https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2020.sw.kumedicine/686 2026-04-04T17:11:31Z https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/76617 Title: A Nationwide Survey on Infection Prevention and Control in Acute Care Hospitals of Korea Authors: Na, Sun Hee; Seo, Yubin; Shi, Hye Jin; Hwang, In Sun; Shin, Kyong A; Son, Kwang Yul; Kim, Sung Ran; Shin, Myoungjin; Son, Hee-Jung; Choi, Ji Youn; Chun, Heekyung; Park, Sook-Kyung; Song, Jeongsuk; Kim, Namyi; Lee, Jacob; Eom, Joong Sik Abstract: BACKGROUND: Healthcare-associated infections impose a significant burden on antibiotic usage, healthcare expenditures, and morbidity. Therefore, it is crucial to revise policies to minimize such losses. This nationwide survey aimed to evaluate infection prevention and control (IPC) components in healthcare facilities and encourage improvements in acute care hospitals with inadequate infection prevention settings. This study aims to enhance the infection control capabilities of healthcare facilities. METHODS: From December 27, 2021, to May 13, 2022, we conducted a survey of 1,767 acute care hospitals in the Republic of Korea. A survey was conducted to evaluate the infection control components in 1,767 acute care hospitals. Infection control officers provided direct responses to a systematically developed questionnaire. Subsequently, 10% of the respondents were randomly selected for the site investigation. RESULTS: Overall, 1,197 (67.7%) hospitals responded to the online survey. On-site investigations were conducted at 125 hospitals. Hospitals with ≥ 150 beds are advised to have an IPC team under Article 3 of the Medical Service Act; however, only 87.0% (598/687) of hospitals with ≥ 100 beds had one. Conversely, 22.7% (116/510) of hospitals with < 100 beds had an IPC team. Regulations for hand hygiene, waste management, healthcare worker protection and safety, environmental cleaning, standard precautions, and prevention of the transmission of multidrug-resistant pathogens were present in 84.2%, 80.1%, 77.4%, 76.2%, 75.8%, and 63.5% of the hospitals, respectively. Hospitals with < 100 beds had low availability of all categories of standard operating procedures. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first national survey of acute care hospitals in the Republic of Korea. The data presented in the current study will improve the understanding of IPC status and will help establish a survey system. Our survey provides a basis for improving policies related to IPC in healthcare facilities. © 2025 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences. 2025-02-01T00:00:00Z https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/67120 Title: Incidence and risk factors of COVID-19 in a tertiary hospital and the effectiveness of booster vaccination among health care workers: A retrospective cohort study, January 2020 to June 2022 Authors: Lee, Hae Ry; Kim, Sung Ran; Cho, Min Hee; Kim, Da Eun; Jang, Su Yeon; Lee, Jae Eun; Jeong, Hye Rin; Kang, Hyeon Jeong; Song, Joon Young; Chun, Byung Chul Abstract: Background: Health care workers (HCWs) face a higher risk of infection and may transmit pathogens to patients during a pandemic. This study aims to evaluate infection-control measures by analyzing the incidence and risk factors of COVID-19 and estimating vaccine effectiveness (VE) at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Methods: This study included 2,516 HCWs from January 1, 2020, to June 30, 2022. Data were analyzed to determine the incidence density and cumulative incidence; the results were compared by the age- and gender-specific standardized incidence ratios (SIR). VE was estimated with multivariate Cox proportional-hazard models as 1-adjusted hazard ratio × 100%. Results: SIR indicated a lower COVID-19 risk in the hospital population than in the general Korean population (SIR, 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76-0.87). Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that, compared to doctors, nonmedical service supporters and other HCWs (excluding doctors and nurses) were high-risk groups (adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI], 1.72 [1.04-2.83] and 1.76 [1.20-2.58], respectively). Compared to the outpatient unit, the emergency department was a high-risk department (1.70 [1.16-2.50]). The VE of the booster dose was 55.47%, compared to no or incomplete vaccination (95% CI: 22.63-74.37). Conclusions: Besides encouraging HCWs vaccination, effective infection-control measures should target high-risk groups and departments. © 2024 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/67183 Title: 전국의료관련감염감시체계 손위생 부분 결과보고: 2019년 7월부터 2022년 12월 Authors: 김성란; 차경숙; 권오미; 김미나; 김옥선; 김지희; 박소연; 신명진; 유은성; 이승은; 정선주; 정종숙; 최인순; 최종림; 최지연; 한시현; 홍혜경 Abstract: Background: Hand hygiene is considered the simplest and most cost-effective method of infection prevention. Regular observation and feedback on hand hygiene compliance are key strategies for its enhancement. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand hygiene surveillance, including direct observation and feedback, by comprehensively analyzing the reported hand hygiene compliance within the Korean National Healthcare-Associated Infections Surveillance System from 2019 to 2022. Methods: Participating medical institutions included general hospitals and hospitals with infection control departments that consented to participate. Hand hygiene surveillance was conducted using direct observation. Collected data, including healthcare workers, clinical areas, hand hygiene moments, and hand hygiene compliance, were recorded to calculate hand hygiene compliance rates. Additionally, the volume of alcohol-based hand sanitizers used per patient per day was investigated as an indirect indicator of hand hygiene compliance. The study was conducted from July 2019 to December 2022. Results: Hand hygiene compliance increased from 87.2% in Q3 2019 to 89.9% in 2022. Nurses and medical technologists showed the highest compliance rates, whereas doctors showed the lowest compliance rates. Intensive care units excelled in compliance, whereas emergency departments lagged. Compliance was highest after patient contact and lowest when the patient’s surroundings were touched. Larger hospitals consumed more alcohol-based hand sanitizers than smaller hospitals did. Conclusion: This study confirmed an improvement in hand hygiene compliance through sustained surveillance, indicating its contribution not only to preventing infection transfer within healthcare facilities but also to fostering a culture of hand hygiene in the country. 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z https://scholarworks.korea.ac.kr/kumedicine/handle/2021.sw.kumedicine/67122 Title: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infection control nurses: A path analysis of job stress, burnout, and turnover intention Authors: Lee, Jae E.; Kim, Sung Ran; Chun, Byung C. Abstract: Background: A infection control nurse (ICN) has played substantial roles in infection control and epidemiology programs in hospitals to protect patients and coworkers during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to explore the association between intention to leave in ICNs and job stress and burnout. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among ICNs working in hospitals with ≥200 beds in South Korea from October 1 to 22, 2021. Variables included were related to general and job characteristics specific to COVID-19, as well as measures of job stress, burnout, and turnover intention for ICNs from previous studies. Path analysis was used to examine the relationships between job stress, burnout, turnover intention, and COVID-19-related work characteristics. Results: A total of 203 participants were included, of whom 95% were women. The results showed that work intensity in COVID-19 infection control was significantly associated with job stress (P<.001) and burnout (P = .035). Furthermore, job stress (P = .019) and burnout (P < .001) were positively correlated with turnover intention. Conclusions: In a pandemic with emerging infectious diseases, strategies to reduce turnover among ICNs and ensure a sufficient workforce are crucial to reducing work intensity, considering the factors that affect job stress and burnout. © 2024 The Authors 2024-06-01T00:00:00Z