Original article PDF Jeong Hwan Shin1, Sae Am Song1, Mi-na Kim2, Sunjoo Kim3 1Department of Laboratory Medicine and Paik Institute of Clinical Research, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine and Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea Corresponding to Sunjoo Kim, E-mail: sjkim8239@hanmail.net Ann Clin Microbiol 2011;14(3):91-96. https://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2011.14.3.91Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Although many laboratories use automated blood culture systems, adequate skin disinfection and optimal blood volume are still critical for successful culture. The authors undertook a nationwide survey to understand the current situation and problems of blood culture in Korea.  Methods: A survey of blood culture was performed in March and April 2010, including disinfectants, blood collection intervals, and recommended blood volumes. The laboratory physicians described the storage

Original article PDF Hee-Jung Kim1, Nam Yong Lee1, Sunjoo Kim2,3, Jeong Hwan Shin4,5, Mi-Na Kim6, Eui-Chong Kim7, Sun Hoi Koo8, Nam Hee Ryoo9, Jae-Seok Kim10, Ji-Hyun Cho11 1Department of Laboratory Medicine & Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, 3Institute of Health Sciences, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, 5Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Department of Laboratory Medicine, 6Asan Medical Center and University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 7Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, 8College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, 9School of Medicine, Keimyung University, Daegu, 10Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, 11College of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea Corresponding to Nam Yong Lee, E-mail: micro.lee@samsung.com Ann Clin Microbiol 2011;14(2):48-54. https://doi.org/10.5145/KJCM.2011.14.2.48Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Blood culture is important for determining the etiologic agents of bacteremia and fungemia.

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 Sae Am Song1*, Ji Hyun Kim1*, Jeong Hwan Shin1,2, Si Hyun Kim1,2, Nam Yong Lee3, Mi-Na Kim4, Sunjoo Kim5 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Inje University College of Medicine, 2Paik Institute for Clinical Research, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, 4Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, 5Department of Laboratory Medicine, Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, Jinju, Korea Corresponding to Sunjoo Kim, E-mail: sjkim8239@hanmail.net Ann Clin Microbiol 2014;17(2):35-41. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2014.17.2.35Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Blood culture for diagnosis of bacteremia and fungemia comprises aerobic and anaerobic cultures. The clinical utility of routine anaerobic blood culture has been questioned for a long time and was evaluated in this study. Methods: A total of 9,028 positive blood cultures were collected from adults at four university-affiliated hospitals.

Case report PDF Chang Ahn Seol1, Young Jin Ko1, Sung-Han Kim2, Mi-Na Kim1, Heungsup Sung1, Je-Hwan Lee2 Departments of 1Laboratory Medicine and 2Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine and Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Heungsup Sung, E-mail: sung@amc.seoul.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2015;18(2):64-67. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2015.18.2.64Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has been a major concern in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Ganciclovir (GCV) resistance results mostly from mutations within the protein kinase UL97 gene. The three hot spots for GCV resistance (codons 460, 520, and 590-607) were well known. We describe a case of GCV-resistant CMV colitis caused by a 597-600 deletion in UL97 after haplo-identical peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (h-PBSCT) in a 46 year-old man with myelodysplastic syndrome. On post-PBSCT day 28, CMV antigenemia turned positive. Treatment of GCV was started and continued for 12 weeks but CMV antigenemia did

Original article PDF Soo-Kyung Kim, Hyun-Ki Kim, Young Jin Ko, Heungsup Sung, Mi-Na Kim Department of Laboratory Medicine, 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 2015;18(1):7-13. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2015.18.1.7Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: The diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) should demonstrate catheter colonization of the same organism as the isolate from peripheral blood cultures, by catheter tip culture or by differential time to positivity (DTP) of catheter- drawn blood cultures versus peripheral blood cultures. The purpose of this study was to compare the sonication and the roll-plate methods of catheter tip culture. Methods: One hundred and sixty-one catheter tips from 122 patients were submitted for catheter tip culture. Distal segments of the catheter were first inoculated using a roll-plate, and then inoculated by sonication. Sonication was performed using a BactoSonic device (Bandelin GmbH,

Original article PDF Jeonghyun Chang1, Sang-Hyun Hwang1,2, Mi-Na Kim1, Heungsup Sung1 1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, 2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Center for Diagnostic Oncology, Research Institute and Hospital, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea Corresponding to Heungsup Sung, E-mail: sung@amc.seoul.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2017;20(2):21-26. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2017.20.2.21Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a clinically important pathogen that causes significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients and is typically monitored using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). International standards and certified reference materials were recently developed by the WHO, providing the opportunity to standardize viral load reporting. Clinical microbiologists who conduct quantitative CMV DNA testing should be aware of technical issues that can affect the analytical and clinical performance of the method used. These include specimen type, limits of detection and quantification, linear range, reproducibility, and wide variability in viral

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

PDF Original article Annals of Clinical Microbiology (Ann Clin Microbiol) 2020 December, Volume 23, Issue 4, pages 191-199. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2020.23.4.4 Aram Kim, Heerah Lee, Kyu Wha Hur, Heungsup Sung, Mi-Na Kim Department of Laboratory Medicine, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea 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) and peak values of the amplification curves, positive target genes, and results of repeated or consecutive tests were

Original article Seul Ki Lee1, Ji Eun Choi1, Chae Min Shin2, Mi-Na Kim3 1Division of Healthcare Technology Assessment Research, 2Division for New Health Technology Assessment, National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, Seoul, 3Department of Laboratory Medicine Asan Medical Center University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea Corresponding to Chae Min Shin, E-mail: blu0924@neca.re.kr Ann Clin Microbiol 2021;24(3):97-104. https://doi.org/10.5145/ACM.2021.24.3.4Received on 20 April 2021, Revised on 5 July 2021, Accepted on 19 August 2021, Published on 20 September 2021.Copyright © Korean Society of Clinical Microbiology. Abstract Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation against gut colonization using a multidrugresistant organism is a technique used to treat infections through normalizing the gut microbiota via fecal microbiota transplantation in patients with confirmed colonization by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) or vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) based on a fecal culture test within the past one week. In this study, we aimed to determine the safety and effectiveness of this technique. Methods: