A Case of Haemophilus parainfluenzae Endocarditis / 대한임상미생물학회지

The HACEK group of bacteria (Haemophilus parainfluenzae, H. aphrophilus, H. paraphrophilus, Actinobacilus actinomycetemcomitans, Cardiobacterium hominis, Eikenella corodens, and Kingella kingae) are the normal flora of the upper respiratory tract and oropharynx. The organisms infect abnormal cardiac valves, causing subacute native endocarditis or prosthetic valve endocarditis more than one year after valve surgery. Haemophilus species are responsible for only 0.5~1% of all infective endocarditis cases. Embolization occurs in 60% and the mortality rate ranges from 16~45% of cases of infective endocarditis caused by H. parainfluenzae. We experienced a case of infective endocarditis due to H. parainfluenzae in a 37-year-old male admitted with high fever, chills, nausea & vomiting, chest discomfort, and blurred vision. The organism was isolated from a blood culture and was identified as H. parainfluenzae by factor V requirement, negativity at urea, positivity at ornithine decarboxylase, and acid production from glucose and maltose. The patient was treated with antibiotics and symptoms and signs were improved

Evaluation of the DG Gel System using the Microtube Column Agglutination Technique for Antibody Screening and Identification / 대한수혈학회지

BACKGROUND: For the antibody screening test, the classical LISS tube indirect antiglobulin test has been replaced by the microtube column agglutination system in Korea. This system was first created in 1990 by Lapierre and it is distributed through DiaMed (DiaMed Ag, Cresssier, Morat, Switzerland) around the world. Similar systems, such as Ortho BioVue, have been developed and competed after that. We evaluated a newly developed microtube column agglutination system, DG Gel (Diagnostic Grifols, Barcelona, Spain), and we compare it with the other established systems. METHODS: In a comparative study, a total of 126 samples, including 76 antibody screening positive samples and 50 negative samples, were tested in parallel by the LISS/Coombs card (DiaMed Ag, Cresssier, Morat, Switzerland) and the DG Gel microtube column agglutination system. The positive samples that were proved by the LISS/Coombs card and the DG Gel system were identified by the ID-Dia panel (DiaMed Ag, Cresssier, Morat, Switzerland) and Identisera Diana (Diagnostic Grifols, Barcelona, Spain). Discrepant samples were rechecked with I, II and III cells that were supplied by the panel of the Korea Red Cross Blood Center. RESULTS: Among the 126 samples, the DG Gel antibody screening system showed 98.7% (75/76) sensitivity and 100% (50/50) specificity. We obtained concordant results in 75 samples (98.7%) and discrepant results in one sample (1.32%) between the DG Gel and DiaMed-ID for antibody identification. CONCLUSION: Both the microtube column agglutination systems work well and showed high estimated sensitivity and specificity with high concordance. Therefore, the DG gel microtube column agglutination system can be used with good results.

Epidemiology of Respiratory Viral Infection in 2004-2006 / 대한진단검사의학회지

BACKGROUND: The information on the incidence, seasonal variation and clinical pattern of respiratory virus infections is very important for clinicians in managing their patients. This study was aimed to define the epidemiology of respiratory viral pathogens in Seoul and the neighboring areas from March 2004 to February 2006. METHODS: A total of 6,533 specimens were cultured for respiratory viruses during the study period. Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK), LLC-MK2, and HEp-2 cells, or R-mix cells (Diagnostic Hybrids Inc., Athens, Ohio, USA) were used for culture. Influenza virus types A & B (Inf A & B), parainfluenza virus (PIV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and adenovirus (ADV) were identified by indirect immuno-fluorescent staining. Medical records of the patients with positive virus cultures were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: One or more viral agents were isolated from 1682 specimens (25.7%). The pathogens identified were RSV 37.2%, ADV 19.9%, Inf A 18.9%, PIV 17.5% and Inf B 6.4%. The most frequent pathogen of pneumonia and acute bronchiolitis was RSV and that of croup was PIV. Upper respiratory tract infections were more prevalent in adults and the most frequently caused by influenza virus. Influenza virus itself was more frequently isolated in children less than six years old, which was different from previous reports. Influenza virus was mostly isolated in the winter and spring, while RSV was usually isolated from early fall with a peak incidence in the winter. Inf A and RSV showed a dampening effect on the occurrence of other viruses during their major epidemic. PIV was mostly detected in the spring and summer. ADV was isolated throughout the whole year. CONCLUSIONS: The epidemiological characteristics of respiratory virus infections in Seoul and the neighboring areas in 2004-2006, were similar to the findings of previous reports except for some minor changes. These findings could be useful to clinicians in managing their patients.