• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.163-173
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• 2014

This study was performed to investigate the current status of isolation precautions of multidrug resistant organisms(MDROs) in general hospitals with more than 200bed. The questionnaires were mailed from 3rd, April 2013 to 30th, April 2013. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus:(MRSA), vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus:(VRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococcus(VRE), multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa were enrolled. MRSA(100.0%) and VRE(98.7%) were isolated respectively. VRE(97.3%) and MRSA(64.0%) were regulated strictly respectively. VRE(91.5%) and VRSA(50.7%) were isolated in a single room respectively. Hospital being located in Seoul(p<0.001), and beds(${\geq}600$)(p=0.008) were different significantly. The isolation space limitation(71.1%) was the highest difficulty. The development of refunding the costs of the extra supplies and other hygienic materials for infection control was discovered as the most urgent strategy.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.5
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• pp.569-573
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• 2017

The present study was performed to reveal the current status and risk factors of Strongyloides stercoralis infections in the villages of Kenethao district, Xayaburi Province, Lao PDR. Fecal specimens were collected and examined for S. stercoralis using Koga-agar plate culture technique. Among 516 individuals, the prevalence of S. stercoralis and hookworm infection was 44.2% and 17.1%, respectively. Co-infection was detected in 13.2% of the cases. The prevalence did not significantly differ between males and females (P=0.193). However, the prevalence of S. stercoralis infection increased significantly with age (P=0.041). Of the risk factors examined, both performing farming activities (P=0.001) and walking barefoot when going outside of the house (P=0.003) showed significant correlations with S. stercoralis infections. Our results suggest that S. stercoralis is highly endemic in this area. The National Helminth Control Program of Lao PDR should take actions to control S. stercoralis infection. In addition, provision of health education about the benefits of wearing shoes would be important for reducing infection in the study area. Moreover, the application of high-sensitivity diagnostic approaches is needed to obtain the true impact of S. stercoralis infections in all rural communities in order to provide surveillance activities in Lao PDR.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2016

Purpose: Infection management is important for physical therapists in order to protect patients and themselves since they often provide patient care and have physical contact with patients. This study examined the performance of infection control and associated factors among physical therapists. Methods: The study subjects were 174 physical therapists working in the G metropolitan city. The performance of infection control according to general characteristics, job-related characteristics, and infection-related characteristics were compared using t-test and ANOVA. Associations between awareness and performance of infection control were tested by correlation. Finally, multiple linear regression analyses were performed to examine the factors associated with performance of infection control. Results: Overall performance scores for personal and therapy room were $87.47{\pm}11.70$ and $70.08{\pm}13.68$, respectively. Both personal and therapy room infection control were lower for the degree of performance than the degree of awareness. In multiple linear regression analysis, the degree of performance at a personal level was related to current smoking status, type of charge therapy, supply of protection equipment, and awareness of personal infection control. The degree of performance of therapy room was related to injury experience in the workplace, supply of protection equipment, and awareness of therapy room infection control. Conclusion: Performance of therapy room infection control was lower than that of personal infection control. The performance was associated with the supply of protection equipment and awareness. Therefore, the degree of performance for infection control will be increased with proper supply of protection equipment in the hospital and increase the degree of awareness with adequate prevention education.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.330-341
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• 2015

Objectives: Emergency medical personnel (EMPs) are pre-hospital emergency responders who are at risk of exposure to infections and may also serve as a source for the transmission of infections. However, few studies of infection control have specifically addressed EMPs in the Republic of Korea (hereafter Korea). The goal of this study was to assess the current status of infection prevention and control programs (IPCPs) for EMPs in Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to quantitatively assess the resources and activities of IPCPs. A total of 907 EMPs in five metropolitan cities completed a structured questionnaire from September 2014 to January 2015. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multi-response analysis, and the chi-square test. Results: The mean age of the participants was $34.8{\pm}15.1years$. IPCPs were found to have weaknesses with regard to the following resources: the assignment of infection control personnel (ICP) (79.5%), hand hygiene resources such as waterless antiseptics (79.3%), the use of paper towels (38.9%), personal protective equipment such as face shields (46.9%), and safety containers for sharps and a separated space for the disposal of infectious waste (10.1%). Likewise, the following activities were found to be inadequately incorporated into the workflow of EMPs: education about infection control (77.5%), post-exposure management (35.9%), and the decontamination of items and spaces after use (88.4%). ICP were found to have a significant effect on the resources and activities of IPCPs (p<0.001). The resources and activities of IPCPs were found to be significantly different among the five cities (p<0.001). Conclusions: IPCPs for EMPs showed some limitations in their resources and activities. IPCPs should be actively supported, and specific IPCP activities for EMPs should be developed.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.192-201
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aims to conduct an integrated literature review of infection control studies conducted by nursing care workers in long-term care facilities in Korea. Methods: Through the domestic search engines RISS and KISS, seven articles were selected by searching for theses and academic journals published in Korea from 2008 to January 2020. Results: In total, six research studies and one intervention study out of seven studies were analyzed. Measurement tools for examining the knowledge and performance of infection-related care workers consisted of skin infection, aspiration pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and hand hygiene. Factors affecting nursing care workers' infection management performance were infection management knowledge, education level, health status, and importance awareness. Conclusion: This study showed it is necessary to develop a tool that can accurately measure nursing care workers' infection management knowledge and performance. In addition, it is necessary to develop an intervention program for nursing care workers' infection control.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.17-30
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of exposure to blood and body fluid and factors affecting on blood and body fluid exposure of nursing students including knowledge, performance regarding standard precautions. Methods: 280 nursing students in D-city and S-city participated in this study. Data collection was conducted from January to March 2012. Students' knowledge and performance on standard precautions of infection control in hospitals were measured using the measurement developed by Hong(2010). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, t-test, one way-ANOVA, ${\chi}^2-test$, Pearson correlation coeficient, logistic regression by the SPSS WIN 18.0 program. Results: 58.6 percent of subjects experienced a exposure to blood and body fluid. The level of nursing students' knowledge level regarding standard precautions was $22.44{\pm}2.11$ and performance level was $4.31{\pm}0.50$. The factors affecting on blood and body fluid exposure of nursing students were knowledge level and education type about infection control. Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, to decrease the exposure to blood and body fluid of nursing students, a proper education need to be stressed to improve nursing students' infection control knowledge and awareness.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.369-376
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• 2013

Objectives : The objectives of this study is to investigate the handwashing and use of personal protection equipment in dental hygienists and provide the basic data for dental infection control guideline. Methods : A questionnaire survey was performed in the dental hygienists who participated in the continuing education by the Daejeon City Commission in October 2012. The collected data were analyzed using PASW 18.0. Results : Handwashing was well practiced in group working for 3 to 5 years of employment. Those who took the infection cnotrol training used liquid soap, paper towel, dental mask, protective goggles, face shield, and gloves. Conclusions : Infection control is the most important practice in dental hygienists. So it is necessary to emphasize the inportnace of personal protection equipment including medical gloves, dental mask, and goggles.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.249-260
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• 2013

Objectives : To figure out the status of infection control (IC) in dental healthcare field and to propose the way for improvements through assessment about cognition of the clients. Methods : Study subjects were 151 patients who visited H dental health organization (DHO) of the four DHO in Busan city. The questionnaire survey performed from November 10 to December 7, 2010. Results : 1. 43.0% of consumers were interested in perception and experience in the infection control, and 38.4% were related behavioral changes in the infection control. 2. In the clients survey, the major considerations about the performance for IC were hand washing(73.5%). 3. There was significantly higher in middle-aged to think for ages infection prevention behaviors recognized as important to wear safety glasses. 4. In the confidence for dental care organization according to gender and age, appearance and outfits of staffs was the highest major consideration items. Conclusions : Infection control closely related to the clients' satisfaction and credits, therefor changing of interest, cognition and attitude for the client's IC have to be emphasized.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.113-120
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to identify the knowledge of and adherence to the infection control guidelines for indwelling urinary catheters, central venous catheters and ventilators among intensive care nurses. The subjects were 175 intensive care nurses working in 2 upper general hospitals and 3 general hospitals. Data were collected from July 1 to July 31, 2013. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA using SPSS 18.0 for Windows. The mean scores of the knowledge of the infection control guidelines on indwelling urinary catheters, central venous catheters and ventilators were 0.87, 0.82 and 0.82 points, respectively. The average scores for the adherence to the infection control guidelines for indwelling urinary catheters, central venous catheters and ventilators were 4.18, 4.04 and 4.07 points, respectively. Statistically significant correlations were found between the knowledge of and adherence to the infection control guidelines for indwelling urinary catheters (r=.72, p<.00), central venous catheters (r=.54, p<.001) and ventilators (r=.30, p<.001). The knowledge of and adherence to the infection control guidelines for indwelling urinary catheters differed significantly according to gender, educational status, total career, number of patients, type of hospital, and attendance of seminar. The knowledge of and adherence to the infection control guidelines for central venous catheters differed significantly according to educational status, total career, number of patients, type of hospital, and attendance of seminar. The knowledge level of the infection control guidelines for the ventilator differed significantly according to the total career. The results of this study indicate that education and training programs for improving the knowledge of adherence to the infection control guidelines should be developed.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.7-24
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• 2020

Purpose: Emergency medical service (EMS) personnel are at high risk of spreading infection. In this study, we used the PRECEDE model to identify the knowledge, status, and barriers to infection control among Korean paramedics to provide basic infection control data. Methods: A total of 164 respondents were analyzed for the study. A questionnaire was administered and collected through an online self-response platform. Descriptive analysis, t-test, ANOVA, multiple regression, and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine infection control practices and associated factors using SAS 9.4. To identify the pathways and direct, indirect, total effects based on the PRECEDE model, we used AMOS 26.0. Results: Highly rated self-efficacy (OR 8.82, 95% CI: 3.23-24.09), awareness (OR 6.05, 95% CI: 2.06-17.72), and enabling factors (OR 3.23, 95% CI: 1.18-8.78) led to superior infection control. As a result of the structural model analysis, the highly rated enabling factors and awareness led to superior practice patterns. Conclusion: Practice is related to self-efficacy, awareness, and enabling factors; however, further research is needed to develop strategies for infection control. In particular, institutional arrangements are needed to improve the enabling factors. Improving infection control performance may lead to better infection control and enhanced protection of EMS personnel and patients against infection risks.