Changes in Candidemia during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Species Distribution, Antifungal Susceptibility, Initial Antifungal Usage, and Mortality Trends in Two Korean Tertiary Care Hospitals.

This study aimed to investigate changes in candidemia incidence, species distribution, antifungal susceptibility, initial antifungal use, and mortality trends in Korea before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis was conducted on candidemia cases from two tertiary care hospitals in Korea between 2017 and 2022. Data were compared between the pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic (2020-2022) periods.

Persistence of in Patients with Bacteremia: Incidence, Clinical and Microbiologic Characters, and Outcomes.

The risk factors and outcomes associated with persistent bacteremia are not well-defined. This retrospective cohort study analyzed 214 cases of bacteremia diagnosed between 2005 and 2022 at two university hospitals, focusing on the clinical and microbiologic characteristics and outcomes of persistent bacteremia. Persistent bacteremia, defined as the detection of for ≥5 days after the initial blood culture, occurred in 25.

Comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes in candidaemia patients with and without COVID-19: a multicentre retrospective study.

Background: Invasive fungal infections have been reported as complications with significant mortality and morbidity in patients hospitalized with COVID-19. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of candidaemia patients with COVID-19 and to investigate the association between COVID-19 and mortality in candidaemia patients.

Methods: This retrospective study included candidaemia patients aged 18 years or older admitted to four university-affiliated tertiary hospitals in South Korea between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.

Serotype distribution and clinical characteristics of Group B Streptococcus Bacteremia in nonpregnant adults: a 15-Year Multicenter Study in Korea.

Background: Group B Streptococcus (GBS) bacteremia in nonpregnant adults is of increasing concern, particularly among the elderly in underlying conditions. This study analyzed the serotype distribution, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and clinical characteristics of GBS bacteremia in nonpregnant adults over a 15-year period in two tertiary hospitals in Korea.

Methods: From 2007 to 2021, patients aged ≥ 19 years with GBS bacteremia were identified via retrospective electronic medical record review.

The microbiology of periprosthetic joint infections as revealed by sonicate cultures in Korea: Routine use of fungal and mycobacterial cultures is necessary?

Background: Although sonication is a valuable diagnostic tool for periprosthetic joint infections (PJI), it is not commonly utilized. We analyzed sonicate and intraoperative tissue culture results obtained from three hospitals to define the microbial etiology of PJIs in Korea. Furthermore, we investigated necessity of conducting regular fungal and mycobacterial cultures.

Air and Environmental Contamination Caused by COVID-19 Patients: a Multi-Center Study.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of air and surface contamination of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in four health care facilities with hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Methods: We investigated air and environmental contamination in the rooms of eight COVID-19 patients in four hospitals. Some patients were in negative-pressure rooms, and others were not.

Viral Load Kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Saliva in Korean Patients: a Prospective Multi-center Comparative Study.

Background: This study was performed to compare the viral load and kinetics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in saliva with those in standard nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal (NP/OP) swabs.

Methods: Fifteen patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection from four hospitals were prospectively enrolled and matched samples of nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal swabs and saliva were collected at Day 1 of admission and every other day till consequently negative for two times. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) was performed to detect the envelope (E) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) genes.

Influence of π-conjugation structural changes on intramolecular charge transfer and photoinduced electron transfer in donor-π-acceptor dyads.

The influence of π-conjugation structural changes on photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) processes in π-conjugated donor (D)-acceptor (A) dyads (D-π-A) was investigated. Three types of D-π-A dyads were prepared through the modification of the structure of their π-conjugated linker, including D-π-A (1) and D-π-A (2) having a twisted π-conjugation, and D-π-Si-π-A (3) with a π-conjugation severed by a Si-atom. In these dyads, carbazole (Cz) and oxadiazole (Oz) moieties act as an electron donor and acceptor, respectively.

The influence of π-conjugation on competitive pathways: charge transfer or electron transfer in new D-π-A and D-π-Si-π-A dyads.

In order to elucidate the influence of π-conjugation on photoinduced electron transfer (PET) and intramolecular charge transfer processes, donor-π-acceptor dyads (D-π-A (1) and D-π-Si-π-A (2)) were newly synthesized. In these dyads, carbazole and triazine moieties acted as the electron donor and acceptor, respectively. The fluorescence of dyad 1 red-shifted as the solvent polarity was increased.

Electronic Alteration on Oligothiophenes by o-Carborane: Electron Acceptor Character of o-Carborane in Oligothiophene Frameworks with Dicyano-Vinyl End-On Group.

We studied electronic change in oligothiophenes by employing o-carborane into a molecular array in which one or both end(s) were substituted by electron-withdrawing dicyano-vinyl group(s). Depending on mono- or bis-substitution at the o-carborane, a series of linear A1-D-A2 (1a-1c) or V-shaped A1-D-A2-D-A1 (2a-2c) oligothiophene chain structures of variable length were prepared; A1, D, and A2, represent dicyano-vinyl, oligothiophenyl, and o-carboranyl groups, respectively. Among this series, 2a shows strong electron-acceptor capability of o-carborane comparable to that of the dicyano-vinyl substituent, which can be elaborated by a conformational effect driven by cage σ*-π* interaction.

Incorporating two different chromophores onto a silicon atom: the crystal structure and photophysical properties of 9-{4-[(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)dimethylsilyl]phenyl}-9H-carbazole.

The crystal structure of the title bifunctional silicon-bridged compound, C(35)H(31)NSi, (I), has been determined. The compound crystallizes in the centrosymmetric space group P2(1)/c. In the crystal structure, the pairs of aryl rings in the two different chromophores, i.