• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.77-82
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• 2012

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea among children, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally hospitalization. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular diagnostics have further defined the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown that HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than infections with other enteric agents. Among the 8 serotypes of HAstV identified, serotype 1 is the predominant strain worldwide. In addition to serotype 1, the detection rate of HAstV types 2 to 8 has increased by using newly developed assays. HAstV is less common compared with other major gastroenteritis viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; however, it is a potentially important viral etiological agent with a significant role in acute gastroenteritis. A better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and characteristics of HAstV strains may be valuable to develop specific prevention strategies.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.1-17
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• 2016

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in South Korea in 2015 has drawn public attention regarding the legal regulation of infectious disease control in Korea. This paper discusses the interpretive and legislative concerns regarding the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act, its ordinance and enforcement regulations, as well as public statements from the relevant administrative agency. Future improvements are also proposed.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to determine the issues of supplementation and improvement to prepare for the outbreak of new infectious diseases such as new variants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to guide work for a strategic new response to infectious disease. Public officials of Jeju Special Self-governing Province and health personnel responding to COVID-19, working at six public health centers in Jeju-do region were administered a survey about additional preparations to be made in the future, based on the period when COVID-19 was treated legally as a first-class infectious disease. Frequency analysis was conducted on the collected data. The Likert 5-point scale and Kruskal-Wallis test were used to compare the scores for effective response to emerging infectious diseases according to demographics. Among the important factors identified for effective response to new infectious diseases, 'facilitation of cooperation with public institutions' and 'facilitation of cooperation with private institutions' had the highest scores. In the future, when a patient presents with a new infectious disease, the step that needs to be supplemented in each phase of the public health center's response is 'immediate response team operation'. Further, public health centers responded that 'expansion of dedicated personnel related to infectious diseases' needs to be improved to respond to new infectious diseases. Along with the results of this study, considering the difficulties experienced by health personnel responding to new infectious diseases in preparation for future outbreaks of new infectious diseases, and to respond effectively, detailed and clear guidelines for responding to quarantine of patients of new infectious diseases will be needed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.253-264
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate role perception, knowledge, self-confidence of practice, and educational needs of child daycare teachers' infectious disease management and to identify their relationship. A correlation study was conducted. Participants were 180 child daycare teachers. Almost eighty percent(78.9%) of participants did not received infectious disease management education. The mean percent of correct answers for infectious disease management knowledge of participants was 52.3% and their self-confidence of practice of infectious disease management was low. However, their role perception of infectious disease management and educational needs were high. Educational needs on 'hand washing and hygiene to prevent infectious diseases', 'blocking transmission of infectious diseases', 'infectious disease specific management and care', and 'infectious disease specific symptoms' were high. Child daycare teachers' role perception of infectious disease was positively correlated with their knowledge and educational needs. Development and evaluation of educational interventions to improve child daycare teachers' infectious disease prevention and management are recommended. Particularly, efforts are needed to improve child daycare teachers role perceptions as infectious disease manager.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.334-339
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• 2022

The digital response is an excellent infection prevention and control measure to minimize person-to-person contact when a respiratory infectious disease is rapidly spreading. However, few studies have explored the reasons for the development and utilization of these technologies. Here, we analyze documents by the Korean government, existing research, and news articles to provide a qualitative review of the digital response, and new concepts explored by Korea during coronavirus disease 2019, to apply them for the next infectious disease outbreak.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.39-42
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• 2019

While the notified crude incidence rates(per 100,000 persons, CIR) of new tuberculosis between 2016 and 2017 decreased in nationwide and 16 provinces, except Jeju Province, Korea. The aim of this study was to compare CIRs of Jeju Province and nationwide by calendar years and age groups in order to interpret the increasing trend of CIR in Jeju Province. The data source was the Integrated Diseases and Health Control System of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The selection criteria were the notified new cases as tuberculosis, who had the address as Jeju Province at diagnosis, between 2011 and 2018. The 95% confidence interval of CIR was estimated based on Poisson distribution. There was not statistically significant difference of CIRs between Nationwide and Jeju Province of 2011 and 2018, except 2016. Especially the CIR of group aged over 65 years in Jeju Province, 2016 was significantly lower compared to Nationwide CIR. But, the CIR of group aged 30~50 between 2017 and 2018 showed significantly higher compared to Nationwide CIR. Based on the results, the fact of increasing CIR from 2016 to 2017 in Jeju Province might be interpreted as an introduction of new tuberculosis screening project rather than real increased CIRs.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.10a
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• pp.355-355
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• 2005

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.637-642
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• 2010

We investigated the prevalence and the molecular characteristics of vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from clinical samples at tertiary or general hospitals participating in a nationwide surveillance program for VISA and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) in Korea during an 8-week period in each year from 2001 to 2006. Of 41,639 MRSAs isolated, 37,856 were screened and 169 grew on brain heart infusion agar supplemented with 4 ${\mu}g/ml$ vancomycin. A vancomycin MIC of 4 ${\mu}g/ml$ was confirmed for 33 VISA isolates of the 169 isolates. Eighteen of the 33 isolates were classified as hetero-VISA (hVISA) by the population analysis profile (PAP) method. All VISA isolates were susceptible to linezolid, tigecycline, and quinupristin-dalfopristin. Most VISA isolates (MIC 4 ${\mu}g/ml$) showed a PFGE C pattern with sec, seg, and sei enterotoxin genes, including ST5-SCCmec type II, or a PFGE A pattern with sea, including ST239-SCCmec type III.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.213-223
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the educational status and needs of both parents and kindergarten teachers pertaining to the prevention of infectious diseaes in children. Methods : The participants were 280 parents and 147 kindergarten teachers. Data were collected from August 21, 2013 to December 30, 2014. Results : Only 16.7% of parents had educational experience with infectious diseases. The source of their education was broadcast media and their preferred educational method was the internet. Parents reported that the childhood infection about which they should be educated were influenza (30.4%) followed by hand-foot-and-mouth disease (13.9%), food poisoning (6.4%), and so on. About 27.2% of kindergarten teachers had received an education about infectious diseases, and the major source of their education was refresher training. The teachers' preferred educational method was the internet. The teachers wanted to be educated about influenza (22.4%), hand-foot-and-mouth disease (20.4%), food poisoning (20.4%) and so on. Conclusions : Educational programs should be developed and applied to children, parents and kindergarten teachers based on consideration of their educational needs.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.41-52
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• 2021

Background & Objectives: The purpose of this study is to present infectious diseases control and crisis response plans for International students by investigating the management of International students and prevention of infectious diseases targeting International students infectious disease control managers at universities in Busan in a situation where the risk of infectious diseases increases due to the spread of COVID-19. Methods: The data were collected from 14 International students infectious disease control managers at universities in Busan. Statistical analysis was done by using SPSS 22.0. Results: There were differences in the importance and performance of COVID-19 infectious disease control and support work by university. Conclusions: It is necessary to integrate management of support and roles of infectious diseases control for foreign students. Furthermore, strengthening the competence of experts and communication tools with international students are needed.