Changes in tuberculosis risk after transplantation in the setting of decreased community tuberculosis incidence: a national population-based study, 2008-2020.

Background: Transplant recipients are immunocompromised and vulnerable to developing tuberculosis. However, active tuberculosis incidence is rapidly declining in South Korea, but the trend of tuberculosis infection among transplant recipients has not been elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of active tuberculosis after transplantation, including risk factors for tuberculosis and standardized incidence ratios, compared with that in the general population.

Incidence and Features of Lymphoid Proliferation and Lymphomas after Solid Organ or Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in a National Database Cohort.

Purpose: Post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) after hematopoietic stem transplantation (HCT) or solid organ transplantation (SOT) result in poorer outcomes, including death. There are limited large cohort data on the incidence and natural course of PTLD in Asians.

Materials And Methods: We investigated PTLD using Korean national health insurance claims data of 47,518 patients who underwent HCT or SOT in 2008-2020.

Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Risk of Lung Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a known risk factor for lung cancer. However, a detailed analysis of lung cancer type, age, sex, smoking, and TB burden associated with geographic and socioeconomic status has not been performed previously. We systematically appraised relevant observational studies reporting an association between pulmonary TB and lung cancer.

Faecal microbiota transplantation reduces amounts of antibiotic resistance genes in patients with multidrug-resistant organisms.

Background: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are associated with prolonged hospitalisation, increased medical costs, and severe infections. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as an important strategy for decolonisation. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic response of MDROs to FMT.

Prediction of Bacteremia Based on 12-Year Medical Data Using a Machine Learning Approach: Effect of Medical Data by Extraction Time.

Early detection of bacteremia is important to prevent antibiotic abuse. Therefore, we aimed to develop a clinically applicable bacteremia prediction model using machine learning technology. Data from two tertiary medical centers' electronic medical records during a 12-year-period were extracted.

Risk factors for unfavorable clinical outcomes in patients with brain abscess in South Korea.

Background: Brain abscess can be life-threatening and manifest various neurological findings, although the mortality rate has decreased recently. We investigated the risk factors for unfavorable outcomes of patients with brain abscess.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study examined patients with brain abscess seen from May 2005 to December 2018 in a tertiary care hospital in Seoul, South Korea.

The Prediction and Prognosis of Fungal Infection in Lung Transplant Recipients-A Retrospective Cohort Study in South Korea.

(1) Background: Lung transplant recipients (LTRs) are at substantial risk of invasive fungal disease (IFD), although no consensus has been reached on the use of antifungal agents (AFAs) after lung transplantation (LTx). This study aimed to assess the risk factors and prognosis of fungal infection after LTx in a single tertiary center in South Korea. (2) Methods: The study population included all patients who underwent LTx between January 2012 and July 2019 at a tertiary hospital.

Effectiveness of Convalescent Plasma Therapy in Severe or Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a novel respiratory infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); there are few specific treatments. Convalescent plasma (CP), donated by people who have recovered from COVID-19, is an investigational therapy for severe or critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the effectiveness of CP therapy in patients with severe or life-threatening cases of COVID-19 at two hospitals in Seoul, Korea, between May and September 2020.

Trends of age-related non-communicable diseases in people living with HIV and comparison with uninfected controls: A nationwide population-based study in South Korea.

Objectives: We aim to compare the trends of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and death among people living with HIV (PLWH) and uninfected controls in South Korea.

Methods: We identified PLWH from a nationwide database of all Korean citizens enrolled from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2016. A control cohort was randomly selected for PLWH by frequency matching for age and sex in a 20:1 ratio.

Correction: A mathematical model of COVID-19 transmission in a tertiary hospital and assessment of the effects of different intervention strategies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Effects of early corticosteroid use in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome, and corticosteroids have been considered as possible therapeutic agents for this disease. However, there is limited literature on the appropriate timing of corticosteroid administration to obtain the best possible patient outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study including patients with severe COVID-19 who received corticosteroid treatment from March 2 to June 30, 2020 in seven tertiary hospitals in South Korea.

Clinical Characteristics and Causative Pathogens of Infective Arthritis and Risk Factors for Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections.

Background: The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and microbiological characteristics of infective arthritis and to analyze risk factors for Gram-negative bacterial infections that cause infective arthritis.

Materials And Methods: Patients admitted between 2009 - 2018 with infective arthritis in a single-tertiary hospital were evaluated retrospectively.

Results: A total of 181 patients were enrolled in this study.

Clinical characteristics and online mental health care of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

Comparing to data in patients with severe coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19), there are few studies on the prevalence anxiety and/or depression in patients with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19. We investigated the clinical characteristics and the prevalence of anxiety and/or depression among asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients with COVID-19 and monitored their mental health using an online assessment. An online survey for monitoring and assessing the mental health of patients with COVID-19 using a mobile phone was conducted.

A mathematical model of COVID-19 transmission in a tertiary hospital and assessment of the effects of different intervention strategies.

Novel coronavirus (named SARS-CoV-2) can spread widely in confined settings including hospitals, cruise ships, prisons, and places of worship. In particular, a healthcare-associated outbreak could become the epicenter of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different intervention strategies on the hospital outbreak within a tertiary hospital.

Assessing Viral Shedding and Infectivity of Asymptomatic or Mildly Symptomatic Patients with COVID-19 in a Later Phase.

Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a major global public health issue. SARS-CoV-2 infection is confirmed by the detection of viral RNA using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Prolonged viral shedding has been reported in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, but the presence of viral RNA does not always correlate with infectivity.

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for multidrug-resistant organism: Efficacy and Response prediction.

Objectives: The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) is increasing the frequency of poor clinical outcomes, prolonging hospitalizations, and raising healthcare costs. This study evaluated the eradication efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and identified microbial and functional biomarkers of MDRO decolonization.

Methods: Fecal solution obtained from healthy unrelated donors was infused in the participants' guts which had been colonized with carbapenemase-producing enterobacteriacea (CPE), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), or both CPE and VRE.

Patterns of viral clearance in the natural course of asymptomatic COVID-19: Comparison with symptomatic non-severe COVID-19.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to elucidate patterns of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) clearance in the natural course of asymptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: Consecutive patients with non-severe COVID-19 were included retrospectively. Asymptomatic patients with a normal body temperature and no evidence of pneumonia throughout the disease course were assigned to the asymptomatic group.

Identification of Fungal Species and Detection of Azole-Resistance Mutations in the Gene at a South Korean Hospital.

Purpose: With changing fungal epidemiology and azole resistance in species, identifying fungal species and susceptibility patterns is crucial to the management of aspergillosis and mucormycosis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate performance of panfungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays on formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples in the identification of fungal species and in the detection of azole-resistance mutations in the gene at a South Korean hospital.

Materials And Methods: A total of 75 FFPE specimens with a histopathological diagnosis of aspergillosis or mucormycosis were identified during the 10-year study period (2006-2015).

A Modified Simple Scoring System Using the Red Blood Cell Distribution Width, Delta Neutrophil Index, and Mean Platelet Volume-to-Platelet Count to Predict 28-Day Mortality in Patients With Sepsis.

Background: Recently, a new scoring system was developed that uses the red blood cell distribution width (RDW), delta neutrophil index (DNI), and platelet count (PC) to predict mortality in patients with sepsis. We investigated whether a modified simple scoring system based on the RDW, DNI, and mean platelet volume-to-PC (MPV/PC) ratio could predict the mortality of patients with sepsis, and compared it to the previous scoring system.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 264 adults who had been treated for sepsis in an emergency department between January 2016 and February 2019.

Use of Convalescent Plasma Therapy in Two COVID-19 Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Korea.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 not yet has established its treatment, but convalescent plasma has been expected to increase survival rates as in the case with other emerging viral infections. We describe two cases of COVID-19 treated with convalescent plasma infusion. Both patients presented severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and showed a favorable outcome after the use of convalescent plasma in addition to systemic corticosteroid.