• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.381-389
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• 2023

Vibrio vulnificus, the most fatal waterborne and foodborne pathogens of 50% fatality rate in the world, is common in seawater and occurs particularly in warmer months. In this study, we investigated the toxin genes using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), antibiotic resistance status using Vitek, and genetic characteristics using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of different V. vulnificus strains isolated from the Jeju Island seawater, distribution fishery products, and fish tanks. We examined a total of 487 samples and isolated a total of 46 strains (including overlapping strains) of V. vulnificus, 44 strains from seawater and 1 strain each from fishery products and fish tank. We detected toxin gene vvhA in all 46 strains and rtxA, viu in 8 strains (17.4%) and 9 strains (19.6%) strains, respectively. Antibiotic resistance tests indicated 100% resistance to cefoxitin antibiotics. The PFGE analysis of the 46 strains identified a total of 6 types showed 100% homology and the degree of similarity was 81.3-98.0%; however, there were no similarity between the regions and samples. These results indicate that V. vulnificus isolated from the seawater, fishery products, and fish tanks should be continuously monitored as cases of food poisoning caused by V. vulnificus with toxin genes have been reported in Jeju Island.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.134-151
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• 2024

Salmonella spp. is among the most important water-borne and food-borne pathogens and is one of the most common causes of human gastroenteritis and diarrheal diseases globally. In this study, Salmonella spp. isolated from food, environmental samples, and patients with food poisoning or diarrhea were investigated Salmonella serovars, antibiotic resistance using Vitek2, and genetic characteristics through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Salmonella spp. of 339 strains, including 26 strains from food or environmental samples and 313 strains from patients, were isolated from Jeju Island of South Korea between 2020 and 2023. The monthly number of isolated Salmonella spp. gradually increased from March, with the highest number being in August. No significant differences in Salmonella spp. isolated from patients according to gender was observed. However, Salmonella spp. was most frequently isolated from people aged 70 years or older and least frequently isolated from those between ages 10 and 19 years. Salmonella spp. isolated from food or environmental samples were distributed among eight different serovars and the main serovars were identified in the order of S. Bareilly (26.9%), S. Rissen (23.1%), and S. Thompson (19.3%). Salmonella spp. isolated from patients were distributed among 27 different serovars and the main serovars were identified in the order of S. Bareilly (31.0%), S. Typhimurium (24.6%), and S. Enteritidis (11.5%). The main cause serovars of Salmonella spp. outbreaks are S. Bareilly, S. Enteritidis, S. Thompson. Antibiotic resistance tests indicated resistance to various antibiotics and some Salmonella spp. exhibited multidrug resistance. Salmonella spp. showed various genetic correlations among the 17 serovars. These results indicate that they can be used as basic data for epidemiological investigations by predicting the appearance of Salmonella spp. and providing a scientific basis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2024

This study examined the fecal samples of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius coreae) captured in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Fecal samples, including the colon and other intestinal organs, were collected and subjected to aerobic culture to investigate the distribution of intestinal microorganisms. Gram staining of the aerobic cultured bacterial colonies from 36 fecal samples revealed the predominant presence of gram-negative bacilli in all samples. Among the 36 samples, gram-negative bacilli were identified in 36 strains (100%), gram-positive cocci in 21 strains (58.3%), and gram-positive bacilli in 15 strains (41.7%), while no gram-negative cocci were observed. The gram-negative bacilli cultured from the 36 samples were identified using the Vitek 2 system, and all were determined to be Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains. In addition, one sample was concurrently identified with E. coli and Enterobacter cloacae strains. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing for the identified E. coli strains did not include all antibiotics, but one strain exhibited intermediate resistance to cefoxitin. No pathogenic bacteria were present in the fecal samples of the scrub typhus-infected rodents, which are vectors for chigger-borne diseases affecting humans and animals.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.144-148
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• 2013

Candida spp. are yeast form fungi, which cause an opportunistic infections in a immune suppressed patients however it is a normal flora of the respiratory system, the gastrointestinal system, and the urogenital system of healthy person. It is investigated that the distribution of Candida spp. cause an oral disease from oral cavity of healthy people and also identified Candia dubliniensis. Distribution and identification of the yeast form fungi in oral cavities of healthy people was investigated by an automatic identifier, VITEK2 system. We found 21 strains of Candida albicans, 3 strains of Candida famata, one strain of Candida tropicalis, Candida haemulonii, Candida krusei, and Candida dubliniensis. In addition, one strain of Cryptococcus spp., Saccharomyces spp., and two unknown strains were isolated. Candida dubliniensis which forms a mass by more than 2 chlamydospores was isolated from a healthy person for the first time. Candida dubliniensis was not grown at $42^{\circ}C$ whereas Candida albicans was grown well. It is known that Candida dubliniencis was isolated in AIDS while it is found in healthy people from this study, which will be helpful to investigate the distribution of Candida spp.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.331-333
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• 2010

Moribund albino catfish, Clarias sp., displayed from an indoor private commercial aquarium were submitted in the laboratory for diagnostic examination. Dense culture of bacteria was recovered from the kidney and was characterized using Vitek System 2 and showed 98% probability to Aeromonas (A.) hydrophila. PCR result showed positive using A. hydrophila extracellular hemolysin gene ahh1 (130 bp) and aerolysin gene aerA (309 bp). The 16S rRNA gene was identical and exhibited 97% sequence similarity with the other known isolates of A. hydrophila available in the GenBank. In this paper, we reported the isolation and molecular detection of A. hydrophila from an albino catfish.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.84-94
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• 2013

Objectives: The objective of this study is to identify the composition of dominant microorganisms in waste handling industries. Methods: We collected airborne bacteria and fungi by agar plate impaction method in recyclable waste sorting industry, food recycling industry, landfill and incineration. Isolated dominant microorganisms were identified by VITEK system or morphological analysis. Results: We isolated totally 330 microorganisms in the process and outdoor. Bacillus was the most dominant genus in the all industries, and Sphingomonas, Acinetobacter, Staphylococcus, and Proteus was dominant bacterial genus. The dominant genus of fungi was Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Cladosporium in each industries. Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, and Proteus was identified as the dominant gram negative bacteria. The ratio of bacteria being biosafety levels(class 1 or 2) was 58.3~77.8%. Conclusions: This study has investigated the dominant microorganisms in the waste handling industries. The genus of dominant microorganisms was similar among the industries but the composition was different. We used biosafety levels as qualitative method, but further studies are needed about specific process of qualitative evaluation methods.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.425-431
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of our study was to evaluate penicillin as a still drug of choice for severe endodontic infection, by analyzing the antimicrobial susceptibilities from endodontic infections with swelling to figure out appropriate antibiotics as empirical treatment. Materials and methods : This study involved 18 patients who attended for emergency treatment because of facial or periapical swelling associated with root canal infections. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test of each pathogen were performed by Vitek2 Systems (bioM$\acute{e}$rieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France). Results : The most frequent bacteria was Streptococcus spp.(77%), and the resistance against penicillin was 35% in overall patients, followed by clindamycin and erythromycin (17%), which was much higher than previous studies. Conclusions : In our study, the higher resistance made penicillin alone not to be chosen as the first antibiotic drug for severe endodontic infections. Combinations with other drug, penicillin with wider spectrum of activity, or changing to other antibiotics was considered while remembering the increased risk of resistant microorganism.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2010

The aims of this study were to investigate the nosocomial infection route of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and explore preventative methods for this pathogen that involve blocking its dispersion. We cultured MRSA from nasal cavity swabs collected between June and July 2008 that we obtained from eight dental healthcare providers, 32 nurses and the sputum specimens of two patients from our hospital. In addition, we used VITEK 2 equipment to measure drug sensitivity, and we further performed biochemical testing and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to isolate MRSA colonies. The incidence of these bacteria on the nasal swabs was 25.0% from dental clinic healthcare providers, 13.6% from the internal medicine ward nurses and 30.0% from intensive care unit nurses. Moreover, MRSA was detectable in sputum specimens of ward patients. The antimicrobial agents resistance and partial PFGE types of MRSA showed a similar pattern. We suggest from these analyses that nasal cavity infection by MRSA could occur by cross contamination between healthcare providers and patients which underscores the importance of stringent MRSA management practices.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.247-251
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• 2008

Degradation behavior in the seawater of Tongyeong, Incheon, Kunsan and Hongsung was explored for Mater-Bi$^{(R)}$, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxy valerate) (PHBV), poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate) (PBSA) and polycaprolactone (PCL) which can eventually be used for various fishery tools. Acinetobacter lwoffu/junii and Shewanella algae/putrefaciens inhabited all the seawater samples. Eikenella corrodens was also detected in all the seawater samples, although identified with poor confidence by VITEK system. Mater-Bi$^{(R)}$ was degraded faster than PHBV, PBSA and PCL in the seawater in contradiction to the degradation behavior in soil environment. The seawater retrieved from Incheon exhibited the most elevated activity for the plastic degradation, which may be partly ascribed to the largest number of total viable counts.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2013

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important healthcare-associated infection since last two decades. ChromID VRE agar (cIDVA) is useful for VRE rectal swab screening. We investigated all VRE were isolated on the cIDVA. A total of 363 rectal swabs of 85 patients to test VRE screening were inoculated into bile-esculin (B-E) broth with $6{\mu}g/mL$ vancomycin. After 24 hours incubation, we subcultured B-E broths were changed to black onto cIDVA. All isolates were identified by the MICROSCAN and VITEK2. The vanA gene and vancomycin minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) were detected by PCR and E-test respectively. 277 E. faecium (84.7%), 16 E. faecalis (4.9%), 25 E. avium (7.6%), 8 E. gallinarum (2.4%) and 1 E. raffinosus (0.3%) were isolated. 10.3% of VRE detected on cIDVA were other than E. faecium and E. faecalis that presented various color from colorless to pale violet. All isolates contained vanA and vancomycin MIC were > $256{\mu}g/mL$. VRE isolates other than E. faecium and E. faecalis should be objective to the contact precautions for healthcare-associated infection control if they possess vanA gene. Due to emerging enterococci carrying vanA such as E. avium, E. gallinarum, and E. raffinosus, VRE surveillance should be expanded to all isolates on chromogenic agar.