• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.591-594
• /
• 1999

Leptospirosis has been known as endemic disease in Korea since 1984. Wild rodent, mostly Apodemus agrarius, has been known as an important source of leptospiral infection especially in rainy circumstances in harvest reason of rural area. The infection rates of Leptospira interrogans in field rodents, Apodemus agrarius, was investigated by culture and PCR detection of leptospiral DNA, and compared with previous data. Furthermore, the serogroup and serovar were investigated. Two hundred twenty two Apodemus agrarius were captured during October to December 1996. Spirohaetes were isolated from 22 (9.9%) and leptospiral DNA was detected in an additional six rodents (12.6%). Subsequent cross-agglutinin absorption test, monoclonal antibody reactivity classified 21 cultures among 22 isolates as Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohemorrhagiae serovar lai. The above data did not differ from previous survey in 1984 to 1987. There was no significant change of Leptospira interrogans infection in field rodents in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.25 no.12
• /
• pp.2169-2172
• /
• 2015

This study investigated the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between adenovirus 36 (Ad36) and obesity in 79 Korean adolescent boys over 1 year. We analyzed the changes in body composition and metabolic risk factors according to the presence of Ad36 antibodies. Ad36 antibodies in serum were detected using the constant virus-decreasing serum method. We found that the fat percentage and fasting insulin in the Ad36-seropositive group were greater than the Ad36-seronegative group. These results suggest that Ad36 infection is associated with an increase of adiposity, and the experience of Ad36 infection may affect the future fat gain of adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.234-243
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the socioeconomic status as a risk factor for hepatitis C virus infection among community-dwelling adults in Korea. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study including 2,617 adults. Data from hepatocellular carcinoma epidemiological investigation and information regarding three markers of socioeconomic status, education, employment, household income, were obtained. Multiple logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for hepatitis C virus infection for socioeconomic status markers, adjusting for the other soioeconomic status marker, behavioral and hepatitis-related factors. Results: Of the 2,617 study subjects, 104 subjects infected with hepatitis C virus and prevalence was 4%. When compared to subjects with a lowest education, ORs was 0.16 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.04-0.69) for highest education group. After adjusting behavioral and hepatitis-related factors, ORs was 0.20 (0.05-0.87) for highest education compared with lowest group. Conclusion: Low educational level was associated with an increased risk of hepatitis C virus infection.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.7-12
• /
• 2010

The aims of this study were to investigate the nosocomial infection route of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and explore preventative methods for this pathogen that involve blocking its dispersion. We cultured MRSA from nasal cavity swabs collected between June and July 2008 that we obtained from eight dental healthcare providers, 32 nurses and the sputum specimens of two patients from our hospital. In addition, we used VITEK 2 equipment to measure drug sensitivity, and we further performed biochemical testing and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to isolate MRSA colonies. The incidence of these bacteria on the nasal swabs was 25.0% from dental clinic healthcare providers, 13.6% from the internal medicine ward nurses and 30.0% from intensive care unit nurses. Moreover, MRSA was detectable in sputum specimens of ward patients. The antimicrobial agents resistance and partial PFGE types of MRSA showed a similar pattern. We suggest from these analyses that nasal cavity infection by MRSA could occur by cross contamination between healthcare providers and patients which underscores the importance of stringent MRSA management practices.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.275-279
• /
• 1997

The acute toxicity of the combined vaccine (KGCC-95VI) for the prophylaxis against Japanese encephalitis and Hantaan virus infection. recently developed by Korea Green Cross Corporation, was investigated. KGCC-95VI was administered to the Balb /c mice in two routes, orally and subcutaneously, and into the New Zealand White rabbits subcutaneously. $LD_{50}$ was not accessible as there were no deaths in the group treated even at a dose 800 times the expected clinical dose in both animal species. Between the treated and control groups there were no statistically significant differences in body weight changes and clinical signs during the 14-day observation period, and no pathological gross findings. Accordingly KGCC-95VI is considered not to have the acute toxicity in mice and rabbits.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.61-63
• /
• 2009

Although Toxoplasma gondii infection generally shows subclinical courses in adults, it may have severe pathologic effects on the fetus. For a survey of toxoplasmosis in Shahr-e-Rey area, south of Tehran, Iran, we conducted a serological study on 1,187 general populations using indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test. In this cross sectional study, cases were selected randomly by a local primary health care (PHC) system. Blood samples were collected in microcapillary tubes and sera were examined by IFA after centrifugation. It has been shown that 68.3% of cases in all age groups had IFA titer of 1:10 and higher, which we consider as positive cases, and the rate for 1:400 or over was 30.2%. There was meaningful correlation between anti-Toxoplasma antibody titers and age, sex, and occupation of subjected people (P < 0.05%). The incidence was higher in females and highest in the children age group (10-14 years old). The present study demonstrates high prevalence of Toxoplasma infection among the people in south of Tehran, Iran.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.47 no.4
• /
• pp.425-428
• /
• 2007

From January to June 2006, 54 suckling pigs had been submitted in virology lab., College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University. All pigs had suffered from various symptoms such as respiratory sign, enteric signs, neurologic signs, etc. Among 54 pigs, 24 pigs (44.4%) were positive for porcine hemagglutinating encephalomyelitis virus (HEV) through reverse transcription-nested polymerase chain reaction. According to this result, HEV infections seemed to be prevalent and widespread in Korean swine farms, and the infection is associated with respiratory signs and neurologic signs more than enteric signs. The HEV positive pigs showing respiratory signs were co-infected with viruses such as PRRSV, and PCV2, or bacteria such as Pasteurella spp. The single infection may subclinically have an influence on outbreak of other respiratory pathogens in suckling pigs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2017

Getah virus (GETV) infection causes sporadic outbreaks of mild febrile illness in horses and reproductive failure in pigs. In this study, we established a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to detect GETV from suspected virus-infected samples. The reaction conditions were optimized and validated by using RNA extracted from GETV propagated in cell culture. A GETV-specific GED4 primer set was designed and used to amplify a 177 bp DNA fragment from a highly conserved region of the E1 glycoprotein gene in the GETV genome. RT-PCR performed with this primer set revealed high sensitivity and specificity. In the sensitivity test, the GED4 primer set detected GETV RNA at the level of $10^{2.0}\;TCID_{50}/mL$. In the specificity test, the GED4 primer set amplified only a single band of PCR product on the GETV RNA template, without non-specific amplification, and exhibited no cross-reactivity with other viral RNAs. These results suggest that this newly established RT-PCR method is useful for accurate identification of GETV infection in animals.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.185-190
• /
• 2010

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most prevalent pathogens in hospitals. To investigate cross contamination by this bacterium in both dental and medical settings, the pathogens that cause acute pyogenic infection and one of the major microbes responsible for nosocomial infection were isolated from health care providers, nurses and patients. We used VITEK II to measure drug sensitivity, and we further performed biochemical testing, coagulase serotype testing and pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for isolated MRSA colonies. The isolation rate of Staphylococcus aureus from nasal swabs was 75.0% from dental health care providers and 18.8% from the medical health care providers. A total of 10 MRSA strains were isolated from 40 health care providers and 2 patients and the prevalent coagulase serotype from patients and health care providers was VII. The antimicrobial drug resistance and partial PFGE types of the isolated MRSA strains showed a similar pattern. These results suggest that MRSA may be one of the principal causes of nosocomial infection in dental and medical hospitals.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.151-161
• /
• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors that influence surgical site infections after surgery. Methods: This study was a retrospective research utilizing Electronic Medical Records. Data collection targeted 4,510 adult patients who had 8 different kinds of surgery (gastric surgery, colon surgery, laparoscopic cholecystectomy, hip & knee replacement, hysterectomy, cesarean section, cardiac surgery) in 4 medical care departments, at one general hospital between January 2006 and December 2011. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the risk factors affecting surgical site infections after surgery. Results: Risk factors for increased surgical site infection following surgery were confirmed to be age (OR=1.59, p<.001), BMI (Body Mass Index)(OR=1.25, p=.034), year of operation (OR=2.45, p<.001), length of operation (OR=3.06, p<.001), ASA (American Society of Anesthesiology) score (OR=1.36, p=.025), classification of antibiotic used (OR=2.77, p<.001), duration of the prophylactic antibiotics use (OR=1.85, p<.001), and interaction between classification of antibiotic used and duration of the prophylactic antibiotics use (OR=1.90, p=.016). Conclusions: Results suggest that risk factors affecting surgical site infections should be monitored before surgery. The results of this study should contribute to establishing effective infection management measures and implementing surveillance systems for patients who have actual risk factors.