Copper-Coated Polypropylene Filter Face Mask with SARS-CoV-2 Antiviral Ability.

Face masks will be used to prevent pandemic recurrence and outbreaks of mutant SARS-CoV-2 strains until mass immunity is confirmed. The polypropylene (PP) filter is a representative disposable mask material that traps virus-containing bioaerosols, preventing secondary transmission. In this study, a copper thin film (20 nm) was deposited via vacuum coating on a spunbond PP filter surrounding a KF94 face mask to provide additional protection and lower the risk of secondary transmission.

Outcomes of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Treated With Bedaquiline or Delamanid.

Background: Since 1 September 2016, bedaquiline and delamanid have been administered for the treatment of patients with multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis after the official approval in South Korea. This study aimed to assess and compare the final treatment outcomes of patients who received bedaquiline with those of patients who received delamanid.

Methods: This is a nationwide cohort study of patients with multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis in whom bedaquiline or delamanid was administered from 1 September 2016 to 28 February 2018, after receiving the official approval in South Korea.

Biobank for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis research: importance of sequential samples.

Since 2013, Masan National Tuberculosis Hospital has collected standardized specimens from its tuberculosis patients, which include a large number of multidrug-resistant strains. The repository collects matched participants and their bacilli samples, compiling sequential samples from the beginning of treatment. The repository aims to provide resources for in-depth international research.

Spoligotype Variation of Strains Prevailing in Korea.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an ongoing global health problem, including in South Korea. To manage TB efficiently, it is necessary to understand the epidemiology, transmission route, and characteristics of prevailing strains. In this study, we investigated microevolutions over time in the spoligotype patterns of isolated from TB patients in Korea.

Impact of Molecular Drug Susceptibility Testing on the Time to Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis Treatment Initiation.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current status and trends in the coverage of molecular drug susceptibility testing (mDST), and the impact of mDST on the time to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment initiation in Korea.

Methods: We included confirmed rifampin-resistant (RR)/MDR-TB patients who submitted application forms for novel drug uses to the National TB Expert Review Committee from September 1, 2016 to November 30, 2019. We retrospectively reviewed their medical records.

Detection of airborne bacteria from patient spaces in tuberculosis hospital.

Background: The spread of nosocomial bacterial infection greatly threatens public health and the impact of nosocomial infection worsens if highly pathogenic bacteria, Mycobacterium tuberculosis as an instance, involves. In this study, we have investigated the presence of airborne M. tuberculosis in a specialized tuberculosis hospital.

Interim treatment outcomes in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis patients treated sequentially with bedaquiline and delamanid.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the sequential use of bedaquiline (Bdq) and delamanid (Dlm) in patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and limited treatment options.

Methods: This study evaluated 74 MDR-TB patients treated between March 2016 and December 2018 with Bdq followed by Dlm (n = 22), or vice versa (n= 52), combined with optimized background regimens.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 49.

Interim treatment outcomes in multidrug-resistant tuberculosis using bedaquiline and/or delamanid in South Korea.

Purpose: The Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has implemented a review process for the approval of new drugs used to treat patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) since September 2016. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of these new drugs bedaquiline (Bdq) and delamanid (Dlm).

Methods: A total of 318 patients with MDR-TB were reviewed by the committee from September 2016 to February 2018; 282 (88.

Resistin-like molecule beta, a colonic epithelial protein, exhibits antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus including methicillin-resistant strains.

Purpose: Resistin-like molecule beta (RELMβ) is a small cysteine-rich protein secreted by colonic epithelial cells. RELMβ mRNA and protein expressions are dramatically induced by bacterial exposure in germ-free mice. We hypothesized that RELMβ has antimicrobial activity.

Thiostrepton: A Novel Therapeutic Drug Candidate for Infection.

is a rapid-growing, multidrug-resistant, non-tuberculous mycobacterial species responsible for a variety of human infections, such as cutaneous and pulmonary infections. infections are very difficult to eradicate due to the natural and acquired multidrug resistance profiles of . Thus, there is an urgent need for the development of effective drugs or regimens against infections.

A molecular epidemiological analysis of tuberculosis trends in South Korea.

Molecular epidemiological data are needed to assess tuberculosis (TB)-management policy outcomes in South Korea. IS6110 restriction fragment-length polymorphism (IS6110-RFLP) and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable-number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR) analyses are major molecular epidemiological tools for investigating the transmission or reactivation of active TB. Here, we determined trends in the clustering rate (i.

Comparing Two Mycobacterium tuberculosis Genomes from Chinese Immigrants with Native Genomes Using Mauve Alignments.

Background: The number of immigrants with tuberculosis (TB) increases each year in South Korea. Determining the transmission dynamics based on whole genome sequencing (WGS) to cluster the strains has been challenging.

Methods: WGS, annotation refinement, and orthology assignment for the GenBank accession number acquisition were performed on two clinical isolates from Chinese immigrants.

A rapid culture system uninfluenced by an inoculum effect increases reliability and convenience for drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The Disc Agarose Channel (DAC) system utilizes microfluidics and imaging technologies and is fully automated and capable of tracking single cell growth to produce Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) drug susceptibility testing (DST) results within 3~7 days. In particular, this system can be easily used to perform DSTs without the fastidious preparation of the inoculum of MTB cells. Inoculum effect is one of the major problems that causes DST errors.

Comparison of PFGE, IS-RFLP, and 24-Locus MIRU-VNTR for Molecular Epidemiologic Typing of Isolates with Known Epidemic Connections.

Two molecular epidemiologic methods, IS restriction fragment length polymorphism (IS-RFLP) and 24-locus mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable-number tandem repeat (MIRU-VNTR), are used worldwide in studies of (MTB). Conversely, because of its poor resolution, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is not widely used for MTB. In this study, we improved the 24-locus MIRU-VNTR and PFGE protocols and compared the effectiveness of these approaches for the molecular typing of MTB using 75 clinical isolates obtained from a cohort investigation of high-risk populations infected with MTB.

Characteristics of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis in Sanatoria of North Korea.

Although several reports about drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) in North Korea have been published, a nationwide surveillance on this disease remains to be performed. This study aims to analyze the drug resistance patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among the patients in the sanatoria of North Korea, especially during the period when second-line drugs (SLDs) had not yet been officially supplied to this country. The Eugene Bell Foundation (EBF) transferred 947 sputum specimens obtained from 667 patients from 2007 to 2009 to the Clinical Research Center, Masan National Tuberculosis Hospital (MNTH), South Korea.

A new strategy for tuberculosis control in North Korea.

Tuberculosis is one of the most prevalent diseases in North Korea. Despite some positive accomplishments by current aid projects, it is still necessary to investigate the existing aid system. The following are necessary for improvement: sustaining a high degree of expertise, cooperation among various related parties including the international community, mediation to induce this cooperation, a more active role of the South Korean government, and encouragement of North Korea to more actively participate.