Crisis prevention and management by infection control nurses during the Middle East respiratory coronavirus outbreak in Korea

Abstract

A Middle East respiratory coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak occurred in Korea between June 20 and July 28, 2015. A total of 186 patients were confirmed as being infected with MERS-CoV, 36 of whom died. Infection control nurses referred to hospital guidelines to address the screening and isolation needs of patients and instigated a variety of infection control activities to prevent MERS-CoV transmission at the frontlines of patient care. Their concerted effort is believed to have been instrumental in ending the outbreak.

Factors influencing the adherence of nurses to standard precautions in South Korea hospital settings

“…19 Additionally, tertiary hospitals are also required to have a strict infection control system based on hospital accreditation evaluation. 8,19 A similar study on nurses in hemodialysis care showed that adherence to SP was significantly lower among nurses in private hospitals than those in general or tertiary hospitals, which is a reflection of poor infection control system in private hospitals owing to blind spots created by medical laws. 12 In spite of the heightened national and social awareness of HAI and the amendment of the Medical Services Act following the MERS outbreak in 2015, further efforts should be made to improve adherence to SP and to strengthen infection control in small to medium-sized general hospitals.…”

“…However, the level of adherence among nurses remains insufficient, requiring a behavioral change to improve adherence and prevent HAIs. 4,5,6,8 Studies on the influencing factors of SP adherence have been investigated, including individual, work-related, and organizational factors 9 or sociodemographic, individual, and institutional factors. 10 Occasionally, factors such as knowledge, attitude, safety climate, protective device, and workload have been examined without distinction of categories.…”

“…10,13 This study aimed to understand how sociodemographic and individual factors, such as knowledge and attitude, along with institutional factors such as safety climate and administrative support, influence the adherence of nurses to SPs in South Korean hospitals following the 2015 MERS outbreak. 7,8 Evaluating the effects of sociodemographic, individual, and institutional factors, whereas considering the hospital size and type, will contribute to the improvement of SP adherence and to the creation of a safe environment and administrative system.…”

Changes in infection control policies and advancing infection control advanced practice nurse education in the Republic of Korea

“…The MERS outbreak revealed problems in the medical delivery system, in the Korean medical quarantine system, and in the IC system in hospitals, resulting in Korean hospitals suffering substantial financial losses. 4 Accordingly, the Korean government prepared and implemented strategies to support the establishment of the IC infrastructure in May 2016, by approving plans to revise measures concerning health insurance fees to promote prevention and prevent spread of HAIs. 5 Korea's national health insurance is public health insurance controlled and managed by the government.…”

Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs in Community Health Systems Perceived by Physicians and Pharmacists: A Qualitative Study with Gap Analysis

“…In recent years, infection prevention and control (IPC) have become a challenge and a topic of interest for medical institutions in Korea [1,2]. The Accreditation Program for Healthcare Organization has presented criteria for IPC with the aim of improving patient safety and quality of care [3].…”