J Korean Surg Soc JKSS Journal of the Korean Surgical Society 1226-0053 The Korean Surgical Society 10.4174/jkss.2009.76.4.221 Original Article Is the Yersinia enterocolitica Possible Infectious Agent in Acute Appendicitis? Son Tae Joon M.D. Kim Dong Hee M.D. Jo Yun Ju M.D. 1 Chae Jeong Don M.D. 2 Hong Boo Hwan M.D. Kang Jae Hee M.D. Lee Tae Seok M.D. Han Jun Gil M.D. Department of Surgery, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Department of Gatroenterology, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. kdh2109@eulji.or.kr 04 2009 23 04 2009 76 4 221 224 15 12 2008 29 01 2009 Copyright © 2009 The Korean Surgical Society 2009 Purpose

With increasing frequency, Yersinia enterocolitica is being recognized as an important bacterial cause of acute gastrointestinal infection with abdominal pain. In addition, the association of Y. enterocolitica infections with acute appendicitis has been suggested. This study was undertaken to ascertain whether Y. enterocolitica is a possible infectious agent in acute appendicitis.

 Methods

Between December 2007 and April 2008, 162 patients who underwent appendectomy for presumed appendicitis, enrolled in this prospective study. After surgical excision of appendix, a portion of each specimen was cultured for Y. enterocolitica with highly selective media (Cefsulodin-Irgasan-Novobiocin agar).

 Results

Pathologically, 150 of the patients had appendicitis and 12 patients had normal appendices. Only one of the 150 patients (0.7%) with appendicitis was found to be culture positive for Y. enterocolitica, while it was not detected from normal appendices.

 Conclusion

The authors were unable to implicate Y. enterocolitica as a major pathogen in acute appendicitis within the Seoul area. However, we thought there to be more need for investigation for association of Y. enterocolitica with acute appendicitis over a broader area and season.

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Demographic characteristics of the enrolled patients and result of culture for Y. enterocolitica.

"Bulls-eye" colonies (dark pink centers surrounded by a translucent border) of Yersinia enterocolitica on cefsulodin-irgasan-novobiocin (CIN) agar after 48 hours.