Original article Seungtaek Lim, Seunghwan Seol, Eun Jeong Won, Bosung Park, Heungsup Sung, Mi-Na Kim Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Na Kim, E-mail: mnkim@amc.seoul.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2024;27(3):205-214. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2024.27.3.4Received on 13 August 2024, Revised on 30 August 2024, Accepted on 3 September 2024, Published on 20 September 2024.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology.This is an Open Access article which is freely available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND) (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Abstract Background: Unlike the Mycoplasma IST2 kit (bioMérieux), the Mycoplasma IST3 kit has been updated to comply with the standardized antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) method for Ureaplasma spp. (Up) and Mycoplasma hominis (Mh). We aimed to verify the use of the Mycoplasma IST3 kit for genital mycoplasma cultures. Methods: From September 2023 to January 2024, the R1 medium remaining after inoculation with IST2 was refrigerated until the next

Original article Aram Kim, Heerah Lee, Kyu-Hwa Hur, Heungsup Sung, Mi-Na Kim Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Na Kim, E-mail: mnkim@amc.seoul.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2020;23(4):191-199. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2020.23.4.4Received on 23 August 2020, Revised on 28 Septenber 2020, Accepted on 13 October 2020, Published on 20 December 2020.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Inconclusive SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcription-PCR (rRT-PCR) test results, which are positive for one or more target genes but not all, are problematic in clinical laboratories. In this study, we aimed to investigate the cause and clinical relevance of such inconclusive results. Methods: rRT-PCR was performed using the Allplex 2019-nCoV assay kit (Seegene Inc., Korea) targeting the following three genes: E, RdRp, and N. For all inconclusive test results reported from March to June 2020, the frequency per kit, lot number, specimen type, cycle threshold (Ct)

Original article PDF Yoon Hee Kang, M.D., Soo Jin Choi, M.D., Sang Hyun Hwang, M.D., Young Wook Cho, M.D., Duck-Hee Kim, M.T.*, Mi-Na Kim, M.D. and Chik Hyun Pai, M.D. Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Na Kim Ann Clin Microbiol 1999;2(2):158-166.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporin have been reported with increasing frequency in tertiary-care hospital in Korea. MicroScan Neg Combo Panel Type 21 (Type 21) contains a 1 µg/mL cepfoxodime (POD) in addition to other screen wells containing ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and aztreonam, which are designed for detecting extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli and Klebsiella species. We evaluated the Type 21 panel for its ability to detect ESBL. Methods: From November to December in 1998, 496 E. coli and 326 K. pneumoniae strains isolated from clinical specimens were tested with Type 21 panel. The isolates

Original article PDF Mi-Na Kim, M.D., Heung-Sub Sung, M.D., Jun Seok Park, M.D. and Chik Hyun Pai, M.D. Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Na Kim Ann Clin Microbiol 1999;2(1):71-76.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background：The precise identification of Enterococcus gallinarum and E. casseliflavus has assumed additional importance in clinical microbiology due to the intrinsic low-level resistance to vancomycin and the difficulty in differentiating them from E. faecium or E. faecalis, which are frequently found to be clinically significant vancomycin resistant enterococci(VRE). We evaluated the usefulness of Methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside(MDG) test for accurate species identification among them. Methods：A total of 23 enterococci isolates including 18 clinical isolates of VRE from Nov 1997 to Aug 1998 and 5 VRE strains which had previously been reported as E. faecalis (2), E. faecium(2), E. avium(1) carrying vanC were tested for acidification of MDG.

Original article PDF Chik Hyun Pai, M.D. and Mi-Na Kim, M.D. Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Chik Hyun Pai Ann Clin Microbiol 1999;2(1):1-7.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (VRSA) have been reported from Japan, the United States, and France. Although the isolates are considered intermediately resistant according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS), they are already a cause of serious concern in the ever-worsening antibiotic crisis of today, because they are all methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and they are isolated after prolonged and unsuccessful vancomycin therapy. Furthermore, a study in Japan showed a high prevalence of “hetero-VRSA,” MRSA strains that are susceptible to vancomycin according to NCCLS, but contain subpopulation of VRSA at the frequency of ≥10⁻⁶ and thus can be converted easily to full-blown VRSA

Original article PDF Soo Jin Choi, M.D., Sang Hyun Hwang, M.D., Joon Seok Park, M.D., Mi-Na Kim, M.D. and Chik Hyun Pai, M.D. Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Na Kim, E-mail: mnkim@amc.seoul.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2000;3(1):69-74.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Although enriched broth cultures have been recommended as an adjuvant to the direct plating of tissue and body fluid specimens, the cost-effectiveness of broth cultures has been questioned in regard with the clinical significance of “broth only isolates (BOI)”. The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of thioglycollate broth (THIO) cultures. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively results in the culture specimens of body fluids, tissue biopsies, and puses received during the month of July 1997. All specimens were inoculated into THIO in addition to agar plates. We reviewed the medical records

Original article PDF Chulhun L. Chang, M.D., Tae Sung Park, M.D., Mi-Na Kim, M.D.*, Nam Yong Lee, M.D.**, Hee-Joo Lee, M.D.***, and Jin-Tae Suh, M.D.*** Department of Clinical Pathology, Pusan National University College of Medicine, Pusan; Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul*; Department of Clinical Pathology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul**; and Department of Clinical Pathology, Kyunghee University College of Medicine, Seoul***, Korea Corresponding to Jin-Tae Suh, E-mail: suhjintae@yahoo.co.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2001;4(2):108-114.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background：Since 1997 in which first survey for mycobacterial practices of hospitals in Korea were carried on, changes of practice and concept in mycobacterial testing have been expected because advanced testing methods have been surged for last five-year-period. We purposed to follow-up survey to monitor practices changes, and in addition, situation of quality control. Methods：Questionnaires was composed of

Case report PDF Kyong-Ah Yun, M.D., Mi-Na Kim, M.D., Chik Hyun Pai, M.D., and Han Joo Lee*, M.D. Departments of Clinical Pathology and Internal Medicine*, University of Ulsan, College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul Corresponding to Mi-Na Kim, E-mail: mnkim@amc.seoul.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2001;4(1):68-71.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Yersinia pseudotuberculosis is a relatively infrequent cause of human infections, mostly as intestinal yersinosis. A septicemic form of Y. pseudotuberculosis infection has been reported only rarely. It is usually seen in patients with underlying disorders such as diabetes, hepatic cirrhosis or iron overload. A 63-year-old man with diabetes mellitus and liver fibrosis was admitted to Asan Medical Center via emergency department because of epigastric pain, fever and watery diarrhea; he was septic. The stool culture did not grow Salmonella, Shigella, or Yersinia. But, in the blood culture Y. pseudotuberculosis grew from one anaerobic vial among two sets of aerobic and anaerobic blood cultures. Serotype of Y.