Infectivity of Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Prospective Cohort Study in the Korean Metropolitan Area.

BACKGROUND: Although several characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an ongoing pandemic disease, have been identified, data on the infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are limited. METHODS: This prospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 based on data of all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction test from January to April 2020 in Gyeonggi-do, the largest province in Korea. RESULTS: Of the 502 patients, 298 consisting of 106 clusters with 5,909 contacts were included. Of these, 277 (93.0%) were symptomatic, and the most common symptoms were cough, fever, sputum, sore throat, and headache. A total of 94 patients (31.5%) had pneumonia, while 8 (2.7%) died during the follow-up period. The secondary attack rate (SAR) in the study population was 3.5% (204/5,909). In exposure settings, the SAR was higher in religious gathering (13.5% [95% confidence interval, 10.7-16.8%]), workplaces (8.49% [95% CI, 6.08-11.74%]), and schools (6.38% [95% CI, 3.39-11.69%]) than in health care facilities (1.92% [95% CI, 1.45-2.55%]). Sore throat at any period, dyspnea at diagnosis or any period, lower cycle threshold value in the lower respiratory tract samples, leukocytosis, and higher bilirubin levels were associated with higher infectivity of COVID-19. The presence of symptoms was not related to the infectivity. CONCLUSION: In establishing the infection control strategies for COVID-19, the variables associated with high infectivity may be considered.

Clinical and Laboratory Factors Associated with Symptom Development in Asymptomatic COVID-19 Patients at the Time of Diagnosis.

In preparation for the surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), it is crucial to allocate medical resources efficiently for distinguishing people who remain asymptomatic until the end of the disease. Between January 27, 2020, and April 21, 2020, 517 COVID-19 cases from 13 healthcare facilities in Gyeonggi province, Korea, were identified out of which the epidemiologic and clinical information of 66 asymptomatic patients at the time of diagnosis were analyzed retrospectively. An exposure-diagnosis interval within 7 days and abnormal aspartate aminotransferase levels were identified as characteristic symptom development in asymptomatic COVID-19 patients. If asymptomatic patients without these characteristics at the time of diagnosis could be differentiated early, more medical resources could be secured for mild or moderate cases in this COVID-19 surge.

The Development and Operation of a Home Management System during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experience of the Local Government Gyeonggi-do in Korea.

During the three the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surges in South Korea, there was a shortage of hospital beds for COVID-19 patients, and as a result, there were cases of death while waiting for hospitalization. To minimize the risk of death and to allow those confirmed with COVID-19 to safely wait for hospitalization at home, the local government of Gyeonggi-do in South Korea developed a novel home management system (HMS). The HMS team, comprised of doctors and nurses, was organized to operate HMS. HMS provided a two-way channel for the taskforce and patients to monitor the severity of patient's condition and to provide healthcare counseling as needed. In addition, the HMS team cooperated with a triage/bed assignment team to expedite the response in case of an emergency, and managed a database of severity for real-time monitoring of patients. The HMS became operational for the first time in August 2020, initially managing only 181 patients; it currently manages a total of 3,707 patients. The HMS supplemented the government's COVID-19 confirmed case management framework by managing patients waiting at home for hospitalization due to lack of hospital and residential treatment center beds. HMS also could contribute a sense of psychological stability in patients and prevented the situation from worsening by efficient management of hospital beds and reduction of workloads on public healthcare centers. To stabilize and improve the management of COVID-19 confirmed cases, governments should organically develop self-treatment and HMS, and implement a decisive division of roles within the local governments.

Molecular Epidemiology of Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Escherichia coli Isolated from Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infections in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli is the predominant causative pathogen for community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs), and the increase in fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli is of great concern in Korea. The objectives of this study were to investigate the genotypic characteristics and molecular epidemiology of ciprofloxacin-resistant (CIP-R) E. coli isolated from community-acquired UTIs in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: E. coli samples isolated from the blood or urine were collected from patients with community-acquired acute pyelonephritis aged 15 years and more who were admitted to 12 Korean hospitals from 1st April 2010 to 29th February 2012. Phylogenetic typing, multilocus sequence typing, and molecular characterization of ß-lactamase and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants were performed for CIP-R E. coli isolates. RESULTS: A total of 569 E. coli isolates were collected, and 122 (21.4%) isolates were CIP-R isolates. The most prevalent sequence type (ST) was ST131 (28.7%, 35/122), followed by ST393 (14.7%, 18/122), ST1193 (13.1%, 16/122), ST38 (9.0%, 11/122), and ST405 (8.2%, 10/122). The antimicrobial resistance rates of ST131 to cefepime (22.9%, 8/35), ST38 to gentamicin (100%, 11/11), and ST405 to cefotaxime (66.7%, 6/9) were significantly higher than the resistance rates of all other STs combined. Notably, 40% (4/10) of ST405 clones produced extended-spectrum ß-lactamases and were co-resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. aac(6')-1b-cr (20%, 7/35) and CTX-M-14 (40%, 4/10) were more frequently observed in ST131 and ST405 compared with other clones, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among the CIP-R uropathogenic E. coli isolates in this study, ST131, ST38, and ST405 were specifically associated with antimicrobial resistance.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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%.

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.

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.

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.