• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.346-357
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• 2015

Purpose: This descriptive study was to examine uncertainty and performance of infection control in the VRE patients' caregivers. Methods: The participants were 82 caregivers who involved with the VRE patients care in D tertiary hospital in D metropolitan city. Data were analyzed with number, percentage, t-test, and ANOVA using SPSS/Win 21.0. Results: The participants' uncertainty was 56.99 and performance of infection control was 35.09. Performance of infection control was significantly different by age (F=121.38, p<.001), education (F=102.77, p<.001), relationship with the patient (F=17.80, p<.001), hours of caring per day (t=3.14, p=.002), and type of family (t=-8.65, p<.001). There was a significant negative correlation between participants' uncertainty and performance of infection control (r=-.96, p<.001). Conclusion: The results of the study will be used to develop nursing intervention program and standard protocol for infection control for the VRE patients' caregivers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.946-952
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• 2005

Purpose : Vancomycin-resistant enterococci(VRE) are now nosocomial pathogens in Korea. But little is known about the prevalence of stool colonization with VRE in neonates in Korea. So we studied the prevalence and risk factors of VRE colonization in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit(NICU). Methods : From January 2000 to December 2004, the medical records of 294 neonates(127 cases of VRE group and 167 cases of non-VRE group, according to the results of stool culture) were reviewed retrospectively. We studied the annual prevalence of VRE and risk factors of VRE colonization in neonates. Results : From 2000 to 2003, the prevalence rate of VRE in NICU increased. After preventing VRE transmission, the prevalence rate of VRE has decreased. Conclusion : VRE colonization increased recently. Risk factors of VRE colonization were prematurity, lower birth weight, longer hospitalization and use of vancomycin or 3rd generation cephalosporin, compared with the non-VRE group. To prevent VRE transmission among newborns, aggressive infection control strategies by NICU staffs must be implemented immediately for all babies.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.6-10
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• 2007

Culture broth of a streptomycete isolate, Streptomyces sp. CS684 showed antibacterial activity on methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE). Among purified substances from the organism, CSU-1, which is active against MRSA and VRE, is a $C_{37}H_{62}O_{12}Na\;(M^+,721.3875)$, and identified as laidlomycin. The anti-MRSA and anti-VRE activity of CSU-1 was stronger than oxacillin and vancomycin. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain CS684 is very similar to Streptomyces ardus NRRL $2817^T$, whereas the ability of Streptomyces sp. CS684 to produce laidlomycin was shown to be unique.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.154-161
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• 2017

An antimicrobial peptides-producing Bacillus strain CBS73 was isolated from fermented food (kimchi) that produces low-molecular-weight proteins with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Our goal was to explore the therapeutic potential of antimicrobial substances produced by Bacillus species. Peptide CBS73 was purified from Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis with identity of 99.79%. It was found to be stable at pH 4.0-10.0 and temp $20-60^{\circ}C$. A protein band around 5.2 kDa was detected in tricine-SDS-PAGE and band was confirmed by MALDI-TOF test. Peptide CBS73 showed antimicrobial activity against MDR bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of peptide CBS73 for vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) and Salmonella typhimurium ranged from $10-40{\mu}g/mL$. The antioxidant activity of peptide CBS73 was measured by DPPH scavenging, reducing power activity and total phenolic content. Cell viability and NO production result showed less cytotoxic effect upto $12{\mu}g/mL$. Peptide CBS73 could be a promising antimicrobial agent for clinical application.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.162-170
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• 2007

Purpose : While cases of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have increasingly been reported worldwide since it was first reported in the late 1980s, there have been few systemic studies on the pediatric population. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the planning of VRE prevention by investigating the prevalence, risk factors and transmission of VRE infection. Methods : We studied 230 patients under age 15 years who were isolated VRE between January 2001 and December 2006 retrospectively. The patients were classified into the intensive care unit (ICU) and the non-ICU groups. We reviewed the procedures before VRE detection as well as antibiotic sensitivity of detected organisms. Results : The number of VRE-isolation cases was higher in the ICU group than the non-ICU group. Instances of VRE-isolation were also more prevalent in patients who underwent operations or active procedures while taking 3rd-generation cephalosporins or glycopeptides. Almost all antibiotics except tetracycline were resistant to VRE. The proportion of 3rd-generation cephalosporin use was higher than those of any other antibiotics before VRE detection. Additionally, the use of 3rd-generation cephalosporins has increased annually, but that of glycopeptides had decreased in 2006. Also, the rates of VRE isolation have been increasing since 1998. Conclusion : VRE infection is increasing in pediatric population. Strict adherence to appropriate infection control guidelines for the prevention of VRE transmission in hospitals, and tracking of VRE colonization through active surveillance in high risk units are recommended.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.48
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• pp.295.1-295.7
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• 2018

Background: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections have become a major healthcare-associated pathogen problem worldwide. Nosocomial VRE infections could be effectively controlled by screening patients at high risk of harboring VRE and thereby lowering the influx of VRE into healthcare centers. In this study, we evaluated factors associated with VRE colonization in patients transferred to emergency departments, to detect patients at risk for VRE carriage. Methods: This study was conducted in the emergency department of a medical college-affiliated hospital in Korea. Every patient transferred to the emergency department and admitted to the hospital from January to December 2016 was screened for VRE using rectal cultures. In this cross-sectional study, the dependent variable was VRE colonization and the independent variables were demographic and clinical factors of the patients and factors related to the transferring hospital. Patients were divided into two groups, VRE and non-VRE, and previously collected patient data were analyzed. Then we performed logistic regression analyses of characteristics that differed significantly between groups. Results: Out of 650 patients, 106 (16.3%) had positive VRE culture results. Significant variables in the logistic analysis were transfer from geriatric long-term care hospital (adjusted odds ration [aOR]: 8.017; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.378-46.651), hospital days (4-7 days; aOR: 7.246; 95% CI: 3.229-16.261), duration of antimicrobial exposure (1-3 days; aOR: 1.976; 95% CI: 1.137-3.436), and age (aOR: 1.025; 95% CI: 1.007-1.043). Conclusion: VRE colonization in patients transferred to the emergency department is associated primarily with factors related to the transferred hospitals rather than demographic and clinical characteristics.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.16-22
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the spontaneous decolonization period of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) species in pediatric patients. Methods: The medical records of patients presenting positive VRE cultures between January 2005 and November 2010 at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. The subjects were divided into two groups according to the average number of days for decolonization (325 days). Clinical characteristics were compared between shorter VRE colonization patients (<325 days, n=41) and prolonged VRE colonization patients (>325 days, n=110). Results: There were 151 patients who had more than 1 year of follow up period or confirmed of VRE decolonization among patients who were identified with VRE. The average age at the time of initial VRE colonization was significantly younger in shorter decolonization group than in prolonged decolonization group (44.9 months vs 40.9 months, P =0.040). The prolonged decolonization group received more vancomycin treatments after VRE colonization in comparison with patients in shorter decolonization group (7.0% vs 27.2%, P =0.008). Conclusion: For the duration of VRE colonization, it was found that the initial age of acquiring VRE and use of antibiotics were important factors. Antibiotics should be used properly and precisely in order to treat infectious diseases and to control the colonization of antibiotic resistant bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.435-445
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to examine whether VRE infection control strategies have an effect on the decrease in incidence rates for VRE acquisition and VRE nosocomial infection in ICU. Methods: All the patients were examined for VRE carriers on ICU admission. Among them, patients hospitalized for over 48 hours were investigated for VRE acquisition rates and VRE nosocomial infection rate using VRE infection control strategies in ICU for the experimental group from September 2007 to April 2008. Before that, incidence of VRE acquisition and VRE nosocomial infection for the control group without Intervention were investigated from May to August 2007 retrospectively. Results: VRE acquisition rate in clinical specimens was 0.6% in the experimental group, that was significantly lower when compared to the control group. VRE carrier rate at admission to ICU was 15.4%. Out of 182 VRE carriers, 180 patients were identified by the active surveillance culture. Conclusion: These results suggested that active surveillance culture at admission was considered to be an essential measure for detection of VRE carrier. But without strict isolation and adherence rating after each intervention, hand washing and contact isolation alone did not significantly decrease VRE nosocomial infection, although it did significantly decrease incidence of VRE acquired from clinical specimen.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.704-709
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• 2009

The emergence of methicillin-resistant of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) has led to an urgent need for the discovery and development of new antibacterial agents. As part of an ongoing investigation into the antibacterial properties of the natural products, (2S)-7,4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-8-(${\gamma}$, ${\gamma}$-dimethylally)-f1avanone (2S-DMDF), isolated from the roots of Sophora flavescens, was found to be antibacterial active MRSA and VRE. Sophora flavescens has been used as antibacterial, antiviral, antiprotozoal, anti-inflammatory. Therefore, this study investigated the antibacterial activity of 2S-DMDF against all the bacterial strains tested. In this result, at the end point of an optically clear well, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranged from 0.97 to 15.6 mg/ml for 2S-DMDF, from 125 to 256 mg/ml for ampicillin, and from 64 to 512 mg/ml for gentamicin with MRSA, also, 7.8 to 15.6 mg/ml for 2S-DMDF, from 125 to 256 mg/ml for ampicillin, and from 512 to 1024< mg/ml for vacomicin with VRE. These findings indicated that the application of the tested 2S-DMDF alone might prove useful in the control and treatment of MRSA and VRE infections.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

Purpose : Recently, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have become one of the major nosocomial pathogens in Korea. However, there have been few studies on the epidemiology of VRE colonization among neonates. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of VRE colonization, risk factors for VRE, and how to control the spread of VRE infection in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Pusan National University Hospital (PNUH). Methods : We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 192 neonates who were admitted to the NICU of PNUH from March 2006 to March 2007. Surveillance cultures from rectal swabs for detecting VRE were obtained weekly during the study period. We analyzed the prevalence of VRE and various risk factors. Results : The rate of VRE colonization among NICU patients was 25% (48/192). Thirty five of these VRE colonized patients were transferred to the NICU from other local hospitals. Compared with the non-VRE group, the risk factors associated with VRE colonization were lower birth weight, congenital heart disease, applied mechanical ventilation, use of a central venous catheter, chest tubing, a history of surgery, and use of antibiotics. Conclusion : VRE colonization among patients admitted to the NICU is rapidly increasing. Monitoring and managing premature neonates from the beginning of the birth process, avoiding many invasive procedures, avoiding antibiotics such as vancomycin and third generation cephalosporin are important for preventing the emergence and spread of VRE colonization in the NICU.