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Background: Recent data regarding the clinical epidemiologic characteristics of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in Korean adults are insufficient. This study was conducted in order to compare epidemics in different ages and to identify the clinical characteristics in adults. Material and Methods: We investigated patients who visited Korea University Guro Hospital from January to December 2011 due to community acquired pneumonia and underwent mycoplasma antibody tests. M. pneumoniae pneumonia was diagnosed if mycoplasma antibody titer was ≥1:320 at any time, seroconversion or 4-fold rise was seen at convalescent phase. Patients under the age of 19 were classified as child and adolescent, otherwise adult. We investigated the number of monthly cases in all patients and reviewed the medical records of adult patients. Results: A total of 249 young patients aged ≤18 years and 29 adults were diagnosed with M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Among young patients, 75.5% were concentrated in the 0-6 years age group and 58.6% of adults belonged to the 26-40 years age group. The number of young patients began to increase in July and continued to increase in December, while the number of adult patients began to increase in August and occurred continuously until December. The correlation coefficient of the epidemic trend between the two groups was 0.682 (P=0.015). Median age of adult patients was 33.3 years. Fever was observed in all patients and 25 patients (86.2%) complained of purulent sputum. The average white blood cell count was 7,066/ mm⊃3, The average values for aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, creatinine, and sodium were within the normal range. In chest X-ray study, ipsilateral lower patchy consolidation was found in 24 patients (82.8%). Twenty one adult patients (72.4%) were hospitalized. The mean duration of hospitalization was 7.3 days. Twenty three patients (79.3%) were initially treated with combinations of third generation cephalosporin and macrolide. Among them, five patients (17.2%) showed poor responses. Six cases (20.7%) were initially treated with quinolone, and treatment was maintained until the end without changing antibiotics. Development of cryptogenic organizing pneumonia occurred in one case and there was no occurrence of death. Conclusions: When M. pneumoniae pneumonia is epidemic among children and adolescents, it should also be suspected in adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia. Some patients showed poor responses to macrolide. Overall, it appears that additional studies are needed for evaluation of the effectiveness of macrolide in treatment of M. pneumoniae pneumonia in adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uncomplicated acute cystitis (CA-UAC) is one of the most common infections treated with antibiotics in the community. However, few data on etiology of CA-UAC and its susceptibility to antibiotics are available, primarily because, in Korea, insurance does not allow reimbursement for microbiological evaluation of CA-UAC. However, microbiologic data on community-acquired uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis (CA-UAPN) are available. The objective of the study was to evaluate the question of whether microbiologic data on CA-UAPN can be used for treatment of CA-UAC; therefore, etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility were compared between pathogens of CA-UAC and those of CA-UAPN. Materials and Methods: During 2008, 538 CA-UACs and 1,265 CA-UAPNs were recruited retrospectively from 14 hospitals (UTI research group). Microbiologic data on etiology and susceptibility to antibiotics were collected retrospectively. Results: Urine culture was positive in 131 CA-UACs (131/469, 27.9%) and 719 CA-UAPNs (719/1249, 57.6%). Escherichia coil was the most common pathogen in both groups [83.2% (1 09/131) in CA-UAC vs. 91.9% (661/719) in CA-UAPNI. Susceptibility to common UTI regimens, such as ciprofloxacin, extended-spectrum cephalosporins, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole did not differ between urinary pathogens of CA-UACs and CA-UAPNs, however, a significant difference was observed in rates of resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam (16.5% vs. 42.9%, P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Rates of resistance of E. coil from CA-UAC and CA-UAPN to most antibiotics did not differ. For proper treatment, further microbiological evaluation for CA-UAC is mandatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases has provided vaccination schedules for adults residing in Korea since 2007. The primary goal of adult immunization is to maintain effective immunization coverage lasting into old age and to protect from opportunistic infections during the aging process. All adults should receive at least a decennial booster vaccination against diphtheria and tetanus as well as pertussis. Individuals above the age of 65 additionally benefit from vaccinations against pneumococcus. Even though everyone can get an annual influenza vaccine, the elderly population and persons who have chronic disease are considered the preferred group. Human papilloma virus vaccine is recommended for women under 26 years old as a catch-up vaccination. Universal hepatitis A vaccination might be helpful for persons in their 20s as a control measure nowadays under the hepatitis A epidemic. We carefully consider meningococcal vaccination for the military recruits and college student in dormitories. Furthermore, we should consider special vaccination for travelers or pregnant women. To assess vaccine benefits and risks, vaccination providers should understand the most effective strategies to reduce the burden of vaccine-preventable disease according to host status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection and Chemotherapy is a joint-journal newly born in 2003, extensively integrating two journals, Infection by The Korean Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy by the Korean Society of Chemotherapy. Infection and Chemotherapy, which maintained its character as a Korean Journal, even though published in a Korean and English mixed format, will switch its gears to an English journal, closing with the last edition volume 44, issue 6, published in December 2012. Prior to our changeover to an English journal, this column has been set aside to take our leave of the past by looking back through the history of our journal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]