Trend change of nasopharyngeal colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae in children attending daycare centres: nationwide population-based study, South Korea 2014 and 2019.

Background: Nasopharyngeal (NP) colonization with Streptococcus pneumoniae and non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is common in children, and may evolve as the source of invasive infections. In Korea, the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) were introduced >10 years ago, enabling the authors to study the effect of the vaccine in preventing carriage.

Methods: NP swabs were taken and a household survey was conducted at daycare centres located in different regions of Korea in 2014 and 2019.

Persistent high macrolide resistance rate and increase of macrolide-resistant ST14 strains among Mycoplasma pneumoniae in South Korea, 2019-2020.

Background: Expansion of the single sequence type 3 (ST3) was associated with a high macrolide resistance rate among Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Korea during the 2014-2016 epidemic. This study investigates the macrolide resistance rate and genetic diversity of the subsequent epidemic of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in 2019-2020.

Clinical Efficacy of Doxycycline for Treatment of Macrolide-Resistant Pneumonia in Children.

In areas with high prevalence of macrolide-resistant (MRMP) pneumonia, treatment in children has become challenging. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of macrolides and doxycycline with regard to the presence of macrolide resistance. We analyzed children with MP pneumonia during the two recent epidemics of 2014-2015 and 2019-2020 from four hospitals in Korea.

Effectiveness of trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines in children during 2017-2018 season in Korea: Comparison of test-negative analysis by rapid and RT-PCR influenza tests.

Objectives: In Korea, the National Immunization Program provided trivalent inactivated influenza vaccines (IIV3) to all children aged 6-59 months during the 2017-2018 season. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of IIV3 in children during the 2017-2018 season.

Methods: Children aged 6-59 months who were tested for influenza for their acute respiratory illness in four hospitals during the 2017-2018 influenza season were included.

dl-Malic acid as a component of α-hydroxy acids: effect on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced inflammation in atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions and .

dl-Malic acid (dl-M) is used widely in cosmetic formulations as a pH-adjuster or as a preservative. dl-M is used as an exfoliator in the form of α-hydroxy acids. However, the role of dl-M in skin diseases (including atopic dermatitis (AD)) has not been studied deeply.

Aspergillus terreus Spondylodiscitis in an Immunocompromised Child.

We report the case of a 12-year-old immunocompromised boy with spondylodiscitis of the thoracolumbar spine caused by Aspergillus terreus. Microbiologic diagnosis was confirmed by inoculation of aspiration fluid into blood culture bottles. Because of noncompliance, the patient was treated with extended voriconazole therapy (23 months) with regular serum drug concentration monitoring and intermittent direct observation therapy in an outpatient clinic.