Background: This report presents annual data from the surgical site infection (SSI) module of the Korean National Healthcare-associated Infections Surveillance System (KONIS) from July 2021 to June 2022. Methods: Surveillance of 20 surgeries (e.g., stomach, colon, rectal, gallbladder surgery, knee replacement, hip replacement, craniotomy, ventricular shunts, spinal fusion, laminectomy, cardiac artery bypass grafting - incision in the chest site only and incisions both the chest and donor site, cardiac, prostatectomy, abdominal hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy, appendectomy, thoracic, cesarean section, and head and neck surgeries) associated with SSI was performed between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, according to the KONIS Manual 2020. Results: A total of 133,281 surgical cases were collected and 1,100 SSIs were identified, resulting in a SSI rate of 0.83%. The SSI rates for 30-day surveillance surgeries were 1.9% for stomach, 2.82% for colon, 1.88% for rectal, 0.29% for gallbladder, 0.25% for lumbar laminectomy, 0.33% for cesarean section, 0.67% for abdominal hysterectomy, 0.74% for vaginal hysterectomy, 0.23% for prostatectomy, 1.39% for appendectomy, and 0.06% for thoracic surgeries. Neck surgery could not be analyzed due to no reported cases. The SSI rates for the 90-day surveillance surgeries were 0.16% for knee replacement, 0.54% for hip replacement, 0.89% for spinal fusion, 0.70% for craniotomy, 0.92% for ventricular shunt, 1.13% for cardiac, 1.80% for cardiac artery bypass grafting (chest only incision), and 1.64% for cardiac artery bypass grafting (chest and leg incision) surgeries. In total, 608 strains were isolated and cultured from 1,286 infections. Conclusion Compared with the incidence of SSI (1.06%) in 2018, the overall incidence decreased, and most site-specific infection rates decreased or remained the same.

Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a frequent manifestation of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The classic chest radiographic finding is perihilar ground glass opacities that may progress to more diffuse lung involvement. Atypical radiographic appearances include a normal chest film, lobar or segmental consolidation, cystic lesions, cavitation, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, and solitary or multiple pulmonary nodules. Although PCP is common in AIDS, presenting with nodular pulmonary densities is rare. We encountered the case of a 33-year-old man with AIDS whose chest radiography showed multiple bilateral nodular patterns suggestive of malignancy. We performed a transcutaneous lung biopsy and diagnosed him with PCP by Gomori methenamine-silver staining. Along with fungal and mycobacterial infections, intrathoracic Kaposi's sarcoma, and lymphoma, PCP should be considered in the differential diagnosis of nodular pulmonary disease in AIDS patients.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Adult ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Glass ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Lymphoma ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumocystis ; Pneumocystis jirovecii ; Pneumonia ; Pneumothorax ; Sarcoma, Kaposi ; Thorax

OBJECTIVE: The study assessed the immunogenicity and safety of human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted cervical cancer vaccine in healthy Korean women aged 15-25 years. METHODS: Phase IIIB, double-blind, randomised (2:1), multi-centre trial was conducted in Korea from June 2007 to March 2008. The study enrolled 225 women in the HPV (N=149) and placebo (N=76) groups who received three doses of HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine or placebo (aluminium hydroxide) administered intramuscularly at 0, 1, and 6 months and were followed until one month post-dose 3. Serum samples were collected pre-vaccination and one month post-dose 3. Safety and reactogenicity data were collected throughout. RESULTS: In this trial, 208 women completed the study (141 in HPV group; 67 in placebo group). At month 7, all initially seronegative women had seroconverted for HPV-16 and HPV-18 antibodies with anti-HPV-16 and anti-HPV-18 geometric mean titres of 9,351.4 El.U/mL (95% CI, 8,145.5 to 10,735.8) and 4204.1 El.U/mL (95% CI, 3,626.5 to 4,873.6), respectively. Initially seropositive women showed similar increase in geometric mean titre levels. Compliance to the three dose vaccination course was 95.3% in HPV and 89.5% in placebo group. Solicited local (pain) and general (fatigue, myalgia or headache) symptoms were commonly reported in both groups. Three serious adverse events were reported (two in HPV group; one in placebo group), all unrelated to vaccination by the investigator; all recovered. CONCLUSION: The HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine was highly immunogenic with a clinically acceptable safety profile in Korean women. This study was in line with previous global studies in Europe, North America, and Brazil. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT 00485732.)
Aged ; Antibodies ; Brazil ; Compliance ; Europe ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Human papillomavirus 18 ; Humans ; Korea ; North America ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Vaccination

An influenza pandemic due to a novel influenza A/H1N1 virus occurred after April 2009. This virus has some characteristics that differentiate it from the seasonal influenza virus. The 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus can frequently infect the lower respiratory tract, and it might cause acute tracheobronchitis as well as pneumonia. Viral-bacterial interaction is well known as an important mechanism of the pathogenesis of respiratory complications of influenza. Herein, we report on a case that presented with pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis complicated by coinfection with 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1 and Staphylococcus aureus. We also review the relevent literature.
Bronchoscopes ; Coinfection ; Influenza, Human ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia ; Respiratory System ; Seasons ; Staphylococcus ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Viruses

The integrated cell culture-PCR (ICC-PCR) method has been suggested as an improved method for detection of viruses in water environments. We tested 57 source waters including finished water samples in Gyeonggi-do for enteric viral contamination using total culturable virus assay (TCVA) using BGMK cells and ICC-PCR. Nineteen of the 57 source water samples (33.3%) exhibited the cytopathic effect (CPE) on BGMK cells and no finished water did exhibited CPE. Nineteen samples (33.3%) of the 57 were positive for reoviruses. For the enteroviruses, only 3 samples (5.3%) of the 57 samples showed positive results. By using ICC-PCR method, 202 flasks from source water samples were positive for enteroviruses and reoviruses. Three samples from source water were positive for both viruses. However, any flasks tested was not co-infected with two types of viruses. While the enteric viral frequencies in TCVA and ICC-PCR were similar, the viral frequency for reoviruses at first passage in two type of method was higher in ICC-PCR (94.7%) than TCVA (56.9%).
Enterovirus ; Viruses ; Water

BACKGROUND: Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are being recognized with increased frequency. In 1993, a report on 123 cases of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas diagnosed over a period of 32 years was published in Korea. Many changes on the concept of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas have been made, including classification and diagnostic criteria. The present study was conducted wherein a new survey on cystic neoplasms of the pancreas in Korea. METHODS: Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas diagnosed over a period of 12 years, from 1993 to 2004 in 25 university hospitals throughout Korea were collected. They were classified according to the World Health Organization classification of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas. RESULTS: A total of 1264 cases of cystic neoplasms of the pancreas were diagnosed. The diagnoses and frequencies are as follows: intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, 499 (39.5%); mucinous cystic neoplasm, 318 (25.2%); serous cystic neoplasm, 232 (18.4%); solid pseudopapillary neoplasm, 192 (15.2%); cystic endocrine neoplasm, 11 (0.8%); lymphoepithelial cyst, 8 (0.6%); acinar cell neoplasm, 3 (0.2%); mature teratoma, 1 (0.1%). Increase in the annual number of diagnoses was evident. In intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and mucinous cystic neoplasm, a significant increase in mean age was seen in patients with malignant neoplasms. CONCLUSIONS: Cystic neoplasms of the pancreas are diagnosed with increasing frequency in Korea, the most common being intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas. In intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm and mucinous cystic neoplasm, the grade of dysplasia increased with mean age, suggesting an adenoma-carcinoma sequence.
Acinar Cells ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mucins ; Pancreas* ; Teratoma ; World Health Organization

Anisakiasis is a disease of the alimentary tract caused by nematode larva belonging to the subfamily Anisakinae. It is possible for Anisakis larva to be transmitted to man through eating raw sea fish that is preferred by Korean people. The clinical symptoms are characterized by severe cramping abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tarry stool, and epigastric fullness. The endoscopic examination has played a important role in the diagnosis of anisakiasis. However, gastric anisakiasis is undetected due to unspecific symptom and delayed endoscopy. Endoscopic ultrasonography is probably the choice of investigative tool for the evaluation of submucosal mass. However distinctive feature of parasitic infectation presenting an submucosal tumor has not been reported. Recently, we experienced two cases of gastric anisakiasis. We found gastric submucosal tumors by endoscopy, differentiated them by endoscopic ultrasonography and treated by endoscopic submucosal resection.
Abdominal Pain ; Anisakiasis ; Anisakis ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Eating ; Endoscopy ; Endosonography ; Eosinophilic Granuloma* ; Eosinophils* ; Larva ; Muscle Cramp ; Nausea ; Stomach* ; Vomiting

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was done to evaluate the safety of Gore-Tex as a nasal implant. Materials and METHOD: A retrospective multicenter study was carried out on 15 surgeons from 11 general hospitals and 4 private practice clinics regarding the safety of the Gore-Tex as a nasal implant. The study involved 853 patients, of whom 656 received primary surgery and 197 revision surgery. Gore-Tex was mainly used as a dorsal implant in a form of sheet or as a reinforced nasal implant. RESULTS: The overall complication rate associated with Gore-Tex was 2.5% (21 cases). Infection was the most common complication (18 cases ; 2.1%) followed by 2 cases of seroma and 1 case of persistent nasal swelling. In 19 out of 21 complication cases, the graft needed removal to control the infection or seroma (91% removal rate). Nine cases of infection developed in both primary cases (1.37%) and in revision cases (4.57%), which suggests a higher association rate between infection and revision cases (p=0.0062). Infection developed within 1 month in 5 cases while 9 cases developed infection after 6 months of operation. Other complications such as aesthetic problems (malpositioning of the implant or dorsal irregularities) were found in 15 cases (1.8%) and hematoma in 1 case. CONCLUSION: The infection rate of Gore-Tex used in rhinoplasty was about 2% and it rose significantly in the revision cases. If infected, almost all of the implanted Gore-Tex needs removal; therefore, we suggest judicious use of Gore-Tex in rhinoplasty.
Hematoma ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Polytetrafluoroethylene* ; Private Practice ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinoplasty* ; Seroma ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: To discover the etiology of birth defects and low birth weight, it is necessary to establish epidemiological birth defects monitoring system in Korea. Our aim was to develop new practical model in Incheon to establish birth defects monitoring system to evaluate the incidence rate and patterns of birth defects in Korea. METHODS: Public health center and private hospitals and clinics participated in this monitoring system. Web based reporting system have been built. Trained nurses actively collected the records obtained from delivery units in the participating hospitals during 2 years (first year: December 1st, 1998-November. 31, 1999; second year: January 1 st, 2000-December 31 th, 2000). RESULTS: Through this monitoring system at 1 st year and 2 nd year, we observed 25 birth defect cases from 2482 births, 28 birth defect cases from 3490 births including live births and stillbirths. The incidence of birth defect per thousand person was 10.1, 8.0 respectively. At 1st year, the highest proportion of birth defects was 28.0% in musculoskeletal system. The proportion of birth defects in gastrointestinal system, cardiovascular system and cleft lip & cleft palate were 20.0%, 12.0%. 12.0%. At 2 nd year, the highest proportion of birth defects was 21.4% in gastrointestinal system The proportion of birth defects in cardiovascular system and musculoskeletal system were 17.9% and 14.3%. CONCLUION: In conclusion, we could build population-based monitoring system for birth defects successfully in Yonsu gu, Incheon. To establish population-based monitoring system for birth defects in Korea, it is necessary to organize the reporters of public health center and private hospitals and clinics, to build an available reporting system, and to extend participating centers for birth defects monitoring systems.
Cardiovascular System ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Environmental Exposure ; Hospitals, Private ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Incidence ; Infant, Low Birth Weight ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Live Birth ; Musculoskeletal System ; Parturition* ; Public Health ; Stillbirth

Aspergilloma and Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis (ABPA) are different types of spectrum of pulmonary aspergillosis. ABPA results from hypersensitivity reaction to Aspergillus species and is known to be usually associated with bronchial asthma and cystic fibrosis. Aspergilloma results from simple colonization of this fungus within cavitary lung lesion or bronchiectasis. But rarely some patients can present together with ABPA and aspergilloma. We experienced a case of ABPA associated with aspergilloma in a 38 year-old male. The diagnosis was confirmed by asthma, immediate cutaneous reactivity to A. fumigatus, IgG antibody to A. fumigatus, elevated total and specific IgE antibodies to A. fumigatus, central bronchiectasis and peripheral eosinophilia coincident with radiographic infiltrates. During follow-up management with steroid, left pneumonectomy was done because of spontaneous pneumothorax with persistent air-leak and multidrug resistance pulmonary tuberculosis in association with aspergilloma. His respiratory symptoms and ABPA activity was much more improved after removal of aspergilloma. These findings suggest that surgical resection of aspergilloma can be considered to reduce antigenic source of colonized fungi in ABPA patients when associated with aspergilloma.
Adult ; Antibodies ; Aspergillosis, Allergic Bronchopulmonary* ; Aspergillus ; Asthma ; Bronchiectasis ; Colon ; Cystic Fibrosis ; Diagnosis ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Eosinophilia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fungi ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lung ; Male ; Pneumonectomy ; Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Aspergillosis ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary