Effect of Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Genotype on Disease Severity, Viral Load, and Cytokines in South Korea.

Background: Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by (SFTS virus [SFTSV]). Recently, at least 6 different genotypes of SFTSV have been identified, with genotypes A, D, and F dominant in China and B dominant in Japan and Korea. This study investigated the effect of SFTSV genotypes circulating in South Korea on disease severity, viral load, and cytokine profile.

Viral, Immunologic, and Laboratory Parameters in Patients With and Without Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC).

Background: The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the post-acute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection (PASC) are not well understood. Our study aimed to investigate various aspects of theses mechanisms, including viral persistence, immunological responses, and laboratory parameters in patients with and without PASC.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled adults aged ≥ 18 years diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between August 2022 and July 2023.

Clinical and microbiological characteristics of persistent Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, risk factors for mortality, and the role of CD4 T cells.

This study evaluated the determinants of mortality and the T cell immune response in patients with persistent Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). This was a prospective cohort study and patients with confirmed SAB were enrolled from 2008 to 2020. We compared clinical, microbiological, and genotypic features between surviving and deceased patients with persistent SAB.

Comparison of the Clinical Outcomes Between Early and Delayed Transplantation After SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

Our study analyzed 95 solid organ transplant (SOT) and 78 hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with prior coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Patients who underwent transplantation within 30 days of COVID-19 infection comprised the early group, and those who underwent transplantation post-30 days of COVID-19 infection comprised the delayed group. In the early transplantation group, no patient, whether undergoing SOT and HSCT, experienced COVID-19-associated complications.

The Association Between Sputum Culture Conversion and Mortality in Cavitary Mycobacterium avium Complex Pulmonary Disease.

Background: The association between treatment outcome and the mortality of patients with Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD) with cavitary lesions is unclear. This article assessed the impact of culture conversion on mortality in patients with cavitary MAC-PD.

Research Question: Is the achievement of sputum culture conversion in patients with MAC-PD with cavitary lesions associated with the prognosis?

Study Design And Methods: From 2002 to 2020, a total of 351 patients with cavitary MAC-PD (105 with the fibrocavitary type and 246 with the cavitary nodular bronchiectatic type), who had been treated with a ≥ 6-month macrolide-containing regimen at a tertiary referral center in South Korea, were retrospectively enrolled in this study.

Validation of a new risk stratification system-based management for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: analysis of a multicentre prospective study.

Purpose: Distinguishing between complicated and uncomplicated Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB) is therapeutically essential. However, this distinction has limitations in reflecting the heterogeneity of SAB and encouraging targeted diagnostics. Recently, a new risk stratification system for SAB metastatic infection, involving stepwise approaches to diagnosis and treatment, has been suggested.

Clinical safety of remdesivir therapy in COVID-19 patients with renal insufficiency.

Though remdesivir benefits COVID-19 patients, its use in those with renal dysfunction is currently limited due to concerns about possible toxic effects of accumulated sulfobutylether-β-cyclodextrin (SBECD) on liver and kidney. We examined renal and hepatic function for a month in renally-impaired COVID-19 patients who were treated or not treated with remdesivir to assess the safety of the drug. A retrospective study was performed in adult COVID-19 patients with glomerular filtration rates of <30 ml/min/1.

The origin of sequence type 72 community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and fusidic acid (FA) resistant sequence type 5 MRSA: Analysis of FA resistance and spa type in a single center in South Korea.

Introduction: We investigated the prevalence of fusidic acid (FA) resistance in MSSA and MRSA stratified by sequence (ST) and spa types, and determined the prevalence of FA resistance mechanisms.

Methods: From August 2014 to April 2020, S. aureus blood isolates were collected in Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.

Molecular Characteristics and Prevalence of Rifampin Resistance in Isolates from Patients with Bacteremia in South Korea.

Rifampin resistance (RIF-R) in () with mutations as one of its resistance mechanisms has raised concern about clinical treatment and infection prevention strategies. Data on the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of RIF-R blood isolates in South Korea are scarce. We used broth microdilution to investigate RIF-R prevalence and analyzed the gene mutation in 1615 blood isolates (772 methicillin-susceptible and 843 methicillin-resistant (MRSA)) from patients with bacteremia, between 2008 and 2017.

Routine ophthalmologic examination in bacteremia is not necessary: incidence of and risk factors for ocular involvement.

bacteremia is known to present a virulent clinical course, including multiple metastatic infections, which is not uncommon in Asia. However, there are limited data on the incidence and risk factors for ocular involvement in bacteremia. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients with bacteremia who underwent ophthalmologic examination in a tertiary center in Seoul, Korea, from February 2012 to December 2020.

Clinical impact of metformin exposure during Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose: Increasing evidence has suggested that metformin may play positive roles in a wide range of infectious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the clinical impact of metformin exposure during Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) in patients with diabetes.

Methods: A 3-year observational cohort study of 452 patients (aged ≥ 16 years) with SAB was performed at a tertiary care hospital.

Comparison of treatment outcomes between intermittent and daily regimens in non-cavitary nodular bronchiectatic-type complex pulmonary disease in relation to sputum smear results: a retrospective cohort study.

This study retrospectively analyzed the treatment outcomes of 110 patients with non-cavitary nodular bronchiectatic-type complex pulmonary disease who received intermittent or daily treatment with a three-drug oral antibiotic regimen (i.e., a macrolide, ethambutol, and rifampin) at a tertiary referral center in South Korea.

Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 rebound after nirmatrelvir-ritonavir or molnupiravir therapy: A prospective cohort study.

The clinical characteristics of the rebound phenomenon after antiviral therapy in patients with Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) are largely unknown. There are few data comparing the rebound phenomenon after molnupiravir therapy to that after nirmatrelvir-ritonavir therapy. We investigated the incidence and risk factors associated with COVID-19 rebound after nirmatrelvir-ritonavir or molnupiravir therapy during the Omicron era.

Causes of a Low Measles Seroprevalence among Young Healthcare Workers in Korea.

Background: Sporadic measles outbreaks have continued to occur in Korea, mainly in adults in their 20s and 30s, most notably in 2014 and 2019. We here evaluated the possible causes of a low seroprevalance of measles by testing young healthcare workers (HCWs).

Materials And Methods: This study was conducted in a 2,743-bed tertiary-care hospital in Seoul between 2020 and 2021.

False positive Aspergillus galactomannan assay results caused by specific parenteral nutrition.

In September 2022, the proportion of clinically false positive results with high index values for the galactomannan (GM) assay increased dramatically in our hospital and remained high until November 2022. We aimed to identify the possible causative agent that led to the dramatic increase in false positivity in GM assay. A case-control-control study was conducted, and patients admitted to two intensive care units between September and November 2022 were included.

Clinical Characteristics of and Risk Factors for Subsequent Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) Bacteraemia in Rectal CPE Carriers.

Background: Due to high mortality and limited treatment options, the rise in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) has become a major concern. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and characteristics of subsequent CPE bacteraemia in rectal CPE carriers and investigate the risk factors for CPE bacteraemia compared with non-carbapenemase-producing (non-CP) Enterobacterales bacteraemia.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on adult patients who were confirmed to have CPE colonisation by stool surveillance culture at a tertiary hospital from January 2018 to February 2022.

Risk and Outcome of Infective Endocarditis in Streptococcal Bloodstream Infections according to Streptococcal Species.

This study aimed to identify which streptococcal species are closely associated with infective endocarditis (IE) and to evaluate risk factors for mortality in patients with streptococcal IE. We performed a retrospective cohort study of all patients with streptococcal bloodstream infection (BSI) from January 2010 to June 2020 in a tertiary hospital in South Korea. We compared clinical and microbiological characteristics of streptococcal BSIs according to the diagnosis of IE.