Publications by authors named "Seong Heon Wie"
Article Synopsis
- - Influenza poses a considerable healthcare challenge in Korea, prompting the government to start a national vaccination initiative; previous research on vaccine effectiveness (VE) focused only on single seasons.
- - A study from 2011 to 2021 involving over 5,000 older adults showed that the effectiveness of the flu vaccine varied significantly by season, with only 3 out of 9 seasons achieving a >70% match between the vaccine and circulating strains.
- - The analysis found that vaccination lowered flu-related hospitalizations by 13.6%, highlighting that when the vaccine strains matched circulating strains, the VE was notably better, at 28.8%, compared to -12.0% in mismatched seasons.
Article Synopsis
- The COVID-19 virus is evolving into an endemic disease, prompting updates in vaccine formulations to target the XBB.1.5 strain specifically.
- A multicenter study analyzed the effectiveness of the XBB.1.5 monovalent vaccine, revealing that vaccinated individuals were less likely to contract COVID-19 than unvaccinated individuals.
- The interim results showed a vaccine effectiveness of 56.8%, indicating significant protection against COVID-19 for one to two months post-vaccination.
Article Synopsis
- The 2023-2024 influenza season in South Korea saw an earlier peak compared to previous years, prompting a study on vaccine effectiveness.
- Researchers enrolled 2,632 individuals with influenza-like symptoms from eight hospitals to assess interim vaccine effectiveness from November 1 to December 31, 2023.
- The study found an overall adjusted vaccine effectiveness of 22.5% for the general population, with specific rates of 22.3% for influenza A and 9.4% for influenza A/H1N1.
Effectiveness of Bivalent mRNA Booster Vaccine Against COVID-19 in Korea.
J Korean Med Sci
January 2024
Background: Bivalent booster mRNA vaccines containing the omicron-variant strains have been introduced worldwide in the autumn of 2022. Nevertheless, the omicron subvariants evoked another large coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wave in late 2022 and early 2023.
Methods: A retrospective, test-negative, case-control study was conducted to estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of bivalent COVID-19 vaccines in 8 university hospitals between January and February 2023.
Article Synopsis
- - Concerns about new infectious diseases persist despite the easing of COVID-19-related isolation, highlighting the need for preparedness and large-scale vaccination plans against future outbreaks.
- - The public's trust in vaccines has been shaken due to side effects and mixed messages about efficacy, underscoring the importance of education and promotion strategies for future vaccinations.
- - The study focuses on developing effective vaccine strategies and educational initiatives to ensure safe and informed public acceptance of vaccines for potential new infectious diseases.
Purpose: This study aimed to examine the changes in the characteristics of community-onset fluoroquinolone-resistant (FQ-R) Escherichia coli isolates causing community-acquired acute pyelonephritis (APN) in South Korea.
Methods: Blood or urine samples were prospectively collected from patients aged ≥15 years with community-acquired APN who were admitted to one of the eight Korean hospitals included in this study between September 2017 and August 2018. Phylogenetic typing, multilocus sequence typing, and molecular characterization of β-lactamase resistance and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants were performed.
Article Synopsis
- * Conducted across eight hospitals from September 2017 to August 2018, the study evaluated the appropriateness of antibiotic use based on guidelines and assessed clinical outcomes and medical expenses for both appropriate and inappropriate prescriptions.
- * Results showed that appropriate antibiotic use led to shorter hospital stays (8 vs. 10 days) and lower medical costs (approximately $2382 vs. $3236), highlighting the negative consequences of inappropriate antibiotic prescribing, including increased costs and longer treatment durations.
Background: Community-acquired acute pyelonephritis (CA-APN) is relatively rare in men. This study aimed to compare the clinical characteristics of CA-APN between male and female patients.
Methods: We prospectively collected the clinical and microbiological data of hospitalized CA-APN patients aged ≥19 years in South Korea from March 2010 to February 2011 in 11 hospitals and from September 2017 to August 2018 in 8 hospitals.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether the fluoroquinolone (FQ) minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the causative agent influences the clinical response of FQ treatment at 72 h in patients with community-acquired acute pyelonephritis (CA-APN). We prospectively collected the clinical data of women with CA-APN from 11 university hospitals from March 2010 to February 2012 as well as isolates from the urine or blood. In total, 78 patients included in this study received FQ during the initial 72 h, and the causative was detected.
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- - This study analyzed the clinical features of community-acquired acute pyelonephritis (CA-APN) patients in South Korea, comparing data from 2010-2011 and 2017-2018, involving 617 patients in the latter period and 818 in the former.
- - The research found that the most common bacteria causing CA-APN remained consistent, but there was a significant increase in antimicrobial resistance against various antibiotics, including fluoroquinolone and cefotaxime, from the earlier period to the later one.
- - As a result of higher resistance, the average duration of antibiotic treatment rose from 16.55 days to 19.12 days, and the median hospitalization increased from
Background: After pandemic, A(H1N1)pdm09 is generally known to be associated with younger adults' infection and greater severity than seasonal A(H3N2) but some inconsistences between recent studies exist.
Objectives: We aimed to compare the epidemiology and clinical outcomes of A(H1N1)pdm09 and A(H3N2) to verify and consolidate about the knowledge of known differences of subtypes.
Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from the hospital-based influenza morbidity and mortality surveillance in South Korea in nine tertiary care hospitals, from August 31, 2014, to August 25, 2018.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigated the prevalence and genetic characteristics of ciprofloxacin-resistant (CIP-R) *E. coli* responsible for urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Korea, amidst rising concerns about fluoroquinolone resistance.
- - Researchers collected and analyzed 569 *E. coli* isolates from patients with acute pyelonephritis, finding that 21.4% were CIP-R, with the dominant sequence type being ST131, followed by ST393 and ST1193.
- - The study revealed specific resistance patterns, with ST131, ST38, and ST405 showing high antimicrobial resistance rates, highlighting their role in increased treatment challenges for UTIs in the community.
Article Synopsis
- About 80% of Korean seniors aged 65 and older get the flu vaccine each year, but results on the effectiveness of repeated vaccinations are mixed.
- A study from 2012 to 2015 assessed the effectiveness of the flu vaccine among seniors with flu-like symptoms during A/H3N2 seasons, comparing those vaccinated only for the current season versus those who had multiple vaccinations.
- Results indicated that in the 2012-2013 season, the vaccine was effective primarily for those vaccinated that season, whereas in later seasons, effectiveness was similar for those vaccinated multiple times and those vaccinated once.
Background: Scrub typhus, a mite-borne disease caused by bites of -infected chiggers, is endemic in Asia-Pacific countries. In Korea, it is a seasonal disease prevalent in autumn and one of the important causes of acute undifferentiated febrile illness. The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors for the prediction of the severe clinical course of scrub typhus and to investigate the differences in the clinical and laboratory findings of hospitalized elderly and non-elderly patients with scrub typhus.
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- The study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of the GC1107 tetanus diphtheria vaccine compared to a control vaccine in adults aged 18 and older who hadn’t received a Td vaccine in the last 5 years.
- Results showed that the immune response for both vaccines was similar, with high seroprotection rates for diphtheria (89.76% for GC1107) and tetanus (91.34% for GC1107), and no significant differences in antibody levels between the two groups.
- Safety profiles indicated that while local reactions were slightly more common with the control vaccine (86.4% vs. 81.2%), systemic adverse events were less frequent in the GC1107 group
Background: Influenza and pneumonia are leading causes of morbidity and mortality among the elderly. Although vaccination is a main strategy to prevent these infectious diseases, concerns remain with respect to vaccine effectiveness.
Methods: During three influenza seasons (2014-2015, 2015-2016 and 2016-2017), we evaluated the effectiveness of the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines against pneumonia and acute exacerbation of cardiopulmonary diseases among the elderly aged ≥65 years with influenza-like illness (ILI).
Article Synopsis
- Two distinct strains of influenza B (Yamagata and Victoria) have been circulating since the mid-1980s, and a quadrivalent vaccine (QIV) may offer improved protection against these B strains.
- A clinical trial tested the immunogenicity and safety of an egg-based QIV (GC3110A) compared to two trivalent vaccines (TIV) targeting each lineage.
- Results showed that QIV-GC3110A was not only safe but also effectively generated an immune response that was comparable to the TIVs, demonstrating it meets non-inferiority criteria for protection against the virus strains.
We aimed to characterize the lineages of influenza B viruses obtained from clinical specimens during the 2007-2014 seasons in South Korea. RT-PCR for the partial hemagglutinin gene of influenza B virus was performed on laboratory-confirmed influenza B samples from the 2007-2008 season to 2013-2014 season. A phylogenetic tree was generated, and current influenza vaccine strains for the Northern Hemisphere were used as representative strains of Victoria and Yamagata lineages.
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- * The updated guideline, replacing the 2011 Korean version, offers recommendations for diagnosing and managing various types of UTIs, focusing on community-acquired cases in adults.
- * The guideline does not address healthcare-associated UTIs, catheter-associated UTIs, or infections in immunocompromised patients.
Article Synopsis
- The influenza virus causes millions of severe illnesses and hundreds of thousands of deaths annually around the world, prompting an investigation into its variation and impact in Korea.
- Researchers analyzed 13,620 cases of influenza from 2011 to 2016, focusing on 3,696 diagnosed with influenza A, and conducted phylogenetic analysis on 254 viral sequences.
- While changes in the influenza A virus clades were observed over the seasons, the study found that mortality was more closely linked to the presence of underlying health issues, rather than genetic differences in the virus itself.
Article Synopsis
- The HIMM surveillance system started a specific H7N9 influenza surveillance for travelers in 2013, in addition to existing ILI and SARI monitoring in eastern China.
- Between October 2013 and April 2016, 11 travelers showed influenza-like illness shortly after returning from China or nearby regions, with none visiting livestock markets.
- Seasonal influenza was the main cause of illness in these travelers, accounting for 54.5% of cases, while the avian A/H7N9 influenza virus was not detected during the study.
Article Synopsis
- This study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of renal insufficiency in HIV-infected individuals in South Korea, where research on this topic is limited.
- Among 454 participants, 5.3% had renal insufficiency, with older age, diabetes mellitus, unknown transmission routes, and the use of indinavir identified as significant risk factors.
- The findings suggest a relatively low prevalence of renal insufficiency in this population, with implications for patient management and the need for further investigations into risk factors.
Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted to assess how often indwelling urinary catheters (IUC) are used and the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CA-UTI) across six hospitals in Korea, involving two parts: a point-prevalence study and a prospective cohort study.
- The study found that the use of IUCs was seen in 14.9% of hospitalized patients, with median IUC-days of 5; the CA-UTI rate was 1.9 per 1,000 catheter days, indicating significant variation between hospitals.
- It was revealed that the longer the IUC remained in place, the more likely it was to be maintained inappropriately, with urinary output monitoring being
Article Synopsis
- In the 2016-2017 season, South Korea experienced an unusual early peak of the A(H3N2) influenza epidemic, with a notable lack of vaccine effectiveness.
- The interim vaccine effectiveness (VE) for preventing confirmed A(H3N2) influenza was found to be significantly negative, indicating that the vaccine may not have provided adequate protection, particularly for individuals aged 19-64.
- The analysis revealed that the circulating A(H3N2) viruses had distinct genetic changes that likely contributed to the poor effectiveness of the vaccine used during that season.