OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the agreement of disease status collected through a survey of the Korean Atomic Bomb Survivor Cohort (K-ABC), compared with medical claim records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database and the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). METHODS: Data on the lifetime physician-diagnosed morbidities of 1,215 K-ABC participants were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire between 2020 and 2022. Survey data were linked to the NHIS and KCCR databases. Eleven diseases were included for validation. We evaluated the following indicators: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, the area under the curve, and the kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The mean±standard deviation age was 62.1±18.7 years, and 42.6% of the participants were aged ≥70 years. Hypertension and cataracts showed the highest prevalence rates (33.8 and 28.8%, respectively). Hypertension, diabetes, and cancer demonstrated high sensitivity (>0.8) and specificity (>0.9), whereas diabetes, cancer, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and asthma exhibited high accuracy (>0.9). In contrast, arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma showed low sensitivity (<0.4) and kappa values (<0.3). In the participants aged ≥70 years, the kappa value was ≥0.4 for all diseases except arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. CONCLUSIONS The results from this initial analysis showed relatively high agreement between the survey and NHIS/KCCR databases, especially for hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Our findings suggest that the information on morbidities collected through the questionnaires in this cohort was valid for both younger and older individuals.

Background: Single room isolation with contact precautions is widely regarded as a fundamental strategy to prevent the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, its implementation demands substantial resources, limiting its universal application to all MDROs. In this study, we assessed the effect of discontinuing single room isolation for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study conducted at a single 750-bed tertiary center. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to compare incidence rates and trends of new-onset VRE colonization and bacteremia during the one year before and after the strategy change on January 1, 2023. Results: Single-room occupancy decreased from 79.7% pre-intervention to 23.6% postintervention (P < 0.001). The incidence rate of new-onset VRE colonization was 0.452 and 0.535 per 1,000 patient-days in the pre- and post-intervention periods, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.202). However, there was a slightly increasing trend (0.036 [95% confidence interval, −0.002, 0.074] increase per month, P = 0.066). The new-onset VRE bacteremia incidence rate was not differed in incidence (0.060 and 0.055, P= 0.571) or trend (P = 0.720). Conclusion Our study suggests that discontinuing single-room isolation for VRE patients may not affect the incidence of new-onset VRE bacteremia, but caution is needed due to the potential increase in colonization.

Background: Single room isolation with contact precautions is widely regarded as a fundamental strategy to prevent the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, its implementation demands substantial resources, limiting its universal application to all MDROs. In this study, we assessed the effect of discontinuing single room isolation for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study conducted at a single 750-bed tertiary center. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to compare incidence rates and trends of new-onset VRE colonization and bacteremia during the one year before and after the strategy change on January 1, 2023. Results: Single-room occupancy decreased from 79.7% pre-intervention to 23.6% postintervention (P < 0.001). The incidence rate of new-onset VRE colonization was 0.452 and 0.535 per 1,000 patient-days in the pre- and post-intervention periods, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.202). However, there was a slightly increasing trend (0.036 [95% confidence interval, −0.002, 0.074] increase per month, P = 0.066). The new-onset VRE bacteremia incidence rate was not differed in incidence (0.060 and 0.055, P= 0.571) or trend (P = 0.720). Conclusion Our study suggests that discontinuing single-room isolation for VRE patients may not affect the incidence of new-onset VRE bacteremia, but caution is needed due to the potential increase in colonization.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the agreement of disease status collected through a survey of the Korean Atomic Bomb Survivor Cohort (K-ABC), compared with medical claim records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database and the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). METHODS: Data on the lifetime physician-diagnosed morbidities of 1,215 K-ABC participants were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire between 2020 and 2022. Survey data were linked to the NHIS and KCCR databases. Eleven diseases were included for validation. We evaluated the following indicators: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, the area under the curve, and the kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The mean±standard deviation age was 62.1±18.7 years, and 42.6% of the participants were aged ≥70 years. Hypertension and cataracts showed the highest prevalence rates (33.8 and 28.8%, respectively). Hypertension, diabetes, and cancer demonstrated high sensitivity (>0.8) and specificity (>0.9), whereas diabetes, cancer, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and asthma exhibited high accuracy (>0.9). In contrast, arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma showed low sensitivity (<0.4) and kappa values (<0.3). In the participants aged ≥70 years, the kappa value was ≥0.4 for all diseases except arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. CONCLUSIONS The results from this initial analysis showed relatively high agreement between the survey and NHIS/KCCR databases, especially for hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Our findings suggest that the information on morbidities collected through the questionnaires in this cohort was valid for both younger and older individuals.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the agreement of disease status collected through a survey of the Korean Atomic Bomb Survivor Cohort (K-ABC), compared with medical claim records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database and the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). METHODS: Data on the lifetime physician-diagnosed morbidities of 1,215 K-ABC participants were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire between 2020 and 2022. Survey data were linked to the NHIS and KCCR databases. Eleven diseases were included for validation. We evaluated the following indicators: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, the area under the curve, and the kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The mean±standard deviation age was 62.1±18.7 years, and 42.6% of the participants were aged ≥70 years. Hypertension and cataracts showed the highest prevalence rates (33.8 and 28.8%, respectively). Hypertension, diabetes, and cancer demonstrated high sensitivity (>0.8) and specificity (>0.9), whereas diabetes, cancer, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and asthma exhibited high accuracy (>0.9). In contrast, arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma showed low sensitivity (<0.4) and kappa values (<0.3). In the participants aged ≥70 years, the kappa value was ≥0.4 for all diseases except arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. CONCLUSIONS The results from this initial analysis showed relatively high agreement between the survey and NHIS/KCCR databases, especially for hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Our findings suggest that the information on morbidities collected through the questionnaires in this cohort was valid for both younger and older individuals.

Background: Single room isolation with contact precautions is widely regarded as a fundamental strategy to prevent the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, its implementation demands substantial resources, limiting its universal application to all MDROs. In this study, we assessed the effect of discontinuing single room isolation for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study conducted at a single 750-bed tertiary center. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to compare incidence rates and trends of new-onset VRE colonization and bacteremia during the one year before and after the strategy change on January 1, 2023. Results: Single-room occupancy decreased from 79.7% pre-intervention to 23.6% postintervention (P < 0.001). The incidence rate of new-onset VRE colonization was 0.452 and 0.535 per 1,000 patient-days in the pre- and post-intervention periods, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.202). However, there was a slightly increasing trend (0.036 [95% confidence interval, −0.002, 0.074] increase per month, P = 0.066). The new-onset VRE bacteremia incidence rate was not differed in incidence (0.060 and 0.055, P= 0.571) or trend (P = 0.720). Conclusion Our study suggests that discontinuing single-room isolation for VRE patients may not affect the incidence of new-onset VRE bacteremia, but caution is needed due to the potential increase in colonization.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the agreement of disease status collected through a survey of the Korean Atomic Bomb Survivor Cohort (K-ABC), compared with medical claim records from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database and the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). METHODS: Data on the lifetime physician-diagnosed morbidities of 1,215 K-ABC participants were collected through an interviewer-administered questionnaire between 2020 and 2022. Survey data were linked to the NHIS and KCCR databases. Eleven diseases were included for validation. We evaluated the following indicators: sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, the area under the curve, and the kappa coefficient. RESULTS: The mean±standard deviation age was 62.1±18.7 years, and 42.6% of the participants were aged ≥70 years. Hypertension and cataracts showed the highest prevalence rates (33.8 and 28.8%, respectively). Hypertension, diabetes, and cancer demonstrated high sensitivity (>0.8) and specificity (>0.9), whereas diabetes, cancer, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, and asthma exhibited high accuracy (>0.9). In contrast, arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma showed low sensitivity (<0.4) and kappa values (<0.3). In the participants aged ≥70 years, the kappa value was ≥0.4 for all diseases except arthritis, allergic rhinitis, and asthma. CONCLUSIONS The results from this initial analysis showed relatively high agreement between the survey and NHIS/KCCR databases, especially for hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. Our findings suggest that the information on morbidities collected through the questionnaires in this cohort was valid for both younger and older individuals.

Background: Single room isolation with contact precautions is widely regarded as a fundamental strategy to prevent the transmission of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). However, its implementation demands substantial resources, limiting its universal application to all MDROs. In this study, we assessed the effect of discontinuing single room isolation for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE). Methods: This is a retrospective, observational study conducted at a single 750-bed tertiary center. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis to compare incidence rates and trends of new-onset VRE colonization and bacteremia during the one year before and after the strategy change on January 1, 2023. Results: Single-room occupancy decreased from 79.7% pre-intervention to 23.6% postintervention (P < 0.001). The incidence rate of new-onset VRE colonization was 0.452 and 0.535 per 1,000 patient-days in the pre- and post-intervention periods, respectively, with no statistically significant difference (P = 0.202). However, there was a slightly increasing trend (0.036 [95% confidence interval, −0.002, 0.074] increase per month, P = 0.066). The new-onset VRE bacteremia incidence rate was not differed in incidence (0.060 and 0.055, P= 0.571) or trend (P = 0.720). Conclusion Our study suggests that discontinuing single-room isolation for VRE patients may not affect the incidence of new-onset VRE bacteremia, but caution is needed due to the potential increase in colonization.

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.

Purpose: Due to the shortage of lung donors relative to the number of patients waiting for lung transplantation (LTx), more than one-third of patients on the waitlist have died without receiving LTx in Korea. Therefore, the importance of fair and effective allocation policies has been emphasized. This study investigated the characteristics of the current urgency-based allocation system in Korea by simulating the Eurotransplant lung allocation score (ET-LAS) using a nationwide multi-institutional registry for LTx in Korea. Materials and Methods: This study used data from the Korean Organ Transplantation Registry (KOTRY), along with additional retrospective data for ET-LAS calculation. A total of 194 patients were included in this study between January 2015 and December 2019. The Korean urgency definition classifies an LTx candidate as having statuses 0–3 according to urgency. The ET-LAS was analyzed according to the Korean urgency status. Results: In total, 92 patients received lung transplants at status 0, 85 at status 1, and 17 at status 2/3. The ET-LAS showed a bimodal distribution with distinct peaks corresponding to status 0 and non-status 0. There was no significant difference in the ET-LAS among non-status 0 patients. In logistic and decision tree analyses, oxygen supplementation methods, particularly oxygen masks and high-flow nasal cannulas, were significantly associated with a high ET-LAS (≥50) among non-status 0 patients. Conclusion Simulation of the ET-LAS with KOTRY data showed that the Korean urgency definition may not allocate lungs by urgency, especially for patients in non-status 0; therefore, it needs to be revised.