Background : Annual prevalence of scrub typhus in Korea was 5,000-6,000 cases since 2004. However, there has been an abrupt increase in the prevalence in 2012-2014, which was 8,604, 10,365, 8,130 cases, respectively. According to the National Notifiab...
Background : Annual prevalence of scrub typhus in Korea was 5,000-6,000 cases since 2004. However, there has been an abrupt increase in the prevalence in 2012-2014, which was 8,604, 10,365, 8,130 cases, respectively. According to the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System criteria for diagnosis and notification of scrub typhus, typical clinical findings without laboratory evidence are sufficient enough for classification of probable cases. Therefore, importance of laboratory tests for confirmation of scrub typhus is increasing. However, standard or consensus laboratory test method has not been established yet, and local clinical laboratories apply the individual test methods and interpretation criteria, leading to confusion when interpretate the laboratory test results. Therefore, we aimed to standardize the laboratory test method, and educate and propagate the standard laboratory test manual (hereinafter referred to as the "manual") for the accurate diagnosis of scrub typhus.
Methods : We reviewed the laboratory test methods for scrub typhus, summarized the journals reported in Korea and foreign countries, and analyzed the usefulness of the manual for the diagnosis of scrub typhus. Also, we educated and propagated the manual to major clinical laboratories in Korea.
Results : The usefulness and validity of the manual for the diagnosis of scrub typhus was analyzed though expert advisory conference and journal analysis which was reported in Korea and foreign countries, and improvement points were introduced. Expert opinion meeting was held. And, a workshop and a meeting was once held for the education and propagation of the manual for scrub typhus targeting major clinical laboratories in Korea.
Conclusions : We suggested the improvement points of the manual and laboratory test methods for scrub typhus from the journal analysis and experts opinions. We also conducted the education and propagation of the manual.