Amplification Failure by the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 Assay due to a Single-Nucleotide Variant of the N Gene in the Omicron Variant.

Background: Rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 infection using molecular testing has played an important role in preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, the failure of SARS-CoV-2 N gene amplification in the Cepheid Xpert SARS-CoV-2 assay could lead to the failed detection of infections, possibly leading to spread. In this study, we examined N gene amplification failure due to a single-nucleotide variant (SNV) in the N2 region of the gene.

Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Bacteremia: A 20-Year Experience in a Single University Hospital.

Background: is ubiquitous in nature and rarely causes infections. However, the clinical impact of has increased in recent years, especially in immunocompromised patients, and has resulted in high mortality rates. We aimed to investigate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of bacteremia.

A 20-year trend of prevalence and susceptibility to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in a single secondary care hospital in Korea.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen that can cause serious infection. We aimed to analyze the prevalence and susceptibility rates to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole of S. maltophilia.

A case of bacterial keratitis caused by multi-drug-resistant without marine exposure.

are Gram-negative rods and marine pathogens. Here, we report a case of bacterial keratitis caused by without marine exposure. A 66-year-old man with suspected pneumonia was sent to the emergency department from a nursing hospital.

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis combined with rhabdomyolysis: a case report.

Background: Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is a systemic inflammatory response caused by the rickettsial bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Rhabdomyolysis and acute kidney injury (AKI) are rare complications of HGA. Here, we report a case of HGA concurrent with rhabdomyolysis and AKI in an elderly patient.

Preanalytical Errors in the Central Laboratory of a University Hospital Based on the Analysis of Year-Round Data.

Background: Preanalytical errors cause a decrease in the accuracy of clinical laboratory results. We analyzed preanalytical errors (preAEs) made in the clinical laboratory of a university hospital.

Methods: All samples received in a centralized laboratory from January 1, to December 31, 2018, were analyzed retrospectively.

First Case of Intracranial Mycotic Aneurysm Caused by Associated with Chronic Sinusitis in a Korean Adult.

Intracranial infection caused by anaerobic bacteria is rare, and it is difficult to identify absolute anaerobes in the clinical laboratory, especially when the bacterial load is low. Here, we report the first case of intracranial mycotic aneurysm caused by associated with chronic sinusitis and successful identification of the bacteria by 16S rRNA sequencing from bacterial growth in broth only.

Real-time display of laboratory testing status improves satisfaction levels in an emergency department: A pilot study.

Background: Clinicians need to know timelines of requested laboratory tests to provide effective patient management. We developed a real-time laboratory progress checking system and measured its effectiveness using appropriate indicators in an emergency room setting.

Methods: In our original in-house health information system display, blank spaces, which were generated for test results when tests were ordered, remained empty until the final results reported.

Comparison of the Seroprevalence of Measles Antibodies among Healthcare Workers in Two Korean Hospitals in 2019.

We performed a point seroprevalence survey of measles among healthcare workers (HCWs) at two Korean teaching hospitals in 2019. A total of 2,830 HCWs underwent an antibody test. The overall seropositivity of measles was 93.

Evaluation of Cumulative and Conditional Antibiotic Release from Vancomycin-Embedded Fibrin Sealant and Its Antibacterial Activity : An In Vitro Study.

Objective: Fibrin sealants have been used for hemostasis, sealant for cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and adhesive barrier in neurosurgery. Further, as its clinical use and role of an effective drug delivery vehicle have been proposed. This study was performed to measure antibacterial activity and continuous local antibiotic release from different concentrations of vancomycin-impregnated fibrin sealant in vitro.

A Prospective Cohort Study of Durations of Bacteremia According to Different Phenotypes and a New Concept of Persistent Bacteremia.

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the duration of bacteremia (SAB) according to methicillin resistance and the primary foci of infection. We also aimed to newly define persistent SAB considering these results. Nonduplicated episodes of SAB in patients aged ≥15 years from 14 hospitals in the Republic of Korea were analyzed between January 2009 and February 2018.

Detection and characterization of an emerging type of sp. similar to for the first case of human babesiosis and ticks in Korea.

Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted intraerythrocytic zoonosis. In Korea, the first mortalities were reported in 2005 due to Babesia sp. detection in sheep; herein we report epidemiological and genetic characteristics of a second case of babesiosis.

Renoprotective effects of febuxostat compared with allopurinol in patients with hyperuricemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hyperuricemia is reported to be related to rapid progression of renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Allopurinol, a uric acid lowering agent, protects renal progression. However, it is not widely used in patients with CKD because of its serious adverse event.

Is plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin a predictive biomarker for acute kidney injury in sepsis patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a useful biomarker for early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the diagnostic value of NGAL for predicting AKI in sepsis patients is unclear.

Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched to identify research publications.

Actinomyces meyeri Empyema: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Actinomyces meyeri is an uncommon cause of human actinomycosis. Here, we report a rare case of empyema caused by A. meyeri.

Comparison of commercial genetic-testing services in Korea with 23andMe service.

Introduction: Genetic testing services for disease prediction, drug responses, and traits are commercially available by several companies in Korea. However, there has been no evaluation study for the accuracy and usefulness of these services. We aimed to compare two genetic testing services popular in Korea with 23andMe service in the United States.

Clinical characteristics of vivax malaria and analysis of recurred patients.

Background: Plasmodium vivax malaria is an acute debilitating illness characterized by recurrent paroxysmal fever and relapses from hypnozoites in the liver. Although a few studies reported clinical characteristics of vivax malaria in civilians after reemergence in the Republic of Korea, only a small group of patients was analyzed.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who had been diagnosed with vivax malaria by peripheral blood smear in a university-affiliated hospital located in a malaria-endemic area between January 2005 and December 2009.

First report of human acute acalculous cholecystitis caused by the fish pathogen Lactococcus garvieae.

We report herein the first case of acute acalculous cholecystitis caused by Lactococcus garvieae, which is known as a fish pathogen. A 69-year-old fisherman underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to severe inflammation in the gallbladder. The isolate obtained from the gallbladder was identified as L.

New allele-specific real-time PCR system for warfarin dose genotyping equipped with an automatic interpretative function that allows rapid, accurate, and user-friendly reporting in clinical laboratories.

Introduction: The optimal dose of the oral anticoagulant warfarin varies with polymorphisms of the vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1) and cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) genes. A fast and reliable method of warfarin dose adjustment is required to prevent serious hemorrhagic or thrombotic complications. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a new warfarin dose genotyping system with an automatic interpretation function.

Abdominal computed tomography findings of malaria infection with Plasmodium vivax.

Abdominal computed tomography (CT) findings of malaria are not well-known even though malaria is a serious infectious disease. To identify abdominal CT findings, we selected 34 of 405 patients who had a positive peripheral blood smear for Plasmodium vivax and had underwent abdominal CT as the malaria group. We also selected 80 patients who had fever and a negative peripheral blood smear as the control group and 120 healthy people as the normal group.

[Microbiologic study of the bile culture and antimicrobial susceptibility in patients with biliary tract infection].

Background/aims: Bacterial infection of biliary tract may cause severe inflammatory response or sepsis. An immediate bile culture and appropriate antibiotic administration are important to control the biliary tract infection. The objective of the study was to identify organisms in bile and the features of antibiotic susceptibility in patients with biliary tract infection.

Morganella morganii sepsis with massive hemolysis.

Morganella morganii is a facultative gram-negative and anaerobic rod. It may be a cause of devastating infections in neonates and immunocompromised hosts. Some bacterial infections such as Clostridium and Vibrio are associated with hemolysis.