• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.64-74
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• 2024

Purpose: Despite the recent increased number of nosocomial measles, the outbreak investigation reports are not usually standardized, thus posing unclear understanding of magnitude of its public health burden. We used the Outbreak Reports and Intervention Studies of Nosocomial Infection (ORION) statement, to compare nosocomial outbreaks and synthesize evidence to prevent hospital transmission of measles. Methods: A PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane search in English, using the medical subject headings "measles," "nosocomial," "hospital," and "healthcare," was performed. We evaluated the quality of outbreak reports of nosocomial measles infection worldwide using the ORION statement findings and recommendations. Results: We reviewed 24 studies in accordance to the ORION statement. Measles transmission in healthcare settings is a significant burden on the morbidity, mortality, and economy of measles. The healthcare workers' booster vaccination guidelines should be monitored and enhanced during the post-elimination period of measles. The outcomes of infections must be explicit for outbreak reports. Conclusions: This study identified the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of nosocomial measles infections and provided strong evidence for infection control policies in hospitals.

• Kidney Research and Clinical Practice
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.111-116
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• 2017

The Korean Society of Nephrology participated in the task force team consisting of government authorities and civilian experts to prevent and control the spread of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2015. The Korean Society of Nephrology MERS Task Force Team took an immediate action and drafted 'the clinical recommendation for hemodialysis facilities' to follow when the first and the only confirmed case was reported in the hemodialysis unit. Owing to the dedicated support from medical doctors, dialysis nurses, and related medical companies, we could prevent further transmission of MERS infection successfully in hemodialysis units. This special report describes the experience of infection control during MERS outbreak in 2015 and summarizes the contents of 'the clinical practice guideline for hemodialysis facilities dealing with MERS patients' built upon our previous experience.

• Perspectives in Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Purpose: To study the internal psychological conflicts among nursing students during an infection control protocol carried out in the hospital by measuring their observation skills and performance during clinical training. Methods: Investigation of both pre- and post- infection control was conducted using questionnaires for clinical infection practices. We identified and evaluated the students' observation skills, clinical performance, clinical perception, and internal conflict regarding clinical infection control. We also interviewed the students as part of our study. Results: Among parameters such as clinical performance, observation skills, clinical perception, and internal conflict, the average observation skills (t=5.49, p<.001) were significantly lower, while internal conflict among students (t=-7.23, p<.001) was significantly higher than expected prior to clinical training. Generally, there was a negative correlation between observation skills and internal conflict in every aspect of infection control practice (r=-.281, p=.031). Internal conflict was significantly higher than expected in the context of hand hygiene (t=-2.135, p=.037), personal hygiene (t=-3.48, p=.002), and ventilator management (t=-3.69, p<.001). Clinical performance of students in the context of hand hygiene (t=4.69, p<.001), personal hygiene (t=2.06, p=.044), and ventilator management (t=2.68, p<.001) was significantly lower than expected prior to clinical training. Conclusion: Our findings showed that internal psychological conflict is higher when infection control practices are observed or performed to a lesser degree. Therefore, reinforcing education regarding infection control among students, such as developing a systematic program, or consecutive training and monitoring, is suggested.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.520-530
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• 2010

Purpose: In this study influenza A (H1N1) infection control performance and stress in nurses were surveyed, to identify factors influencing stress for the nurses, and to provide basic materials for promoting infectious disease control by nurses. Method: The participants were 447 nurses who had worked at isolation clinics and/or isolation rooms in hub hospitals in the Honam region during the period of the outbreak of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus. Data were collected in February 2010 using self-report questionnaires. Results: The performance of participants from clinics was high for 'helping patients wearing masks', but low for 'maintaining distance over 1 meter among waiting patients'. The performance of participants from hospital rooms was high for 'putting a surgical mask on a patient going out of the room', but low for 'keeping patients' family out of the room'. The participants' stress was higher in those younger and less experienced nurses, those working at a hospital with 500-999 beds, those working at both isolation clinics and rooms, and those working at a clinic longer. Conclusion: In order to lower nurses' stress from working at isolation clinics/rooms for infectious diseases, we may need to deploy experienced nurses and limit their working days to five or less.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.467-476
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of the exchange of saline used in surgical procedures on surgical site infections. Method: Patients with stomach cancer were assigned to the experimental group or to the control group by random sampling, respectively. The experimental group received an exchange of saline during the operation right after the excision of the stomach in a gastrectomy but the control group did not. Data were collected from the medical charts of 34 patients from Dec. 1, 2002 through May 31, 2003. Result: The surgical site infection rate of the experimental group was 5.9% while surgical site infection rate of the control group was 17.6%. In total, the surgical site infection rate was 11.8%. The experimental group maintained a normal level of WBC on post operative day 3; however, the control group, showed an increase of WBC on post operative day 3. Conclusion: The exchange of saline used in an operation immediately after the excision of the stomach in a gastrectomy decreases the contamination level of saline used in the operation, and can prevent surgical patients from a surgical site infection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.3603-3606
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• 2013

Background: To investigate the infection status and predominant genotype distribution of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among Chinese patients with mucopurulent cervicitis (MPC) or cervical cancer (CC) in Hangzhou. Methods: Initially, 217 cases of healthy cervix controls (n=50), acute MPC (n=89), and CC (n=78) were included; samples were collected between January 1, 2010, and January 30, 2013. Cervical specimens were screened for HPV using a nested polymerase chain reaction assay and DNA sequencing. Results: Overall prevalence of HPV infection was 16.7% in the control group, 51.9% in the MPC group, and 84.4% in the CC group. The predominant genotype detected in all 3 groups was the oncogenic variant HPV 16 (55.8%, 17.3%, and 6.3% in the CC, MPC and control specimens, respectively), HPV58 was the second most predominant HPV type in CC (9.1%), MPC (8.6%), and control group (4.2%). Most or all of the genotypes were oncogenic in the three groups. Conclusions: Infection with HPV was found to be prevalent among Chinese women with MPC or CC and oncogenic variants were in the majority. Therefore, peoples who suffered MPC with HPV DNA positive should be regularly followed-up, for prevention and early treatment of cervical cancer.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.299-307
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand the effects of infection control fatigue and social support on burnout among nurses during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods: This study is a descriptive survey study designed to confirm the effects of nurses' infection control fatigue and social support on burnout among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard devia analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, independent t-test, One-way ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analysis using SPSS Statistics 26.0. Results: An analysis of the correlations between fatigue from infection control, social support, and burnout showed a positive correlation between burnout and fatigue from infection control (r=.39, p<.001), and a negative correlation between burnout and social support (r=-.29, p<.001). Conflict and lack of support due to uncertain circumstances (β=.51, p<.001), support from supervisor's (β=-.22, p<.001), and experience of infection management education during the previous 1year (β=-.15, p=.007) were identified as the factors that influenced burnout among nurses, and explained 39.0% of the variance in burnout. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that fatigue from infection control and social support influence burnout levels among nurses, which suggests the need to establish a new kind of work culture. Additionally, the findings call for the development and implementation of interventional programs that can reduce fatigue from infection control and increase social support for nurses.

• Journal of Korean Critical Care Nursing
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2018

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, perception and hand hygiene performance rate of hospital nurses and to identify any correlation between them. Method : Data were collected from 205 nurses working in a university hospital in Chungcheong-do. A self-report survey method was utilized. Participants completed the hand hygiene knowledge questionnaire. Results : The average knowledge of hand hygiene was 11.76 (out of 18 points), and the average perception of hand hygiene was 35.55 (out of 96). The hand hygiene performance rate was 85.62%. Knowledge of hand hygiene showed significant differences according to age (F = 75.821, p < .001), gender (t = 25.049, p < .001) and working period (F = 24.843, p < .001). The most important explanatory factor in hand hygiene performance was hand hygiene perception (${\beta}=.26$), followed by working period (${\beta}=.14$). These variables accounted for 10.0% of subjects' hand hygiene performance. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that continuous and effective education is needed to strengthen knowledge and perception of the importance of hand hygiene practice for nurses to prevent healthcare-associated infections.

• Quality Improvement in Health Care
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.55-67
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• 2017

Purpose:The purpose of this study was to apply the disinfection method using chlorhexidine in practice on disinfection of vascular access for hemodialysis. Methods: This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial for examining effectiveness on infection of the vascular access device for hemodialysis when using chlorhexidine and betadine/alcohol. One-hundred-thirty study participants were separated into two groups randomly. Infection signs of the vascular access device for hemodialysis were observed and recorded before disinfection on vascular access device. Result: Before the study, there was no difference between the experimental group (chlorhexidine group) and the control group (betadine/alcohol group) in general characteristics and hematological index. Incidence of infection rate of chlorhexidine group was 0 percent and the betadine/alcohol group was 1.5 percent. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: This study examined the effectiveness of prevention of infection with the disinfection method using chlorhexidine and betadine/alcohol. The disinfection method using chlorhexidine is considered an effective and alternative method of betadine/alcohol.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.176-180
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• 2015

Objectives: The increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance is an outcome of evolution. Most patients presenting with odontogenic space infections also have associated systemic co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus resulting in impaired host defense. The present study aims to compare the odontogenic spaces involved, antibiotic susceptibility of microorganisms, length of hospital stay, and the influence of systemic comorbidities on treatment outcome in diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: A 2-year prospective study from January 2012 to January 2014 was conducted on patients with odontogenic maxillofacial space infections. The patients were divided into two groups based on their glycemic levels. The data were compiled and statistically analyzed. Results: A total of 188 patients were included in the study that underwent surgical incision and drainage, removal of infection source, specimen collection for culture-sensitivity, and evaluation of diabetic status. Sixty-one out of 188 patients were found to be diabetic. The submandibular space was the most commonly involved space, and the most prevalent microorganism was Klebsiella pneumoniae in diabetics and group D Streptococcus in the nondiabetic group. Conclusion: The submandibular space was found to be the most commonly involved space, irrespective of glycemic control. Empiric antibiotic therapy with amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid combined with metronidazole with optimal glycemic control and surgical drainage of infection led to resolution of infection in diabetic as well as nondiabetic patients. The average length of hospital stay was found to be relatively longer in diabetic individuals.