One-year antibody durability induced by EuCorVac-19, a liposome-displayed COVID-19 receptor binding domain subunit vaccine, in healthy Korean subjects.

Objective: EuCorVac-19 (ECV-19), an adjuvanted liposome-displayed receptor binding domain (RBD) COVID-19 vaccine, previously reported interim Phase 2 trial results showing induction of neutralizing antibodies 3 weeks after prime-boost immunization. The objective of this study was to determine the longer-term antibody response of the vaccine.

Methods: To assess immunogenicity 6 and 12 months after vaccination, participants in the Phase 2 trial (NCT04783311) were excluded if they: 1) withdrew, 2) reported COVID-19 infection or additional vaccination, or 3) exhibited increasing Spike (S) antibodies (representing possible non-reported infection).

Initial and 5-day positivity rate of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in exposed inpatients within shared rooms during the omicron-variant dominant period.

In this observational study conducted in 2022, 12.3% of patients who shared a room with a patient positive for severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) also had a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, either at initial screening or during a 5-day quarantine. Therefore, screening and quarantine are still necessary within hospitals for close-contact inpatients during the SARS-CoV-2 omicron-variant dominant period.

Gender differences in psychosocial determinants of hand hygiene among physicians.

Objective: We investigated gender differences in psychosocial determinants that affect hand hygiene (HH) performance among physicians.

Design: The survey included a structured questionnaire with 7 parts: self-assessment of HH execution rate; knowledge, attitude, and behavior regarding HH; internal and emotional motivation for better HH; barriers to HH; need for external reminders; preference for alcohol gel; and embarrassment due to supervision.

Setting: The study was conducted across 4 academic referral hospitals in Korea.

Hand hygiene knowledge, attitude, barriers and improvement measures among healthcare workers in the Republic of Korea: a cross-sectional survey exploring interprofessional differences.

Background: Hand hygiene (HH) is a fundamental component of infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. This study aimed to identify knowledge, attitude, and barriers to HH according to occupational groups and strategies to increase the rate of HH compliance among healthcare workers (HCWs).

Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted in July 2018 at four university-affiliated hospitals.

Effects of Omicron Infection and Changes in Serum Antibody Response to Wild-Type, Delta, and Omicron After a Booster Dose With BNT163b2 Vaccine in Korean Healthcare Workers.

Background: Although the primary vaccine coverage rate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in South Korea has exceeded 80%, the coronavirus continues to spread, with reports of a rapid decline in vaccine effectiveness. South Korea is administering booster shots despite concerns about the effectiveness of the existing vaccine.

Methods: Neutralizing antibody inhibition scores were evaluated in two cohorts after the booster dose.

Rheumatoid factor is associated with severe COVID-19.

Aim: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been proposed as triggering autoimmunity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence and clinical significance of autoantibodies in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 245 patients who were hospitalized for COVID-19.

Interim analysis from a phase 2 randomized trial of EuCorVac-19: a recombinant protein SARS-CoV-2 RBD nanoliposome vaccine.

Background: Numerous vaccine strategies are being advanced to control SARS-CoV-2, the cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. EuCorVac-19 (ECV19) is a recombinant protein nanoparticle vaccine that displays the SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) on immunogenic nanoliposomes.

Methods: Initial study of a phase 2 randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the immunogenicity, safety, and tolerance of ECV19 was carried out between July and October 2021.

A Transient Effect of Convalescent Plasma Therapy in a Patient with Severe Covonavirus Disease 2019: A Case Report.

A 65-year-old male patient with an end-stage renal disease was diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The patient complained of cough, sputum, and respiratory distress that worsened three days ago. The patient required mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal mentrane oxygenation.

Clinical findings, viral load, and outcomes of COVID-19: Comparison of patients with negative and positive initial chest computed tomography.

Reports detailing the clinical characteristics, viral load, and outcomes of patients with normal initial chest CT findings are lacking. We sought to compare the differences in clinical findings, viral loads, and outcomes between patients with confirmed COVID-19 who initially tested negative on chest CT (CT negative) with patients who tested initially positive on chest CT (CT positive). The clinical data, viral loads, and outcomes of initial CT-positive and CT-negative patients examined between January 2020 and April 2020 were retrospectively compared.

Dual respiratory virus detection in adult patients with acute respiratory illness.

Background: Nonrandom multiple respiratory virus (RV) detection provides evidence for viral interference among respiratory viruses. However, little is known as to whether it occurs randomly.

Methods: The prevalence of dual RV detection (DRVD) in patients with acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) at 4 academic medical centers was investigated; data about the prevalence of 8 RVs were collected from the Korean national RV surveillance dataset.

Impacts of Side Effects to BNT162b2 and the First Dose of ChAdOx1 Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination on Work Productivity, the Need for Medical Attention, and Vaccine Acceptance: A Multicenter Survey on Healthcare Workers in Referral Teaching Hospitals in the Republic of Korea.

To establish a successful anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination strategy, it is necessary to take possible tradeoffs into account. We conducted a survey on vaccinated healthcare workers (HCWs) inthree referral teaching hospitals in the Republic of Korea. We investigated the frequency of vaccination side effects (SEs), the impact on their work productivity, the need for medical attention, and vaccine acceptance.

Risk factors for isolation of multi-drug resistant organisms in coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia: A multicenter study.

Objectives: Superimposed multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) co-infection can be associated with worse outcomes in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even if these patients were managed with strict airborne and contact precautions. Identifying risk factors for isolation of MDROs is critical to COVID-19 treatment.

Methods: All eligible adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia from 10 hospitals in the Republic of Korea between February 2020 and May 2020 were retrospectively enrolled.

Promotion of healthcare personnel vaccinations among newly employed doctors and nurses: Evidence-guided strategy.

Objective: Healthcare personnel vaccinations are important to prevent vaccine-preventable diseases in hospitals. We evaluated the seroprevalence, vaccination rates, and barriers to vaccination among newly employed nurses and doctors.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital in the Republic of Korea from 2017 to 2020.

Safety and immunogenicity of a seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine (GC3110A) in healthy participants aged ≥ 65 years.

Background: Seasonal Influenza is still considered associated with seasonal morbidity and hospitalization in the elderly population. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) to reduce burden of two currently circulating influenza B lineages. Until 2019 Korean National Immunization Program (NIP) recommended trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) after ongoing debates on cost effectiveness of QIV for elderly population.

Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury and 28-Day Mortality in Carbapenem-Resistant Complex Bacteremia.

Colistin is an, antibiotic used to treat carbapenem-resistant complex (CRABC) infection. However, colistin is well known for its nephrotoxicity. To accurately assess the effects of colistin on acute kidney injury (AKI) and 28-day mortality, we investigated the risk factors associated with AKI and mortality in patients with CRABC bacteremia who received or never received colistin.

The adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine is efficacious and safe in Asian adults ≥ 50 years of age: a sub-cohort analysis of the ZOE-50 and ZOE-70 randomized trials.

In two large clinical trials (ZOE-50 [NCT01165177] and ZOE-70 [NCT01165229]), two doses of the adjuvanted recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) demonstrated >90% efficacy (VE) against herpes zoster (HZ) in adults ≥50 years of age (YOA). This post-hoc analysis assessed the VE against HZ and postherpetic neuralgia (PHN), in participants from Asian study sites enrolled in ZOE-50/70. Reactogenicity and safety were also assessed.

Machine-Learning-Based Approach to Differential Diagnosis in Tuberculous and Viral Meningitis.

Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most severe form of tuberculosis, but differentiating between the diagnosis of TBM and viral meningitis (VM) is difficult. Thus, we have developed machine-learning modules for differentiating TBM from VM.

Material And Methods: For the training data, confirmed or probable TBM and confirmed VM cases were retrospectively collected from five teaching hospitals in Korea between January 2000 - July 2018.

Infectious Diseases Physician Workforce in Korea.

This study aimed to evaluate the infectious disease (ID) physician workforce in Korea. We investigated the acquisition of ID physicians from 1992 to 2019 with their current working place in the Health Care System. We defined ID physicians working at general or tertiary-care hospitals as active ID physicians.

Clinical Course and Molecular Viral Shedding Among Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Patients With SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Community Treatment Center in the Republic of Korea.

Importance: There is limited information about the clinical course and viral load in asymptomatic patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Objective: To quantitatively describe SARS-CoV-2 molecular viral shedding in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients.

Design, Setting, And Participants: A retrospective evaluation was conducted for a cohort of 303 symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 6 and March 26, 2020.

Management and outcomes of Burkholderia cepacia complex bacteremia in patients without cystic fibrosis: a retrospective observational study.

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is an emerging pathogen of nosocomial infection in chronic or critically ill patients without cystic fibrosis (CF). The objective was to evaluate the management and outcomes of BCC bacteremia in patients without CF. We conducted a retrospective study of non-CF adult patients with BCC bacteremia between January 1997 and December 2016 at 4 tertiary hospitals in South Korea.

Early Intravenous Colistin Therapy as a Favorable Prognostic Factor for 28-day Mortality in Patients with CRAB Bacteremia: a Multicenter Propensity Score-Matching Analysis.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) infection is associated with high mortality. One of the strategies to reduce the mortality in patients with CRAB infections is to use intravenous colistin early but the effect of this strategy has not been proven. Therefore, we investigated the association of early colistin therapy with 28-day mortality in patients with CRAB bacteremia.

Antibiotic Treatment of Vertebral Osteomyelitis caused by Methicillin-Susceptible : A Focus on the Use of Oral β-lactams.

Background: Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is a rare but serious condition, and a potentially significant cause of morbidity. Methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) is the most common microorganism in native VO. Long-term administration of parenteral and oral antibiotics with good bioavailability and bone penetration is required for therapy.