Sung-Min Lim

BACKGROUND: Transplant recipients are immunocompromised and vulnerable to developing tuberculosis. However, active tuberculosis incidence is rapidly declining in South Korea, but the trend of tuberculosis infection among transplant recipients has not been elucidated. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of active tuberculosis after transplantation, including risk factors for tuberculosis and standardized incidence ratios, compared with that in the general population. METHODS: This retrospective

Short-term exposure to TCs does not appear to increase the risk of dental abnormalities in children aged 0-7 and 0-12 years. Restrictions on the use of TCs in children aged 8-12 years, in some countries, may warrant consideration.

Live immunization is contraindicated in patients with DiGeorge syndrome (DGS). We retrospectively investigated the occurrence of adverse events after live immunization in patients with DGS in Korea. The data of patients matching the International Classification of Disease-10 code of DGS (D82.1) at Severance Hospital Seoul, Korea, were extracted; patients without genetically diagnosed DGS were excluded. Based on T cell immunity status, the included patients were categorized into group A (CD3 < 50

Limited data are available on the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on encephalitis. Therefore, we evaluated trends in encephalitis in South Korea between 2010 and 2021 using data from the National Health Insurance Service. During the pandemic (February 2020 to 2021), the monthly incidence of encephalitis declined by 0.027 per 100 000 population (95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.055 to 0.001, p = 0.062) compared to that before the pandemic. In subgroup analysis, the estimated

Despite the decline in the overall birth rate, increasing preterm births and associated medical costs pose a national concern. We analyze hospitalization costs covered by national public insurance for preterm infants. Population-based data, obtained from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS), which is operated by the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, were used for the study. Preterm births from January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2020 were included, using International Classific

BACKGROUND: Infections are considered risk factors for autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs), the incidence of which is considered to have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on the incidence of AIRDs and their associated health care services and medical expenses in Korea was investigated. METHODS: We included all AIRD cases reported between January 2016 and February 2021 based on the National Health Insurance Service data. W

Abstract Background Tetracycline (TC) is not recommended for pediatric use due to the risk of permanent teeth discoloration and enamel dysplasia. We aimed to assess the incidence of dental abnormality in Korean children and investigate whether the risk was greater in tetracycline-exposed children compared to the general population. Methods This nationwide, population-based study using Health Insurance Review and Assessment service database included children (aged 0-12 years) who were prescribed

Abstract Background Non-typhoidal salmonella (NTS) infections usually have a self-limiting course, but can cause invasive NTS (iNTS) diseases, including bacteremia, meningitis, osteomyelitis or other focal infection. However, information on NTS infections in children is scarce in Asian countries. We investigated the differences in clinical features and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of NTS infections in Korean children. Methods From November 2006 to May 2021, we collected NTS cases isolat

Abstract Background: Transplant recipients are immunocompromised and vulnerable to developing tuberculosis; however, active tuberculosis incidence is rapidly declining in South Korea. To evaluate the risk of developing active tuberculosis after transplantation, risk factors for tuberculosis and standardized incidence rates were compared with those in the general population. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted based on the South Korean health insurance review and assessment database a

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology characterized by granuloma formation. Due to the limited incidence of sarcoidosis in pediatric patients, little is known about the clinical course of this disease. A combination of clinical, radiologic, and pathologic examination is necessary to exclude other differential diagnoses (i.e., infection and granulomatous inflammatory disorder) and establish a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Here, we report a case of histologically confirm

Abstract Background DiGeorge syndrome (DGS) is a syndrome accompanied by congenital heart defect, hypoparathyroidism and immunodeficiency of varying severity. Live vaccination is generally contraindicated in patients with DGS. However, in real clinical practice, there are cases in which live vaccines are immunized before the diagnosis of DGS or are incidentally immunized. We collected these cases and investigated adverse events (AEs), especially infections caused by the vaccine strains. Methods

Abstract Background Patients with primary antibody deficiency are known to be associated with a higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, complications, and mortality. Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab prophylaxis has shown efficacy in reducing hospitalization and mortality. We aim to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 cases in primary antibody deficiency patients receiving tixagevimab/cilgavimab prophylaxis in South Korea. Methods This is a descriptive analysis of COVID-19 infection

BACKGROUND: A pilot program launched in November 2024 to establish and operationalize Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) in Korean hospitals is expected to accelerate nationwide adoption. However, consensus on indicators for evaluating ASP performance remains lacking. This study aimed to develop indicators for evaluating the short- and long-term effectiveness of ASPs. METHODS: An expert panel comprised 18 specialists from academic societies and government agencies involved in infectious d