Background: Attention should be paid to endoscopy-related complications and safety-related accidents that may occur in the endoscopy unit. This study investigated the current status of complications associated with diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy in Korea. Methods: A questionnaire survey on endoscopy-related complications was conducted in a total of 50 tertiary or general hospitals in Korea. The results were compared to the population-level claims data from the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA), which analyzed endoscopy procedures conducted in 2017 in Korea. Results: The incidences of bleeding associated with diagnostic and therapeutic esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and with diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy were 0.224% and 3.155% and 0.198% and 0.356%, respectively, in the 2017 HIRA claims data, compared to 0.012% and 1.857%, and 0.024% and 0.717%, in the 50 hospitals surveyed.The incidences of perforation associated with diagnostic and therapeutic EGD and with diagnostic and therapeutic colonoscopy were 0.023% and 0.613%, and 0.007% and 0.013%, respectively, in the 2017 HIRA claims data compared to 0.001% and 0.325%, and 0.017% and 0.206%, in the 50 hospitals surveyed. In the HIRA claims data, the incidence of bleeding/perforation after diagnostic colonoscopy in clinics, community hospitals, general hospitals, and tertiary hospitals was 0.129%/0.000%, 0.088%/0.004%, 0.262%/0.009%, and 0.479%/0.030% respectively, and the corresponding incidence of bleeding/perforation after therapeutic colonoscopy was 0.258%/0.004%, 0.401%/0.007%, 0.408%/0.024%, and 0.731%/0.055%. Conclusion The incidences of complications associated with diagnostic and therapeutic EGD or colonoscopy tended to increase with the hospital volume in Korea.

A thorough disinfection and infection control process associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy is highly important for the health and safety of the examinee and the medical staff involved in the procedure. Endoscopic reprocessing and disinfection are two of the most important steps in quality control of endoscopy. In 2019, the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy updated the Accreditation of Qualified Endoscopy Unit assessment items for these quality indicators. Assessment of disinfection and infection control comprises 28 mandatory items in the categories of disinfection education, pre-cleaning, cleaning, disinfection, rinsing, drying, reprocessing, storage, endoscopic accessories, water bottle and connectors, space/facilities, personal protective equipment, disinfection ledger, and regulations regarding infection control and disinfection. The updated Accreditation of Qualified Endoscopy Unit assessment items are useful for improving the quality of endoscopy by ensuring thorough inspection of endoscopic disinfection and infection control.
Accreditation ; Disinfection ; Education ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Medical Staff ; Personal Protective Equipment ; Quality Control ; Social Control, Formal ; Water

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To determine the incidence and clinical characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) medication-associated Clostridium difficile infection. METHODS: This multicenter study included patients from eight tertiary hospitals enrolled from 2008 to 2013. A retrospective analysis was conducted to identify the clinical features of C. difficile infection in patients who received TB medication. RESULTS: C. difficile infection developed in 54 of the 19,080 patients prescribed TB medication, representing a total incidence of infection of 2.83 cases per 1,000 adults. Fifty-one of the 54 patients (94.4%) were treated with rifampin. The patients were usually treated with oral metronidazole, which produced improvement in 47 of the 54 patients (87%). Twenty-three patients clinically improved with continuous rifampin therapy for C. difficile infection. There were no significant differences in improvement between patients treated continuously (n=21) and patients in whom treatment was discontinued (n=26). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of C. difficile infection after TB medication was not low considering the relatively low TB medication dosage compared to other antibiotics. It may not be always necessary to discontinue TB medication. Instead, decisions concerning discontinuation of TB medication should be based on TB status.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Infective Agents/therapeutic use ; Antibiotics, Antitubercular/*adverse effects ; *Clostridium difficile ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous/chemically induced/drug therapy/*epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Metronidazole/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Rifampin/*adverse effects ; Treatment Outcome ; Tuberculosis/*drug therapy

Mycobacterium (M.) bovis causes tuberculosis and has a broad host range, including humans, livestock, and wild animals. M. bovis infection of wild boar has been reported in several European countries. We report here the first case of M. bovis infection in a domesticated wild sow in Korea. Granulomatous and necrotizing lesions with small numbers of acid-fast bacilli were observed in nodules of the lung of wild sow. Furthermore, the M. bovis isolate from the wild sow had spoligotype SB0140 and a novel MIRU-VNTR allelic profile, which is not found in cattle and deer in Korea.
Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Cattle ; Deer ; Host Specificity ; Humans ; Korea* ; Livestock ; Lung ; Mycobacterium bovis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Sus scrofa ; Tuberculosis

Background/Aims: A new medical fiber-guided diode laser system (FDLS) is expected to offer high-precision cutting with simultaneous hemostasis. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using the 1,940-nm FDLS to perform endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal model. Methods: In this prospective animal pilot study, gastric and colorectal ESD using the FDLS was performed in ex vivo and in vivo porcine models. The completeness of en bloc resection, the procedure time, intraprocedural bleeding, histological injuries to the muscularis propria (MP) layer, and perforation were assessed. Results: The en bloc resection and perforation rates in the ex vivo study were 100% (10/10) and 10% (1/10), respectively; those in the in vivo study were 100% (4/4) and 0% for gastric ESD and 100% (4/4) and 25% (1/4) for rectal ESD, respectively. Deep MP layer injuries tended to occur more frequently in the rectal than in the gastric ESD cases, and no intraprocedural bleeding occurred in either group. Conclusions The 1,940-nm FDLS was capable of yielding high en bloc resection rates without intraprocedural bleeding during gastric and colorectal ESD in animal models.

Background/Aims: A new medical fiber-guided diode laser system (FDLS) is expected to offer high-precision cutting with simultaneous hemostasis. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using the 1,940-nm FDLS to perform endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal model. Methods: In this prospective animal pilot study, gastric and colorectal ESD using the FDLS was performed in ex vivo and in vivo porcine models. The completeness of en bloc resection, the procedure time, intraprocedural bleeding, histological injuries to the muscularis propria (MP) layer, and perforation were assessed. Results: The en bloc resection and perforation rates in the ex vivo study were 100% (10/10) and 10% (1/10), respectively; those in the in vivo study were 100% (4/4) and 0% for gastric ESD and 100% (4/4) and 25% (1/4) for rectal ESD, respectively. Deep MP layer injuries tended to occur more frequently in the rectal than in the gastric ESD cases, and no intraprocedural bleeding occurred in either group. Conclusions The 1,940-nm FDLS was capable of yielding high en bloc resection rates without intraprocedural bleeding during gastric and colorectal ESD in animal models.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The adoption of colonoscopy as a primary colorectal cancer (CRC) screening technique has been argued for in Korea, without evidence of patient preferences. This study aimed to investigate patients’ preferences for the primary CRC screening test for the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP). METHODS: Between June and August 2016, 414 individuals aged ≥50 years who participated in the NCSP were prospectively invited to complete a questionnaire regarding their preferences for the primary CRC screening test and the reasons for their selection. RESULTS: Among the 396 respondents who completed the questionnaire, 124 individuals (31.3%) preferred the fecal immunochemical test (FIT), whereas 272 individuals (68.7%) preferred colonoscopy. Elderly participants preferred the FIT (p < 0.001), whereas participants with a higher education level (p=0.030), a higher income level (p=0.009), or individuals with a family member (p=0.028) or acquaintance (p=0.013) with a history of CRC preferred colonoscopy. Only 12.9% of participants had a bad experience with a previous FIT; however, 39.3% of participants had a bad experience with a previous colonoscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Colonoscopy was preferred to FIT in a 2.2:1 ratio as the primary CRC screening test for the NCSP. Patients’ preference for colonoscopy should be considered for the NCSP in Korea.
Aged ; Colonoscopy ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Education ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening* ; Patient Preference ; Prospective Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Infliximab was approved for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) in 2006 and has recently been used as rescue therapy in steroid-refractory UC. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences of medication use and prognosis in UC patients according to the periods of diagnosis. METHODS: From 1987 to 2012, a total of 1,422 patients with UC were retrospectively reviewed in 12 hospitals. The study population was divided into two groups according to the periods of diagnosis as follows; group A: 1987-2005, group B: 2006-2012. Analyzed variables were compared by using chi-square test and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Mean age of the subjects was 42.2 years, and the mean follow-up period was 4.7 years. In univariate analysis, the use of infliximab in group B was significantly higher than group A (4.5% vs. 7.6%, p=0.016), and UC-related hospitalization (45.8% vs. 40.1%, p=0.031) and UC-related surgery (6.4% vs. 3.5%, p=0.010) in group B was significantly lower than that of group A. The use of oral steroid in surgery group was significantly higher than non-surgery group in multivariate analysis (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.03-3.30, p=0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Infliximab might play an important role for the treatment of steroid-refractory UC. Well-designed prospective trials based on the efficacy and safety of infliximab are required in the future.
Adult ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use ; Colitis, Ulcerative/*diagnosis/drug therapy/pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Infliximab/therapeutic use ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Mesalamine/therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In Korea, the nationwide gastric cancer screening program recommends biennial screening for individuals aged 40 years or older by way of either an upper gastrointestinal series or endoscopy. The national endoscopic quality assessment (QA) program began recommending endoscopy in medical institutions in 2009. We aimed to assess the effect, burden, and cost of the QA program from the viewpoint of medical institutions. METHODS: We surveyed the staff of institutional endoscopic units via e-mail. RESULTS: Staff members from 67 institutions replied. Most doctors were endoscopic specialists. They responded as to whether the QA program raised awareness for endoscopic quality (93%) or improved endoscopic practice (40%). The percentages of responders who reported improvements in the diagnosis of gastric cancer, the qualifications of endoscopists, the quality of facilities and equipment, endoscopic procedure, and endoscopic reprocessing were 69%, 60%, 66%, 82%, and 75%, respectively. Regarding reprocessing, many staff members reported that they had bought new automated endoscopic preprocessors (3%), used more disinfectants (34%), washed endoscopes longer (28%), reduced the number of endoscopies performed to adhere to reprocessing guidelines (9%), and created their own quality education programs (59%). Many responders said they felt that QA was associated with some degree of burden (48%), especially financial burden caused by purchasing new equipment. Reasonable quality standards (45%) and incentives (38%) were considered important to the success of the QA program. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic quality has improved after 5 years of the mandatory endoscopic QA program.
Diagnosis ; Disinfectants ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Endoscopes ; Endoscopy ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Motivation ; Specialization ; Stomach Neoplasms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features and outcomes of ulcerative colitis (UC) according to the age of onset in Korea. METHODS: A total of 1,141 patients who were diagnosed with UC between July 1987 and November 2013 at 11 tertiary hospitals were enrolled. The baseline disease characteristic and disease state at onset, treatment during the disease course were retrospectively reviewed among patients with young-onset (YO, < 20 years) and adult-onset (AO, ≥ 20 years). Severe outcome was defined as use of intravenous (IV) steroids, infliximab, immunosuppressant, or UC-related operation. RESULTS: There were 55 YO patients (mean age, 17.8 ± 2.4) and 1,086 AO patients (mean age, 43.0 ± 13.6). High Mayo scores (7.7 ± 3.0 vs. 5.6 ± 2.7, p = 0.000), extensive UC (52.7% vs. 25.8%, p = 0.000) and IV steroid (41.8% vs. 18.0%, p = 0.000), immunosuppressant (47.3% vs. 26.9%, p = 0.002), and infliximab (20.0% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.001) use were more frequent in the YO than in the AO group. According to multivariate analysis, severe outcomes were related to YO disease (hazard ratio [HR], 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27 to 3.71), body mass index < 23 kg/m² (HR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.07 to 2.00), severe (HR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.36 to 3.38), and moderate (HR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.67 to 3.67) disease, extensive UC (HR, 2.90; 95% CI, 1.79 to 4.69), UC-related admission (HR, 63.89; 95% CI, 20.41 to 200.02), and oral steroid use (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.39 to 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: UC with YO presented with more advanced clinical features at onset and more severe outcomes than the AO. YO cases require careful management and intense treatment strategies.
Age of Onset ; Body Mass Index ; Colitis, Ulcerative* ; Humans ; Infliximab ; Intestinal Diseases* ; Korea ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Steroids ; Tertiary Care Centers ; Ulcer*