No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Humans ; Pyelonephritis*

No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Humans ; Pyelonephritis*

Background: This study explores the pathways of nurse turnover in long-term care hospitals (LTCHs) and its underlying conditions in Korea. Although the factors of staying or leaving of nurses in LTCHs have been reported, few studies have examined the trajectory and conditions of nurses staying in and leaving LTCHs. Methods: A qualitative study design with a grounded theory approach was conducted. Data were collected in one-to-one interviews. Purposive and theoretical sampling led to the inclusion of 20 registered nurses from 15 LTCHs in South Korea. Results: Seeking work-life balance was the core category of the nurses' turnover pathway. The consequences of the nurses' turnover pathway were categorized into three groups: thriving, surviving, and leaving. Thriving nurses found meaning in their work, fostered good relationships, and saw opportunities for growth. Surviving nurses were enduring their jobs in LTCHs, having a work-life balance, and supportive nursing leaders. Leaving group nurses wished to leave LTCHs due to a lack of professional growth, unappealing work, continued conflict, and social stigma. Conclusion This study provided the trajectory and conditions for nurses to enter, stay, move, or leave. Understanding the pathways for staying or leaving can be used as a strategy for successful retention of registered nurses in LTCHs.

In response to the Mpox domestic epidemic, South Korea initiated a nationwide vaccination program in May 2023, administering a 0.1 mL intradermal dose of JYNNEOS (Modified Vaccinia Ankara vaccine, Bavarian Nordic) to a high-risk group. To investigate the adverse reactions after intradermal JYNNEOS vaccination, an anonymous online survey was conducted at the National Medical Center from May 22 to July 31, 2023. Overall, 142 individuals responded. Over 80% of the respondents reported local reactions of predominantly mild severity. The predominant local reactions were pruritus, redness, and swelling; their incidence rates after the first dose were 66.2%, 48.1%, and 49.4%, respectively; the corresponding rates after the second dose were 69.2%, 60.6%, and 53.8%. Fewer respondents reported systemic symptoms. The most common systemic symptom was fatigue, the incidence rates of which after the first and second doses were 37.7% and 24.6%, respectively. Overall, the intradermally administered JYNNEOS vaccine appeared well tolerated.

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) have faced multiple physical and psychological challenges while carrying out their duties. In this study, we examined the experiences of specific groups of HCWs during the pandemic. Methods: From 18 November to 30 December 2020, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with four groups of 14 HCWs in three cities (Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju) in South Korea. The HCWs who participated in the focus groups included physicians, nurses, medical practitioners, and cleaning staff who directly or indirectly cared for patients during the COVID-19 epidemic. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the consensual qualitative research approach. Results: Our qualitative data analysis revealed four main domains: work-related struggles, personal life-related struggles, psychological stress, and health-related struggles. Health care providers were challenged by working in critical situations and were overwhelmed by heavy workloads, fear of infection, lifestyle changes, and psychological and physical struggles. Conclusion Our findings could serve as a foundation for establishing health care systems and policies that help HCWs cope with occupational stress, thus increasing their ability to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Human infection by Rhodococcus species is rare and mostly limited to immunocompromised hosts such as patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or organ transplant recipients. The most common strain is R. equi, and the most common clinical presentation is pulmonary infection, reported in 80% of Rhodococcus spp. infections. The central nervous system is an uncommon infection site. We report a case of a patient with pneumonia, brain abscess, and recurrent meningitis caused by Rhodococcus spp. He initially presented with pneumonia with necrosis, which progressed to brain abscess and recurrent meningitis. Rhodococcus spp. was identified from the cerobrospinal fluid (CSF) collected during his fourth hospital admission. Despite prolonged treatment with appropriate antibiotics, meningitis recurred three times. Finally, in order to administer antibiotics directly into the CSF and bypass the blood-brain barrier, an Ommaya reservoir was inserted for administration of 90 days of intrathecal vancomycin and amikacin in conjunction with intravenous and oral antibiotics; the patient was finally cured with this treatment regimen.
Amikacin ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Brain Abscess ; Central Nervous System ; HIV ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Injections, Spinal* ; Meningitis* ; Necrosis ; Pneumonia ; Rhodococcus* ; Transplants ; Vancomycin*

The present study investigated prevalence of integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTI) resistance mutations in HIV-1-infected antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patients in Korea. From 106 plasma samples, amplification and sequencing of integrase genes was performed, and major or minor mutations were calculated by the Stanford HIV drug resistance mutation interpretation algorithm. No major INSTI resistance mutations were found, and 14 minor mutations were detected in 13 (12.3%) patients. The present data support the recommendation that routine testing for INSTI resistance mutations before starting ART is not necessary.
Drug Resistance ; HIV ; Humans ; Integrases* ; Korea* ; Observational Study* ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies*

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health care workers (HCWs) have faced multiple physical and psychological challenges while carrying out their duties. In this study, we examined the experiences of specific groups of HCWs during the pandemic. Methods: From 18 November to 30 December 2020, we conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured, face-to-face interviews with four groups of 14 HCWs in three cities (Seoul, Daegu, and Gwangju) in South Korea. The HCWs who participated in the focus groups included physicians, nurses, medical practitioners, and cleaning staff who directly or indirectly cared for patients during the COVID-19 epidemic. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the consensual qualitative research approach. Results: Our qualitative data analysis revealed four main domains: work-related struggles, personal life-related struggles, psychological stress, and health-related struggles. Health care providers were challenged by working in critical situations and were overwhelmed by heavy workloads, fear of infection, lifestyle changes, and psychological and physical struggles. Conclusion Our findings could serve as a foundation for establishing health care systems and policies that help HCWs cope with occupational stress, thus increasing their ability to adapt to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Dysgeusia and dysphagia are rarely reported as the sole clinical symptoms of anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome involving the cranial nerves (CN). According to previous reports, those exhibiting bilateral facial nerve palsy or ophthalmoplegia or both are followed by bulbar dysfunctions (CNs IX and X). This paper reports a case of a 22-year-old man showing dysgeusia with dysphagia and mild limb weakness. Fiberoptic endoscopy revealed signs of residues after swallowing. The nerve conduction study (NCS) in the limbs and conventional brain magnetic resonance imaging were normal. Further workup revealed a positive serum anti-GQ1b antibody. The diffusion tension weighted brain images with tractography revealed involvement to the bilateral corticobulbar and corticospinal tract at the brainstem level. Although his normal NCS and conventional brain MRI made the diagnosis difficult, it was confirmed to be a rare variant of anti-GQ1b antibody syndrome showing corticobulbar and corticospinal tract involvement. The patient showed excellent recovery after dysphagia treatment.

Dementia is a clinical syndrome characterized by progressive impairment of cognitive and functional abilities. As currently applied treatments for dementia can only delay the progression of dementia and cannot fundamentally cure it, much attention is being paid to reducing its incidence by preventing the associated risk factors. Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are well-known risk factors for dementia, and many studies have attempted to prevent dementia by treating these risk factors. Growing evidence suggests that sex-based factors may play an important role in the pathogenesis of dementia. Therefore, a deeper understanding of the differences in the effects of drugs based on sex may help improve their effectiveness. In this study, we reviewed sex differences in the impact of therapeutics targeting risk factors for dementia, such as cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, to prevent the incidence and/or progression of dementia.