Chang Kyung Kang

Nosocomial transmission is an important characteristic of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection. Risk factors for transmission of MERS-CoV in healthcare settings are not well defined. During the Korean outbreak in 2015, 186 patients had laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV infection. Those suspected as a source of viral transmission were categorized into the spreader groups (super-spreader [n = 5] and usual-spreader [n = 10]) and compared to the non-spreader group (n = 171).

Lopinavir/ritonavir showed significant inhibitory effects on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro at its usual plasma concentration. However, the in vitro antiviral activity of hydroxychloroquine at concentrations commonly used in humans was minimal, whether used alone or in combination with lopinavir/ritonavir.

Memory response to SARS-CoV-2, based on the frequency and functionality, persists for 8 months PSO. Further investigations involving its longevity and protective effect from reinfection are warranted.

CMI responses following influenza vaccination were stronger in the ICI group than in the cytotoxic chemotherapy group. Influenza vaccination should be strongly recommended in patients with cancer receiving ICIs.

Though persistent KpB is uncommon, follow-up blood culture was performed in as many as 80% of the cases in this study. A more careful clinical assessment is warranted to reduce the cost and patient inconvenience involved in follow-up blood culture.

Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec element (SCCmec) type-dependent clinical outcomes may vary due to geographical variation in the presence of virulence determinants. We compared the microbiological factors and mortality attributed to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia between SCCmec types II/III and type IV. All episodes of MRSA bacteremia in a tertiary-care hospital (South Korea) over a 4.5-year period were reviewed. We studied the microbiological factors associa

β-d-glucan test should be used to exclude IFI rather than for diagnosis in these patients.

One dose of mRNA vaccine should be considered sufficient to elicit a broad immune response even around 18 months after a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Finding an effective treatment against coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is urgently needed.1 Humanized virus suppressing factor-variant 13 (hzVSF-v13) is a monoclonal IgG4 against vimentin, which is expressed on the surface of virus-infected cells. hzVSF-v13 was first isolated from mice infected with the encephalomyocarditis virus, and has a broad-spectrum of antiviral activity and anti-inflammatory effect on virus-induced inflammation.2 It has also shown activity against the human coronaviru

Seropositive HCWs without a varicella history, especially those who received the vaccine only once, had significantly lower levels of immune responses to VZV. Such HCWs might need to comply with airborne precautions.

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the duration of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> bacteremia (SAB) according to methicillin resistance and the primary foci of infection. We also aimed to newly define persistent SAB considering these results. Nonduplicated episodes of SAB in patients aged ≥15 years from 14 hospitals in the Republic of Korea were analyzed between January 2009 and February 2018. The duration of SAB was defined as the number of days from the time of administration o

To the Editor, Phenytoin is a commonly used antiepileptic drug despite its numerous adverse reactions, such as skin lesions, fever, and lymphadenopathy [1]. Most of the adverse reactions are extrapulmonary, and there have been few reports of acute pulmonary toxicity of the drug [2-4]. We present herein a case of acute bilateral pulmonary infiltration and respiratory failure due to phenytoin intoxication in a patient who attempted to commit suicide with about 50 phenytoin pills. A 49-year-o