Original article PDF Kye Hyun Kim1, Tae-Hyoung Kim2, Jun Hyung Lee3, Tae Jin Lee4, Mi-Kyung Lee3 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Departments of 2Urology, 3Laboratory Medicine, and 4Pathology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Kyung Lee, E-mail: cpworld@cau.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2012;15(3):104-109. https://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2012.15.3.104Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Infectious vaginitis is caused primarily by three different groups of microbial pathogens (Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida spp., and Gardnerella vaginalis). The objective of this study was to compare the Affirm VPIII assay using a DNA hybridization technique with the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test and the Gram stain in the detection and identification of these three organisms.  Methods: A total of 300 vaginal samples were collected from women that were either symptomatic for vaginitis or asymptomatic women that were being seen for routine obstetric or gynecological care. The presence of

Original article PDF Kye Hyun Kim1, Mi-Kyung Lee2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 2Department Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Kyung Lee, E-mail: cpworld@cau.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2012;15(2):49-53. https://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2012.15.2.49Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: The female genital tract is equipped to deal with a variety of foreign substances including a wide array of microorganisms. It is important to consider Candida-bacterial interactions in balance between healthy colonization versus vaginitis. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the association between microorganism distribution and vaginitis, and to investigate the possibility of an interaction between vaginal Candida and other microorganisms in female genital tract. Methods: A total of 516 vaginal secretions were collected between October 2008 and June 2010 from patients with suspected vaginitis. Identification of Candida species and detection of 6 fastidious microorganisms (Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria

Original article PDF Eun Jeong Won1, Jong Hee Shin1, Won-Kil Lee2, Sun Hoe Koo3, Shine Young Kim4, Yeon-Joon Park5, Wee Gyo Lee6, Soo-Hyun Kim1, Young Uh7, Mi-Kyung Lee8, Mi-Na Kim9, Hye-Soo Lee10, Kyungwon Lee11 Department of Laboratory Medicine, 1Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, 2Kyungpook National University of Medicine, Daegu, 3Chungnam National University of Medicine, Daejeon, 4Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, 5The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, 6Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, 7Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, 8Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 9Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 10Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, 11Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Jong Hee Shin, E-mail: shinjh@chonnam.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2013;16(2):92-100. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2013.16.2.92Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: The incidence of fungal infections varies among hospitals and between different time periods. We performed a nationwide

Original article PDF Jun Hyung Lee, Bo Hyun Kim, Mi-Kyung Lee Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Kyung Lee,, E-mail: cpworld@cau.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2014;17(4):115-122. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2014.17.4.115Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: The Anyplex plus MTB/NTM and MDR-TB Detection kits (Seegene, Korea) a real-time PCR assays for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) and for identification of rifampin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistance of MTB in various specimens. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Anyplex plus MTB/NTM and MDR-TB Detection kit. Methods: To determine the ability of the kit to detect MTB and NTM, 557 samples were tested. The diagnostic performance of the Anyplex plus MTB/NTM Detection kit was determined based on the results of culture, nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), radiologic analysis, and clinical features suggestive of mycobacterial infection. The performance of the kit was

Case report PDF Yong Kwan Lim, Se Min Oh, Oh Joo Kweon, Mi-Kyung Lee Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Kyung Lee, E-mail: cpworld@cau.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2015;18(3):98-101. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2015.18.3.98Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Clostridium ramosum is Gram-positive anaerobic bacillus and is known as a non-pathogenic enteric bacterium. It is a member of the RIC group, which is a subgroup of Clostridium having atypical characteristics. Rarely, it has been reported as a pathogen of otitis media in young children or the cause of infection in immunosuppressed adults. Here, we report the first two Korean cases of C. ramosum bacteremia in colon cancer and pressure sore cases, respectively. (Ann Clin Microbiol 2015;18:98-101) Keywords Bacteremia, Clostridium ramosum, Immunocompromised host

Original article PDF Bo Hyun Kim1, Tae-Hyoung Kim2, Mi-Kyung Lee1 Departments of 1Laboratory Medicine and 2Urology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Kyung Lee, E-mail: cpworld@cau.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2016;19(2):33-38. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2016.19.2.33Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Acute viral gastroenteritis is a common illness in young children. Rotavirus, norovirus and enteric adenovirus are the major agents for viral gastroenteritis. Their detection rates have gradually increased in Korea. Our aim was to monitor the epidemiologic characteristics of the aforementioned viruses and to determine the laboratory and clinical characteristics of pediatric patients infected with these viruses. Methods: From December 2009 to November 2010, 685 stool specimens from patients hospitalized at Chung-Ang University Hospital were tested for the aforementioned viruses using multiplex PCR. A corresponding medical record review was retrospectively conducted. Results: The overall prevalence rate was 44.8%, with rates of 16.3%, 1.9%, 22.7%, 3.1%, and 0.8% for

Original article PDF Mi-Kyung Lee1, Heungsup Sung2, Ah Ra Cho3, Hyun Young Chi4 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 3Seoul Clinical Laboratories (SCL), Yongin, 4Samkwang Medical Laboratories, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Kyung Lee, E-mail: cpworld@cau.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2017;20(4):97-102. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2017.20.4.97Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Infection by the intracellular bacteria Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chamydophila pneumoniae, and Legionella pneumophila are common causes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). This study describes the evaluation of a new multiplex real-time PCR test, EuDxTM-PN MLC Detection Kit (EUDIPIA), which allows the simultaneous detection of M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, and L. pneumophila in respiratory samples. Methods: A total of 353 samples were tested using three PCR kits: multiplex PCR (Seeplex PneumoBacter ACE Detection Kit) and two multiplex real-time PCR (EuDxTM-PN MLC Detection Kit and AnyplexTM II RB5 Detection Kit). The results were considered true positives (expanded standard) for M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae,

Original article PDF Heungsup Sung1, Mi-Na Kim1, Dongeun Yong2, Miae Lee3, Jongwook Lee4,5, Mi-Kyung Lee6, Hiun Suk Chae7, Hae Kyung Lee8, Helicobacter Study Group 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konyang University Hospital, Daejeon, 5Department of Laboratory Medicine, Jincheon Sungmo Hospital, Jincheon, 6Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Departments of 7Internal Medicine and 8Laboratory Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, Korea Corresponding to Hae Kyung Lee, E-mail: hkl@catholic.ac.kr; Mi-Na Kim, E-mail: mnkim@amc.seoul.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2018;21(3):58-63. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2018.21.3.58Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Helicobacter pylori infection in children causes gastrointestinal symptoms and iron deficiency anemia. This study aimed to investigate trends in H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) positivity

Mini review Mi-Kyung Lee Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Mi-Kyung Lee, E-mail: cpworld@cau.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2021;24(4):111-114. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2021.24.4.1Received on 6 May 2021, Revised on 11 November 2021, Accepted on 11 November 2021, Published on 20 December 2021.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract The current reference standard for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the molecular detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several rapid antigen tests (RATs) have been developed for the rapid and inexpensive detection of SARS-CoV-2, which can be used at the point-of-care. Although RATs have lower SARS-CoV-2 detection sensitivity than molecular tests, the development of a more cost-effective highthroughput test system that offers a rapid turnaround time is vital for curtailing the spread of SARS-CoV-2. However, because of the growing concern over the substantial risk of false negative results, RATs should be used in