scholarly journals Acts and Public Notices on Healthcare-associated Infection Control & Prevention in the Republic of Korea

Author(s):  
Mijin Lee ◽  
Sumin Kim ◽  
Su Ha Han ◽  
Young Hwa Choi
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S305-S305
Author(s):  
Se Yoon Park ◽  
Bongyoung Kim ◽  
Dong Sik Jung ◽  
Sook In Jung ◽  
Won Sup Oh ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate psychological distress among infectious disease (ID) physicians during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the Republic of Korea. Methods Using an online-based survey link sent via text message and email, we conducted a survey from April 21 to 25, 2020, targeting all ID physicians currently working in ID (n = 265). The questionnaire was based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales, and information was collected on factors protecting against psychological distress and difficulties in relation to COVID-19. Results Of 265 ID physicians, 115 (43.3%) responded, showing burnout (97, 90.4%), depression (20, 17.4%), anxiety (23, 20.0%), and stress (5, 4.3%). There were no differences in terms of distress between ID physicians who were directly involved in the care of patients with COVID-19 or not (Table 1). Greater than 50% of physicians valued their work and felt recognized by others, whereas < 10% indicated that sufficient human and financial support and private time had been provided during the outbreak. The most challenging issues concerned a lack of human resources for COVID-19 treatment or infection control, a shortage of personal protective equipment or airborne infection isolation rooms, pressure for research, and lack of guidelines for COVID-19 management (Figure 1). Table 1. Figure 1. Difficulties in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 19; HCWs, healthcare workers; ICPs, infection control practitioners; IRB, Institutional Review Board; PPE, personal protective equipment Conclusion During the COVID-19 outbreak in the ROK, most respondents reported psychological distress. Preparing strategies for infectious disease outbreaks that support ID physicians is essential. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-460
Author(s):  
Narges Habibollah-Pourzereshki ◽  
Amir Peymani ◽  
Fatemeh Keshavarz-Saleh

Introduction: Escherichia coli is one of the most important agents involved in healthcare-associated infection, and resistance to quantum ammonium compounds (QACs) has become a major challenge for infection control practitioners. The aim of the current study was to determine the frequency of qacE and qacEΔ1 genes in E. coli isolated from hospitalized patients in Qazvin, Iran. Material and Methods: In the current cross-sectional study, 102 E. coli were collected from hospitals of Qazvin. All bacterial isolates were identified using standard laboratory methods and the antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by Kirby-Baer test. The presence of qacE and qacEΔ1 genes was investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique. Results: In this study, 65 (63.7%) isolates showed a multidrug resistance (MDR) pattern which was resistant to at least three classes of antimicrobials including ß-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones. The highest rates of resistance were observed against cefotaxime (75.5%) and nalidixic acid (66.7%). The PCR showed that 5 (4.9%) isolates harbored qacE gene, 62 (60.8%) isolates qacEΔ1, and 10 (9.8%) isolates carried both genes, simultaneously. There was a significant relationship between the QACs resistance and MDR pattern (P=0.03). Conclusion: This study indicated a significant resistance rate against disinfectant compounds in the studied hospitals. However, more attention should be paid to this critical issue in the infection control committees of the hospitals.


2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 805-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn S. Kay ◽  
Alexander G. Vandevelde ◽  
Paul D. Fiorella ◽  
Rebecca Crouse ◽  
Carina Blackmore ◽  
...  

Background.In July 1999, a rare strain of multidrug-resistantSalmonella entericaserovar Senftenberg was isolated from the sputum of a trauma patient. Over a 6-year period (1999-2005) in northeast Florida, thisSalmonellaserovar spread to 66 other patients in 16 different healthcare facilities as a result of frequent transfers of patients among institutions. To our knowledge, this is the first outbreak of healthcare-associated infection and colonization with a fluoroquinolone-resistant strain of S. Senftenberg in the United States.Objectives.To investigate an outbreak of infection and colonization with an unusual strain of S. Senftenberg and assist with infection control measures.Design.A case series, outbreak investigation, and microbiological study of all samples positive forS.Senftenberg on culture.Setting.Cases ofS.Senftenberg infection and colonization occurred in hospitals and long-term care facilities in 2 counties in northeast Florida.Results.The affected patients were mostly elderly persons with multiple medical conditions. They were frequently transferred between healthcare facilities. ThisSalmonellaserovar was capable of long-term colonization of chronically ill patients. AllS.Senftenberg isolates tested shared a similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern.Conclusion.A prolonged outbreak of infection and colonization with multidrug-resistantS.Senftenberg was identified in several healthcare facilities throughout the Jacksonville, Florida, area and became established when infection control measures failed. The bacterial agent was capable of long-term colonization in chronically ill patients. Because the dispersal pattern of this strain suggested a breakdown of infection control practices, a multipronged intervention approach was undertaken that included intense education of personnel in the different institutions, interinstitutional cooperation, and transfer paperwork notification.


2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1208-1214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristy Weinshel ◽  
Angela Dramowski ◽  
Ágnes Hajdu ◽  
Saul Jacob ◽  
Basudha Khanal ◽  
...  

BACKGROUNDHealthcare-associated infection rates are higher in low- and middle-income countries compared with high-income countries, resulting in relatively larger incidence of patient mortality and disability and additional healthcare costs.OBJECTIVETo use the Infection Control Assessment Tool to assess gaps in infection control (IC) practices in the participating countries.METHODSSix international sites located in Argentina, Greece, Hungary, India, Nepal, and South Africa provided information on the health facility and the surgical modules relating to IC programs, surgical antibiotic use and surgical equipment procedures, surgical area practices, sterilization and disinfection of equipment and intravenous fluid, and hand hygiene. Modules were scored for each country.RESULTSThe 6 international sites completed 5 modules. Of 121 completed sections, scores of less than 50% of the recommended IC practices were received in 23 (19%) and scores from 50% to 75% were received in 43 (36%). IC programs had various limitations in many sites and surveillance of healthcare-associated infections was not consistently performed. Lack of administration of perioperative antibiotics, inadequate sterilization and disinfection of equipment, and paucity of hand hygiene were found even in a high-income country. There was also a lack of clearly written defined policies and procedures across many facilities.CONCLUSIONSOur results indicate that adherence to recommended IC practices is suboptimal. Opportunities for improvement of IC practices exist in several areas, including hospital-wide IC programs and surveillance, antibiotic stewardship, written and posted guidelines and policies across a range of topics, surgical instrument sterilization procedures, and improved hand hygiene.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(10):1208–1214


2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 424-429 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Nusair ◽  
Dawn Jourdan ◽  
Sharon Medcalf ◽  
Nedra Marion ◽  
Peter C. Iwen ◽  
...  

Objective.To characterize infection control experience during a 6.5-year period in a cooperative care center for transplant patients.Design.Descriptive analysis.Setting.A cooperative care center for transplanted patients, in which patients and care partners are housed in a homelike environment, and care partners assume responsibility for patient care duties.Patients.Nine hundred ninety one transplant patients.Methods.Infection control definitions from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to ascertain infection rates. Environmental cultures were used to detect methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA), vancomycin-resistantEnterococcus(VRE),Clostridium difficile,and fungi during the first 18 months. Surveillance cultures were performed for a subset of patients and care partners.Results.From June 1999 through December 2005, there were 19,365 patient-days observed. The most common healthcare-associated infection encountered was intravascular catheter-related bloodstream infection, with infection rates of 5.74 and 4.94 cases per 1,000 patient-days for hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and solid organ transplant (SOT) patients, respectively. G difficile-associated diarrhea was observed more frequentiy in HSCT patients than in SOT patients (3.97 vs 0.57 cases per 1000 patient-days;P<.0001 ). There was no evidence of environmental contamination with MRSA, VRE, or C.difficile.Acquisition of MRSA was not observed. Acquisition of VRE was documented.Conclusion.This study documented that cooperative care was associated with some risk of healthcare-associated infection, most notably intravascular catheter-associated bloodstream infection and C. difficile-associated diarrhea, it appears the incidences of these infections were roughly commensurate with those in other care settings.


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