• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.409-412
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• 2009

Background: Several large outbreaks have demonstrated the threat of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in close-contact environments, such as occurs during training and quartering of military recruits training. In South Korea, which is a hospital or healthcare-associated MRSA prevalent area, military service is compulsory for all healthy young men. We surveyed and determined the extent of CA-MRSA colonization in the upper respiratory tracts of Korean military recruits. Methods: The Korean military recruits who were enrolled in a military training facility from November 2004 to March 2005 were eligible for this study. Sputum or nasopharyngeal swap was obtained from randomly selected subjects who displayed upper respiratory tract symptoms. Results: Of the 181 participants, 32 participants (17.7%) were colonized with S. aureus, and 12 participants (6.6%) were colonized with MRSA. Among the cases that were colonized with S. aureus, 37.5% (12/32) were colonized with MRSA. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing showed resistant patterns that were suggestive of the CA-MRSA strains for all of the MRSA isolates. Conclusion: This study of Korean military recruits found a great deal of showed MRSA colonization in them, and the antimicrobial resistant profile that was suggestive of a CA-MRSA strain. Further efforts to prevent the spread of MRSA infections and careful monitoring for CA-MRSA outbreaks are warranted, especially in a high risk group such as military recruits.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2015

Since April 2012, more than 1,600 laboratory-confirmed human infections with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have been reported, occurring primarily in countries in the Arabian Peninsula; the majority in Saudi Arabia. The MERS outbreak in Korea, which began in May 2015 through the importation of a single case who had recently traveled to Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. As of November 28th, 186 secondary and tertiary cases had been reported; 38 deaths, mainly associated with underlying chronic illnesses, were reported. One case was exported to China and has been recorded as the first MERS case in China. Thirty-seven confirmed cases were associated with the index case, who was hospitalized from May 15 to May 17. Emergency room at one of the nation's largest hospitals had been affected by hospital-to-hospital and intra-hospital transmissions of MERS-CoV, resulting in an outbreak of 90 infected patients. The vast majority of 186 confirmed cases are linked to a single transmission chain associated with health facilities. The median age of patients is 55 years, with a range of 16 to 87 years. The majority (61%) of patients are men. Twenty-five (14%) of the cases involve healthcare workers. The overall median incubation period was six days, but it was four days for secondary cases and six days for tertiary cases. There has been no evidence of airborne transmission and sustained human-to-human transmission in communities. Intensified public health measures, including contact tracing, quarantine and isolation of all contacts and suspected cases, and infection prevention and control have brought the MERS-CoV under control in Korea. Since 4 July no new cases have been reported.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.74-84
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was designed to identify knowledge and performance level of infection control among oriental medical doctors and nurses and further to identify factors that may influence practice. Methods: Data were collected using the survey method. Two hundred and forty two healthcare workers (HCW) from five oriental medicine university hospitals in Korea (140 physicians and 102 nurses) completed a survey about infection control. The study was conducted from February 1 to 28, 2011. Results: The average knowledge level of infection control among HCW was $0.75{\pm}0.13$ (score range 0~1) and the average performance level of infection control was $3.16{\pm}1.05$ (score range 0~5). 'Disinfection and sterilization' were ranked the highest in both the knowledge and performance level. In the knowledge level, 'hand washing/hand hygiene' were ranked the lowest. 'Bloodstream infection prevention' was the lowest among the infection control categories in performance. Total average knowledge and performance level of nurses was significantly higher than that of the physicians. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the oriental medical doctors and nurses' knowledge and performance level of infection control differed. The education on infection control is required to oriental medical doctors and nurses and it would contribute to preventing healthcare associated infections in oriental medicine hospitals.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.149-157
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• 2017

MERS outbreak in Korea was related to healthcare-associated infections. The number of healthcare workers infected with MERS were 39, of which 15 were nurses. We investigated knowledge, attitudes and preventive behaviors against MERS in nursing students who will serve as future nurses. This is a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire survey. Data were collected from 350 nursing students from April to May 2016. As a result, there was a statistically significant positive correlation between attitudes and prevention behaviors against MERS. (r=.387, p <.001). The effect of knowledge and attitudes on preventive behaviors against MERS was analyzed by 15.2% of the explanatory power of regression model and statistically significant by regression equation (F = 31.081, p <.001). This study suggests that nursing students need convergence educational programs to improve their attitudes and preventive behaviors against infectious diseases such as MERS.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2018

Objectives The authors propose a new checklist model adapted for safety miniscalpel acupuncture procedure of cervical and lumbar spine. Methods On the basis of available literature and expert opinion, a prototype checklist was developed. The checklist was adapted on the basis of observation of daily practice. Results The checklist has three parts: 1. prevention and management of healthcare associated infections, 2. verification list before and after miniscalpel acupuncture treatment, 3. adverse event monitoring after procedure. We presented a summary checklist based on the above contents. Conclusions We propose the first patient safety checklist for minicalpel acupuncture treatment of cervical and lumbar spine. The checklist will be complemented using further research methodologies.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2019

Bacillus cereus causes serious central nervous system infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Successful treatment requires adequate antimicrobial concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid; however, in some cases, achieving this with systemic treatment alone is difficult. We treated intractable B. cereus ventriculitis with intraventricular vancomycin, with no major adverse events.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the disinfecting efficacy of peracetic acid (PAA), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and phenol, which are representative disinfectants in medical environments using four types of multi-drug resistance (MDR) clinical isolates with healthcare-associated infections (HAI). 26 antibiotic susceptibility tests were conducted for the four types of MDR clinical isolates in the same way as for clinical specimens. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the disinfectants were determined by using in vitro liquid medium dilution method and inoculation of the plate medium. Both the MIC and MBC of phenol against MRSA and VRE were 3.1%, while those against KPC and MRPA were 6.2%. The MIC and MBC of peracetic acid (PAA) against MRSA, VRE, KPC, and MRPA were 0.18%. The MIC and MBC of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) against MRSA were 0.39% and 0.78%, respectively. Both values of MIC and MBC were 0.78% for VRE. In addition, KPC and MRPA showed 0.39% for MIC and 0.78% for MBC. For all MDR strains used in this study, sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid showed significant sterilizing efficiency, while no clear correlation was identified between antibiotic resistance clinical isolated and ability of disinfection.

• Korean Journal of Healthcare-Associated Infection Control and Prevention
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.50-56
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• 2016

Background: Alternatives to carbapenem are increasingly needed to decrease the usage of carbapenem. We evaluated the possibility of using non-carbapenem antibiotics against urinary tract infections (UTI) caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE). Methods: This retrospective study was performed at 2 university hospitals between October 2010 and December 2012. All diagnosed adult cases of ESBL-PE UTI were identified from the microbiological database. The subjects were divided into 3 groups based on the empirical antibiotic classes and susceptibility: carbapenem (C) group, susceptible non-carbapenem (SNC) group, and non-susceptible non-carbapenem (NSNC) group. Results: A total of 84 patients were eligible for analysis. For empirical therapy, 41, 23, and 20 patients were included in the NSNC, SNC, and C empirical groups, respectively. During the empirical therapy, 7 patients (17.1%) in the NSNC group, 18 patients (78.3%) in the SNC group, and 19 patients (78.3%) in the C group experienced clinical improvement. No significant difference was observed between the SNC and C empirical groups (P=0.192). Severe sepsis or shock was the predictor of empirical SNC treatment failure (P=0.048). There was a tendency to use carbapenem as a definite therapy in cases of NSNC. In contrast, empirical SNC was maintained as a definite therapy. Conclusion: SNC could be considered as an alternative to carbapenems for treating ESBL-PE UTI. This strategy might decrease the usage of carbapenem without clinical deterioration. However, it should be noted that SNC therapy may fail in the case of severe sepsis or shock.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2008

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is the most common organism associated with nosocomial infections. MRSA infections are becoming increasing important because they have emerged no only as healthcare-associated (HA) infections but also as community-associated (CA) ones. This study examined the moleculo-epidemiology of MRSA, which was isolated from nasal swabs in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Konyang University Hospital. MRSA are classified into HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA. Methods: From June to September 2006, 353 patients who were admitted to the ICU in Konyang University Hospital were enrolled in this study. Single nasal swabs were obtained for culture in the ICU on the 1st day. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and the antimicrobial resistant patterns were analyzed between HA- and CA-MRSA. An antimicrobial sensitivity test was also performed. Results: Forty two strains of MRSA were isolated from 353 patients (11.9%). Among the 42 isolates, HA-MRSA and CA-MRSA were found in 33 (78.6%), and 9 (21.4%), respectively. Eleven different PFGE types (type A to K) were identified. Types A (n=9) and B (n=7) were the most common for HA-MRSA, and types A (n=2) and B (n=2) were identified in CA-MRSA. The proportion of types A and B in CA-MRSA (44.4%) was similar to that in HA-MRSA (48.5%). The rates of resistance rates to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin were higher in HA-MRSA than in CA-MRSA. Conclusion: The rate of isolation of MRSA in an ICU setting was 11.9%. HA-MRSA was isolated more frequently than CA-MRSA. The rate of resistance of HA-MRSA to erythromycin and ciprofloxacin was higher than that of CA-MRSA. Despite the small number of subjects, the main isolates (type A and B) of CA-MRSA were similar to those of HA-MRSA.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.6160-6168
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• 2015

Hand hygiene(HH)of the health care personnels(HCPs) was the most effective method to prevent the transmission of healthcare associated infections. This study was conducted to measure and analysis the status of the HH compliance of HCPs. Data were collected by the direct observation methods of the World Health Organizations(WHO) using WHO's HH monitoring tool kits from 25th October to 31th December, 2010. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, cross analysis, multiple logistic analysis using the SPSS/PC 21 program. A total of 8,644 opportunities for HH were observed, and the overall HH compliance rate was 94.1%. HH rates of physicians was lowest(83.4%; OR: 0.209, 95%CI:0.174-0.252). HH rates were statistically different by the job titles(p<0.001), WHO's 5 moments(p<0.001). HH rates in registered nurses(p=0.003), and medical technicians(p<0.001) were statistically different by the WHO 5Moments. Jobs specific HH strategies and WHO 5Moments should be developed to increase the HH compliances of the HCPs.