• Urogenital Tract Infection
• /
• 제13권3호
• /
• pp.58-65
• /
• 2018

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between uropathogens of infants with febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Materials and Methods: We analyzed 308 infants hospitalized for febrile UTI between January 2010 and December 2015, and assessed the voiding cystourethrography (VCUG). The medical records, including clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, urinalysis, urine culture tests, ultrasound (US), dimercaptosuccinic acid scan, and VCUG, were retrospectively obtained. The incidences of VUR and high-grade VURs (III, IV, and V) were analyzed in 4 groups categorized by uropathogens and renal US findings. Results: The mean age of 308 infants was $3.29{\pm}2.18months$. The male-to-female ratio was 3.46:1. In urine culture tests, 267 infants (86.69%) showed single bacterial uropathogen; Escherichia coli in 241 infants (78.25%) and non-E. coli uropathogens in 26 infants (8.44%). Multiple distinctive microorganisms were identified as causative uropathogens in 41 infants (13.31%). Abnormal findings of US and VCUG were identified in 216 and 64 patients, respectively. In 308 infants, the incidences of VUR and high-grade VUR were not different among the 4 groups. In 239 male infants, the incidences of high-grade VUR were higher in patients with non-E. coli single or multiple uropathogen and with abnormal US findings (p=0.042). Conclusions: In male infants with non-E. coli uropathogen or multiple uropathogens and with abnormal US findings at febrile UTI, there was an increased chance of finding high-grade VURs on subsequent VCUG tests.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제20권2호
• /
• pp.37-44
• /
• 2016

Although asymptomatic bacteriuria, cystitis, and acute pyelonephritis (APN) have been categorized as urinary tract infections (UTIs), the immunopathogenesis of each disease is different. APN shows an age predilection; the majority of children (over 70-80%) with APN are under 1-2 years of age, with a male predominance. After 1-2 years of age, female predominance has been reported. This finding suggests that the immature immune state of infancy may be associated with the pathogenesis of APN. Escherichia coli is the most common etiologic agent; other uropathogens associated with UTIs originate from the host and comprise normal flora that are continuously altered by environmental factors. Therefore, uropathogens may have characteristics different from those of extraneous bacterial pathogens. Although antibiotic-resistant uropathogens, including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing strains, are increasing in Korea and worldwide, treatment failure is rare in immune-competent children. The immunopathogenesis of APN remains unknown. Intact bacteria may not be the causative substances in renal cell injury; rather, smaller substances produced during bacterial replication may be responsible for renal cell injury and scarring. Moreover, substances from host cells such as proinflammatory cytokines may be involved in renal cell injury. A dimercaptosuccinic acid scan is used to detect the site of bacterial replication in the renal parenchyma, and may be influenced by the size of the focus and the stage of APN. Traditional aggressive studies used to identify vesicoureteral reflux after the first episode of APN have been modified because of rare cases of chronic kidney disease in patients with recurrent UTI.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제20권1호
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2016

Since many years, continuous low dose antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP) has been used for children at a risk for recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), especially those with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). The incidence of recurrent UTI has been shown to be higher in children with VUR with bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) than in those with VUR without BBD. Therefore, CAP has been recommended for children with BBD and VUR because of the increased risk of UTI. However, the use of CAP has become highly controversial because of bacterial resistance developed due to antibiotic over-usage. The preventive effects of probiotics have been proved in various adult urogenital infections, and the antimicrobial activities of lactobacilli against uropathogens have been demonstrated in previous in vitro studies. However, a critical assessment of their efficacy in children with UTI is lacking. The importance of the use of urogenital probiotics is that it is a natural approach that replenishes the depleted normal flora to create a better environment to fight off uropathogens. Probiotics have a great potential, particularly today with the increasing threat of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제17권2호
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2013

목적: 요로감염은 대부분 그람 음성 균에 의해 발생한다고 알려져 있으나 최근 연구들에 의하면 병원내 감염의 주요원인으로 알려졌던 그람 양성균에 의한 요로감염이 증가하고 있고 일반적인 경험적 항생제에 내성이 증가하고 있어 균혈증 등으로 진행이 가능하지만 지역사회 획득 소아 요로감염에 미치는 연구들은 아직 미흡한 실정이다. 본 연구에서는 1세 이하의 지역사회 획득 발열성 소아 요로감염에서 그람 양성균이 요로감염의 중증도 및 동반 비뇨기계 기형과 연관이 있는지 알아보고자 하였다. 방법: 2008년 1월부터 2013년 5월까지 고려대학교 의료원에 입원 치료한 1세 이하의 발열성 요로감염 소아 566명을 대상으로 하였다. 치골 상부 방광 천자 및 도뇨관 으로 채취한 요 배양 검사에 따라 그람 양성균 군과 그람 음성균 군으로 나누어 입원 전후 발열 기간, 말초 혈액 내 백혈구 수와 혈청 C-반응성 단백, 수신증의 유무, 초기 신결손 및 신반흔의 유무, 방광요관역류의 유무 등의 항목들을 후향적으로 비교분석 하였다. 결과: 대상 환아 566명 중 그람 양성균 군은 23명, 그람 음성균 군은 543명 이었으며 그람 양성균 중 E. faecalis가 20주(71.4%)로 가장 많았고, 그람 음성균에서는 E. coli가 493주(86.8%)로 가장 높은 빈도를 보였다. 그람 양성균 군의 평균 입원 전후 발열 기간은 $3.4{\pm}1.2$일 이었으며 그람 음성균 군은 $2.9{\pm}1.6$일로 그람 양성균 군에서 유의하게 길었다. 또한, 배뇨 중 방광요도조영술상 방광요관역류는 그람 양성균 군에서 55.6%, 그람 음성균 군에서 17.8%로 그람 양성균 군에서 유의하게 높은 빈도로 나타났다. 그러나, 그 외 혈액 및 영상 검사 소견에서는 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 결론: 저자들은 그람 양성균에 의한 1세 이하의 발열성 소아 요로감염에서 발열 기간 및 방광요관역류가 증가 할 수 있으므로 요로감염의 치료에 있어 경험적 항생제 선택에 신중을 기해야 하며 동반 기형을 찾기 위한 요로계 영상 검사와 추적 관찰이 꼭 필요함을 제시하는 바이다.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제52권10호
• /
• pp.1147-1152
• /
• 2009

목 적:본 연구의 목적은 2003년부터 2008년까지 24개월 이상 소아 요로 감염 원인균의 분포와 변화를 알아보고 주요 원인균인 Escherichia coli의 항생제 감수성의 시간에 따른 변화를 알아보고자 하였다. 방 법:2003년 1월에서 2008년 12월까지 본원에 열성 요로 감염으로 입원하여 치료받은 24개월 이상 환아의 기록을 후향적으로 분석하였다. 소변 배양 검사에서 단일 세균이 $10^5CFU/mL$ 이상인 경우에 유의하다고 보고 원인 균주와 항생제 감수성을 분석하였다. E. coli의 항생제 감수성의 변화 유무를 확인하기 위해 두 시기(A군: 2003-2005, B군: 2006-2008)로 나누어 chi-square test for trend를 사용하였다. 결 과:환아들로부터 63례의 균주가 분리되었다. 가장 흔한 원인균은 E. coli로 77.8%의 빈도를 보였다. 원인균들의 시기별 분포는 유의한 차이가 없었다(P>0.05). E. coli의 항생제 감수성은 aztreonam, cefotetan, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, cefepime, amikacin, imipenem에 대하여 90% 이상, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole에 대하여 49%, ampicillin과 ampicillin/sulbactam에 대하여 20-25% 이었다. 두 시기 동안 E. coli의 감수성은 대부분 항생제에 대하여 변화가 없었으나, cefuroxime에 대한 감수성은 74.1%에서 95.5%로 증가하였고(P=0.006), ciprofloxacin에 대한 감수성은 59.3%에서 86.4%로 증가하였다(P=0.039). 결 론:E. coli 및 다른 그람 음성균은 trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam에 감수성이 낮아 단독으로 요로 감염의 초기 경험적 항생제로 사용하는 것은 부적절하다고 생각되며, 적절한 경험적 항생제의 선택은 그 지역 사회의 원인균에 대한 지속적인 감시와 항생제 감수성의 결과에 근거를 두어야 하겠다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• 제25권10호
• /
• pp.1714-1727
• /
• 2015

This work describes a new strategy for optimal design of Multiplex-PCR primer sequences. The process is based on the Particle Swarm Optimization-Simplex algorithm (Mult-PSOS). Diverging from previous solutions centered on heuristic tools, the Mult-PSOS is selfconfigured because it does not require the definition of the algorithm's initial search parameters. The successful performance of this method was validated in vitro using Multiplex-PCR assays. For this validation, seven gene sequences of the most prevalent bacteria implicated in urinary tract infections were taken as DNA targets. The in vitro tests confirmed the good performance of the Mult-PSOS, with respect to infectious disease diagnosis, in the rapid and efficient selection of the optimal oligonucleotide sequences for Multiplex-PCRs. The predicted sequences allowed the adequate amplification of all amplicons in a single step (with the correct amount of DNA template and primers), reducing significantly the need for trial and error experiments. In addition, owing to its independence from the initial selection of the heuristic constants, the Mult-PSOS can be employed by non-expert users in computational techniques or in primer design problems.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
• /
• 제23권3호
• /
• pp.139-145
• /
• 2017

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and complicated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) are frequently occurring vaginal infections in postmenopausal women, caused by an imbalance in vaginal microflora. Postmenopausal women suffer from decreased ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone. A normal, healthy vaginal microflora mainly comprises Lactobacillus species (spp.), which act beneficially as a bacterial barrier in the vagina, interfering with uropathogens. During premenopausal period, estrogen promotes vaginal colonization by lactobacilli that metabolizing glycogen and producing lactic acid, and maintains intravaginal health by lowering the intravaginal pH level. A lower vaginal pH inhibits uropathogen growth, preventing vaginal infections. Decreased estrogen secretion in postmenopausal women depletes lactobacilli and increases intravaginal pH, resulting in increased vaginal colonization by harmful microorganisms (e.g., Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Candida, and Gardnerella). Probiotics positively effects on vaginal microflora composition by promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms, alters the intravaginal microbiota composition, prevents vaginal infections in postmenopausal. Probiotics also reduce the symptoms of vaginal infections (e.g., vaginal discharge, odor, etc.), and are thus helpful for the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC. In this review article, we provide information on the intravaginal mechanism of postmenopausal vaginal infections, and describes the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제10권2호
• /
• pp.192-200
• /
• 2006

Purpose : This study was performed to identify longitudinal changes in the prevalence of organisms isolated from urinary tract infection(UTI) and in the pattern of Escherichia coli susceptibility to antibiotics during the past 10 years in children with UTI. Methods : We performed a retrospective study of a total of 192 urine cultures from children with UTI in the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul Adventist Hospital over two periods(1st: 1995-2000, 2nd:2001-2005). Antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was compared between the two groups. Results : The pathogens of UTI in the two groups were similar. In the first period, E. coli was the leading uropathogen(66.2%) followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae(7.8%), Enterobacter cloacae(6.5%), and others(19.5%). In the second period, E. coli was the leading uropathogen(67%) followed by K. pneumoniae(12.2%), E. cloacae(3.5%), Enterobacter aerogenes(3.5%), and others(13.8%). The susceptibility pattern of E. coli to amoxicillin/clavulanate(87.5%, 81.0%) did not present any statistically significant difference between the two periods(P>0.05). The susceptibility of E. coli to TMP/SMX(52.4%, 50.0%) was still low with no significant difference between the two periods(P>0.05). Conclusion : Our results suggest that the use of amoxicillin/clavulanate is still an excellent therapeutic option in children with UTI. The low rate of susceptibility to TMP/SMX against uropathogens suggest that TMP/SMX may be reevaluated as the first-line therapeutic drug for UTI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제60권7호
• /
• pp.221-226
• /
• 2017

Purpose: Escherichia coli sequence type (ST) 131, a multidrug-resistant clone causing extraintestinal infections, has rapidly become prevalent worldwide. However, the epidemiological and clinical features of pediatric infections are poorly understood. We aimed to explore the characteristics of ST131 Escherichia coli isolated from Korean children with urinary tract infections. Methods: We examined 114 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) isolates from children hospitalized at Chung-Ang University Hospital between 2011 and 2014. Bacterial strains were classified into STs by partial sequencing of seven housekeeping genes (adk, fumC, gyrB, icd, mdh, purA, and recA). Clinical characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility were compared between ST131 and non-ST131 UPEC isolates. Results: Sixteen UPEC isolates (14.0%) were extended-spectrum ${\beta}-lactamase$ (ESBL)-producers; 50.0% of ESBL-producers were ST131 isolates. Of all the isolates tested, 13.2% (15 of 114) were classified as ST131. There were no statistically significant associations between ST131 and age, sex, or clinical characteristics, including fever, white blood cell counts in urine and serum, C-reactive protein, radiologic abnormalities, and clinical outcome. However, ST131 isolates showed significantly lower rates of susceptibility to cefazolin (26.7%), cefotaxime (40.0%), cefepime (40.0%), and ciprofloxacin (53.3%) than non-ST131 isolates (65.7%, 91.9%, 92.9%, and 87.9%, respectively; P<0.001 for all). ESBL was more frequently produced in ST131 (53.3%) than in non-ST131 (8.1%) isolates (P<0.01). Conclusion: ST131 E. coli isolates were prevalent uropathogens in children at a single medical center in Korea between 2011 and 2014. Although ST131 isolates showed higher rates of antimicrobial resistance, clinical presentation and outcomes of patients were similar to those of patients infected with non-ST131 isolates.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• 제23권1호
• /
• pp.22-28
• /
• 2019

Purpose: We studied the pathogens and trends in antibiotic sensitivity pattern in children with urinary tract infection (UTI) over 8 years in order to evaluate adequate treatment. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of medical records of children with UTI from January 2009 to December 2016 in Daegu Fatima Hospital. Uropathogens and antibiotic sensitivity patterns were selected. Only 1 bacterial species with a colony count of ${\geq}105CFU/mL$ was considered a positive result. We compared 2 periods group (A: 2009~2012, B: 2013~2016) to investigate trends of antibiotic sensitivity pattern. Results: During the 8 year period, 589 cases are identified (E. coli was cultured in 509 cases, 86.4%). Among all patients, this study investigated the antibiotic sensitivity of E. coli. Antimicrobial susceptibility to ampicillin was steadily low for both periods (A: 32.6%, B: 40.1%, P=0.125), and to amikacin was consistently high for both periods (A: 99.4%, B: 99.3%, P=1.000). Antibiotic sensitivity to third-generation cephalosporin decreased from period A to B (A: 91.7%, B: 75.5%, P=0.000). Antibiotic sensitivity to quinolone significantly decreased from A to B (A: 88.4%, B: 78.2%, P=0.003). The prevalence of extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase-producing E. coli increased from period A to B (A: 6.1%, B: 17.1%, P=0.000). Conclusion: This study showed that conventional antibiotic therapy for the treatment of pediatric UTI needs to be reevaluated. A careful choice of antibiotic is required due to the change in antibiotic sensitivity and the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.