• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.302-307
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• 2003

Although, in human medicine, strains of methicillin-resistant staphylococi have become the most important causative agents of nosocomial infections, studies on the small animals are very. limited. The aim of this study was to determine mecA gene and susceptibility to antibiotics of staphylococci strains isolated from clinically ill or healthy dogs and cats, during the period August 2002-July 2003. A total of 136 staphylococci (87 coagulase-positive and 49 coagulase-negative) were investigated for antibiotic resistance, using disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. The mecA gene was detected using the polymerase chain reaction. The isolates belonged to the species S. aureus (53 isolates), S. intermedius (34 isolates), S. epidermidis (26 isolates) and other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS, 23 isolates). Of the 136 isolates, 43 (31.6%) were mecA-positive and the frequency of the ,presence of mecA gene varied among the different species. All S. aureus strains were mecA-negative and were found to be susceptible, with an oxacillin MIC $\leq$1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. Five (13.6%) isolates of 36 that exhibited oxacillin resistance on the MIC testing were found to be mecA-negative, suggesting not all mecA-positive strains may be an oxacillin resistant. However, the mecA presence of the strains was correlated with high oxacillin resistance: 71.4% (10 isolates of 14; P < 0.001) for mecA-positive S. intermedius and 72.4% (21 isolates of 29; P < 0.001) for mecA-positive CNS isolates. About 69% (94 isolates of 136) showed resistance to at least one drug, and 22.8% (31 isolates) were resistant to four or more different drug classes. Resistance (36 isolates, 71.7%) to penicillin G was a common finidng. This study suggest that the mecA-positive staphylococci are prevalent in small animals, and selection of antibiotics to treat infections caused by mecA-positive staphylococci may be very limited because of multi-drug resistance.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1980

Eleven strains of lactobacilli were isolated from fermented milk of 9 companies. They were classified 3 strains as L. bulgaricus, 2 strains as L. plantarum, 2 strains as L. cellobiosus, 1 strain as L. lactis, 1 strain as L. acidophilus, 1 strain as L. casei subsp. casei and 1 strain as L. casei subsp. tolerans. And these strains were examined for drug resistance, transferability and transfer frequency of R plasmid. Most of isolates were sensitive to tetracycline(TC), penicillin(PC), and erythromycin(EM), but some strains were resistant to streptomycin(SM), chloramphenicol(CP), ampicillin(AP), kanamycin(KM), and nalidixic acid(NA). All of isolates were resistant to two or more drugs and 6 different drug resistant patterns were found. The most frequently encountered patterns were NA AP CP SM KM(5 strains) followed by NA AP CP KM(2 strains), NA AP CP SM(1 strain), NA AP CP(1 strain), NA CP(1 strain) and NA AP(1 strain). Tranfer experiment of drug resistance showed that of all 11 resistant strains, 9 strains transferred R plasmid determining AP(6 strains) or AP SM(3 strains) to a recipient, E. coli ML 1410 strain with $2.8{\times}10^{-5}-1.5{\times}10^{-1}%$ of transfer frequency. These results indicate that lactobacilli conjugally transfer their resistance to E. coli.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.305-312
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• 1998

In order to investigate the species, serobiological characteristics and antibiotic sensitivity of Pseudomonas spp, we isolated Pseudomonas spp from 57 spring waters around Seoul area for spring, summer and autumn and identified Pseudomonas spp by biochemical characteristics and serological method. And also we tested the antibiotic sensitivity test by discdiffusion method. Of 57 spring waters tested, Pseudomonas spp were isolated from 33 spring waters(57.9%). Isolation rate of Pseudomonas spp in spring season was 28.1%, summer 21.1% and autumn 28.1%. Only 1 spring water was detected Pseudomonas spp in all seasons and 9 (15.8%) were detected for 2 seasons and 13 (22.8%) were for only 1 season. Isolation rate of Pseudomonas spp at Mt. Cheonggye was 50% and followed by Mt. Bookhan 35.7%, Mt. Daemo 33.3%, Mt. Dobong 29.6%, Mt. Surak 25.9%, Mt. Woomyun 22.2% and Mt. Bulam 7.4%. Of 44 Pseudomonas spp, 22 strains (50%) were identified by Ps. putida, Ps. aeruginosa, Ps. fluorescens and Ps. mendocina were identified 6 strains (13.6%), respectively. 4 strains (9.1%) were identified by Ps. aureofaciens. Of 6 Ps. aeruginosa, serotype A was 2 strains, B, E, G, and K was 1 strain, respectively. Of 44 Pseudomonas spp, resistance rate to amoxicillin was 90.9% and followed by chloramphenicol 84.1%, tetracycline 84.1%, carbenicillin 81.8%, nalidixic acid 68.2%, neomycin 38.6%, streptomycin 31.8%, gentamicin 4.6%, kanamycin 4.6% and colistin 2.3%. Ps. aeruginosa was more sensitive to carbenicillin than other Pseudomonas spp isolated from spring waters in Seoul area but more resistant to kanamycin, and Ps. aureofaciens was no resistant to streptomycin. Among multiple drug resistance, resistance to 5 drugs was 31.8%, 4 drugs 15.9%, 7 drugs 13.6%, 1 drug and 2 drugs 4.6%, and 8 drugs 2.3%, respectively. The multiple resistance patterns detected highestly were NA-CB-C-TE-AMC (18.2%), NA-CB-N-C-TE-AMC (13.6%), CBC-TE-AMC (11.4%) and NA-CB-N-C-TE-AMC-S (9.1%).

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.796-801
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• 2001

A total of 277 mineral spring water samples in Kangwon province from 1999 to 2000 were analyzed for the presence of Yersinia spp. by the conventional Food and Drug Administration protocol, and presumptive strains were identified by morphological, cultural and biochemical tests according to Bergey’s manual. Also, the biotypes, serotypes, and susceptibility to 12 antibiotics were tested. Among the total 277 mineral spring water samples, 40 samples (14.4%) were found to be contaminated with Yersinia species. Among the 40 strains of Yersinia spp. isolates, 33 strains (82.5%) for Yersinia enterocolitica, 4 strains (10%) for Yersinia frederiksenii, 2 strains (5%) for Yersinia intermedia, and 1 strain (2.5%) for Yersinia sakazaki were identified, respectively. Of 40 Yersinia spp. isolates, Yersinia enterocolitica (82.5%) was the most predominant species in the mineral spring water samples compared to other Yersinia species. Compared to direct culture method after KOH treatment and KOH treatment method after cold enrichment for better isolation ratio of according to comparision of Yersinia species, the detection ration (18.5%) of KOH treatment method after cold enrichment was about 3 times better than that (6.1%) of direct culture method after KOH treatment. According to serotypes of Y. enterocolitica isolates, O : 5 (12.9%) was the most predominant and followed by O : 3 (9.7%), O : 8 (6.5%), and O : 9 (3.2%), and others. For biotypes of Y. enterocolitica isolates, 1A (71.0%) was the most predominantly abundant and followed by 3A (12.9%), 3B (9.7%), 1B (3.2%) and 5 (3.2%). Also, an antibiotic susceptibility test showed that Yersinia spp. isolates were very susceptible to the antibiotics tested, but they were very strongly resistant to ampicillin, cephalothin and carbenicillin.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.250-256
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• 2005

Background : Fluoroquinolone drugs are an important anti-tuberculous agent for the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. However, many drugs belonging to the fluoroquinolones have different cross resistance to each other. Methods : Sixty-three ofloxacin (OFX) resistant and 10 pan-susceptible M. tuberculosis isolates were selected, and compared for their cross resistance using a proportion method on Lowenstein-Jensen media, containing ofloxacin (OFX), ciprofloxacin (CIP), levofloxacin (LVX), moxifloxacin (MXF), gatifloxacin (GAT) and sparfloxacin (SPX), at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to $3{\mu}g/ml$. DNA extracted from the isolates was directly sequenced after amplifying from the gyrA and gyrB genes. Results : The 63 OFX resistant M. tuberculosis isolates showed complete cross resistance to CIP, but only 90.5, 44.4, 36.5 and 46.0% to LVX, MXF, GAT, and to SPX, respectively. Fifty-one of the isolates (81.0%) had point mutations in codons 88, 90, 91 and 94 in gyrA, which are known to be correlated with OFX resistance. The Gly88Ala, Ala90Valand Asp94Ala mutations in gyrA showed a tendency to be susceptible to MXF, GAT and SPX. Only 4 isolates had mutations in the gyrB gene, which did not affect the OFX resistance. Conclusion : About 60% of the OFX resistant M. tuberculosis isolates were susceptible to GAT, SPX and MXF. These fluoroquinolones may be useful in the treatment of TB patients showing OFX resistance.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.271-279
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• 1998

Background: Diagnosis by direct microscopy and/or by culture of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis from body fluids or biopsy specimens is "Gold standard". However, the sensitivity of direct microscopy after Ziehl-Neelsen staining is relatively low and culture of mycobacteria is time consuming. Detection of mycobacterial DNA in clinical samples by the polymerase chain reaction is highly sensitive but laborious and expensive. Therefore, rapid, sensitive and readily applicable new tests need to be developed. So we had evaluated the clinical significance of serologic detection of antibody to 38 kDa antigen, which is known as the most specific to the M. tuberculosis complex, and culture filtrate antigen by ELISA in sputum AFB smear negative patients. Method: In this study, culture tests for acid fast bacilli with sputa or bronchial washing fluids of 183 consecutive patients who were negative of sputum AFB smear were performed. Simultaneously serum antibodies to 38 kDa antigen and unheated culture filtrate of M. tuberculosis were detected by an ELISA method. Results: The optical densities of ELISA test with 38 kDa and culture filtrate antigen were significantly higher in active pulmonary tuberculosis cases than in non tuberculous pulmonary diseases (p<0.05), but in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis, those of the sputum culture positive patients for M. tuberculosis were not significantly different from those of the sputum culture negative cases(p>0.05). In the smear-negative active pulmonary tuberculosis patients, the sensitivity of the ELISA using 38 kDa antigen and culture filtrate was 20.0% and 31.4%. respectively. The specificity was 95.3% and 93.9%. respectively. Conclusion : In active pulmonary tuberculosis but smear negative, the serologic detection of antibody to 38 kDa antigen and culture filtrate by ELISA cannot substitute traditional diagnostic tests and does not have clinically significant role to differenciate the patient with active pulmonary tuberculosis from other with non-tuberculous pulmonary diseases.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.148-160
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreak at a newborn nursery and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: During the outbreak, from August to September 2017, MRSA isolates collected from neonates and medical staff underwent genotyping and screened for virulence factors. Antibiotic susceptibilities were tested. Results: During the study period, 41 neonates were admitted at the nursery (n=27) and NICU (n=14). Of these, 7 had MRSA infections (skin infection [n=6] and sepsis [n=1]) and 4 were colonized with MRSA. Associated medical staff (n=32) were screened; three were nasal MRSA carriers. Staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) type II, sequence type (ST) 89, spa type t375 was found to be the skin infection outbreak causing strain, with multi-drug resistance including low-level mupirocin resistance. SCCmec type IVa, ST 72, and a novel spa type designated t17879, was the cause of MRSA sepsis. Many different types of MRSA were colonized on the neonates; however, SCCmec type IVa, ST 72, spa type t664 was colonized in both neonates and a NICU nurse. All MRSA isolates from colonized infants were positive for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin gene. Conclusions: The strain causing an outbreak of skin infections had multi-drug resistance. Also, MRSA colonized in the neonates were found to carry the PVL toxin gene. Because different strains are present during an outbreak, molecular epidemiologic studies are important to identify the outbreak strain and colonized strains which aid in effective control and prevention of future MRSA outbreaks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.528-533
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• 2008

Staphylococcus aureus is a pathogene of major concern in livestock products. This study was conducted to test imported and domestic meat sold by retail stores for the presence S. aureus. In addition, the antibiotic susceptibility of any S. aureus found was also evaluated. The overall isolation rate of S. aureus was 20.2% (13.9% in pork and 33.8% in beef) in retail meats. The percentage of imported meats found to contain S. aureus (33.3% in pork and 40.4% in beef) was higher than that of domestic meat (13.0% in pork and 14.7% in beef). In addition, the detection rate of S. aureus was higher in raw material meat than in ready to cook packaged meat. When the antibiotic susceptibility of S. aureus isolated from the meat products was evaluated, ampicillin was found to be the highest (76.5%), followed by penicillin (75.3%), tetracycline (27.1%) and erythromycin (21.2%). Penicillin and tetracycline resistant were detected in 55.6% and 13.3% of the beef isolates, respectively, and 97.5% and 42.5% of the pork isolates, respectively. The tetracycline and erythromycin resistant plasmids of the isolated strain were transferred into S. aureus DPRMM2429 by the filter mating method and the frequencies of transfer was found to be $1.1{\times}10^{-5}{\sim}1.9{\times}10^{-9}$ and $1.2{\times}10^{-5}{\sim}4.0{\times}10^{-8}$ respectively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.392-398
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• 2005

Background : The last national tuberculosis survey was carried out in 1995. In 2000, the KTBS(Korean Tuberculosis Surveillance System) replaced a previous national survey. However, the KTBS does not show some of the important epidemiological indexes such as the prevalence of positive tuberculosis or the drug resistance rate. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical features of pulmonary tuberculosis patients admitted to a national tuberculosis hospital in 1995 and 2002. From this study, the authors expect to estimate the trend of the clinical features of tuberculosis in Korea even though it can not represent the Korean tuberculosis situation as a whole. Method : A cross sectional analysis of the clinical features for 331 pulmonary tuberculosis in-patients admitted to the National Masan Tuberculosis Hospital as of Dec. 2002, was carried out and these results were compared with those reported in 1995. Results : In comparison with the data reported in 1995, the mean age was increased by 3.6 years ($44.1{\pm}14.6$ vs $47.7{\pm}16.4$, p<0.01). The number of past tuberculosis history and used anti-tuberculous drugs prior to admission decreased from $2.0{\pm}1.7$ and $6.1{\pm}2.3$ to $1.7{\pm}1.8$ and $4.6{\pm}3.6$(p<0.05, p<0.001), respectively. While the resistance rate for anti-tuberculous drugs was similar (81.0% vs 77.6%), the initial resistance rate(10.5% vs 21.4%) and initial MDR rate(2.4% vs 16.5%) increased significantly(p=0.012, p=0.001, respectively). In 1995, the public health communities were in charge of approximately 65% of newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases, but this reduced to 40.5% in 2002(p<0.001). Conclusion : The existing national TB program (NTP) needs to be revised and strengthened in order to cope with the unfavorably changing situation of the domestic TB problem because the number of TB patients has not decreased and the initial resistance rate has increased greatly. Furthermore, the public and private sectors should cooperate each other to control the TB problem effectively because the private sector is now managing more than half of the TB patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.714-722
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• 1998

Background: Rifampicin (RFP) is a key component of the antituberculous short-course chemotherapy and the RFP resistance is a marker of multi-drug resistant (MDR) tuberculosis. RPoB gene encodes the $\beta$-subunit of RNA polymerase of M. tuberculosis which is the target of RFP. And the mutations of rpoB gene have been found in about 96% of rifampicin resistant clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis. So in order to find a rapid and clinically useful diagnostic method in identifying the RFP resistance, we compared the PCR -line probe method with PCR-SSCP for the detection of the rpoB gene mutation in cultured M. tuberculosis. Methods: 45 clinical isolates were collected from patients who visited Sung Kyun Kwan University Hospital. The RFP susceptibility test was referred to the referral laboratory of the Korean Tuberculosis Institute. 33 were rifampicin resistant and 12 were rifampicin susceptible. The susceptibility results were compared with the results of the PCR-BSCP and PCR-line probe method. Results: We could find rpoB mutations in 27/33(81.8%) RFP-resistant strains by PCR-line probe method, and in 23/33 (69.7%) by PCR-SSCP and there was no significant difference between two methods. There was no mutation in rifampicinn susceptible strains by both methods. Conclusion: PCR-line probe method would be a rapid, sensitive and specific method for the detection of rifampicin resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.