Joong Sik Eom

The impact of a ventilator bundle on preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia: A multicenter study

BACKGROUNDnFor prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), a bundle approach was applied to patients receiving mechanical ventilation in intensive care units. The incidence of VAP and the preventive efficacy of the VAP bundle were investigated.nnnMETHODSnA quasi-experimental study was conducted in adult intensive care units of 6 university hospitals with similar VAP rates. We implemented the VAP bundle between March 2011 and June 2011, then compared the rate of VAP after implementation of the VAP bundle with the rate in the previous 8 months. Our ventilator bundle included head of bed elevation, peptic ulcer disease prophylaxis, deep venous thrombosis prophylaxis, and oral decontamination with chlorhexidine 0.12%. Continuous aspiration of subglottic secretions was an option.nnnRESULTSnImplementation of the VAP bundle reduced the VAP rate from a mean of 4.08 cases per 1,000 ventilator-days to 1.16 cases per 1,000 ventilator-days. The incidence density ratio (rate) was 0.28 (95% confidence interval, 0.275-0.292).nnnCONCLUSIONSnImplementing the appropriate VAP bundle significantly decreased the incidence of VAP in patients with mechanical ventilation.

Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Health Care Workers in South Korea: A Multicenter Study

Background We investigated the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among the health care workers (HCWs) and analyzed its risk factors in South Korea. Methods A standard questionnaire regarding the baseline demographics and risk factors for LTBI was given to each participant and tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay, and chest radiography were performed. Results A total of 493 participants, 152 (30.8%) doctors and 341 (69.2%) nurses were enrolled in eight tertiary referral hospitals. The mean age of the subjects was 30.6 years old, and 383 (77.7%) were female. Of the 152 doctors, 63 (41.4%) and 36 (23.7%) were positive by TST and by QTF-GIT, respectively, and among the 341 nurses, 119 (34.9%) and 49 (14.4%) had positive TST and QFT-GIT results, respectively. Overall, the agreement between the two tests was 0.22 by the chance corrected proportional agreement rate (kappa coefficient) in 493 subjects. Experience of working in tuberculosis (TB)-related departments was significantly associated with positive LTBI test results by QFT-GIT assay, not by TST. In multivariate analysis, only age was independently associated with increased risk of a positive TST result, while age and experience of working in TB-related departments (odds ratio, 2.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-5.12) were independently associated with increased risk of a positive QFT-GIT result. Conclusion A high prevalence of LTBI was found among South Korean HCWs. Considering the association between the experience of working in TB-related departments and high risk of LTBI, QFT-GIT may be a better diagnostic test for LTBI than TST in HCWs.

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of Community-Acquired Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock: A Prospective Observational Study in 12 University Hospitals in Korea

A prospective multicenter observational study was performed to investigate the epidemiology and outcomes of community-acquired severe sepsis and septic shock. Subjects included 1,192 adult patients admitted to the 22 participating intensive care units (ICUs) of 12 university hospitals in the Korean Sepsis Registry System from April, 2005 through February, 2009. Male accounted for 656 (55%) patients. Mean age was 65.0 ± 14.2 yr. Septic shock developed in 740 (62.1%) patients. Bacteremia was present in 422 (35.4%) patients. The 28-day and in-hospital mortality rates were 23.0% and 28.0%, respectively. Men were more likely to have comorbid illnesses and acute organ dysfunctions, and had higher mortality and clinical severity compared to women. While respiratory sources of sepsis were common in men, urinary sources were predominant in women. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, cancer (odds ratio 1.89; 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.17), urinary tract infection (0.25; 0.13-0.46), APACHE II score (1.05; 1.02-1.09), SOFA score on day 1 (1.13; 1.06-1.21) and metabolic dysfunction (2.24, 1.45-3.45) were independent clinical factors for gender-related in-hospital mortality. This study provided epidemiological and clinical characteristics of community-acquired severe sepsis and septic shock in ICUs in Korea, and demonstrated the impact of clinical factors on gender difference in mortality.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Infection Control and Prevention Guideline for Healthcare Facilities

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is an acute viral respiratory illness with high mortality caused by a new strain of betacoronavirus (MERS-CoV). Since the report of the first patient in Saudi Arabia in 2012, large-scale outbreaks through hospital-acquired infection and inter-hospital transmission have been reported. Most of the patients reported in South Korea were also infected in hospital settings. Therefore, to eliminate the spread of MERS-CoV, infection prevention and control measures should be implemented with rigor. The present guideline has been drafted on the basis of the experiences of infection control in the South Korean hospitals involved in the recent MERS outbreak and on domestic and international infection prevention and control guidelines. To ensure efficient MERS-CoV infection prevention and control, care should be taken to provide comprehensive infection control measures including contact control, hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, disinfection, and environmental cleaning.

Risk factors and etiology of surgical site infection after radical neck dissection in patients with head and neck cancer.

Background/Aims: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major complication after radical neck dissection (RND) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). We investigated the incidence, risk factors, and etiology of SSI among patients who underwent RND. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed on HNC patients, excluding those with thyroid cancer, who underwent first RND at a teaching hospital between January 2006 and June 2010. Medical records were collected and analyzed to evaluate the risk factors and microbiological etiologies. Results: A total of 370 patients underwent first RND. The overall incidence of SSI was 19.7% (73/370). Multivariate analysis showed that male sex (odds ratio [OR], 4.281; p = 0.004), cardiovascular diseases (OR, 1.941; p = 0.020), large amount of blood loss during surgery (OR, 4.213; p = 0.001), and surgery lasting longer than 6 hours (OR, 4.213; p = 0.002) were significantly associated with SSI. The most common causative pathogen was Staphylococcus aureus (32.6%), and 93.2% of S. aureus isolates were methicillin-resistant. Klebsiella pneumoniae (13/92, 14.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11/92, 12.0%), and Enterococcus species (11/92, 12.0%) were also frequently detected. Conclusions: Based on our results, we predict that certain groups of patients are at high risk for SSIs after major HNC surgery. Preventive measures or close monitoring in these patients may be required to reduce the likelihood of postoperative SSIs. Furthermore, even though additional research is required, we would consider changing the prophylactic antibiotic regimens according to the causative organisms.

The clinical effectiveness of oseltamivir in mild cases of pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 infection.

Abstract Background: Oseltamivir is widely used for the treatment of influenza infection, but data on its effectiveness in treating infections with pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 are scarce. Therefore, we compared the effectiveness of oseltamivir and routine symptomatic treatment in pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 infection. Methods: Between August and October 2009, among laboratory confirmed influenza cases who were aged over 15 y with no underlying disease, 90 patients with oseltamivir treatment and 72 patients with symptomatic treatment were evaluated by telephone interviews to compare clinical outcomes. No patient was hospitalized. The primary end-point was the duration of illness. We also assessed the time to attain a sense of well-being and the time to return to normal activity. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the duration of illness between the oseltamivir-treated group and the symptomatic treatment group (mean duration after the start of treatment, 6.50 ± 3.75 days vs 7.04 ± 3.75 days). There was also no statistically significant difference between the 2 groups in the time to a sense of well-being (1.70 ± 1.57 days vs 2.00 ± 2.12 days) and to return to normal activity (7.13 ± 2.61 days vs 7.58 ± 2.71 days). The complication rate was very low (only 2 cases of mild pneumonia in oseltamivir recipients) and no significant difference was found between the 2 groups (p = 0.50). Conclusions: Oral oseltamivir treatment does not significantly reduce the duration of illness or influenza-related complications in mild pandemic influenza A H1N1 2009 virus infection in previously healthy adults.

Safety and Effectiveness of Peramivir in Korean Adult Influenza Patients: Prospective Observational Study Based on Post-Marketing Surveillance Data

Background The safety and clinical effectiveness data of peramivir in the real clinical field are limited. A prospective observational study was conducted based on the post-marketing surveillance data to evaluate the post-marketing safety and effectiveness of peramivir in Korean adults with seasonal influenza. Methods Among adults aged 20 years or older who were diagnosed with influenza A or B, patients who started peramivir within 48 hours from the initial symptoms of influenza were enrolled. All adverse events (AEs) that occurred within 7 days after administration of peramivir were checked. For the evaluation of effectiveness, changes in the severity of influenza symptoms and daily living performance were examined before and 7 days after the administration of peramivir. The date on which influenza related symptoms disappeared was checked. Results A total of 3,024 patients were enrolled for safety evaluation and 2,939 patients were for effectiveness evaluation. In the safety evaluation, 42 AEs were observed in 35 (1.16%) patients. The most common AE was fever. AEs were mostly rated as mild in severity. Serious AEs were observed in 10 patients and two of them died. However, both deaths were considered to be less relevant to peramivir. In the effectiveness evaluation, the severity of influenza symptoms decreased by 10.68 ± 4.01 points and daily living performance was improved 5.59 ± 2.16 points. Influenza related symptoms disappeared on average 3.02 ± 2.39 days after peramivir administration. Conclusion Peramivir showed a tolerable safety profile and acceptable effectiveness in Korean adult patients with seasonal influenza.

Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin as a Predictor of Acute Kidney Injury in Patients during Treatment with Colistimethate Sodium

Background The emergence of multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative bacteria has resulted in reconsideration of colistimethate sodium (CMS) as a last resort for treatment of such infections. However, acute kidney injury (AKI) may represent a major limiting adverse effect of use of CMS. Early AKI detection in CMS-treated patients can help prevent progression to acute failure and reduce the need of renal replacement therapy. We hypothesized that plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) may be an early biomarker of AKI in CMS-treated patients. Materials and Methods This prospective cohort study included patients aged ≥20 years who received intravenous CMS between March 2014 and November 2015. AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria. The primary endpoint was the difference between the average time to AKI onset based on serum creatinine and empirically derived plasma NGAL levels. Results Among 109 CMS-treated patients, 23 patients (mean age, 61.3 ± 16.1 years; men, 65.2%) were evaluated. Thirteen (56.5%) patients fulfilled the AKI criteria. The mean time to AKI onset based on serum creatinine after CMS initiation was 78.15 ± 30.49 hours. AKI was detected approximately 22 hours earlier using plasma NGAL than when using serum creatinine as an indicator of AKI (P = 0.035). The baseline plasma NGAL level was 264.0 ± 167.3 ng/mL and 192.7 ± 65.3 ng/mL in patients with and without AKI, respectively (P = 0.218). The area under the curve for plasma NGAL level at 56 hours was 0.796 (95% confidence interval, 0.609–0.983; P = 0.017), with a sensitivity and specificity of 69.2% and 90.0%, respectively (cutoff value, 285 ng/mL). Conclusion NGAL level was found to be a strong predictor of AKI. This study provides additional evidence of the utility of NGAL for AKI in patients with treated CMS. Plasma NGAL represent sensitive and specific predictive early biomarkers for AKI in patient treated CMS.

A Case of Septic Shock caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans in an Immunocompetent Female Patient after Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy for a Ureteral Stone

Achromobacter xylosoxidans can cause various types of infections, but its infection in humans is rare. A. xylosoxidans has been reported as a rare etiological agent of infections including primary bacteremia, catheter-related bloodstream infection, endocarditis, otitis, and pneumonia, particularly in immunocompromised hosts. We encountered a case of septic shock caused by A. xylosoxidans in a 52-year-old, immunocompetent woman with no underlying disease, who received extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy to remove a left upper ureteral stone. She was treated with antibiotics to which the organism was susceptible but died as a result of septic shock.

Post-exposure prophylaxis for Middle East respiratory syndrome in Healthcare workers

n Summaryn n An effective post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) strategy may limit the spread of infection. However, there is no consensus regarding PEP for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. This study assessed the efficacy of ribavirin and lopinavir/ritonavir as PEP for healthcare workers (HCWs) exposed to patients with severe MERS-CoV pre-isolation pneumonia. The safety of the PEP regimen was assessed. HCWs with high-risk exposure to MERS-CoV pre-isolation pneumonia were retrospectively enrolled. HCWs who received PEP therapy were classified into the PEP group. PEP therapy was associated with a 40% decrease in the risk of infection. There were no severe adverse events during PEP therapy.n n