J Korean Med Sci.  2010 Dec;25(Suppl):S53-S61. 10.3346/jkms.2010.25.S.S53.

Occupational Infection in Korea

• Chung YK
• Ahn YS
• Jeong JS

• KMID: 1714068
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2010.25.S.S53

Abstract

Occupational infection is a human disease caused by work-associated exposure to microbial agents through human and environmental contact. According to the literature, occupational infection was the third leading cause of occupational disease (861 cases, 8.0%), and health care, agricultural, forestry, and fishery workers were risk groups in Korea. In addition, most high-risk groups have not been protected by workers' compensation, which could lead to underestimation of the exact spectrum and magnitude of the problem, and may also result in a lack of development and implementation of occupational infection management. Through a review of national guidelines and documentations on prevention and control of occupational infection, a management strategy would promote adherence to worker safety regulations if it is explicit with regard to the agent and mode of infection in each of the high-risk groups.

Keyword

Occupational; Infectious Disease; Korea; Health Care Workers; Viral Hepatitis; Tuberculosis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bacterial Infections/*epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Mycoses/*epidemiology
Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology
Occupational Exposure/adverse effects
Occupational Health/legislation & jurisprudence
Protozoan Infections/*epidemiology
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors
Virus Diseases/*epidemiology
Workers' Compensation

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