Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a gram-negative halophilic organism commonly associated with outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis which also sometimes causes serious wound infection. It is an uncommon cause of bacteremia. We have experienced a case of bacteremia due to Vibrio parahaemolyticus in a 59-year old man who initially presented with edema and dyspnea. He was diagnosed as liver cirrhosis, gastric cancer, and hepatoma. On hospital day 13, Vibrio parahaemolyticus was isolated from blood culture. The isolate showed typical cultural and biochemical characteristics such as salt tolerance and did not ferment lactose. The isolate was intermediate to ampicillin but susceptible to other agents.
Ampicillin ; Bacteremia* ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Disease Outbreaks ; Dyspnea ; Edema ; Gastroenteritis ; Humans ; Lactose ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Middle Aged ; Salt-Tolerance ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio* ; Wound Infection

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: Group B streptococci (GBS) are the most common cause of sepsis and meningitis in newborns in the United States and Europe, and maternal colonization rate of GBS is the most important factor of group B streptococcal neonatal infections. But, in Korea, studies on the maternal colonization rate of GBS are rare due to low incidence of neonatal group B streptococcal infections, particularly, data on colonization rate of GBS during first trimester is nearly absent. The aim of this study was to establish the rates of maternal carriage of GBS and the distribution of GBS serotypes in first trimester of pregnancy. METHODS: During the period of June to December 1997, we studied women attending private clinic. A total of 309 women in first trimester were enrolled in the study. Cotton swab specimens from vagina and cervix were placed to new Granada tube medium. The new Granada tube medium with specimen swab was incubated in 5% CO2 atmosphere at 35degreesC. For the identification of GBS, the colonies showing orange color on new Granada tube medium were tested with Streptex group B Streptococcus reagent (Wellcome Diagnostics, UK). Serotyping was done by Hemolytic Streptococcus Group B Typing Sera (Denka Seiken, Japan). The typing sera used in this study were Ia, Ib, II, III, IV, and V. RESULTS: Of the pregnant women in first trimester, 2.3% (7/309) were colonized with GBS, and all seven women who colonized GBS were positive in vagina and cervix at the same time. Frequency of serotype III and Ib were 71.4% (5/7) and 29.6% (2/7), respectively. Serotypes Ia, II, VI, and V were absent. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal carriage rate of GBS in first trimester of pregnancy was 2.3%, and serotype III was the most common serotype. Serotypes Ia, II, VI, and V were absent.
Atmosphere ; Cervix Uteri ; Citrus sinensis ; Colon* ; Europe ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, First* ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Sepsis ; Serotyping ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus agalactiae ; United States ; Vagina

Clinical observarions were done on 616 cases of cerebrovasculae accidents treated as inpatients at the Sung-Sim hospital, Chung-Ang university over a period of 8 years, from January, 1981 to Agust, 1988. The results were as follows; 1) Of 616 cases of cerebrovascular accidents, cerebral hemorrhage was presented in 56.82%, cerebral thrombosis in 28.57%, subarachnoid hemorrhage in 12.66%, cerebral embolism in 1.95%. 2) The ratio of male to female was 1.01:1. 3) The cerebrovascular accidents were most common in the sixth decade and followed by the fifth and fourth in turn. 4) The seasonal incidence was in order of frequency of Spring, Winter, Autumn and Summer. 5) Among disease preceding the onset of cerebrovascular accidents, hypertension was noted at 75% in cases of cerebral hemorrhge, 61% in cerebral thrombosis and 73% in subarachnoid hemorrhge. 6) The mean duration of underlying hypertension was 13.7 years in cerebral emorrhge, 15.3 years in cerebral thrombosis, 12.2 years in subarachnoid hemorrhage and 14.8 years in cerebral embolism. 7) Major precipitating factor in cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage was thought to be physical activity, whereas cerebral thrombosis and cerebral embolism frequently occured during sleeping or resting state. 8) The mean cholesterol level were 204.1mg% in cerebral hemorrhage, 214.9mg% in cerebral thrombosis, 211.7mg% in subaraachnoid hemorrhage and 217.0mg% in cerebral embolism. 9) The mortality rate was 12.2% in total, 16.6% in cerebral hemorrhage 2.3% in cerebral thrombosis, 15.45 in subarachnoid hemorrhage and 25% in cerebral embolism.
Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cholesterol ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Inpatients ; Intracranial Embolism ; Intracranial Thrombosis ; Male ; Mortality ; Motor Activity ; Precipitating Factors ; Seasons ; Stroke* ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

BACKGROUND: The inhalational anesthesia is performed by the administration of inhalational agents and fresh gases. Low and high flows have their own advantages and disadvantages. In Korea, many anesthesiologists use more than 2 L/min of fresh gas flow (FGF). This study was performed to analyze the practice and knowledge of FGF use by Korean Anesthesiologists. METHODS: A questionaire was sent to 122 anesthesiologists (15 university hospitals and 16 general hospitals) who attended the 47th Annual Autumn Meeting of the Korean Society of Anesthesiology in 2002. The questionaire covered topics dealing with inhalational agents, FGF, and safety systems for inhalational anesthesia practice. RESULTS: The most preferred inhalational anesthetic was sevoflurane (65.6%). 88.5% of respondents used more than 2 L/min of FGF. The majority of the respondents, however, did not consider the reasons for using certain levels of FGF. Only 27% of hospitals had pulse oximetry, capnogram or muti-gas analysis, fail-safe device, and a scavenging system. CONCLUSIONS: Many anesthesiologists, especially trainees, failed to consider the use of FGF during inhalational anesthesia. Therefore, special consideration should be given to the training and education of trainees about the proper of FGF.
Anesthesia ; Anesthesiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education ; Gases ; Hospitals, University ; Korea ; Oximetry

BACKGROUND: The erythromycin-resistance rate and phenotype distribution of Streptococcus propenes are quite different by geographical variation and study period. The aim of the present study was to determine the evolution of resistance to erythromycin and the frequency of erythromycin resistance phenotype of S. pyogenes isolated from Wonju Christian Hospital. METHODS: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of erythromycin and clindamycin for 94 S. pyogenes isolated from clinical specimens between 1990 to 1998 were investigated. Double disk test of erythromycin (78microgram) and clindamycin (25microgram) were performed for 15 isolates of erythromycin resistant S. pyogenes to evaluate the erythromycin resistance phenotype. RESULTS: The resistance rates of 94 isolates of S. pyogenes were 16%(15/94) to erythromycin and 4%(4/94) to clindamycin. The frequency of erythromycin resistance phenotype in decreasing order were M phenotype (47%), inducible resistance phenotype (40%), and constitutive resistance phenotype (13%). Erythromycin-resistant S. pyogenes did not exist until 1993, but was isolated since 1994, and ranged from 14.0% to 24.0% during the period of 1994-1998. CONCLUSIONS: Our finding documents the emergence of high resistance rates to erythromycin in S. pyogenes at Wonju area since 1994. The M phenotype (47%) and inducible resistance phenotype (40%) account for the majority of erythromycin-resistant S. pyogenes.
Clindamycin ; Erythromycin* ; Gangwon-do ; Phenotype* ; Streptococcus pyogenes* ; Streptococcus*

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are a heterogenous group of clonal stem cell disorders commonly characterized by a hypercellular and dysplastic bone marrow, cytopenias resulting from impaired peripheral blood cell production, and an increased risk of leukemic transformation. Currently, azacitidine, decitabine, and lenalidomide are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of MDS. The DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) inhibitors such as azacitidine and decitabine have demonstrated the ability to alter the natural history of disease and thus prolong time to leukemic transformation. In addition, azacitidine has shown the capacity to extend survival compared with the previous gold standard of conventional care regimens. Recently, decitabine has been shown to be well tolerated with a toxicity profile expected for this class of agent. Recent studies also suggest that decitabine may result in additional improvements in response. As more is learned about the mechanism of hypomethylating agents, new roles are emerging for decitabine in combination therapy for MDS. The third agent, lenalidomide, is a thalidomide analogue with significant activity in a subset of patients with low-risk MDS, anemia and chromosome 5 alterations. Several other agents are being evaluated in MDS. This review summarizes the existing clinical experience on DNMT inhibitors and other drugs for the treatment of MDS.
Anemia ; Azacitidine ; Blood Cells ; Bone Marrow ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5 ; DNA ; Humans ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Natural History ; Stem Cells ; Thalidomide ; United States Food and Drug Administration

BACKGROUND: As many as several weeks of incubation may be necessary for the recovery of mycobacteria when conventional culture media are used. Previous studies evaluating Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) as a rapid for the growth and detection of mycobacteria from clinical specimens have been reported. We compared MGIT with Ogawa media for the recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens. METHODS: Ninety nine clinical specimens received in the laboratory of Wonju Christian Hospital from June to September 199 were used for this study. The specimens from nonsterile body sites were digested, decontaminated, and concentrated, for culture and Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and specimen were inoculated onto MGIT tube and 3% Ogawa egg medium, and cultured for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 38 specimens culture-positive for mycobacteria, 3 grew isolates in MGIT medium only, 8 grew isolates in Ogawa media only, and 27 grew isolates in both media. Mean (median, range) times to detection of mycobacteria were 13.7 (5.5, 2-48) days with MGIT and 19.6 (18, 13-37) days with Ogawa (P>0.05). The number recovered with MGIT plus Ogawa media was 24 (63.2%) within 14 days of receipt of specimen, and 31 (81.6%) within 21 days. The contamination rates were 31 % for MGIT and 1 % for Ogawa media. CONCLUSIONS: MGIT appears useful to quickly detect and identify mycobacteria from clinical specimens. However, because the number of culture-positive specimen in MGIT was not greater than those recovered with Ogawa media, MGIT should be used in combination with solid media to reduce turnaround times and increase the isolation rate.
Culture Media ; Gangwon-do ; Mycobacterium ; Ovum

BACKGROUND: As many as several weeks of incubation may be necessary for the recovery of mycobacteria when conventional culture media are used. Previous studies evaluating Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) as a rapid for the growth and detection of mycobacteria from clinical specimens have been reported. We compared MGIT with Ogawa media for the recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens. METHODS: Ninety nine clinical specimens received in the laboratory of Wonju Christian Hospital from June to September 199 were used for this study. The specimens from nonsterile body sites were digested, decontaminated, and concentrated, for culture and Ziehl-Neelsen stain, and specimen were inoculated onto MGIT tube and 3% Ogawa egg medium, and cultured for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Of the 38 specimens culture-positive for mycobacteria, 3 grew isolates in MGIT medium only, 8 grew isolates in Ogawa media only, and 27 grew isolates in both media. Mean (median, range) times to detection of mycobacteria were 13.7 (5.5, 2-48) days with MGIT and 19.6 (18, 13-37) days with Ogawa (P>0.05). The number recovered with MGIT plus Ogawa media was 24 (63.2%) within 14 days of receipt of specimen, and 31 (81.6%) within 21 days. The contamination rates were 31 % for MGIT and 1 % for Ogawa media. CONCLUSIONS: MGIT appears useful to quickly detect and identify mycobacteria from clinical specimens. However, because the number of culture-positive specimen in MGIT was not greater than those recovered with Ogawa media, MGIT should be used in combination with solid media to reduce turnaround times and increase the isolation rate.
Culture Media ; Gangwon-do ; Mycobacterium ; Ovum