Detailed information on additional drug resistance patterns of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is essential to build an effective treatment regimen; however, such data are scarce in Korea. We retrospectively analyzed the results of phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) of culture confirmed-TB patients from January 2010 to December 2014 in 7 university hospitals in Korea. MDR-TB was identified among 6.8% (n = 378) of 5,599 isolates. A total of 57.1% (n = 216) of the MDR-TB patients had never been treated for TB. Strains from MDR-TB patients showed additional resistance to pyrazinamide (PZA) (35.7%), any second-line injectable drug (19.3%), and any fluoroquinolone (26.2%). Extensively drug resistant TB comprised 12.4% (n = 47) of the MDR-TB patients. Of 378 MDR-TB patients, 50.3% (n = 190) were eligible for the shorter MDR-TB regimen, and 50.0% (n = 189) were fully susceptible to the 5 drugs comprising the standard conventional regimen (PZA, kanamycin, ofloxoacin, prothionamide, and cycloserine). In conclusion, the proportion of new patients and the levels of additional drug resistance were high in MDR-TB patients. Considering the high levels of drug resistance, the shorter MDR-TB treatment regimen may not be feasible; instead, an individually tailored regimen based on the results of molecular and phenotypic DST may be more appropriate in MDR-TB patients in Korea.

Amniotic fluid embolism is rare but is one of the most catastrophic complications in the peripartum period. This syndrome is caused by a maternal anaphylactic reaction to the introduction of fetal material into the pulmonary circulation. When amniotic fluid embolism is suspected, the immediate application of extracorporeal mechanical circulatory support such as veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or cardiopulmonary bypass should be considered. Without the application of extracorporeal mechanical circulatory support, medical supportive care might not be sufficient to maintain cardiopulmonary stabilization in severe cases of amniotic fluid embolism. In this report, we present the case of a 36-year-old pregnant woman who developed an amniotic fluid embolism immediately after a cesarean section. Her catastrophic event started with the sudden onset of severe hypoxia, followed by circulatory collapse within 8 minutes. The veno-arterial mode of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was initiated immediately. She was successfully resuscitated but with impaired cognitive function. Thus, urgent ECMO should be considered when amniotic fluid embolism syndrome is suspected in patients presenting acute cardiopulmonary collapse.
Adult ; Amniotic Fluid* ; Anaphylaxis ; Anoxia ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Cesarean Section ; Cognition ; Embolism, Amniotic Fluid* ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Female ; Humans ; Peripartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Pulmonary Circulation ; Shock

The title of page 189 should be corrected.

Although formaldehyde is well known to cause type 4 hypersensitivity, immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to formaldehyde is rare. Here, we report a case of recurrent generalized urticaria after endodontic treatment using a para-formaldehyde (PFA)-containing root canal sealant and present a review of previous studies describing cases of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to formaldehyde. A 50-year-old man visited our allergy clinic for recurrent generalized urticaria several hours after endodontic treatment. Prick tests to latex, lidocaine, and formaldehyde showed negative reactions. However, swelling and redness at the prick site continued for several days. The level of formaldehyde-specific IgE was high (class 4). Thus, the patient was deemed to have experienced an IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction caused by the PFA used in the root canal disinfectant. Accordingly, we suggest that physicians should pay attention to type I hypersensitivity reactions to root canal disinfectants, even if the symptoms occur several hours after exposure.
Disinfectants/*adverse effects ; Formaldehyde/*adverse effects ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate/*chemically induced ; Immunoglobulin E/*immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Skin Tests ; Time Factors ; Urticaria/*chemically induced/diagnosis ; Zinc Oxide-Eugenol Cement/*chemistry

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii has been increasing and growing as a threat in intensive care units. Limited therapeutic options have forced clinicians to choose colistin with or without combination of other antibiotics. We tried to compare the effectiveness between colistin monotherapy and combination therapy based on in vitro synergistic tests. METHODS: From January 2006 to December 2007 in medical ICU of a tertiary care hospital in Korea, We reviewed the medical records of patients treated with intravenous colistin due to ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients were analyzed. 22 patients had been treated with colistin monotherapy and 19 patients with colistin and combination antibiotics that were found to have in vitro synergistic effects. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups but the mean duration of colistin administration was significantly longer in the combination group (19.1+/-11.2 days vs. 12.3+/-6.8 days, p=0.042). There were no significant differences in outcome variables between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Combination treatment based on the in vitro antimicrobial synergy test did not show better outcomes compared with colistin monotherapy in VAP caused by multi-drug resistant A. baumannii.
Acinetobacter ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Colistin ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Tertiary Healthcare

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the human herpesvirus group, causes severe disease in immunocompromised patients. In particular, CMV pneumonia can be a life-threatening disease to patients taking immunosuppressive drugs. The radiographic manifestations of CMV are variable and may consist of reticular or reticulonodular patterns, ground-glass opacities, air-space consolidations, or mixed patterns. A cavitary lesion in pneumonia associated with CMV infection is extremely rare. Herein we report on a case of CMV pneumonia which presented with a cavitary lesion and was treated successfully in a systemic lupus erythematosus patient who was taking immunosuppressive drugs.
Cytomegalovirus* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lung* ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic* ; Pneumonia*

BACKGROUND: To investigate the usage patterns of sedatives, analgesics and neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) in patients requiring mechanical ventilation more than 72 hours in intensive care units (ICUs) of Korea. METHODS: A total of 536 patients continuing mechanical ventilation more than 72 hours had been enrolled among the twenty-one ICUs of Korea from May 2003 to July 2003. Data about mechanical ventilation, the use of sedatives, analgesics, and NMBAs were prospectively collected for four weeks. We analyzed the patterns of using these drugs and effects on outcomes. RESULTS: More than half of the patients (50.4%) received sedative drug alone. Most commonly used sedatives and analgesics were midazolam and morphine. NMBAs were administered in 41% of the patients. Volume controlled ventilation mode was associated with more frequent use of NMBAs. There were no significant differences in outcome variables among the usage patterns of sedatives, analgesics and NMBAs. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigation shows that analgesics were much less frequently used in the intensive care units of Korea compared with the use of sedatives. And the use of NMBAs were quite a common.
Analgesics ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Midazolam ; Morphine ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Neuromuscular Blocking Agents ; Prospective Studies ; Respiration, Artificial ; Ventilation

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to describe the clinical course and outcome of patients who were diagnosed with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by scrub typhus and who received ventilator care in the intensive care units (ICU) of two university hospitals. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all adult ventilated patients who were diagnosed with ARDS caused by scrub typhus. RESULTS: Eleven (1.7%) of 632 scrub typhus patients were diagnosed with ARDS (median age 72; seven were male). Eight patients had underlying diseases, the most common of which was hypertension (four patients). Eight patients (72.7%) were admitted in November. The most common chief complaints of the patients were fever and rash (63.6%). All patients had skin eschar and rash; seven were treated for shock. On the day of diagnosis with ARDS, the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score was 20 (range 11-28) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score was 7 (range 4-14). All patients had PaO2/FiO2 < 200 mmHg, high serum aspartate aminotransferase level (> 40 IU/L), and hypoalbuminemia (< 3.3 g/dl). Nine patients were treated with doxycycline on the day of admission. Their median lengths of stay in the ICU and hospital were 10 (range 4-65) and 14 (4-136) days, respectively. The mortality rate during treatment in the hospital was 36.4%. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the risk of ARDS among patients diagnosed with scrub typhus was at least 1.7%, with a hospital mortality rate of 36.4%.
Adult ; APACHE ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Diagnosis ; Doxycycline ; Exanthema ; Fever ; Hospital Mortality ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Intensive Care Units ; Mortality ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult* ; Retrospective Studies ; Scrub Typhus* ; Shock ; Skin ; Ventilators, Mechanical

BACKGROUND: Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) in the event of a cardiac arrest is the most common and important discussion between a patient's family and physicians among the end-of-life decision-making process. To observe the performance of a DNR order in critically ill patients, we analyzed the incidence of DNR orders, the changes in therapeutic levels after DNR orders, and the cases of violated DNR codes in patients who had died in a Korean medical intensive care unit (ICU) between 1 January 2006 and 30 June 2006. METHODS: The charts of patients who had died in the medical ICU were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: One hundred two patients were enrolled. The ICU and hospital lengths of stay of the patients were 12.4 +/- 14.0 and 23.2 +/- 21.1 days, respectively. Hematologic malignancy (24.5%) accounted for the most common premorbid diagnosis before ICU admission. Seventy-five patients (73.5%) had DNR orders. The DNR order was suggested by the physician in 96% of the patients. There was no significant difference in the clinical parameters and the performance of a DNR order. Eighty-four percent of the patients with a DNR order had received the order within 3 days death. The withholding of additional therapy or withdrawing of current therapy occurred in 57.3% of the patients. The DNR order was violated in 9 cases (12%). CONCLUSIONS: DNR orders are well-accepted by the patient's family in the ICU. However, DNR orders are initiated when patient death is imminent.
Critical Illness ; Heart Arrest ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Incidence ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea ; Resuscitation Orders ; Retrospective Studies

Pulmonary actinomycosis is an indolent and slowly progressive infectious disease, accompanied by pleural effusion and empyema in about 50% of cases. The size of the effusion is usually small, though, and it responds to appropriate antibiotics. We report a case of rapidly progressing, severe empyema leading to respiratory failure that was caused by pulmonary actinomycosis. A 57-year-old man presented with pleuritic chest pain for 5 days. The initial plain chest radiograph and CT scan showed pleural effusion. Gross pus was observed during the thoracentesis and laboratory test of pleural effusion revealed empyema. In spite of empirical antibiotics and chest tube drainage, the empyema rapidly progressed and the patient reached respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation applied and decortication via video-assisted thoracotomy was performed. Microscopic examination of both the pleural and adjacent lung biopsy specimen revealed actinomycosis.
Actinomycosis ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Biopsy ; Chest Pain ; Chest Tubes ; Communicable Diseases ; Drainage ; Empyema ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Suppuration ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax