BACKGROUND/AIMS: Data on the epidemiology of alcoholic cirrhosis, especially in Asian countries, are limited. We compared the temporal evolution of patterns of alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhosis over the last decade. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the inpatient datasets of five referral centers during 2002 and 2011. The study included patients who were admitted due to specific complications of liver cirrhosis. We compared the causes of hospital admissions and in-hospital deaths between patients with alcoholic and nonalcoholic cirrhosis. RESULTS: Among the included 2,799 hospitalizations (2,165 patients), 1,496 (1,143 patients) were from 2002, and 1,303 (1,022 patients) were from 2011. Over time, there was a reduction in the rate of hepatic encephalopathy (HE) as a cause of hospitalization and an increase in the rate of hepatocellular carcinoma. Deaths that were attributable to HE or spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) significantly decreased, whereas those due to hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) significantly increased over time in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. However, in patients with nonalcoholic cirrhosis, hepatic failure and HRS remained the principal causes of in-hospital death during both time periods. CONCLUSIONS: The major causes of in-hospital deaths have evolved from acute cirrhotic complications, including HE or SBP to HRS in alcoholic cirrhosis, whereas those have remained unchanged in nonalcoholic cirrhosis during the last decade.
Aged ; Asia/epidemiology ; Bacterial Infections/etiology/mortality ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/etiology/mortality ; Cause of Death ; Female ; Hepatic Encephalopathy/etiology/mortality ; Hepatorenal Syndrome/etiology/mortality ; Hospital Mortality/*trends ; Hospitalization/*trends ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis/*complications/mortality ; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/*complications/mortality ; Liver Neoplasms/etiology/mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peritonitis/microbiology/mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Time Factors

The incidence and mortality of infective endocarditis (IE) in patients with severe burn remain high, which are attributed to invasive procedures, bacteremia, and wound infection after burns. Clinical clues for IE in burns are usually masked by burn-related manifestations, so the diagnosis of IE may be delayed or missed. For burned patients with persistent bacteremia of unknown source, especially Staphylococcus aureus-induced bacteremia, the diagnosis of IE should be considered according to the Duke criteria, and early echocardiography performance is particularly important. Antibiotic therapy is the mainstay initial management, and early surgical intervention is strongly recommended once IE is clearly diagnosed in patients with burns. In order to lower the incidence and mortality of IE in burns, it is very important to take prophylactic procedures along with the whole course of burn management.
Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; Burn Units ; Burns ; complications ; mortality ; surgery ; Endocarditis, Bacterial ; complications ; diagnosis ; microbiology ; mortality ; Humans ; Incidence ; Severity of Illness Index ; Staphylococcal Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; Staphylococcus aureus ; isolation & purification ; Surgery, Plastic ; Wound Infection ; etiology ; mortality

Helicobacter pylori can cause variety of upper gastrointestinal disorders such as peptic ulcer, mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT)-lymphoma, and gastric cancer. The prevalence of H. pylori infection has significantly decreased in Korea since 1998 owing to active eradication of H. pylori. Along with its decrease, the prevalence of peptic ulcer has also decreased. However, the mean age of gastric ulcer increased and this is considered to be due to increase in NSAID prescription. Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths in Korea and Japan, and IARC/WHO has classified H. pylori as class one carcinogen of gastric cancer. Despite the decreasing prevalence of H. pylori infection, the total number of gastric cancer in Korea has continuously increased from 2006 to 2011. Nevertheless, the 5 year survival rate of gastric cancer patients significantly increased from 42.8% in 1993 to 67% in 2010. This increase in survival rate seems to be mainly due to early detection of gastric cancer and endoscopic mucosal dissection treatment. Based on these findings, the prevalence of peptic ulcer is expected to decrease even more with H. pylori eradication therapy and NSAID will become the main cause of peptic ulcer. Although the prevalence of gastric cancer has not changed along with decreased the prevalence of H. pylori, gastric cancer is expected to decrease in the long run with the help of eradication therapy and endoscopic treatment of precancerous lesions.
Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/adverse effects ; Gastrointestinal Diseases/complications/*epidemiology ; Helicobacter Infections/complications/drug therapy/epidemiology ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone/epidemiology ; Peptic Ulcer/epidemiology/etiology ; Prevalence ; Stomach Neoplasms/etiology/mortality/pathology

When treating trauma patients with severe hemorrhage, massive transfusions are often needed. Damage control resuscitation strategies can be used for such patients, but an adequate fresh frozen plasma: packed red blood cell (FFP:PRBC) administration ratio must be established. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 100 trauma patients treated with massive transfusions from March 2010 to October 2012. We divided the patients into 2 groups according to the FFP:PRBC ratio: a high-ratio (> or =0.5) and a low-ratio group (<0.5). The patient demographics, fluid and transfusion quantities, laboratory values, complications, and outcomes were analyzed and compared. There were 68 patients in the high-ratio and 32 in the low-ratio group. There were statistically significant differences between groups in the quantities of FFP, FFP:PRBC, platelets, and crystalloids administered, as well as the initial diastolic blood pressure. Bloodstream infections were noted only in the high-ratio group, and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.028). Kaplan-Meier plots revealed that the 24-hr survival rate was significantly higher in the high-ratio group (71.9% vs. 97.1%, P<0.001). In severe hemorrhagic trauma, raising the FFP:PRBC ratio to 0.5 or higher may increase the chances of survival. Efforts to minimize bloodstream infections during the resuscitation must be increased.
Acute Lung Injury/epidemiology/etiology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bacterial Infections/epidemiology ; *Blood Transfusion/adverse effects ; *Erythrocyte Transfusion/adverse effects ; Female ; Hemorrhage/etiology/*prevention & control ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Patients ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult/epidemiology/etiology ; Resuscitation ; Retrospective Studies ; Wounds and Injuries/complications/mortality/*therapy ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDAppropriate antimicrobial therapy of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is mainly based on the distribution of etiology and antimicrobial resistance of major pathogens. We performed a prospective observational study of adult with CAP in 36 hospitals in China.

METHODSEtiological pathogens were isolated in each of the centers, and all of the isolated pathogens were sent to Zhongshan Hospital for antimicrobial susceptibility tests using agar dilution.

RESULTSA total of 593 patients were enrolled in this study, and 242 strains of bacteria were isolated from 225 patients. Streptococcus pneumoniae (79/242, 32.6%) was the most frequently isolated pathogen, followed by Haemophilus influenzae (55/242, 22.7%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (25/242, 10.3%). Totally 527 patients underwent serological tests for atypical pathogens; Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae infections were identified in 205 (38.9%) and 60 (11.4%) patients respectively. Legionella pneumophila infections were identified in 4.0% (13/324) of patients. The non-susceptibility rate of isolated Streptococcus pneumoniae to erythromycin and penicillin was 63.2% and 19.1% respectively. Six patients died from the disease, the 30-day mortality rate was 1.1% (6/533).

CONCLUSIONSThe top three bacteria responsible for CAP in Chinese adults were Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenza and Klebsiella pneumonia. There was also a high prevalence of atypical pathogens and mixed pathogens. The resistance rates of the major isolated pathogens were relatively low except for the high prevalence of macrolide resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bacteria ; drug effects ; isolation & purification ; pathogenicity ; China ; epidemiology ; Colony Count, Microbial ; Community-Acquired Infections ; drug therapy ; etiology ; microbiology ; mortality ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Bacterial ; drug therapy ; etiology ; microbiology ; mortality ; Prospective Studies

This study investigated predictors associated with 14-day mortality, and focused especially on the impact of appropriate antimicrobial treatment among patients with carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) bacteremia. This retrospective study was performed at a tertiary care hospital in Korea from June 2007 to June 2010. Antibiotic therapy was considered appropriate if the antibiotics were administered via an appropriate route within 24 hr after the result of blood culture, had in vitro sensitivity to isolated strains, and of an adequate dosage according to the current guidelines. Ninety-five patients with A. baumannii bacteremia were included; of these, 53 (55.8%) were infected with CRAB. The overall infection-related 14-day mortality was higher in patients receiving inappropriate antimicrobial therapy than in patients receiving appropriate therapy (59.5% [22/37] vs 13.8% [8/58], P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that septic shock (OR 10.5, 95% CI, 1.93-57.4; P = 0.006), carbapenem-resistance (OR 7.29, 95% CI 1.57-33.8; P = 0.01), pneumonia as a source of bacteremia (OR 5.29, 95% CI 1.07-26.1; P = 0.04), and inappropriate antimicrobial therapy (OR 8.05, 95% CI 1.65-39.2; P = 0.009) were independent risk factors for 14-day mortality. Early definite antimicrobial therapy had an influence on favorable outcomes in patients with A. baumannii bacteremia.
APACHE ; Acinetobacter Infections/drug therapy/microbiology/*mortality ; Acinetobacter baumannii/drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*therapeutic use ; Carbapenems/pharmacology ; Diabetes Complications ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Pneumonia/etiology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Shock, Septic/etiology ; Survival Rate

To assess the risk factors for carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) bacteremia and for 30-day mortality in patients with CRAB bacteremia in the intensive care unit (ICU), we conducted a retrospective study in the ICU at Severance Hospital in Korea from January 2008 to December 2009. Patients who acquired CRAB bacteremia in the ICU were enrolled as the case group and patients whose specimens of blood culture, sputum/endotracheal aspirate and urine revealed no AB were enrolled as controls. The case group comprised 106 patients and 205 patients were included as controls. Risk factors independently associated with CRAB bacteremia included prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment (Odds ratio [OR], 3.6; P = 0.003), recent central venous catheter insertion (OR, 5.7; P < 0.001) or abdominal drainage insertion (OR, 21.9; P = 0.004), the number of antibiotics treated with (OR, 1.3; P = 0.016), and respiratory failure in the ICU (OR, 2.5; P = 0.035). The 30-day mortality was 79.8%. Renal failure during ICU stay was independently associated with 30-day mortality (OR, 3.7; P = 0.047). It is important to minimize invasive procedures, and to restrict excessive use of antibiotics, especially in immunocompromised patients, in order to prevent the development of CRAB bacteremia. Greater concern for CRAB bacteremia patients is needed when renal failure develops during ICU stay.
Acinetobacter Infections/drug therapy/epidemiology/*mortality ; Acinetobacter baumannii/*drug effects ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Bacteremia/drug therapy/epidemiology/*mortality ; Carbapenems/*pharmacology/therapeutic use ; Case-Control Studies ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Female ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Intensive Care Units ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Renal Insufficiency/etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible risk factors for death among liver or kidney recipients with bloodstream infections (BSIs). METHODS: A retrospective study of 138 episodes of bloodstream infections documented in 103 patients was conducted to assess potential risk factors for mortality. The risk factors were identified by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 12-66 (42.3±12.7) years. The majority of infections were nosocomial (78.6%). The BSIs-related mortality rate was 39.8% (41/103). The following variables were identified as risk factors for BSIs-related mortality by univariate analysis: intraabdominal/ biliary focus (P=0.003), polymicrobial infection (P<0.001), liver transplant (P<0.001), platelet count <50000/mm3 (P<0.001), and septic shock (P<0.001). Platelet count < 50000/mm3 (P=0.002) and septic shock (P<0.001) showed significantly difference between the mortality group and the survival groups in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION Decreased platelet count and septic shock are risk factors for increased
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; etiology ; mortality ; Cause of Death ; Child ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections ; epidemiology ; etiology ; mortality ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Liver Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; Thrombocytopenia ; epidemiology ; Young Adult

The purpose of this study was to identify the major etiological agents responsible for invasive bacterial infections in immunocompetent Korean children. We retrospectively surveyed invasive bacterial infections in immunocompetent children caused by eight major pediatric bacteria, namely Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria meningitidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella species that were diagnosed at 18 university hospitals from 1996 to 2005. A total of 768 cases were identified. S. agalactiae (48.1%) and S. aureus (37.2%) were the most common pathogens in infants younger than 3 months. S. agalactiae was a common cause of meningitis (73.0%), bacteremia without localization (34.0%), and arthritis (50%) in this age group. S. pneumoniae (45.3%) and H. influenzae (20.4%) were common in children aged 3 months to 5 yr. S. pneumoniae was a common cause of meningitis (41.6%), bacteremia without localization (40.0%), and bacteremic pneumonia (74.1%) in this age group. S. aureus (50.6%), Salmonella species (16.9%), and S. pneumoniae (16.3%) were common in older children. A significant decline in H. influenzae infections over the last 10 yr was noted. S. agalactiae, S. pneumoniae, and S. aureus are important pathogens responsible for invasive bacterial infections in Korean children.
Adolescent ; Bacteria/*pathogenicity ; Bacterial Infections/*etiology/*microbiology/mortality ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Republic of Korea ; Retrospective Studies

High-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) in enterococci has increased since the 1980s, but the clinical significance of the resistance and its impact on outcome have not been established. One hundred and thirty-six patients with bacteremia caused by enterococci with HLGR (HLGR group) were compared with 79 patients with bacteremia caused by enterococci without HLGR (non-HLGR group). Hematologic malignancy, neutropenia, Enterococcus faecium infection, nosocomial infection and monomicrobial bacteremia were more common in the HLGR group than the non-HLGR group, and APACHE II scores were also higher (P<0.05, in each case). Neutropenia, monomicrobial infection, stay in intensive care at culture, and use of 3rd generation cephalosporin, were independent risk factors for acquisition of HLGR enterococcal bacteremia. Fourteen-day and 30-day mortalities were higher in the HLGR group than the non-HLGR group in univariate analysis (37% vs. 15%, P=0.001; 50% vs. 22%, P<0.001). However, HLGR was not an independent risk factor for mortality due to enterococcal bacteremia in multivariate analysis. Therefore, HLGR enterococcal bacteremia is associated with more severe comorbid conditions and higher mortality than non-HLGR enterococcal bacteremia but the HLGR itself does not contribute significantly to mortality.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacteremia/diagnosis/*etiology/*mortality ; Cephalosporins/pharmacology ; Cross Infection/complications ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Enterococcus/*drug effects/isolation & purification ; Female ; Gentamicins/*pharmacology ; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections/diagnosis/*etiology/*mortality ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neutropenia/complications/mortality ; Odds Ratio ; Risk Factors ; Severity of Illness Index ; Treatment Outcome