Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021.

Background: This study describes the outbreak investigations and control measures for a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a long-term care hospital (LTCH) in Seoul.

Methods: The outbreak occurred from February 24, 2021 to March 2, 2021 at a 228-bed LTCH in Seoul. Monitoring of the outbreak continued until March 16, 2021.

Perceptions of distinctions between patient and healthcare zones among intensive care unit nurses at a Korean tertiary hospital: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients face higher infection risks from invasive procedures, highlighting the critical role of ICU nurses in infection prevention. Clear differentiation between the patient and healthcare zones is essential for effective hand hygiene and disinfection, yet research on this topic is limited.

Aim: To assess ICU nurses' perception of the concept of patient and healthcare zones and evaluate their similarity and accuracy in identifying the zones.

Infection control nursing competency model for nurses in intensive care units: A Delphi study.

Background: Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses require advanced expertise and skills in critical care and need infection control nursing competency (ICNC). Given the lack of research on it, this study aimed to develop a model of ICU nurses' ICNC.

Methods: A Delphi panel consisting of experts in intensive care nursing and infection control was organized to provide discerning and professional perspective on ICNC.

Evaluation of Patients' Adverse Events During Contact Isolation for Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Using a Matched Cohort Study With Propensity Score.

Importance: Although contact isolation has been widely recommended for multidrug-resistant organisms, contact isolation has raised some concerns that it may bring unintended patient harms.

Objective: To compare adverse events between a contact isolation group with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and a matched comparison group using a relatively large data set from full electronic medical records (EMR) and propensity score-matching methods.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective, matched cohort study was conducted at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital (SNUBH) in Korea, a tertiary, university-affiliated hospital that has 1337 inpatient beds.

Factors Associated with Influenza Vaccination Uptake among U.S. Adults: Focus on Nativity and Race/Ethnicity.

To support implementation strategies for upcoming influenza (flu) vaccinations for foreign-born and racial/ethnic minority groups, we analyzed the 2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) database and performed logistic regression to examine the factors associated with, and the interaction between nativity and race/ethnicity in directing flu vaccination rates during the past 12 months ( = 25,045). As a result, we found nativity and race/ethnicity were associated with flu vaccination rates; foreign-born and non-Hispanic black respondents were less likely to take the vaccine than U.S.

Minimizing contamination in the use of personal protective equipment: Simulation results through tracking contamination and enhanced protocols.

Background: Due to variations and the inadequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), this study aimed to evaluate our enhanced PPE protocols for minimizing doffing contamination.

Methods: Among 3 PPE kits (simple, Level D, and Level C), 30 participants conducted the first simulation in their adapted way and the second following enhanced protocols. After donning, participants performed a 1-minute simulation of direct care on a patient simulator covered with fluorescent powder.

South Korea's responses to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.

Background: South Korea's aggressive responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have greatly slowed the epidemic without regional lockdowns.

Methods: The Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's daily briefings were thoroughly reviewed. Information about hospital countermeasures and government coordination was collected via telephone interviews with 4 infection control team leaders, 1 emergency department nurse, and 1 infectious disease physician in Korea.

Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Predictors Among U.S. Adults Aged 18 to 45 by Sexual Orientation.

Despite increased incidence rates of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cancers among sexual minorities, their HPV vaccine uptake remains suboptimal. This cross-sectional, correlational study aimed to investigate factors associated with HPV vaccination among a nationally representative sample of U.S.

Cost-Effectiveness of Ventricular Assist Device Destination Therapy for Advanced Heart Failure in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Destination ventricular assist device therapy (DT-VAD) is well accepted in select adults with medically refractory heart failure (HF) who are not transplant candidates; however, its use in younger patients with progressive diseases is unclear. We sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DT-VAD in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients with advanced HF. We created a Markov-state transition model (5-year horizon) to compare survival, costs, and quality of life (QOL) between medical management and DT-VAD in DMD with advanced HF.

Difficulties in using personal protective equipment: Training experiences with the 2015 outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome in Korea.

This study aimed to evaluate practical barriers to personal protective equipment (PPE) use found through health care personnel (HCP) training sessions held during and after the 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome outbreak in Korea. Difficulties observed were ill-fitting sizes, anxiety, confusion from unstandardized protocols, doubts about PPE quality and effectiveness, and complexity of using several PPE items together. Further research to generate robust evidence and repeated HCP trainings are necessary to ensure HCP and patient safety in future outbreaks.

Use of personal protective equipment among health care personnel: Results of clinical observations and simulations.

Background: Very little is known about how health care personnel (HCP) actually use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Methods: The clinical PPE practices of 50 HCP from selected units at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Presbyterian Hospital were videotaped with HCP consent. For 2 PPE simulation sessions (simple and full-body sets), 82 HCP were recruited throughout the UPMC system.

Changes in the incidence of health care-associated pathogens at a university hospital from 2005 to 2011.

Background: Data on health care-associated infections (HAIs) outside of intensive care units (ICU) are scarce. We assessed hospital-wide changes in the incidence of health care-associated pathogens by infection site and by service between 2005 and 2011.

Methods: All data on health care-associated pathogens in 2005-2011 based on comprehensive hospital-wide surveillance were extracted from an electronic database.

Survey of North Carolina hospital policies regarding visitor use of personal protective equipment for entering the rooms of patients under isolation precautions.

Objective: To explore the range of hospital policies for visitor use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering the room of patients under isolation precautions.

Design: Survey using an online questionnaire.

Setting: Acute care hospitals registered in the North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE).

Cost-effectiveness analysis of active surveillance screening for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an academic hospital setting.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of 3 alternative active screening strategies for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): universal surveillance screening for all hospital admissions, targeted surveillance screening for intensive care unit admissions, and no surveillance screening.

Design: Cost-effectiveness analysis using decision modeling.

Methods: Cost-effectiveness was evaluated from the perspective of an 800-bed academic hospital with 40,000 annual admissions over the time horizon of a hospitalization.

Relative frequency of health care-associated pathogens by infection site at a university hospital from 1980 to 2008.

Background: We describe the relative frequency of health care-associated pathogens by infection site over 29 years using hospital-wide surveillance data from a large academic hospital.

Methods: Comprehensive hospital-wide surveillance was provided by trained infection preventionists using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions. Five 5-year blocks and one 4-year block were created for each site: bloodstream infections (BSI), urinary tract infections (UTI), respiratory tract infections (RTI), and surgical site infections (SSI).