• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.54-60
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the association between elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and urosepsis in children with acute pyelonephritis (APN). Methods: We retrospectively identified all children who were managed in our hospital with APN during a decade period. In our study a diagnosis of APN was defined as having a positive urine culture and a positive (99m)Tc-dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy. We compared those with elevated ALT and those with normal ALT according to the following variables: age, gender, duration of fever prior to admission, presence of hypotension, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, presence of anemia, white blood cells count, platelet count, blood culture result, and grades of vesicoureteral reflux. In addition, the correlation between elevated ALT and positive blood culture was analyzed in detail. Results: A total of 996 children were diagnosed with APN, of which 883 were included in the study. ALT was elevated in 81 children (9.2%). In the analysis of demographic characteristics, the number of children with elevated ALT was higher in children between 0 to 3 months, boys, and in those with positive blood culture (p=0.002, 0.036, and 0.010, respectively). In multivariate analysis of variables associated with positive blood culture, age younger than 3 months, elevated ALT, elevated CRP, and elevated creatinine showed statistical significance (p=0.004, 0.030, 0.043, and 0.044, respectively). Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the association between elevated ALT and increased prevalence of urosepsis in addition to elevated CRP, elevated creatinine, and age younger than 3 months in children with APN.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.414-421
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• 2018

In this study, Gram-positive bacilli (GPB) were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and analyzed according to the quaternary and microbial strains in the blood culture medium over a two year period at a university hospital. The results were as follows. The overall positive rate of blood culture was 9.97%. In 713 isolated GPB, 410 strains (57.5%) were identified using a microflex MALDI Biotyper. The positive rate of GPB among the blood culture positive bacteria was 8.2%, and the quarterly isolation rate was 9.8% in the third quarter of 2015, 8.7% in the second quarter of 2016, 8.1% in the third quarter of 2016, 8.1% in the first quarter of 2015, 7.9% in the first quarter of 2015, 7.9% in the second quarter of 2015, 6.8% in the first quarter of 2016, and 6.7% in the fourth quarter of 2015. The isolates were Corynebacterium striatum 89 (12.4%), Bacillus cereus 60 (8.4%), Bacillus subtilis 30 (4.2%), Paenibacillus urinalis 29 (4.1%), and Listeria monocytogenes 25 (3.5%). The results of 16S rRNA sequencing of 43 isolates (86.0%) were consistent with those of the other 50 isolates. Five out of the seven unmatched weeks were not identified by MALDI-TOF MS.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.257-259
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• 2005

Although automated continuous-monitoring blood culture systems are both rapid and sensitive, false-positive and false-negative results still occur. The objective of this study, then, was to evaluate negative results occurring with BacT/Alert 3D blood culture systems. A total of 1032 samples were cultured with the BacT/Alert 3D automated blood culture system, using both aerobic (BPA) and anaerobic (BPN) media, and 128 of these samples yielded positive results. A total of 904 negative blood samples were then subcultured in $5\%$ sheep blood agar, eosin methylene blue, chocolate agar, and sabouraud-dextrose agar. Organisms growing on these subcultures were subsequently identified using both Vitek32 (bioMerieux, Durham, NC) and conventional methods. Twenty four $(2.6\%)$ of the 904 subcultures grew on the subculture media. The majority $(83.3\%)$ of these were determined to be gram-positive microorganisms. Fourteen $(58.3\%)$ were coagulase-negative staphylococci, two $(8.3\%)$ were Bacillus spp., one $(4.2\%)$ was Staphylococcus aureus, and one $(4.2\%)$ was identified as Enterococcus faecium. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Neisseria spp. were isolated together in two $(8.3\%)$ vials. Gram-negative microorganisms comprised $12.5\%$ of the subcultures, of which two $(8.3\%)$ were found to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and one $(4.2\%)$ was Pseudomonas fluorescens. The other isolate $(4.2\%)$ was identified as Candida albicans. We conclude that the subculture of negative results is valuable in the BacT/Alert 3D system, especially in situations in which only one set of blood cultures is taken.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.178-185
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• 2014

Purpose: Blood culture is the most important tool for detecting bacteremia in children with fever. However, blood culture contamination rates range from 0.6% to 6.0% in adults; rates for young children have been considered higher than these, although data are limited, especially in Korea. This study determined the contamination rate and risk factors in pediatric patients visiting the emergency room (ER) or being admitted to the ward. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of blood cultures obtained from children who visited Yonsei Severance Hospital, Korea between 2006 and 2010. Positive blood cultures were labeled as true bacteremia or contamination according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Healthcare Safety Network definitions for laboratory-confirmed bloodstream infection, after exclusion of cultures drawn from preexisting central lines only. Results: Among 40,542 blood cultures, 610 were positive, of which 479 were contaminations and 131 were true bacteremia (overall contamination rate, 1.18%). The contamination rate in the ER was significantly higher than in the ward (1.32% vs. 0.66%, P<0.001). The rate was higher in younger children (2.07%, 0.94%, and 0.61% in children aged <1 year, 1-6 years, and >6 years, respectively). Conclusion: Overall, contamination rates were higher in younger children than in older children, given the difficulty of performing blood sampling in younger children. The contamination rates from the ER were higher than those from the ward, not accounted for only by overcrowding and lack of experience among personnel collecting samples. Further study to investigate other factors affecting contamination should be required.

• Kosin Medical Journal
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.337-346
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• 2018

Objectives: Serum procalcitonin (PCT) is a specific biomarker that rises after bacterial infection, and levels of PCT are known to correlate with the severity and mortality of patients with pneumonia and sepsis. However, the usefulness of PCT levels in acute pyelonephritis is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using the PCT level as a predictive test for bacteremia in acute pyelonephritis. Methods: Between January 2012 and June 2013, 140 patients diagnosed with acute pyelonephritis were admitted to Haeundae Paik Hospital. Serum PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cell (WBC) levels at pre- and post- treatment were measured. Blood and urine cultures were obtained from all patients. The levels of PCT, CRP, and WBCs were each compared between the blood culture-positive and blood culture-negative groups to assess their effectiveness in predicting bacteremia. Results: Pre-treatment PCT level was 0.77 ng/mL (95% CI: 0.42-1.60 ng/mL) in the blood culture-negative group and 4.89 ng/mL (95% CI: 2.88-9.04 ng/mL) in the blood culture-positive group, and the increase between the two groups was statistically significant. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of PCT level for prediction of bacteremia was 0.728. A cut-off value of 1.23 ng/mL indicated a sensitivity of 79.0 % and specificity of 60.0 % for PCT level. Conclusions: Serum PCT level is a useful predictive test for bacteremia in acute pyelonephritis. Through the early detection of bacteremia, serum PCT level can help estimate the prognosis and predict complications such as sepsis.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.9
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• pp.2516-2522
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• 2009

The data which analyze the results of blood cultures are crucial basic information of the empirical therapy for patients with infection since the patterns of the species of microorganism isolated from blood and the results of antibiotic susceptibility test vary depending upon patients general features. Especially, in case of ESBL-producing bacteria, there is a close relation with use of antibiotics. Therefore, we carried out the research with the results of blood culture and antibiotic. 1. Total 39,305 cases of blood culture samples were investigated and positive patients of 2,216 (20.0%) were found. Among those, there were 40 patients with ESBL positive, and blood culture positive samples were 4,798 (12.2%). ESBL positive bacteria were found in 86 samples (including double checked culture bacteria). 2. The majority of ESBL producing bacteria were E. coli, K. pneumoniae and K. oxitoca as ordering based on the number. 3. The research showed the results that there were more females than male with the bacterias, more E. coli in over 50 years old aged group than other bacterias, more K. pneumoniae and K.oxitoca in less 1 year old aged group than other bacterias and largest numbers of patients with 13 patients (32.5%) in Chungcheongnam-do province were found. 4. The most common ESBL producing bacteria were E. coli throughout 3 years, but K, pneumoniae and K. oxitoca were also fairly found. Interestingly, E. coli was highly found in over 50 years old patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 1980

Open heart surgery patients have additional risks arising from the special nature of the operative procedure. And postoperative infections in patients with extracorporeal circulation are associated with high incidence of serious sequelae. To investigate the incidence and organisms of contamination, and the relation between the duration of extracorporeal circulation and contamination, following study was done. Eighty-four of the open heart surgery patients were examined with cultures from the blood and priming solution before and after bypass. 1. Cultures before bypass were sterile, but 2 cases of cultures from the blood and priming solution after bypass were positive, and culture positive group was 5% of all patients. 2. The organisms were Gram-negative, aerobic coliform bacilli; 3. The culture positive group had significantly longer bypass time.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2019

During the time period from 2010 to 2017, out of 162,551 blood specimens, 11,233 (6.9%) specimens were positive for culture and 11,865 strains were cultured. Among the isolates, 47.8% were Gram positive cocci, 38.8% were Gram negative rods, 4.2% were Gram positive bacilli, 6.8% were fungi and 2.3% were anaerobes. When the culture results were compared according to gender, 55.0% (2,732/4,969) of the isolates were found in males and 45.0% (2,237/4,969) were isolated in females. In addition, when categorized according to age group, people in their 70s were the most separated by 28.7% (1,426/4,969) and this showed a great difference from 1.2% (62/4,969) of people in their teens. MRSA decreased significantly from 66.7% in 2016 to 46.8% in 2017. The vancomycin resistance rate of E. faecium was 35.0% (48/137). The ESBL positive rate of E. coli in intestinal bacteria was increased from 17.2% in 2010 to 28.8% in 2017, but the positive rate decreased for K. pneumoniae. 11.8% (14/119) of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa (MDRPA) of P. aeruginosa and 64.3% (161/252) of MDRAB of A. baumannii showed high resistance. Because the microbial susceptibility and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the blood specimens isolated from all the blood specimens differ according to the time period, region and patients, periodic analyses of different pathogens and understanding the changes in the degree of susceptibility to antimicrobial susceptibility have been conducted in hospitals.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2005

Thorough screening of donors medical and social history, extensive serological and bacterial screening combined with developed processing and sterilization methods have improved the safety of the allogeneic tissues in recent decades. The risk of bacterial infection through allogenic tissue transplantation is one of the major problems facing tissue banks. The purpose study is to report the contamination rate in 358 retrieved tissues obtained strictly aseptic conditions, between 2001 and 2002 in Korea Tissue Bank. Samples from 9 donors(total 13 donors) were used in blood culture, and in 7 donors the blood culture were negative. Of the 358 tissues cultured in their entirety, 186(52%) were initially culture negative and 177(48%) were positive. Organism low pathogenicity were cultures from 20.2% of the tissues. To minimize the bacterial load, donors should be obtain in operating rooms, using aseptic techniques with only a few personnel for procurement. The procurement cultures from donors and retrieved tissues with multiple should be carefully interpreted. Blood cultures should be taken account, since these can help to find contamination not detect swab culture. A prospective cohort study is needed to determine which of the varied processing and sterilization methodologies gives the best quality.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.213-218
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• 2001

The treatment of Patients with bacteraemia and septicemia requires accurate and rapid identification of the pathogen so that the physician can be guided regarding the selection of the proper antimicrobial therapy. The usual procedure is to withdraw an aliquot of the positive blood culture sample for gram staining and subculturing on the media for the growth and subsequent identification, and susceptibility determinations. It was noticed that during the process some microbiologists would sniff the effluent gases that are products of metabolism and in some cases guess the identity of the bacterium. That Prompted us to engage in systematic investigation of two gram positive and two gram negative bacteria using an electronic nose that had been proven successful in distinguishing the aroma of coffee beans from different sources. The investigation was successful in illustrating the efficacy of such a device in this clinical setting to distinguish Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis. A representative set of patterns obtained with this apparatus is displayed as well. A representative set of patterns obtained with this apparatus is displayed as well. No effort was made to determine an optimal set of sensors for some specific set of bacterial metabolism gaseous products.