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Son, Kim, Jo, Chae, Hong, Kang, Lee, and Han: Is the Yersinia enterocolitica Possible Infectious Agent in Acute Appendicitis?
Original Article
Journal of the Korean Surgical Society

Journal of the Korean Surgical Society 2009; 76(4): 221-224.

Published online: 23 April 2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4174/jkss.2009.76.4.221

Is the Yersinia enterocolitica Possible Infectious Agent in Acute Appendicitis?

Tae Joon Son, M.D., Dong Hee Kim, M.D., Yun Ju Jo, M.D.1, Jeong Don Chae, M.D.2, Boo Hwan Hong, M.D., Jae Hee Kang, M.D., Tae Seok Lee, M.D., Jun Gil Han, M.D.

Department of Surgery, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

1Department of Gatroenterology, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

2Department of Laboratory Medicine, Eulji Hospital, Eulji University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

kdh2109@eulji.or.kr

Received 15 December 2008       Accepted 29 January 2009

Copyright © 2009 The Korean Surgical Society

Abstract

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.

Keywords: Acute appendicitis, Yersinia enterocolitica

Figures and Tables

Fig. 1
Demographic characteristics of the enrolled patients and result of culture for Y. enterocolitica.
jkss-76-221-g001
Fig. 2
"Bulls-eye" colonies (dark pink centers surrounded by a translucent border) of Yersinia enterocolitica on cefsulodin-irgasan-novobiocin (CIN) agar after 48 hours.
jkss-76-221-g002

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