Clinical characteristics of acute Q fever patients in South Korea and time from symptom onset to serologic diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: Acute Q fever usually presents as a nonspecific febrile illness, and its occurrence is rapidly increasing in South Korea. This study investigated the clinical characteristics of acute Q fever patients in South Korea and the time from symptom onset to serologic diagnosis. The clinical courses were examined according to antibiotic treatment. METHODS: Data of patients diagnosed with acute Q fever at Chungbuk National University Hospital between January 2015 and February 2018 were retrospectively collected. Demographic and epidemiologic data were reviewed. The time from symptom onset to serologic diagnosis by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) was analyzed. Clinical courses and the percentage of patients with a high phase I immunoglobulin G titer (≥ 1:1024) were compared between patients administered antibiotics with anti-Coxiella burnetii activity and patients not administered such antibiotics. RESULTS: Forty-eight patients (median age: 51.5 years) were included. Most were male (95.8%) and had no history of animal contact (91.7%). The median time from illness onset to serologic diagnosis was 21 days. Thirty-nine patients received antibiotics with anti-C. burnetii activity. The length of hospital stay and fever duration did not significantly differ between patients who received antibiotics with anti-C. burnetii activity (7 and 15 days) and those who did not (5 and 8 days) (P = 0.110 and P = 0.137, respectively). The percentage of patients with a high phase I immunoglobulin G titer (≥ 1:1024) did not significantly differ between patients who received antibiotics with anti-C. burnetii activity and those who did not (P = 0.340). CONCLUSIONS: Most acute Q fever patients had a nonspecific febrile illness with mild elevation of transaminases and no history of animal contact or occupational risk. The time from symptom onset to a positive IFA test was longer than the fever duration in most acute Q fever patients. Consequently, it may be difficult for clinicians to serologically diagnose acute Q fever. However, inappropriate antibiotic treatment was not associated with prolongation of symptoms or progression to chronic Q fever.

DRESS syndrome and acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis induced by antituberculosis medications and moxifloxacin: case report
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OBJECTIVE: To report a rare case of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome caused by antituberculosis (TB) drugs, which progressed to acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) after moxifloxacin treatment. CASE SUMMARY: A 25-year-old female was hospitalized for dyspnea and dizziness. She had a history of TB and experienced rifampin-induced skin rash. She was treated for TB with moxifloxacin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide. Upon admission, she had a fever of 39.2 °C, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and eosinophil count increased during the first 10 days after admission. The patient had a rash all over the body with itching, pain, and a burning sensation. Diagnosis of DRESS syndrome was made. Immunoglobulin and prednisolone administration improved the DRESS symptoms. After the first DRESS syndrome diagnosis, anti-TB medications were changed to isoniazid, ethambutol, pyrazinamide, cycloserine, and streptomycin, which also caused a skin rash, itching, and elevated AST/ALT levels, and eosinophil count. Then, the anti-TB treatment was changed to cycloserine, streptomycin, ethionamide, and para-aminosalicylic acid. The rash and itching persisted and eosinophil count increased further. All TB medications were discontinued except streptomycin. Due to the flushing and a burning sensation by streptomycin at the injection site, it was replaced with moxifloxacin. The patient experienced erythematous pustules and patches on skin with desquamation, fissures, and swelling. Therefore, a diagnosis of moxifloxacin-induced AGEP was made. CONCLUSION: DRESS syndrome induced by anti-TB drugs developed in a 25-year-old woman with moxifloxacin-related subsequent AGEP.
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Susceptibility of Escherichia coli from community-acquired urinary tract infection to fosfomycin, nitrofurantoin, and temocillin in Korea.

With increase of multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli in community-acquired urinary tract infections (CA-UTI), other treatment option with a therapeutic efficacy and a low antibiotic selective pressure is necessary. In this study, we evaluated in vitro susceptibility of E. coli isolates from CA-UTI to fosfomycin (FM), nitrofurantoin (NI), temocillin (TMO) as well as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (SMX), ciprofloxacin (CIP) and cefepime (FEP). The minimal inhibitory concentrations were determined by E-test or agar dilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines, using 346 E. coli collected in 12 Korean hospitals from March 2010 to February 2011. FM, NI and TMO showed an excellent susceptibility profile; FM 100% (346/346), TMO 96.8% (335/346), and NI 99.4% (344/346). Conversely, resistance rates of CIP and SMX were 22% (76/346) and 29.2% (101/349), respectively. FEP still retained an activity of 98.5%. In Korea, NI and TMO in addition to FM are a good therapeutic option for uncomplicated CA-UTI, especially for lower UTI.

Risk factors for surgical site infection after gastric surgery: a multicentre case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a potentially morbid and costly complication of surgery. We conducted a multicentre case-control study to determine the risk factors for SSI in patients undergoing gastric surgery and to establish strategies to reduce the risk of SSI. METHODS: Between January 2007 and December 2008, 121 patients who developed an SSI after gastric surgery were matched with controls who had undergone surgery on the dates closest to those of the cases, at 13 centres in Korea. RESULTS: The results of multivariate analyses showed that the independent risk factors for SSI after gastric surgery were older age (p = 0.016), higher body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.033), male gender (p = 0.047), and longer duration of prophylactic antibiotic use (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Older age, higher BMI, male gender, and longer duration of prophylactic antibiotic use were independently associated with significant increases in the risk of SSI. Additional prospective randomized studies are required to confirm these results.

The outcomes of using colistin for treating multidrug resistant Acinetobacter species bloodstream infections.

Despite the identification of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates that demonstrate susceptibility to only colistin, this antimicrobial agent was not available in Korea until 2006. The present study examined the outcomes of patients with multidrug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter species bloodstream infection and who were treated with or without colistin as part of their regimen. The colistin group was given colistin as part of therapy once colistin became available in 2006. The non-colistin group was derived from the patients who were treated with other antimicrobial regimens before 2006. Mortality within 30 days of the onset of bacteremia occurred for 11 of 31 patients in the colistin group and for 15 of 39 patients in the non-colistin group (35.5% vs 38.5%, respectively, P = 0.80). Renal dysfunction developed in 50.0% of the 20 evaluable patients in the colistin group, but in 28.6% of the 35 evaluable patients in the non-colistin group (P = 0.11). On multivariate analysis, only an Acute Physiological and Chronic Health Evaluation II score ≥ 21 was associated with mortality at 30 days. This result suggests that administering colistin, although it is the sole microbiologically appropriate agent, does not influence the 30 day mortality of patients with a MDR Acinetobacter spp. bloodstream infection.

Fluoroquinolone Can Be an Effective Treatment Option for Acute Pyelonephritis When the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration of Levofloxacin for the Causative Escherichia coli Is ≤16 mg/L.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the fluoroquinolone (FQ) minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for the causative agent Escherichia coli influences the clinical response of FQ treatment at 72 h in patients with community-acquired acute pyelonephritis (CA-APN). We prospectively collected the clinical data of women with CA-APN from 11 university hospitals from March 2010 to February 2012 as well as E. coli isolates from the urine or blood. In total, 78 patients included in this study received FQ during the initial 72 h, and the causative E. coli was detected. The clinical response at 72 h was significantly higher in patients with a levofloxacin MIC ≤ 16 mg/L than in those with an MIC > 16 mg/L (70.4% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.038). No difference was observed in clinical response at 72 h based on ciprofloxacin MIC. To summarize, FQ can be an effective treatment option for CA-APN when levofloxacin MIC against E. coli is ≤16 mg/L.

Clinical significance of spontaneous Aeromonas bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients: a matched case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Although Aeromonas species are known to cause bacteremia in patients with cirrhosis, less is known about spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) caused by Aeromonas species in these patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective, matched case-control study (1:2 ratio) consisting of patients presenting with SBP due to Aeromonas species from January 1997 through December 2006. Control subjects were patients with SBP caused by other organisms and were matched to the patients by age (+/- 1 year) and sex. RESULTS: We identified 43 patients with SBP due to Aeromonas species, 40 (93%) of whom had Aeromonas hydrophila infection and 3 (7%) of whom had Aeromonas sorbia infection. There were 81 control subjects, of whom 38 (47%) were infected with Escherichia coli, 25 (31%) were infected with Klebsiella species, 12 (15%) were infected with Streptococcus species, and 6 (7%) were infected with other bacteria. Baseline Child-Pugh class and model for end-stage liver disease score did not differ between groups. A significant increase in the incidence of infection during the warm season (July-September) was observed in the group with SBP due to Aeromonas species, compared with the group with SBP due to other bacteria (63% vs. 25%; P < .001). Diarrheal episodes were significantly more frequent in the group with SBP due to Aeromonas species (26% vs. 6%; P = .002). There were no statistically significant differences between groups with regard to appropriateness of initial antibiotic therapy,3-day mortality, and 30-day cumulative survival. In the group with Aeromonas infection, the in-hospital mortality rate was 23%; septic shock was the only independent prognostic factor of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio, 34.5;95% confidence interval, 1.9-640.6; P = .02). CONCLUSION: Aeromonas species should be considered to be a causative organism of SBP in cirrhotic patients presenting with diarrheal episodes during the warm season. Compared with SBP caused by other organisms, SBP due to Aeromonas species was not associated with more-advanced cirrhosis.

Usefulness of Blood Cultures and Radiologic Imaging Studies in the Management of Patients with Community-Acquired Acute Pyelonephritis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to examine the usefulness of blood cultures and radiologic imaging studies for developing therapeutic strategies in community-acquired acute pyelonephritis (CA-APN) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We prospectively collected the clinical data of CA-APN patients who visited 11 hospitals from March 2010 to February 2011. RESULTS: Positive urine and blood cultures were obtained in 69.3% (568/820) and 42.7% (277/648), respectively, of a total of 827 CA-APN patients. Blood culture identified the urinary pathogen in 60 of 645 (9.3%) patients for whom both urine and blood cultures were performed; the organisms isolated from urine were inconsistent with those from blood in 11 and only blood cultures were positive in 49 patients. Final clinical failure was more common in the bacteremic patients than the non-bacteremic ones (8.0% vs. 2.7%, P = 0.003), as was hospital mortality (3.6% vs. 0.3%, P = 0.003). Likewise, durations of hospitalization and fever were significantly longer. Bacteremia was independent risk factor for mortality (OR 9.290, 1.145-75.392, P = 0.037). With regard to radiologic studies, the detection rate of APN was 84.4% (445/527) by abdominal computed tomography and 40% (72/180) by abdominal ultrasonography. Eighty-one of 683 patients (11.9%) were found to have renal abscess, perinephric abscess, urolithiasis, hydronephorosis/hydroureter or emphysematous cystitis, which could potentially impact on clinical management. Patients with Pitt score ≥ 1, flank pain or azotemia were significantly more likely to have such structural abnormalities. CONCLUSION: Blood cultures are clinically useful for diagnosis of CA-APN, and bacteremia is predictive factor for hospital mortality. Early radiologic imaging studies should be considered for CA-APN patients with Pitt scores ≥1, flank pain or azotemia.

Comparison of the clinical characteristics of diabetic and non-diabetic women with community-acquired acute pyelonephritis: a multicenter study.

OBJECTIVES: Purpose of this study was to compare clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes in diabetic and non-diabetic women with community-acquired APN (CA-APN). METHODS: We prospectively collected and analyzed clinical data of women with CA-APN who attended 11 hospitals in South Korea from March 2010 to February 2012. RESULTS: Of a total of 775 patients, 246 (31.7%) were diabetic and 529 (68.3%) non-diabetic. Fewer of the diabetic patients had flank pain (27.6% vs. 37.2% P = 0.009), symptoms of lower urinary tract infection (57.3% vs. 69.6% P = 0.001) and costovertebral angle tenderness (54.9% vs. 72.2% P < 0.001). However, more of them had C-reactive protein ≥20 mg/dL (40.7% vs. 27.4% P < 0.001), azotemia (29.3% vs. 13.4% P < 0.001) and bacteremia (53.7% vs. 38.2% P < 0.001). Final clinical failure rates and deaths did not differ between the two groups: 6.9% vs. 4.5%, P = 0.169; 2.0% vs. 1.7%, P = 0.747. However, hospitalization was longer in the diabetics than the non-diabetics (median 9.0 days vs. 7.0 days, P < 0.001). In logistic regression, diabetes was independently associated with longer hospitalization (OR 1.7, CI 1.1-2.7, P = 0.011), together with nausea/vomiting, history of admission within 1 year, bacteremia, azotemia, and dementia, as well as extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-positivity and fluoroquinolone resistance of uropathogens. CONCLUSIONS: CA-APN patients with diabetes have more severe disease manifestations and require longer hospitalization than non-diabetic patients although their clinical findings are less clear than those of non-diabetic patients.

Epidemiology and clinical features of post-transplant bloodstream infection: an analysis of 222 consecutive liver transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in liver transplant (LT) recipients. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and clinical features of post-transplant BSI in LT recipients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microbiology, frequency, and outcome of post-transplant BSI in the first year after LT were retrospectively analyzed in 222 consecutive patients who had received liver transplants at a single center between 2005 and 2011. The risk factors for post-transplant BSI and death were evaluated. RESULTS: During a 1-year period after LT, 112 episodes of BSI occurred in 64 of the 222 patients (28.8%). A total of 135 microorganisms were isolated from 112 BSI episodes including 18 polymicrobial episodes. The median time to BSI onset ranged from 8 days for Klebsiella pneumoniae to 101 days for enterococci, and the overall median for all microorganisms was 28 days. The most frequent pathogens were Enterobacteriaceae members (32.5%), enterococci (17.8%), yeasts (14.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (10.3%), and Acinetobacter baumannii (10.3%); most of them showed resistance to major antibiotics. The major sources of BSI were biliary tract (36.2%), abdominal and/or wound (28.1%), and intravascular catheter (18.5%) infections. The independent risk factors for post-transplant BSI were biliary complications (odds ratio [OR]: 2.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29 to 6.59, P = 0.010) and longer hospitalization in the intensive care unit (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.08, P < 0.001) after LT. BSI was an independent risk factor for death (hazard ratio [HR]: 3.92, 95% CI: 2.22 to 6.91, P < 0.001), with a poorer survival rate observed in patients with BSI than in those without BSI (1-year survival rate: 60.0% versus 89.5%, respectively, P < 0.001) after LT. The strongest predictors for death in patients with BSI were hepatocellular carcinoma (HR: 3.82, 95% CI: 1.57 to 9.32, P = 0.003), candidemia (HR: 3.71, 95% CI: 1.58 to 8.71, P = 0.003), polymicrobial bacteremia (HR: 3.18, 95% CI: 1.39 to 7.28, P = 0.006), and post-transplant hemodialysis (HR: 2.44, 95% CI: 1.02 to 5.84, P = 0.044). CONCLUSIONS: BSI was a frequent post-transplant complication, and most of the causative pathogens were multi-drug resistant. Biliary complications and BSIs resulting from biliary infection are major problems for LT recipients. The prevention of BSI and biliary complications is critical in improving prognosis in liver transplant recipients.

Incidence and risk factors for surgical site infection after gastric surgery: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a potentially morbid and costly complication of surgery. While gastrointestinal surgery is relatively common in Korea, few studies have evaluated SSI in the context of gastric surgery. Thus, we performed a prospective cohort study to determine the incidence and risk factors of SSI in Korean patients undergoing gastric surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 2,091 patients who underwent gastric surgery was performed in 10 hospitals with more than 500 beds (nine tertiary hospitals and one secondary hospital). Patients were recruited from an SSI surveillance program between June 1, 2010, and August 31, 2011 and followed up for 1 month after the operation. The criteria used to define SSI and a patient's risk index category were established according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System. We collected demographic data and potential perioperative risk factors including type and duration of the operation and physical status score in patients who developed SSIs based on a previous study protocol. RESULTS: A total of 71 SSIs (3.3%) were identified, with hospital rates varying from 0.0 - 15.7%. The results of multivariate analyses indicated that prolonged operation time (P = 0.002), use of a razor for preoperative hair removal (P = 0.010), and absence of laminar flow in the operating room (P = 0.024) were independent risk factors for SSI after gastric surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Longer operation times, razor use, and absence of laminar flow in operating rooms were independently associated with significant increased SSI risk after gastric surgery.

Change of antimicrobial susceptibility among Escherichia coli strains isolated from female patients with community-onset acute pyelonephritis.

PURPOSE: There is a concern on which antimicrobials are appropriate as empirical agents for community-onset acute pyelonephritis (APN) in regions where the fluoroquinolone resistance rate is high, such as in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and two strains of E. coli in 2001-2002 and 349 strains in 2008-2009 were isolated from the urine cultures of female adult APN patients, and the antimicrobial susceptibility was compared according to each study period. All the patients were classified as uncomplicated or complicated APN, and a subgroup analysis was done thereafter. RESULTS: The E. coli strains isolated in 2008-2009 showed improved susceptibility to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole compared to those isolated in 2001-2002. However, the third generation cephalosporin and gentamicin susceptibility was worsened. Of the 232 isolates from the uncomplicated APN patients, there was no difference between the two different time periods. On the other hand, of the 419 isolates from the complicated APN patients, the susceptibility to third generation cephalosporin, gentamicin and ciprofloxacin was significantly worsened. CONCLUSION: The antimicrobial susceptibility of E. coli changed over the study period, however, this change occurred mainly in the complicated APN patients. In Korea, ciprofloxacin is still useful as an empirical agent for uncomplicated APN patients, but this is not the case for patients with complicated APN because of high resistance rate to ciprofloxacin in these patients. For the complicated APN patients, the rate of resistance to ciprofloxacin is already more than 30%.

Fluoroquinolone resistance in uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis: epidemiology and clinical impact.

The objectives of this study were to investigate antibiotic resistance in urinary pathogens from Korean patients with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis (UAPN), and to determine the effect of fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance on clinical outcome in those patients with UAPN initially treated with FQ. Clinical and microbiologic data for all the APN patients attending 14 hospitals in South Korea in 2008 were collected retrospectively. Urinary pathogens were identified in 719 cases, and Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen (661/719, 91.9%). Antibiotic susceptibilities to several E. coli antibiotics were as follows: ciprofloxacin, 84.1%; trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazola (TMP-SMX), 67.2%; and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-negative, 92.4%. FQ was the most frequent antibiotic prescribed for UAPN (45.3% intravenously and 53.9% by mouth). We compared clinical outcomes and hospital days in patients with FQ-resistant (32) and FQ-sensitive E. coli (173) who received FQ as initial empirical therapy. Clinical cure was higher in the FQ-sensitive group (78% vs. 91%, p=0.027), and hospital days were longer in the FQ-resistant group (9.6±5.5 days vs. 7±3.5 days, p=0.001). In conclusion, FQ-sensitivity of E. coli from UAPN was 84.1%. FQ treatment of UAPN caused by FQ-resistant E. coli has a lower cure rate and involves longer hospital stay than FQ treatment of cases caused by FQ-sensitive E. coli.

Vancomycin-associated spontaneous cutaneous adverse drug reactions.

PURPOSE: With the increase in vancomycin use, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with vancomycin have been reported increasingly more often. However, the characteristics of cutaneous ADRs with and without systemic reactions (SRs) have not been described. This study investigated the characteristics of spontaneously reported and assessed ADRs associated with vancomycin by a pharmacovigilance center. METHODS: ADRs (n=121) associated with vancomycin in 96 patients were collected from 2008 to 2009. Records from physician- and nurse-reported suspected cases of vancomycin ADRs, ADR type, latent period, and laboratory results were compared between cutaneous ADRs with and without SRs. RESULTS: The main vancomycin-related ADRs were skin rashes (47.9%), hematologic abnormalities (17.36%), fever (12.4%), and elevated serum creatinine (12.4%). Significant differences were observed in latent period (days) and the mean change in eosinophils (%) between cutaneous (9.21±9.71 and 1.4±3.4, respectively) and other ADRs (14.03±11.71 and -0.5±3.5, respectively). Twelve cases of cutaneous ADRs with SRs had been initially reported as cutaneous ADRs only. Mean changes in the eosinophil count were significantly higher for cutaneous ADRs with SRs compared to those without SRs. CONCLUSIONS: Skin rashes accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia, representing suspected immune-mediated delayed hypersensitivity reactions, are a common vancomycin ADR. For the early and exact detection of ADRs associated with vancomycin administration, close monitoring of laboratory tests, including complete blood counts with differential analysis, is recommended.

Long journey of sclerosant from the esophagus to the right atrium.

A 34-year-old man, who had been treated with an endoscopic injection of a mixture of n-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl) and Lipiodol for control of variceal bleeding 6 months previously, presented with an intracardiac mass in the right atrium (RA). Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed an intracardiac mass in the RA that appeared to extend from the inferior vena cava. The origin of the sclerosant was traced by computed tomography (CT). This is a very rare case in which the sclerosant migration route was demonstrated by CT scan. The findings of this case suggest that the systemic migration of sclerosant into an intracardiac chamber should be considered in patients with an intracardiac mass, especially with a history of previous sclerotherapy for variceal bleeding.

The clinical significance of concurrent Staphylococcus aureus bacteriuria in patients with S. aureus bacteremia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of Staphylococcus aureus bacteriuria (SABU) in patients with S. aureus bacteremia (SAB). METHODS: We reviewed clinical data for 203 patients with SAB from January 2006 to July 2007 in a tertiary care hospital. In all patients, blood and urine cultures were performed concurrently. Among these cases, we compared clinical data between patients with and without SABU. To rule out mere colonization of S. aureus through indwelling urinary catheters (IDUC), we excluded patients using IDUC and then repeated the analyses. RESULTS: Concurrent SABU was observed in 31 of 203 patients (15.3%). In patients without an IDUC, 25 of 128 (19.5%) were positive for SABU. Concurrent SABU was associated with methicillin-susceptible, community-onset SAB, urinary tract obstruction/surgery, urinary tract infection, and vertebral osteomyelitis in patients with SAB. In patients without an IDUC, methicillin-susceptible SAB, urinary tract obstruction, urinary tract infection, and vertebral osteomyelitis were associated with concurrent SABU. Finally, concurrent SABU was not associated with the severity and fatality of SAB. CONCLUSION: We found that SABU was not a result of colonization via IDUC, but instead is a frequent concomitant of SAB. In septic conditions, especially without IDUC, SABU may indicate SAB with foci of infection in the urinary tract or the vertebral column.

Functional magnetic resonance image finding of cortical activation by neuromuscular electrical stimulation on wrist extensor muscles.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects that neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the wrist extensor muscles have on the cerebral cortex. DESIGN: A functional magnetic resonance imaging study was performed on eight normal volunteers. The activation task was the maximum wrist extension by neuromuscular electrical stimulation, applied through a two-channel electrical stimulator. Monophasic square-wave pulses were used. The activation maps were generated by the threshold test maps. The level of primary motor cortex and primary sensory cortex activations was estimated. RESULTS: Among the eight subjects, seven showed significant activation on contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex by neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the wrist extensor muscles. In these seven subjects, additional bilateral or contralateral supplementary motor area activations were also observed. The number of activated pixels on the primary sensory cortex was slightly greater than that on the primary motor cortex. CONCLUSION: Neuromuscular electrical stimulation, when applied to the peripheral muscles, seems to have a direct effect on the cerebral cortex.