This study was performed to measure early changes in the serotype distribution of pneumococci isolated from children with invasive disease during the 3-year period following the introduction of 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) in Korea. From January 2011 to December 2013 at 25 hospitals located throughout Korea, pneumococci were isolated among children who had invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Serotypes were determined using the Quellung reaction, and the change in serotype distribution was analyzed. Seventy-five cases of IPD were included. Eighty percent of patients were aged 3-59 months, and 32% had a comorbidity that increased the risk of pneumococcal infection. The most common serotypes were 19A (32.0%), 10A (8.0%), and 15C (6.7%). The PCV7 serotypes (4, 6B, 9V, 14, 18C, 19F, 23F, and 6A) accounted for 14.7% of the total isolates and the PCV13 minus PCV7 types (1, 3, 5, 7F and 19A) accounted for 32.0% of the total isolates. Serotype 19A was the only serotype in the PCV13 minus PCV7 group. The proportion of serotype 19A showed decreasing tendency from 37.5% in 2011 to 22.2% in 2013 (P = 0.309), while the proportion of non-PCV13 types showed increasing tendency from 45.8% in 2011 to 72.2% in 2013 (P = 0.108). Shortly after the introduction of extended-valent PCVs in Korea, serotype 19A continued to be the most common serotype causing IPD in children. Subsequently, the proportion of 19A decreased, and non-vaccine serotypes emerged as an important cause of IPD. The impact of extended-valent vaccines must be continuously monitored.
Adolescent ; Bacteremia/complications/diagnosis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hospitals ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pneumococcal Infections/microbiology/*prevention & control ; Pneumococcal Vaccines/*immunology ; Republic of Korea ; Serotyping ; Streptococcus pneumoniae/*classification/isolation & purification ; Vaccines, Conjugate/*immunology

Pneumococcal glomerulonephritis is rarely described in the literature. We report a four-year-old boy who developed acute glomerulonephritis following pneumococcal bacteraemia and submandibular lymphadenitis, and review the published literature. Two weeks after developing acute glomerulonephritis, the patient developed bronchopneumonia with left pleural effusion. However, by the fourth week of admission, his renal function had normalised and lung involvement resolved.
Acute Disease ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bacteremia ; complications ; diagnosis ; Biopsy ; Child, Preschool ; Glomerulonephritis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphadenitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Male ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumococcal Infections ; complications ; diagnosis ; Treatment Outcome

Bacteremia ; diagnosis ; Glomerulonephritis ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Lymphadenitis ; diagnosis ; Male ; Pneumococcal Infections ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of Streptococcus pneumonia-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (SP-HUS) in children.

METHODClinical and laboratory data of a pediatric case of SP-HUS were retrospectively analyzed and the key points of diagnosis and therapy were reviewed.

RESULTAn 18-month old girl was admitted with chief complaint of fever and cough for 5 days combined with mild labored breath. Breath sound was found weakened in right lung with lower lobe dullness on percussion. Laboratory tests revealed: WBC 3.7×10(9)/L, Hb 83 g/L, PLT 11×10(9)/L, C-reactive protein (CRP) > 180 mg/L. Morphological study of the RBCs showed marked anisocytosis and schistocytosis. Urinalysis showed 42.66 RBCs per high-power field, occult blood (+++), proteinura (++++). Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated from blood, pleural fluid and sputum. Serotyping with simplified chessboard system was 3. The direct Coombs test was positive. Serum complement levels (C3 and C4) were depressed at 0.699 g/L, 0.064 g/L, respectively. Chest X-ray showed pleural effusion and infection of the right hemothorax. The computerized tomographic scan of the chest revealed pneumatoceles in the right lower lobe. The diagnosis on admission we considered was SP-HUS. Intravenous antibiotic therapy (vancomycin + cefoperazone/sulbactam) was administered. The renal replacement theraphy was administered to maintain electrolyte and fluid balances and adequate nutrition. Transfusions of washed red blood cells were administered to correct the anemia. One month after admission the patient was good with recovery. Liver and renal function recovered and the pneumonia was resolving, anemia and platelets were corrected. The direct Coombs test turned to be negative. Serum complement levels (C3 and C4) were normal. After 3-month follow-up, no clinical anomalies were detected.

CONCLUSIONSP-HUS should be suspected when the following occurs in the context of pneumococcal infections: microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure and a positive Coombs test result. Serotype 3 of SP was associated with HUS.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers ; analysis ; Coombs Test ; Female ; Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; etiology ; microbiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Lung ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Pleural Effusion ; etiology ; Pneumococcal Infections ; complications ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Serotyping ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; classification ; isolation & purification

Acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) are common infections in children, and their diagnosis and treatment have significant impacts on the health of children and the costs of providing national medical care. In 2009, the Korean Otologic Society organized a committee composed of experts in the field of otolaryngology, pediatrics, and family medicine to develop Korean clinical practice guidelines (CPG) for otitis media in children with the goal of meeting regional medical and social needs in Korea. For this purpose, the committee adapted existing guidelines. A comprehensive literature review was carried out primarily from 2004 to 2009 using medical search engines including data from Korea. A draft was written after a national questionnaire survey and several public audits, and it was editorially supervised by senior advisors before publication of the final report. These evidence-based guidelines for the management of otitis media in children provide recommendations to primary practitioners for the diagnosis and treatment of children younger than 15 yr old with uncomplicated AOM and OME. The guidelines include recommendations regarding diagnosis, treatment options, prevention and parent education, medical records, referral, and complementary/alternative medicine for treating pediatric otitis media.
Age Factors ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Caregivers/education ; Child ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Fever ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Otitis Media/*diagnosis/drug therapy ; Otitis Media with Effusion/diagnosis/surgery ; Pneumococcal Infections/prevention & control ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Factors ; Vaccines, Conjugate/immunology

PURPOSE: Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) has been proposed as a new category of pneumonia. However, epidemiological studies for HCAP in South Korea are limited. This study aimed to reveal the differences between HCAP and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), especially in elderly patients, in university-affiliated hospital in South Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of patients with HCAP and CAP (older than 60 years old) who were hospitalized between January 2007 and December 2008. We compared the baseline characteristics, comorbidities, severity, pathogen distribution, antibiotics, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 210 patients were evaluated, including 35 patients with HCAP (17%) and 175 with CAP (83%). The most common causative organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae in CAP (33.3%), whereas, Staphylococcus aureus was most common pathogen in HCAP (40.0%). Initial inappropriate antibiotics (6.3% vs. 22.9%; p < 0.005) and initial treatment failure (15.4% vs. 31.4%; p = 0.018) were more frequent in HCAP than CAP. However, mortality (11.4% vs. 5.7%; p = 0.369) was not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The present study provides additional evidence that HCAP should be distinguished from CAP, even in elderly patients, in South Korea. Physicians should consider S. aureus and MDR pathogens in selecting initial empirical antibiotics of HCAP in South Korea.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use ; Community-Acquired Infections/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Cross Infection/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Female ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia, Bacterial/*diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Pneumonia, Pneumococcal/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Pneumonia, Staphylococcal/diagnosis/drug therapy ; Republic of Korea ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis has increased worldwide. There are some reports about postoperative antibiotic-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae infection after craniofacial surgery, but, there is no report in Korea. We present a report on the treatment of postoperative multidrug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae (MRSP) meningitis and sepsis after craniofacial surgery based on our experience. METHODS: The patient was a 7-year-old boy with Crouzon's disease who was treated by fronto-orbital bar advancement. Intraoperatively, frontal sinus opening was seen during osteotomy which was covered with forehead galeopericranial flap. MRSP meningitis was diagnosed after the surgery, he was treated with intravenous vancomycin, meropenem, and levofloxacin. RESULTS: The patient was treated successfully after 3 weeks of intravenous antibiotics treatement. During the 8 month follow-up period, there was no neurologic sequelae. CONCLUSION: Postoperative infection after craniofacial surgery is an important phenomenon that needs immediate recognition. Prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment immediate after onset are important as countermeasures against postoperative drug-resistant bacterial infection. To prevent adverse outcome and reoperation, proper antibiotics treatment should be performed.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Bacterial Infections ; Child ; Craniofacial Dysostosis ; Early Diagnosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forehead ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Korea ; Meningitis ; Meningitis, Pneumococcal ; Osteotomy ; Pneumococcal Infections ; Prevalence ; Reoperation ; Sepsis ; Streptococcus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Thienamycins ; Vancomycin

Adult ; Comorbidity ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Inpatients ; Male ; Pneumococcal Infections ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; isolation & purification ; Treatment Outcome

Developing Countries ; Humans ; Pneumococcal Infections ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Population Surveillance ; Streptococcus pneumoniae

We report a 43-yr-old man manifesting bacterial meningoencephalitis and multiple abscesses by Streptococcus pneumoniae. Serial magnetic resonance (MR) imagings and MR spectroscopy showed the evolution of multiple brain abscesses over 4 weeks: the enhanced rings became thicker and the dimension of whole lesions larger despite shrinkage of the ring-enhanced regions. These findings may be evidence of active inflammation working to sequestrate the lesion and protect the surrounding normal brain parenchyma from additional damage, even in the final stage of the brain abscess.
Brain Abscess/*diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Meningoencephalitis/*diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Pneumococcal Infections/*diagnosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed