We studied the activity of adenosine deaminase in the urine of 38 patients who were divided into four groups :Urinary tract tuberculosis without ureteral obstruction(Group I ), Urinary tract tuberculosis with ureteral obstruction (Group II ), Urinary tract infection ( Group III ) and control subjects (Group IV). In patients with urinary tract tuberculosis with ureteral obstruction the adenosine deaminase activity in aspirated renal urine was significantly higher than for the rest of the groups (p<0.001). Adenosine deaminase activity in renal aspirated urine has proved to be a simple and reliable diagnostic method for urinary tract tuberculosis with ureteral obstruction.
Adenosine Deaminase* ; Adenosine* ; Humans ; Tuberculosis* ; Ureter ; Ureteral Obstruction ; Urinary Tract Infections ; Urinary Tract*

No abstract available.
Cytogenetics*

BACKGROUND: Recent data suggest that the colonization rate of group B streptococci(GBS) in pregnant women and the incidence of neonatal infections by GBS is increasing trend in Korea, but the antimicrobial susceptibilities and serotypes in pregnant women have not been reported in Korea. So, we studied to define the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and frequency of serotypes of GBS in pregnant women. METHODS: The susceptibility and serotyping of 60 GBS isolates from 27 pregnant women and four isolates from their two neonates were tested by an agar dilution method and agglutination test, respectively. The typing sera used in this study were Ia, Ib, II, III, IV, and V. RESULTS: Minimal inhibitory concentration range of 60 GBS from pregnant women were penicillin G 0.015-0.12 microgram/ml, vancomycin 0.5-2 microgram/ml, clindamycin 0.015-4.0 microgram/ml, chloramphenicol 2-4 microgram/ml, erythromycin 0.015-2 microgram/ml, tetracycline 0.5-256 microgram/ml, cephalothin 0.12-0.25 microgram/ml, ceftriaxone 0.03-0.12 microgram/ml, respectively. The resistance rate of GBS were 6.7% to clindamycin, 0% to erythromycin, and 98.3% to tetracycline. Most of GBS serotypes from pregnant women in decreasing order were Ib(48.3%), Ia(24.1%), III(20.7%). CONCLUSION: All GBS strains isolated from pregnant women are highly susceptible to commonly used antimicrobial agents with the exception of tetracycline. The low prevalence of severe neonatal GBS infections in Korea is not due to the absence of serotype III, but probably due to a low genital carriage rate of GBS by pregnant women.
Agar ; Agglutination Tests ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Ceftriaxone ; Cephalothin ; Chloramphenicol ; Clindamycin ; Colon ; Erythromycin ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Penicillin G ; Pregnant Women* ; Prevalence ; Serotyping ; Tetracycline ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND: The frequency of nosocomial bloodstream infections by Candida species has risen dramatically in the past two decades, and a noticeable shift in the species of Candida causing bloodstream infection toward non-albicans species has occurred. Also, the isolation frequency of Candida species are influenced by patient type, nation and region, study period, and investigators. The aim of this study is to investigate the isolation rates and antifungal susceptibility of Candida species isolated from blood cultures at Wonju Christian Hospital during the recent four years (1997~2000). METHODS: For one-hundred twenty-seven isolates of Candida species from blood cultures, we analyzed the isolation frequency by year, age/sex, and department. Identification of yeasts was done by germ tube test and ATB ID 32 C kit. Antifungal susceptibilities to flucytosine, amphotericin B, nystatin, miconazole, econazole, and ketoconazole were determined by ATB FUNGUS. RESULTS: The isolation rates of Candida species in decreasing order were C. albicans (44.9%), C. parapsilosis (21.3%), C. glabrata (14.2%), and C. tropicalis (9.5%). The isolation rates of Candida species by year were as follows; C. albicans decreased from 61.5% in 1997 to 33.3% in 2000; C. tropicalis decreased from 23.1% in 1997 to 5.0% in 2000; C. parapsilosis increased from 0% in 1997 to 30.8% in 2000; and C. glabrata increased from 7.7% in 1997 to 18.0% in 2000. Of 127 Candida species, all but one isolates were susceptible to amphotericin B. CONCLUSION: This data showed that the candidemia by C. albicans and C. tropicalis are decreasing trend, and candidemia by C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata are increasing trend in recent four years.
Amphotericin B ; Candida* ; Candidemia ; Econazole ; Flucytosine ; Fungi ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Ketoconazole ; Miconazole ; Nystatin ; Research Personnel ; Yeasts

BACKGROUND: Beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHS) are frequently isolated pathogens in the clinical microbiology laboratory, and the isolation frequency of each serogroup of BHS are influenced by patient type, nation and region, study period, and investigators. The aim of this study is to investigate the isolation rates and distribution of BHS by serogroup at Wonju area during the recent periods. METHODS: Isolation rates of BHS isolated from 1997 to 2000 at Wonju Christian Hospital were investigated. The distribution of each serogroup of BHS according to the types of clinical specimens was also studied. Serogroups A, B, C, F, and G were determined by latex agglutination test (Murex Streptex kit). RESULTS: Of 627 BHS isolated during the study periods, 16.3% were group A, 49.3% were group B, 5.1% were group C, 4.3% were group F, 21.0% were group G, and 4.0% were nongroupable. Isolation rates of BHS by specimen type were as follows:wound/pus was 44.4%; cervix, urine, and respiratory specimen ranged from 10% to 20%; blood was 4.0%; body fluid was 2.9%; and cerebrospinal fluid was 0.5%. The prevalent isolation sites by serogroup were:group A, wound/ pus (78.4%); group B, cervix (32.7%), urine (28.5%), and wound/pus (26.2%); group C and G, wound/pus and respiratory specimen; and group F, wound/pus and urine. From blood, group B streptococci (44.0%) were the most frequent isolate. CONCLUSIONS: Half of BHS isolated from clinical specimens were group B streptococci in this study, which reflects the increasing trend of group B streptococcal infections during the recent years at Wonju area.
Body Fluids ; Cerebrospinal Fluid ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Gangwon-do* ; Humans ; Latex Fixation Tests ; Research Personnel ; Streptococcal Infections ; Suppuration ; Tertiary Healthcare*

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Klebsiella has been steadily increased, and the newer species K. planticola and K terrigena, formerly regarded as nonpathogen, have been reported with astonishing frequency from human infectious processes by some investigators. The aim of this study is to elucidate the isolation rate and antimicrobial susceptibility of recent clinical Klebsiella isolates. METHOD: For the clinical Klebsiella isolates during the period of June 1999 to May 2000, isolation frequency of Klebsiella species by specimen, departments, age, and sex were analyzed. And antimicrobial susceptibilities were also analyzed. RESULT: Isolation rate of Klebsiella in order of decreasing frequency were K. pneumoniae (74:7%), K. oxytoca (12.1%), K. ozaenae(1.7%), K. planticola(1.0%), K. terngena(0.9%), and K, ornithinolytica (0.7%), respectively. K. rhinoscleromatis was not isolated. Compared with outpatients, increase of resistance rates of inpatients's Klebsiella isolates were 10% in ciprofloxacin, 15% in cefoperazone/sulbactam, and the others were ranged from 24% to 31%. Isolation rate of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae by double disk (DD) synergy test was 41%, and detection rates by antimicrobial agents were as follows: cefotaxime (95%), aztreonam (58%), and ceftriaxone (37%). Antimicrobial susceptibility rate with the exception of ampicillin and imipenem decreased from the range of 81%-96% on admission day to 29-62% after one week on admission. CONCLUSION: The isolation rates of K. planticola and K. terrigena were less than 1%. The proportion of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae was 41 %. And the vast majority of multidrug resistant Klebsiella including ESBL producing strains are acquired by hospitalization.
Ampicillin ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Aztreonam ; beta-Lactamases ; Cefotaxime ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Epidemiology* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Incidence ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Klebsiella* ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Research Personnel

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Klebsiella has been steadily increased, and the newer species K. planticola and K terrigena, formerly regarded as nonpathogen, have been reported with astonishing frequency from human infectious processes by some investigators. The aim of this study is to elucidate the isolation rate and antimicrobial susceptibility of recent clinical Klebsiella isolates. METHOD: For the clinical Klebsiella isolates during the period of June 1999 to May 2000, isolation frequency of Klebsiella species by specimen, departments, age, and sex were analyzed. And antimicrobial susceptibilities were also analyzed. RESULT: Isolation rate of Klebsiella in order of decreasing frequency were K. pneumoniae (74:7%), K. oxytoca (12.1%), K. ozaenae(1.7%), K. planticola(1.0%), K. terngena(0.9%), and K, ornithinolytica (0.7%), respectively. K. rhinoscleromatis was not isolated. Compared with outpatients, increase of resistance rates of inpatients's Klebsiella isolates were 10% in ciprofloxacin, 15% in cefoperazone/sulbactam, and the others were ranged from 24% to 31%. Isolation rate of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae by double disk (DD) synergy test was 41%, and detection rates by antimicrobial agents were as follows: cefotaxime (95%), aztreonam (58%), and ceftriaxone (37%). Antimicrobial susceptibility rate with the exception of ampicillin and imipenem decreased from the range of 81%-96% on admission day to 29-62% after one week on admission. CONCLUSION: The isolation rates of K. planticola and K. terrigena were less than 1%. The proportion of ESBL producing K. pneumoniae was 41 %. And the vast majority of multidrug resistant Klebsiella including ESBL producing strains are acquired by hospitalization.
Ampicillin ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Aztreonam ; beta-Lactamases ; Cefotaxime ; Ceftriaxone ; Ciprofloxacin ; Epidemiology* ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Incidence ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Klebsiella* ; Outpatients ; Pneumonia ; Research Personnel

BACKGROUND: It is well-known that silver ions and silver compounds are broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, and yeasts. Thus, silver ions, as an antibacterial agent, have been used in the components of materials used in medical devices or coatings. Recently, advances in nanotechnology have enabled manufacturers to develop silver particles of a nanometer size with a safer and more effective antimicrobial activity. So, we evaluate the antimicrobial activity of nanoSilver-coated gauze against clinical isolates. METHODS: Three kinds of nanoSilver-coated gauzes (100A, 800A, and 1,500A) were tested for antimicrobial activity by the disk diffusion method. The organisms tested included clinical isolates of nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (143 isolates), aerobic gramnegative bacteria (188), aerobic gram-positive bacteria (397), anaerobic bacteria (46), and yeasts (161), and three reference ATCC strains. RESULTS: The susceptible rates to NanoSilver of nonfermentative gram-negative bacilli (NFB), aerobic gramnegative bacteria and aerobic gram-positive bacteria were 87%, 87% and 78%, respectively. Antimicrobial activity of NanoSilver against imipenem-resistant NFB, extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae, and methicillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus (MRSA) was similar to that against imipenem-sensitive NFB, ESBL non-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. CONCLUSION: NanoSilver-coated gauze exhibits broad spectrum antimicrobial activities to a large number of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria including imipenem-resistant NFB, ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae, and MRSA.
Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria ; Bacteria, Anaerobic ; beta-Lactamases ; Diffusion ; Enterobacteriaceae ; Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Ions ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Nanotechnology ; Silver ; Silver Compounds ; Yeasts

No abstract available.
Animals ; Herpes Simplex* ; Mice* ; Simplexvirus* ; Skin* ; Vagina*

Balanced complex chromosomal rearrangements involving three or more chromosomes are often detected in phenotypically normal female patients with an adverse obstetric history. Here, we report a 32-yr-old phenotypically normal female with a history of multiple in vitro fertilization (IVF) failures and carrying a balanced complex chromosomal rearrangement involving chromosomes 1, 7, and 16. Cytogenetic analysis revealed the following complex karyotype: 46,XX,t(1;7;16)(p32.1;q22;q13). The patient achieved a twin pregnancy after IVF, although no heartbeat was detected during the sixth gestational week checkup. Tissues from intrauterine fetal demise were tested for chromosomal analysis and revealed 46,XX,t(1;7;16)(p32.1;q22;q13)mat and 46,XY,der(1)t(1;16)(p32.1;q13),der(7)t(1;7) (p32.1;q22)mat. This case illustrates the importance of chromosomal analysis in infertile females or infertile females with multiple IVF failures. Therefore, it would be beneficial for patients visiting infertility clinics to undergo cytogenetic screening for complex chromosome rearrangements before further counseling and prenatal investigations.
Abortion, Habitual ; Counseling ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Humans ; Infertility ; Lifting ; Mass Screening ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin