BackgroundA Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in South Korea in 2015 started by a single imported case and was amplified by intra- and inter-hospital transmission. We describe two hospital outbreaks of MERS-CoV infection in Daejeon caused by a single patient who was infected by the first Korean case of MERS.Materials and MethodsDemographic and clinical information involving MERS cases in the Daejeon cluster were retrospectively collected and potential contacts and exposures were assessed. The incubation periods and serial intervals were estimated. Viral RNAs were extracted from respiratory tract samples obtained from the index case, four secondary cases and one tertiary case from each hospital. The partial S2 domain of the MERS-CoV spike was sequenced.ResultsIn Daejeon, a MERS patient (the index case) was hospitalized at Hospital A in the first week of illness and was transferred to Hospital B because of pneumonia progression in the second week of illness, where he received a bronchoscopic examination and nebulizer therapy. A total of 23 secondary cases (10 in Hospital A and 13 in Hospital B) were detected among patients and caregivers who stayed on the same ward with the index case. There were no secondary cases among healthcare workers. Among close hospital contacts, the secondary attack rate was 15.8% (12/76) in Hospital A and 14.3% (10/70) in Hospital B. However, considering the exposure duration, the incidence rate was higher in Hospital B (7.7/100 exposure-days) than Hospital A (3.4/100 exposure-days). In Hospital B, the median incubation period was shorter (4.6 days vs. 10.8 days), the median time to pneumonia development was faster (3 days vs. 6 days) and mortality was higher (70% vs. 30.8%) than in Hospital A. MERS-CoV isolates from 11 cases formed a single monophyletic clade, with the closest similarity to strains from Riyadh.ConclusionExposure to the MERS case in the late stage (2nd week) of diseases appeared to increase the risk of transmission and was associated with shorter incubation periods and rapid disease progression among those infected. Early detection and isolation of cases is critical in preventing the spread of MERS in the hospital and decreasing the disease severity among those infected.

BackgroundThrough investigating antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Enterobacteriaceae in community-acquired urinary tract infection (CA-UTI), we provide basic evidence for the use of empirical antibiotics in CA-UTI.Materials and MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients over the age of 19 years who visited a hospital in Seoul between January 2012 and December 2016 for a CA-UTI. Urine cultures were used to identify causative organisms. We investigated extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production and the antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterobactereiaceae. We evaluated recommended empirical antibiotics numerically by calculating the syndrome-specific likelihood of inadequate therapy (LIT) for the last 2 years (interpretation of the LIT A value: 1 out of A people is likely to receive inadequate empirical antibiotics).ResultsUrine cultures were performed in 1,605 out of 2,208 patients who were diagnosed with CA-UTI, and causative pathogens were identified in 1,134 (70.7%) cases. There were 998 (88.0%) cases of Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli was the most common pathogen, accounting for 80.3% of cases (911 cases). The overall resistance rates to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolones, and cefotaxime were 31.7%, 23.2%, and 13.5%, respectively. There were 128 (10.8%) cases of ESBL-producing Entererobacteriaceae with an increasing but non-significant trend (P = 0.255). The LIT for CA-UTI in the past two years was highest for ertapenem and imipenem. Fluoroquinolones ranked 11th, with a LIT of 8.2, and cefotaxime ranked higher, at 10.5. In ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae, except for carbapenems, amikacin and piperacillin-tazobactam showed the highest susceptibility rates at 99.2% and 94.3%, respectively.ConclusionEmpiric treatment with fluoroquinolones in CA-UTI should be carefully considered, given the high resistance rate. The proportion of ESBL-producing Entererobacteriaceae in CA-UTI has increased to a high level in Korea. Amikacin and piperacillin-tazobactam could be considered for empiric treatment in patients at risk for ESBL-producing Entererobacteriaceae when considering alternatives to carbapenems.

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has penetrated our daily lives, leading us to a new normal era. The unexpected impact of COVID-19 has posed a unique challenge for the health care system, bringing innovation around the world. Considering the current pandemic pattern, comprehensive preparedness strategies of healthcare resources need to be implemented to prepare for a large resurgence of COVID-19 within a short time. With the unprecedented spread of the new pandemic and the impending influenza season, scientific evidence-based schemes need to be developed through cooperation, coordination, and solidarity. Based on the early experience with the current pandemic, this narrative interpretive review of qualitative studies suggests a 6-domain plan to establish a better health care system that is prepared to deal with the current and future public health crises. The 6 domains are medical institutions, medical workforce, medical equipment, COVID-19 surveillance, data and information application, and governance structure.