• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2020

The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued the guidelines about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) for children and adolescents. Case definitions and management of COVID-19 in neonates, infants, children and adolescents are presented in this guideline. In addition, guidelines for caregiver management are also provided. In this review, we introduce the contents of the current guidelines for COVID-19 in children and adolescents in Korea.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.33.1-33.13
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• 2023

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been acknowledged as an effective mean of preventing infection and hospitalization. However, the emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) has led to substantial increase in infections among children and adolescents. Vaccine-induced immunity and longevity have not been well defined in this population. Therefore, we aimed to analyze humoral and cellular immune responses against ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine in healthy adolescents. Although vaccination induced a robust increase of spike-specific binding Abs and neutralizing Abs against the ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants, the neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant was significantly low. On the contrary, vaccine-induced memory CD4⁺ T cells exhibited substantial responses against both ancestral and Omicron spike proteins. Notably, CD4⁺ T cell responses against both ancestral and Omicron strains were preserved at 3 months after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine without waning. Polyfunctionality of vaccine-induced memory T cells was also preserved in response to Omicron spike protein. The present findings characterize the protective immunity of vaccination for adolescents in the era of continuous emergence of variants/subvariants.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.39-49
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• 2022

Purpose : This study investigated coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) related stress, resilience, and organizational commitment, and determined the factors influencing nurses' organizational commitment at an infectious disease hospital of COVID-19. Methods : A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted with 138 nurses. Data analysis, including descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlations, and multiple regression analysis, were performed using SPSS 26.0 program. Results : Factors influencing organizational commitment included resilience (𝛽=0.31, p<.001), position (𝛽=0.31, p<.001), COVID-19 related stress (𝛽=-0.26, p<.001), and COVID-19 nursing period (𝛽=-0.19, p=.012). These variables explained 29.6% of the organizational commitment. Conclusion : In order to enhance the organizational commitment of nurses in infectious disease hospitals of COVID-19, active program development and intervention are required at the organizational level to improve nurses' resilience and relieve stress related to nursing infectious disease patients..

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.29-39
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• 2021

Purpose: As the need for a hospital specializing in infectious diseases has increased, construction is being promoted. Hospitals specializing in infectious diseases receive some state subsidies, but in the case of private hospitals, hospital operation efficiency should be considered to prevent cost loss. Therefore, we aim to derive a building plan for a general ward in a hospital specializing in infectious diseases that can be used not only in normal times but also in times of crisis. Methods: In this study, relevant literature review and field interviews were conducted with medical staff working in facilities designated as infectious disease hospitals. Results: The general ward building plan of the hospital specializing in infectious diseases was classified into three categories and presented. 'Spatial composition' for nursing unit and ward zoning, 'Spatial plan' for ward space conversion in normal times and crises, 'Bedroom plan' for effective dimensions and area of the ward. Implications: It can be used as a guideline when designing an infection-facility ward. And it can be a basis for inducing improvements to prevent infection in the ward of existing medical facilities.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.330-337
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• 2003

This is a retrospective study on the care of odontogenic infections in admission patients with major bleeding disorders. The study was based on a series of 514 patients treated at Dong San Medical Center, Wonju Christian Hospital and Il San Health Insurance Hospital, from Jan. 1, 2000, to Dec. 31, 2002. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The cardiovascular disease was the most frequent cause of the systemic diseases with major bleeding disorders, and liver disease, cerebrovascular disease and renal failure were next in order of frequency. But, there was the most frequent dental consultation in the liver disease, owing to the many odontogenic infectious diseases. 2. Male prediction (66.3%) was almost existed in the odontogenic infectious patients with major bleeding disorders. But, there was slight female prediction (53.4%) in the cardiovascular disease. 3. The most common age group of the odontogenic infectious patients with major bleeding disorders was the fifty decade(27.2%), followed by the forty, sixty & thirty decade in order. 4. In the contents of chief complaints on the odontogenic infectious patients with major bleeding disorder, peak incidence was occurred as toothache (42.2%), followed by intraoral bleeding, ulcer pain, dental extraction in order. 5. In the diagnosis group of odontogenic infectious diseases, periodontitis, pulpitis and periapical abscess were more common. 6. In the treatment group of odontogenic infectious diseases, the most frequent incidence(44.2%) was showed in primary endodontic drainage(pulp extirpation, occlusal reduction & canal opening drainage) and followed by the incision & drainage, the medications & oral hygiene instruction, scaling, indirect pulp capping in order.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.80-83
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• 2012

Purpose: In rare cases, infectious disease can become the cause of palatal fistula as it usually occurs in immunocompromised patients. We are reporting this case because we have successfully reconstructed palatal fistula occurring due to infectious disease in a healthy adult. Methods: A 62-year-old female patient had visited our hospital with a palatal hole that had occurred after suffering from a severe febrile disease. An oro-nasal fistula measuring $1.5{\times}1.3cm$ has been observed in the junction of the soft palate and hard palate, and is presumed to be caused by an infectious disease according to the patient's history. It was reconstructed using a hinge flap and a mucoperiosteal flap. Results: For 6 months, no recurrence or complications had been observed. The post operative patient was satisfied with the improvement in nasal speech and fluid regurgitation. Conclusion: We reported this case since we had obtained a functionally satisfactory result by reconstructing the palatal fistula due to infectious disease in a healthy adult.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.17-29
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• 2022

Purpose: In terms of efficiency and safety, this study attempted to organize data on the operation methods and architectural planning of infectious diseases hospitals. Methods: The results obtained through on-site and interview surveys with hospital officials and medical staffs at four infectious diseases hospitals under construction were summarized based on those original business plans and facility guidelines. Results: First, the operational methods to secure safety and operational efficiency were summarized for each department which are major hospital functions of infectious disease hospitals. Second, as the architectural planning, the characteristics of space and circulation of each department are summarized. For safety of medical staff, negative pressure and non-negative pressure zone have to completely separated. In addition medical staff wears PPE and enters the negative pressure zone and returns in the order of admiral, shower, and gowning in the PPE undressing room after patient treatment. In case of operational efficiency, flexible operation is required in normal and crisis situations. For example, it is important for The Ward to gradually switch to negative pressure beds in times of crisis from normal situation and the outpatient department considers the composition of negative pressure and non-negative pressure outpatient spaces that can operate in parallel even in crisis situations. Implications: Infectious disease hospitals require flexible operation and appropriate facilities for normal and crisis situations.

• Korea Journal of Hospital Management
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.38-52
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• 2020

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to suggest the main functions and implications of public hospitals to effectively respond to the future epidemic crisis based on analyzing the accessibility to designated Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) medical institutions of Seoul and examining the main features of the quarantine of Seoul municipal hospitals. Method: To analyze the response and function of Seoul municipal hospitals, we reviewed the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention ACT, 258 articles of Seoul Metropolitan Government press releases from January to the end of April, 48 articles of Seoul Metropolitan Government's daily newsletters, 2019 Health Bureau Budget report. We also referred to internal data of Seoul Children's Hospital, Seoul Seobuk Hospital, and Seoul Eunpyeong Hospital during the same period. Besides, the accessibility to medical institutions was analyzed by using the COVID-19 data which was announced daily basis. Results: The accessibility of COVID-19 patients living in the Southeastern part of Seoul to a medical institutions was 16.2km on a distance basis, and it was the lowest accessibility among four regions of Seoul since it took about 40 minutes by car. On the other hand, patients living in the Northeast part had the highest accessibility, as the access to medical institutions was 10.7km and 27 minutes by car. Also, the main functions of the municipal hospital of Seoul against COVID-19 were to shift the public hospital function to COVID-19 patients only hospitals, to perform the epidemiological investigation by medical doctors, and to support the operation of self-isolation facilities, community treatment centers and triage rooms of community health centers. Conclusion: Through the experience of COVID-19, we suggested that the functions of public hospitals will be reorganized as the reinforcement of infectious disease treatment and mental health for quarantined patients, cooperation with private hospitals, supporting for strengthening community health capacity and preparation for another epidemic.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2014

Objective : Infectious spinal disease is regarded as an infection by a specific organism that affects the vertebral body, intervertebral disc and adjacent perivertebral soft tissue. Its incidence seems to be increasing as a result of larger proportion of the older patients with chronic debilitating disease, the rise of intravenous drug abuser, and the increase in spinal procedure and surgery. In Korea, studies assessing infectious spinal disease are rare and have not been addressed in recent times. The objectives of this study are to describe the epidemiology of all kind of spinal infectious disease and their clinical and microbiological characteristics as well as to assess the diagnostic methodology and the parameters related to the outcomes. Methods : A retrospective study was performed in all infectious spinal disease cases presenting from January 2005 to April 2010 to three tertiary teaching hospitals within a city of 1.5 million in Korea. Patient demographics, risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes were assessed. Risk factors entailed the presence of diabetes, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, immunosuppressants, remote infection, underlying malignancy and previous spinal surgery or procedure. We comparatively analyzed the results between the groups of pyogenic and tuberculous spinal infection. SPSS version 14 statistical software was used to perform the analyses of the data. The threshold for statistical significance was established at p<0.05. Results : Ninety-two cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Overall, patients of tuberculous spinal infection (TSI) and pyogenic spinal infection (PSI) entailed 20 (21.7%) and 72 (78.3%) cases, respectively. A previous spinal surgery or procedure was the most commonly noted risk factor (39.1%), followed by diabetes (15.2%). The occurrence of both pyogenic and tuberculous spondylitis was predominant in the lumbar spine. Discs are more easily invaded in PSI. At initial presentation, white cell blood count and C-reactive protein levels were higher in PSI compared to TSI (p<0.05). Etiological agents were identified in 53.3%, and the most effective method for identification of etiological agents was tissue culture (50.0%). Staphyococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated infective agent associated with pyogenic spondylitis, followed by E. coli. Surgical treatment was performed in 31.5% of pyogenic spondylitis and in 35.0% of tuberculous spondylitis cases. Conclusion : Many previous studies in Korea usually reported that tuberculous spondylitis is the predominant infection. However, in our study, the number of pyogenic infection was 3 times greater than that of tuberculous spinal disease. Etiological agents were identified in a half of all infectious spinal disease. For better outcomes, we should try to identify the causative microorganism before antibiotic therapy and make every effort to improve the result of culture and biopsy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.350-355
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• 2018

Background: The complication rate of fungal disease is higher among patients with hematological malignancies. We investigated the clinicobacteriological outcomes of resected pulmonary fungal infections complicating hematological malignancies. Methods: Between 2001 and 2017, 21 patients with pulmonary fungal infections complicating hematological malignancies underwent resection, and their clinical records and survival were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The median age of the patients was 47 years, and 13 were male. The histological diagnoses were pulmonary aspergillosis (19 cases), mucormycosis (1 case), and cryptococcosis (1 case). The indications for surgery were resistance to antifungal therapy and the necessity of surgery before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in 13 and 8 cases, respectively. The diagnoses of the hematological malignancies were acute myelogenous leukemia (10 cases), acute lymphocytic leukemia (5 cases), myelodysplastic syndrome (3 cases), and chronic myelogenous leukemia, malignant lymphoma, and extramedullary plasmacytoma (1 case each). The surgical procedures were partial resection (11 cases), segmentectomy (5 cases), lobectomy (4 cases), and cavernostomy (1 case). The size of the lesions was 0.9-8.5 cm. Fourteen cases had cavitation. There were no surgical-related deaths or fungal progression. Conclusion: Pulmonary fungal infections are resistant to treatments for hematological malignancies. Since the treatment of the underlying disease is extended and these infections often recur and are exacerbated, surgery should be considered when possible.