Showing papers by "Woo Joo Kim published in 2004"

Iatrogenic Mycobacterium abscessus infection associated with acupuncture: clinical manifestations and its treatment.

Abstract: Background Mycobacterial infections transmitted by acupuncture are an emerging problem. There have been two reports of mycobacterial infections complicating acupuncture in the English literature. Aim To describe the clinical manifestations and treatment of patients who acquired localized Mycobacterium abscessus infection in the process of acupuncture. Methods Clinical manifestations and responses to different methods of treatment were reviewed in 40 patients who developed various skin lesions after acupuncture at a Korean oriental medicine clinic. Results The morphology of the lesions which developed at the acupuncture sites varied. Although the lesions disappeared with the combined administration of clarithromycin and amikacin for 3 months in most cases, five out of 25 patients (20%) showed residual lesions at the end of treatment, and had to be treated with a higher dosage of clarithromycin or alternative antibiotics based on sensitivity tests. Conclusions We recommend at least 3 months of treatment with clarithromycin for treating skin infections caused by M. abscessus, with supplementary antibiotics selected based on patients’ drug sensitivity tests.

Emergence of vanA Genotype Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci with Low or Moderate Levels of Teicoplanin Resistance in Korea

Abstract: In Korea, vancomycin-resistant enterococci have become important nosocomial pathogens since the late 1990s, and most vancomycin-resistant enterococcal isolates have been VanA phenotype-vanA genotype strains. In 2001, we experienced an outbreak of VanB phenotype-vanA genotype vancomycin-resistant enterococci at a university hospital. This is the first report of VanB-vanA vancomycin-resistant enterococci from humans in Korea.

Regional outbreak of mumps due to genotype H in Korea in 1999.

Abstract: Serological and virological studies were carried out of a mumps outbreak which occurred in one region, Yoeju County, Southeast of Seoul in Korea from September to December, 1999. Sera from 736 children at 8–13 years of age of patients with mumps and healthy children were tested for mumps-specific antibodies by enzyme immunoassay. The overall IgM positive rate was 7.6% (56/736), compared with 69.8% (514/736) for IgG. Of the 49 children with both IgG and IgM, 32 were also confirmed by both clinical and serological diagnosis. IgM antibodies were detected even in the samples collected up to 3 months after the onset of symptoms. Although 436 children had been vaccinated before the outbreak, 27 (6.2%) were found to be IgM positive, particularly 6 (4.4%) of 136 were positive serologically despite a second-dose vaccinees. Sequence analysis of the small hydrophobic (SH) gene of 4 mumps viruses isolated from 42 saliva specimens revealed that these were related to the genotype H, but distinguishable from European strains. This is the first study on the outbreak due to mumps virus genotype H and provides information to assess the understanding of recent outbreaks of mumps in Korea. J. Med. Virol. 73:85–90, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Efficacy of Influenza Vaccination among Chronic Ill Patients: Retrospective Case Control Study

Abstract: Background:Influenza is one of the preventable respiratory disease by annual vaccination Elderly people and patients with chronic medical disease are the primary target for influenza vaccination according to ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization) This study was done to determine whether influen

Outbreak of Measles among School Ages in Yeongju in 2000

Abstract: Background The outbreak of measles from 2000 to 2001 was the biggest epidemic since measles vaccination wasintroduced in Korea Outbreak of measles in Yeongju was one of the earhest milestones of the nationwide outbreak in theyear 2000 The authors investigated epidemiologic characteristics of the outbreak in this areaMethods The authors estimated attack rate through the investigation of all the school age cases of measles reported tolocal health authority between March and May, 2000 Case investigation was done to trace the source of the outbreak Onehundred seventy two cases were examined with medical examination, with interview on their clinical manifestations, andwith serologic examination on the anti-measles IgM and IgG antibody.Results Overall attack rate among the school children was 4 3%, with highest attack rate in middle school students(8 5%) The outbreak began in March in middle schools, which spread to elementary and high schools IgG was positive in160(93 0%) cases and IgM was positive in 94(54 6%) cases, among which 90 cases (95 7%) were also positive for IgG IgMpositive cases had higher prevalence of rash (91 5%) compared to those without IgM (70 5%) Diagnostic cntena based onthe climcal manifestation and contact history showed the highest sensitivity (92.6%) compared to conventional diagnostic criteria in outbreak (40 4-44 7%) Conclusions High proportion of susceptible children in the population due to primary or secondary vaccine failureplayed a key role in this outbreak Clinical manifestation was mildei than classical measles and adjustment of diagnosticcriteria can be helpful m the management of outbreak