National survey of the status of infection surveillance and control programs in acute care hospitals with more than 300 beds in the Republic of Korea.

Background: This study was conducted to assess the status of infection surveillance and control programs (ISCPs) and to analyze the trends associated with ISCP implementation since the first program was established in Korea in 1991.

Methods: A questionnaire modified from the Study on the Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control was mailed 4 times nationwide to acute care hospitals (n = 164) with more than 300 beds between June and October 2003. Eighty-five hospitals participated (52%).

Impact of Agent Orange exposure among Korean Vietnam veterans.

In order to determine whether Agent Orange exposure was associated with increased frequency of medical problems, we conducted a cross-sectional epidemiologic study of Korean veterans during 1995-1996. 1,224 Vietnam and 154 non-Vietnam veterans were included in the study. Exposure to Agent Orange was assessed by structured in-depth interview on the participants' history of service in Vietnam.

Prevalence and risk factors for enterobiasis among preschool children in a metropolitan city in Korea.

The infection rate of Enterobius vermicularis was investigated in 1,191 preschool children in 25 daycare centers in Seoul, Korea by cellotape anal swab from July to August 1999. Both the directors of the daycare centers and the children's parents were asked to complete questionnaires that inquired about the potential risk factors involved. The overall egg positive rate for E.

An ecological study of Paragonimus in Malaysia.

An ecologic study on Paragonimus in Malaysia was attempted from May to September 1967. Seven streams located in various directions and distances from Kuala Lumpur were surveyed for the study of intermediate hosts, snail and crab. One Malayan village and one aborigine village where infected crabs were found, and two tuberculosis hospitals in K.

[Values of intradermal test and multiple sputum examinations for Diagnosis of paragonimiasis].

This study was conducted on 4,003 inhabitants of six villages, Southern County of Che Ju lsland from April 18 to July 30, 1974 with purpose of studying. Relationship between intradermal reaction and egg detection rate, Egg detection rate by the number of sputum examination on the same subject, Comparison of direct sputum examination method (Whole volume of sputum in vinyl bag pressed between petri dishes) with concentration (2% NaOH) method, Estimation of sensitivity and specificity of the intradermal test in screening paragonimiasis. The results obtained are as follows: 1.

[A Follow-Up Study To Evaluate The Efficacy Of Mass Chemotherapy For Control Of Paragonimiasis].

In the survey of l1,005 subjects in l3 villages of Che Ju lsland, 1,450 persons were egg-positive by repeated sputum examinations. The response rate to intradermal test ranged 50-80% of the population and to sputum examination for skin positive 60-70% in the first survey done in l964. 93% of all egg-positive was treated with 40 mg/kg body weight of bithionol on alternate days for 10-15 doses in l965.

Efficacy Of Mass Treatment For Control Of Human Filariasis.

This study was carried out for three years from 1968 to 1970. Three coastal villages and four remote islets of Che Ju Island were surveyed and 90% of all inhabitants were blood smeared. These study areas were grouped into five according to its characteristic for evaluation of mass treatment with diethylcarbamazine citrate (Hetrazan U.

Ecology of filariasis on Che Ju Island.

Study of filariasis to determine important factors involved in its ecology was carried out on Che Ju Island for three consecutive years from 1968 to 1970 in seven villages, three coastal villages and four islets remote from the main island. One village which was located in mountainous area far from the coast was surveyed to serve as control area. About 90% of population inhabiting the study area had at least one blood smear during the three-year period; about one third had three blood smears, and a little over one third had two, and the rest only one examination.

A Comparison Of Sensitivity On Stool And Sputum Examination For Diagnosis Of Paragonimasis.

Detecting eggs from feces and/or sputum is probably closely associated with many factors such as degree or intensity of infection, physiological status of the host(age, eating habit and duration of residence in the area), the duration of infection for the parasite (age and reproductive activity of flukes), and methods of collecting specimens and technique of examination. Neverthless, it is difficult to determine which factor plays the most inportant role in detecting eggs except comparison of factual result obtained by standardized techniques. The purpose of the study was to find out which method would give better result for detection of eggs, and to estimate what proportion of patients would be missed when the method selected is used.

A Study On The Infection Status On Intermediate Hosts By Paragonimus On Che Ju Island.

A study on the infection status of intermediate hosts of Paragonimus, snail and crab, was conducted on Che Ju Island for four years to understand ecology of Paragonimus in the area and to evalute the control program by mass chemotherapy The infection rate of the first intermediate host of Paragonimus, snail, showed higher rate in the area where human association was more frequent and had higher human infection rate compared with the area with lower human infection and less contact by people. Larger snails were infected more frequently than smaller ones. After the mass treatment on human population, the infection rate of snail dropped markedly in four years.

An Evaluation Of Intraderaml Tests For The Screening Of Paragonimiasis By Comparing Antigens Variously Processed.

An evaluation of intradermal test in screening paragonimiasis was attempted by comparing antigens, filtered through Sephadex G 50, fractionated by DEAE Sephadex A 25, and V.B.S.

Mass Chemotherapy In The Control Of Paragonimiasis.

Among 11,005 inhabitants(61% of total population) surveyed in 13 villages of Che Ju Island in 1964, were identified as paragonimiasis patients, of these 1,355 were treated with 40 mg/kg body weight of bithionol for 10~15 doses. The purpose of the study was to test whether mass chemotherapy of the human host may provie an answer for the control of paragonimiasis in an area where the human host is main source of infection to the intermediate hosts. The efficacy of the mass chemotherapy as control program was measured by the acceptance of the survey and treatment by the inhabitants, the efficacy and the toxicity of the drug applied, and the influence of the infection rates of the intermediate hosts.