Original article PDF Young Ah Kim1, Dokyun Kim2, Dongeun Yong2, Kyungwon Lee2 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Dongeun Yong, E-mail: deyong@yuhs.ac Ann Clin Microbiol 2016;19(4):97-104. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2016.19.4.97Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: The recovery of bacteria from blood can be affected by many factors. Standardization of blood culture methods is important for reliability. Herein, we aimed to investigate blood culture protocols in Korea. Methods: We performed a multicenter survey with a questionnaire about blood culture practices, which was sent by email to directors and clinical physicians in charge of clinical microbiology laboratories in May 2014. Total data from 18 participating hospitals were analyzed to be used as current baseline data, which is necessary to optimize blood culture protocols. Results: Many laboratories included recommended

Original article PDF Young Ah Kim1, Dongeun Yong2, Yong Ha In3, Hyung Soon Park3, Kyungwon Lee2 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 3R&D Center, ASTA Inc, Suwon, Korea Corresponding to Dongeun Yong, E-mail: deyong@yuhs.ac Ann Clin Microbiol 2016;19(3):65-69. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2016.19.3.65Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Sequence type 131 (ST131) O25b serogroup Escherichia coli, producing CTX-M type extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), is a major clone involved in worldwide pandemic spread in both community- and healthcare-associated infections. Recently, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has become a routine tool for the identification of bacteria in many laboratories. This study aimed to assess the performance of MALDI-TOF MS for the screening of ESBL-producing E. coli ST131 in a rapid, inexpensive, and simple way. Methods: A total 26 clinical E.

Case report PDF Jihye Ha1, Yu Jin Park1, Yee Jeong Kim2, Hyun Cheol Oh3, Young Ah Kim4 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Departments of 2Pathology, 3Orthopedic Surgery, 4Laboratory Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, Korea Corresponding to Young Ah Kim, E-mail: yakim@nhimc.or.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2016;19(2):54-57. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.206.19.2.54Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Bacillus cereus is a widespread organism in nature and a member of the B. cereus group of catalase- positive, aerobic, spore-forming, Gram-positive bacilli. B. cereus found in blood is often dismissed as a contaminant in the absence of repeated isolation from multiple cultures. Soft tissue and bone infection due to B. cereus have been associated with trauma, intravenous drug use, and an immunocompromised state. We report a very late prosthetic joint infection of the hip joint and consequent bacteremia caused by B. cereus, which occurred 13 years after total

Original article PDF Young Ah Kim1, John Hoon Rim2, Min Hyuk Choi2, Heejung Kim2, Kyungwon Lee2 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Heejung Kim, E-mail: hjkim12@yuhs.ac Ann Clin Microbiol 2016;19(1):7-12. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2016.19.1.7Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Increasing rates of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) have been reported mainly in Europe and North America; however, only limited reports have originated in Korea. The current epidemiology of CDI in the community could help to understand the outpatient healthcare environment and to extend infection control measures to outpatient settings. Methods: C. difficile isolates in NHIS Ilsan Hospital from 2012 to 2014 were included in this study. Clinical characteristics, acquisition types, and previous antimicrobial therapy were obtained via Electronic Medical Records. C. difficile culture was performed only in

Original article PDF Young Ah Kim1, Yoon Soo Park2, Hyunsoo Kim3, Young Hee Seo4, Kyungwon Lee4,5 Departments of 1Laboratory Medicine, 2Internal Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Police Hospital, 4Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance and 5Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Yoon Soo Park, E-mail: yspark@nhimc.or.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2018;21(2):28-35. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2018.21.2.28Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: In the present study, the prevalence and risk factors for acquisition of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in intensive care unit (ICU) settings without outbreak in the situation of widespread sequence type (ST) 131 ESBL-producing E. coli in a Korean community was investigated. Methods: Consecutive and prospective screening of ESBL-producing E. coli colonization was performed in all patients admitted to surgical or medical ICUs within 48 hours for two months. ESBL genotype was determined based on PCR and sequencing. PCR for O16-ST131/O25-ST131 was performed for all ESBL producers. Clinical

Original article PDF Bareum Gwon1,2, Eun-Jeong Yoon2, Dokyun Kim2, Hyukmin Lee2, Jong Hee Shin3, Jeong Hwan Shin4, Kyeong Seob Shin5, Young Ah Kim6, Young Uh7, Hyun Soo Kim8, Young Ree Kim9, Seok Hoon Jeong2 1Department of Clinical Pathology, Sangji University College of Science, Wonju, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine and Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chonnam National University School of Medicine, Gwangju, 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inje University Busan Paik Hospital, Busan, 5Department of Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, 6Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 7Department of Laboratory Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, 8Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Hwaseong, 9Department of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jeju National University, Jeju, Korea Corresponding to Eun-Jeong Yoon, E-mail: ejyoon@yuhs.ac Ann Clin Microbiol 2019;22(1):1-8. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2019.22.1.1Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract

PDF Original article Annals of Clinical Microbiology (Ann Clin Microbiol) 2020 December, Volume 23, Issue 4, pages 181-189. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2020.23.4.3 Kang Ju Son1,2, Young Ah Kim3, Yoon Soo Park41Department of Research and Analysis, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 2Department of Biostatistics and Computing, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 4Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Abstract Background: Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile is an important pathogen that causes diarrhea in people who take antibiotics. The recent status of C. difficile infection is not wellknown in Korea. Methods: The long-term trend of C. difficile infection in Korean hospitals was analyzed using a nationwide sample cohort. The data also included sociodemographic characteristics, disease severity, and healthcare facilities. C. difficile infection was defined by the prescription of oral vancomycin or all metronidazole prescriptions under C. difficile infectious disease code

PDF Original article Annals of Clinical Microbiology (Ann Clin Microbiol) 2020 September, Volume 23, Issue 3, pages 159-163. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2020.23.3.6 Young Ah Kim1,2, Hyunsoo Kim1,3, Chulhun L. Chang1,41Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Police Hospital, Seoul, 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Korea Abstract The Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19), which emerged as pneumonia from an unknown agent for the first time at the end of 2019, has dramatically transformed our world into one that is highly unrecognizable today. Newly emerging infectious diseases have been occurring more frequently than ever. Opportunities of such deadly microorganisms to adapt to humans—as well as spread between people on a massive scale—are growing because of active human mobility. We have translated and published the book, “One Health: People, Animals, and the Environment.” The original book, published in

Original article Young Ah Kim1, Ea Wha Kang2, Young Hee Seo3, Kyungwon Lee3,4 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, 2Department of Internal Medicine, National Health Insurance Service Ilsan Hospital, Goyang, 3Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance and 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Young Ah Kim, E-mail: yakim@nhimc.or.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2021;24(1):11-20. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2021.24.1.2Received on 4 October 2020, Revised on 30 October 2020, Accepted on 3 November 2020, Published on 20 March 2021.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical and microbiological characteristics of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by Escherichia coli— the most common etiological agent. Methods: Cases of recurrent and single episodes of UTI caused by E. coli were evaluated retrospectively for a period of 6 months (January-June 2019) to analyze the clinical and molecular characteristics of this disease. Results: Healthcare-associated UTI, E. coli

Editorial Hae-Sun Chung Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Correspondence to Hae-Sun Chung, E-mail: sunny0521.chung@ewha.ac.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2025;28(4):27. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2025.28.4.8Received on 16 December 2025, Revised on 18 December 2025, Accepted on 18 December 2025, Published on 20 December 2025.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/). The expanding role of whole-genome sequencing in clinical microbiology: A specially invited review Infectious diseases remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to erode the effectiveness of standard treatment pathways. Against this backdrop, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has shifted from being a specialized research capability to a practical engine for clinical decision support, outbreak investigation, and pathogen surveillance. The review by the distinguished Japanese scholar Professor Takashi Takahashi [1], “Whole-genome sequencing applications for