• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제80권2호
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• pp.153-158
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• 2017

Background: Recently, increased levels of high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) have been identified in various inflammatory conditions and infections. However, no studies have evaluated the HMGB1 level in nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease, and compared it to mycobacterial lung disease. Methods: A total of 60 patients newly diagnosed with NTM lung disease, 44 culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients, and 34 healthy controls, were included in this study. The serum HMGB1 concentrations were quantified using HMGB1 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: Serum HMGB1 level in patients with pulmonary TB or NTM lung disease, was significantly lower than that of the healthy controls. In addition, the serum HMGB1 level in TB patients was significantly lower than patients with NTM lung disease. However, the levels in NTM patient subgroups did not differ according to the causative species, disease progression, and disease phenotype. Conclusion: Although low levels of serum HMGB1 has the potential to be a marker of mycobacterial lung disease, these levels were unable to differentiate disease progression and disease phenotype in NTM lung diseases.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.759-767
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• 2014

Background Infection caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) has been increasing. Awareness of this infection is crucial yet problematic. Delayed management may lead to destructive results. We empirically treated a series of patients with clinical suspicion of NTM infection prior to the identification of the pathogen. Methods A total of 12 patients who developed surgical site infections between January 2011 and February 2014 were reviewed. Patients with a skin and subcutaneous infection resistant to standard management over two weeks, and previous history of aesthetic procedures within three months were regarded as highly suspected of having an NTM infection. A variety of diagnostic modalities were examined simultaneously, along with starting empirical treatment including a combination of clarithromycin and moxifloxacin, and surgical debridement. Results All wounds healed completely within 4 weeks. The mean follow-up duration was 7.2 months, and none of the patients developed relapse. Specific NTM pathogens were identified in six patients. Eight patients showed caseating granuloma implying an NTM infection. One patient showed an uncommon Stenotrophomonas infection, which was successfully treated. Three patients had no evidence of a pathogen despite repeated microbial tests. Complications such as scarring, pigmentation, and disfigurement were common in all the patients. Conclusions NTM should be considered in the differential diagnosis of an unusual skin and soft-tissue infection. We propose an empirical regimen of clarithromycin and moxifloxacin as an efficient treatment option for an NTM infection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제86권1호
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• pp.47-56
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• 2023

Background: There is a global increase in isolation of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The aim of the study was to analyze longitudinal trends of NTM identification and pattern of antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Methods: NTM recovery rates, distribution of NTM species identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of NTM at Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital between January 2016 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 52,456 specimens from 21,264 patients were submitted for mycobacterial culture, of which 2,521 from 1,410 patients were NTM positive over five years (January 2016 to December 2020). NTM isolation showed an increasing trend from 2016 to 2020 (p<0.001, test for trend) mainly caused by Mycobacterium avium complex. The vast majority of M. avium complex were susceptible to key agents clarithromycin and amikacin. For Mycobacterium kansasii, resistance to rifampin and clarithromycin is rare. Amikacin was the most effective drug against Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus and Mycobacterium subspecies massiliense. Most of M. subspecies massiliense were susceptible to clarithromycin, while the majority of M. abscessus subspecies abscessus were resistant to clarithromycin (p<0.001). Conclusion: There was an increasing trend of NTM isolation in our hospital. Resistance to key drugs was uncommon for most NTM species except for M. abscessus subspecies abscessus against clarithromycin.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제87권3호
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• pp.386-397
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• 2024

Background: Despite the global increase in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease (NTM-PD), clinical characteristics show geographical variations. We investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with NTM-PD in South Korea. Methods: We systematically reviewed articles concerning patients with NTM-PD in South Korea until February 2022. Individual participant data, regardless of treatment, were collected using a standard case report form. Results: Data of 6,489 patients from 11 hospitals between 2002 and 2019 were analyzed. The mean age was 61.5±11.7 years, of whom 57.7% were women. Mycobacterium avium (41.4%) and Mycobacterium intracellulare (38.4%) comprised most of the causative species, followed by Mycobacterium abscessus subspecies abscessus (8.6%) and M. abscessus subspecies massiliense (7.8%). Bronchiectasis (59.4%) was the most common pulmonary comorbidity. Although reported cases of NTM-PD increased over the years, the proportions of causative species and radiologic forms remained similar. Distinct clinical characteristics were observed according to age and sex. Men were older at the time of diagnosis (median 63.8 years vs. 59.9 years, p<0.001), and had more cavitary lesions than women (38.8% vs. 21.0%, p<0.001). The older group (≥65 years) had higher proportions of patients with body mass index <18.5 kg/m² (27.4% vs. 18.6%, p<0.001) and cavitary lesions (29.9% vs. 27.6%, p=0.009) than the younger group. Conclusion: We conducted a meta-analysis of the clinical characteristics of patients with NTM-PD in South Korea, and found age- and sex-related differences in disease-specific severity. Further investigation would enhance our comprehension of the nature of the disease, and inherited and acquired host factors.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제41권2호
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• pp.135-143
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• 1994

연구목적 : 혈청 sIL-2R 농도는 T세포의 면역활성화가 관여되는 육아종성질환, 장기이식, 자가면역질환에서, 또한 혈액종양 및 림프세망내 피계종양등에서 증가 한다고 알려져있다. 최근 결핵환자에서도 질병의 활성화 정도에 따라 혈청 및 흉강 삼출액에서 sIL-2R 농도의 증가를 보고하고 있다. 임상에서 결핵성 흉강삼출과 악성 흉강삼출의 감별이 어려운 경우를 경험하게 되는데 흉강삼출액에서 sIL-2R 농도 측정이 이들 질환의 감별에 도움이 될수 있는지 알아보기 위해 늑막조직검사에서 결핵성으로 확인된 12명의 결핵성 흉강삼출액환자와 32명의 비결핵성 흉강 삼출액환자를 대상으로 혈청 및 흉강삼출액에서 sIL-2R 농도를 측정하였다. 방법 : 대상환자의 늑막삼출액을 원심분리하여 얻은 상층액과 동시에 채취한 혈청을 $-70^{\circ}C$에 보관한 후 검사를 시행하였다. 가용성 IL-2수용체 농도 측정은 Cellfree(r) IL-2R test kit(T-cell sciences Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA)를 이용하였다. 측정방법을 간단히 설명하면 IL-2R 분자의 두가지 항원 결정기(epitope)에 대한 단일 항체를 이용한 샌드위치 ELISA 검사로 측정하였다. 결과 : 1) 늑막삼출액의 sIL-2R 농도는 비결핵성 늑막삼출환자군보다 결핵성 늑막삼출환자군에서 높았다(p<0.005). 2) 늑막삼출액에서 감별진단 기준을 sIL-2R 농도 5,000u/ml로 할 경우 결핵성 늑막삼출환자군을 악성 늑막삼출환자군과 비교시 민감도는 84.6%, 특이도는 99.9%였다. 3) 혈청 sIL-2R 농도는 결핵성 늑막삼출환자군에서 세균성 늑막 삼출환자군보다 유의한 증가를 보였으나(p<0.05), 악성 늑막 삼출환자군 및 늑막여출액환자군과는 유의한 차이가 없었다(p>0.05). 4) 결핵성 늑막삼출환자군에서 sIL-2R 농도는 혈청에서보다 늑막삼출액에서 더 높았다(p<0.005). 결론 : 결핵성 늑막삼출에서 늑막삼출액내의 sIL-2R 농도는 감별기준 5,000 u/ml로 사용할 경우 결핵성 늑막삼출과 비결핵성 늑막삼출의 감별진단에 도움이 되리라 생각된다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.435-438
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• 2017

비결핵 항상균(Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, NTM) M. avium-intracellular complex (MAC), M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. abscessus, M. kansasii 등을 함유한다. 비결핵 항상균은 자연 환경속에 서식하며 다양한 가축등에 감염한다. 그리고 사람한테는 기회감염을 유발하여 사회적 경제적 문제를 야기한다. 본 연구는 면역결핍 사람한테 기회감염을 유발하는 비결핵 항상균이 사람들이 흔히 이용하는 다중이용시설내 존재 유무를 확인하기위해 40개 에어컨 먼지를 채취하여 직접 AFB 염색, 직접 PCR, 간접 AFB 염색, 간접 PCR 등을 실시했다. 그 결과 채취한 샘플의 직접 AFB 염색, 직접 PCR 에서는 인형결핵균(MTB), 비결핵 항상균 모두 발견되지 않았다. 배양된 집락을 이용한 간접 AFB 염색, 간접 PCR 결과 인형결핵균 (MTB)은 모두 음성반응을 나타냈으며, 비결핵 항상균은 40개 샘풀 중 2개(5%)에서 양성반응을 나타냈다. 본 실험결과는 자연 내 비결핵 항상균이 존재한다는 사실을 증명했으며 비결핵 항상균이 기회감염의 원인임을 감안했을 때 다중이용시설의 청결한 위생처리가 중요함을 암시한다. 다만 비결핵 항상균의 종(species) 감별과 기회감염 유발 유무는 좀 더 연구가 필요하다고 사료된다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제52권4호
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• pp.349-355
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• 2020

최근 호흡기 검체에서 결핵균(Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, MTBC) 검출은 감소하고 비결핵 항산균(nontuberculous mycobacteria, NTM)은 증가하고 있다. 본 연구는 2010년부터 2019년까지 광주 2차 병원에 의뢰된 호흡기검체 132,359예를 대상으로 NTM 검출 증가 대비 NTM 폐질환 환자의 증가와 연령 및 성별 분포를 조사하였다. 그리고 NTM양성환자의 폐결핵 감염 여부를 확인하고자 하였다. 항산균배양 양성률은 2010년 21.9% (1,624/7,403), 2019년 17.4% (1,937/11,161)였다. NTM 분리 비율은 2010년 38.0% (617/1,624)에서 2019년에 72.4% (1,403/1,937)로 증가하였다. NTM 양성환자의 NTM 폐질환 진단률은 평균 27.1%였다. 이 중 현재 폐결핵에 감염된 사례는 2010년 44.4%에서 2019년 23.5%로 감소하고 과거 진단 또는 치료 사례도 15.6%에서 10.6%로 감소하였다. 전체 NTM 폐질환 중 69.0%가 60대 이상이었으며 남자보다 여자 환자가 더 많았다. 향후 고령화와 결핵 관리 정책에 따라 NTM 검출은 증가하는 반면 MTBC는 감소할 것으로 예상되며, 실험실에서는 이 현상에 세심한 주의를 기울이고 지속적으로 검사 결과를 감시해야 할 것이다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.5-17
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• 2004

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제82권1호
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• pp.88-89
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• 2019

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.137-142
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• 2009

Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections are a rare, but clinically important cause of infections in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. This is typically suspected when a patient does not respond to treatment with the usual antibiotics. We describe here a case of $Mycobacterium$ $abscessus$ exit site infection with abdominal wall abscess formation that was associated with CAPD, which required peritoneal catheter removal, surgical debridement of the abscess and long term antibiotic therapy.