group and among the pediatric group were 64.2% and 47.6%, respectively (P=0.015). There was no difference in complications between CA-SAB and HA-SAB, but mortality was higher in HA-SAB. The proportion of methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA) was the highest in neonates (88.1%), decreased with age, and was 36.4%-37.5% among children aged ${\geq}5years$. The MRSA proportion was 72.2%, showing no consistent trend over the period. Conclusions: The annual incidence of SAB and the proportion of MRSA in SAB remained constant in the recent 15 years in children. Judicious decision of antimicrobial agents for treatment considering the patient's age and the origin of infection is necessary.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe nurses' recognition of, and practice level in management of general nosocomial infections, and methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) infections. Method: A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were collected on June, 2003 from 190 nurses in one university affiliated hospital located in Suwon. Result: The mean score for nurses' recognition of general nosocomial infection control was 3.57, MRSA control was 3.54, and VRE control was 3.86. The mean score on practice for control of general nosocomial infection was 3.19, for MRSA control, 3.20, and for VRE control, 3.63. There were statistically significant relationships between the recognition level and practice level for general nosocomial, MRSA, and VRE infection control. According to the general characteristics of the nurses, the mean scores for both recognition and practice were higher for those nurses who had had infection control education, for those who had worked longer in nursing, and for those who worked in the ICU. Conclusion: It is suggested that appropriate hospital infection control programs should be developed through continuous education and practice to improve nurses' level of the practice in general infection control, and especially in MRSA and VRE infection control.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1083-1089
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• 2008

We investigated the molecular epidemiological characteristic of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from stool samples in Busan from 2004 to 2006. Among 142 isolates of S. aureus, 49 isolates (34.5%) were confirmed as MRSA. With the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, 37 isolates (75.5%) showed multiple resistance to more than 10 antibiotics, but all isolates were sensitive to vancomycin. All of MRSA had enterotoxin A in 30.6%, B 4.1%, C 8.3%, D, C/G, A 2.0% and None 51%. PFGE of SmaI-digested chromosomal DNA was performed on 49 sporadic MRSA isolates. Restriction fragment patterns consisted of 8 to 14 fragments ranged in size from 48.5 to 630.5 kbp. We could divided the isolates into 7 groups ($I{\sim}VII$) by analyzing PFGE patterns. Group I subdivided as 2 subgroups and 17 (34.7%) strains belong to the group I. Dendrogram of PFGE patterns showed that MRSA strains in Busan were heterogeneous but we could find out minor homogeneity in hospital.