Impact of Nonpharmacological Interventions on Severe Acute Respiratory Infections in Children: From

Background@#Nonpharmacological interventions (NPIs) reduce the incidence of respiratory infections. After NPIs imposed during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic ceased, respiratory infections gradually increased worldwide. However, few studies have been conducted on severe respiratory infections requiring hospitalization in pediatric patients.This study compares epidemiological changes in severe respiratory infections during pre-NPI, NPI, and post-NPI periods in order to evaluate the effect of that NPI on severe respiratory infections in children. @*Methods@#We retrospectively studied data collected at 13 Korean sentinel sites from January 2018 to October 2022 that were lodged in the national Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARIs) surveillance database. @*Results@#A total of 9,631 pediatric patients were admitted with SARIs during the pre-NPI period, 579 during the NPI period, and 1,580 during the post-NPI period. During the NPI period, the number of pediatric patients hospitalized with severe respiratory infections decreased dramatically, thus from 72.1 per 1,000 to 6.6 per 1,000. However, after NPIs ceased, the number increased to 22.8 per 1,000. During the post-NPI period, the positive test rate increased to the level noted before the pandemic. @*Conclusion@#Strict NPIs including school and daycare center closures effectively reduced severe respiratory infections requiring hospitalization of children. However, childcare was severely compromised. To prepare for future respiratory infections, there is a need to develop a social consensus on NPIs that are appropriate for children.

Prevalence of Major Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clones in Korea Between 2001 and 2008

BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are important pathogens causing nosocomial infections in Korean hospitals. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological and genetic diversity of clinical S. aureus isolates in healthcare settings from 2001 to 2008. METHODS: Samples and data were obtained from 986 individuals as part of the National Antimicrobial Surveillance Project, involving 10 regions nationwide. Molecular typing studies, including multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) typing were performed, and a representative clone of Korean MRSA was classified by combinational grouping using a DiversiLab (DL; bioMérieux, France) repetitive element polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) system. RESULTS: Nine Korean MRSA clones (KMRSA-1 to -9) were identified by analysis of genetic backgrounds and molecular characteristics. KMRSA-1 to -3, expressing clonal complex (CC) 5 (carrying SCCmec II), CC8 (carrying SCCmec III), and CC72 (carrying SCCmec IV) were spread nationwide. In contrast, KMRSA-6 was highly prevalent in Gyeongsangnam-do, and KMRSA-4 was highly prevalent in Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemic KMRSA clones were genetically similar to major clones identified from the USA, with the exception of KMRSA-2, which had the SCCmec III type. Our results provide important insights into the distribution and molecular genetics of MRSA strains in Korea and may aid in the monitoring of MRSA spread throughout the country.

Distribution of Genes Encoding Aminoglycoside Modifying Enzymes and Type Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassette mec in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Non-tertiary Hospitals / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Many genes encoding aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (AMEs) on transposon or plasmid were transferred from one strain to another strain and inserted into a staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec). There are very diverse subtypes in SCCmec type to the insertion of resistant genes. Therefore, we researched the resistance rates of antibiotics and distribution of AME genes according to SCCmec type in MRSA strains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We isolated 640 Staphylococcus aureus from non-tertiary hospitals in 2004, detected mecA, aac(6')-aph(2"), aph(3')-IIIa, and ant(4')-Ia using the multiplex PCR method, tested antibacterial susceptibility disk diffusion and minimal inhibitory concentration, and determined SCCmec type. RESULTS: Of 640 S. aureus isolates, MRSA rate was 39.7% and all MRSA isolates carried mecA gene. Among 214 MRSA selected, aminoglycoside-resistant rates were 98.1% in kanamycin and tobramycin, 68.7% in gentamicin, 30.8% in amikacin, and 2.8% in netilmicin. The detection rates for aac(6')-aph(2"), aph(3')-IIIa, and ant(4')-Ia were 77.1%, 13.1%, and 53.3%, respectively. Also, SCCmec type was 50.9% in SCCmec type II, 16.4% in type III, and 32.7% in type IV. The genes encoding AMEs were distributed aac(6')-aph(2") (49.5%) and aac(6')-aph(2")/ant(4')-Ia (36.7%) in SCCmec type II, aph(3')-IIIa/aac(6')-aph(2") (60%) and aac(6')-aph(2") (31.4%) in type III, and aac(6')-aph(2")/ant(4')-Ia (41.4%) and ant(4')-Ia (50%) in type IV. CONCLUSION: 39.7% of S. aureus isolated from non-tertiary hospitals was resistant to methicillin. More than 90% of MRSA isolates were detected aac(6')-aph(2") in SCCmec type II and III, and ant(4')-Ia in type IV. With these results, the genes encoding AMEs may be closed related to SCCmec type.

Distribution of Genes Encoding Aminoglycoside Modifying Enzymes and Type Staphylococcal Chromosomal Cassette mec in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Non-tertiary Hospitals / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Many genes encoding aminoglycoside modifying enzymes (AMEs) on transposon or plasmid were transferred from one strain to another strain and inserted into a staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec). There are very diverse subtypes in SCCmec type to the insertion of resistant genes. Therefore, we researched the resistance rates of antibiotics and distribution of AME genes according to SCCmec type in MRSA strains. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We isolated 640 Staphylococcus aureus from non-tertiary hospitals in 2004, detected mecA, aac(6')-aph(2"), aph(3')-IIIa, and ant(4')-Ia using the multiplex PCR method, tested antibacterial susceptibility disk diffusion and minimal inhibitory concentration, and determined SCCmec type. RESULTS: Of 640 S. aureus isolates, MRSA rate was 39.7% and all MRSA isolates carried mecA gene. Among 214 MRSA selected, aminoglycoside-resistant rates were 98.1% in kanamycin and tobramycin, 68.7% in gentamicin, 30.8% in amikacin, and 2.8% in netilmicin. The detection rates for aac(6')-aph(2"), aph(3')-IIIa, and ant(4')-Ia were 77.1%, 13.1%, and 53.3%, respectively. Also, SCCmec type was 50.9% in SCCmec type II, 16.4% in type III, and 32.7% in type IV. The genes encoding AMEs were distributed aac(6')-aph(2") (49.5%) and aac(6')-aph(2")/ant(4')-Ia (36.7%) in SCCmec type II, aph(3')-IIIa/aac(6')-aph(2") (60%) and aac(6')-aph(2") (31.4%) in type III, and aac(6')-aph(2")/ant(4')-Ia (41.4%) and ant(4')-Ia (50%) in type IV. CONCLUSION: 39.7% of S. aureus isolated from non-tertiary hospitals was resistant to methicillin. More than 90% of MRSA isolates were detected aac(6')-aph(2") in SCCmec type II and III, and ant(4')-Ia in type IV. With these results, the genes encoding AMEs may be closed related to SCCmec type.