Hanyang Med Rev.  2011 Aug;31(3):200-210. 10.7599/hmr.2011.31.3.200.

Occupational Infections of Health Care Personnel in Korea

• Kang JO

• KMID: 2168197
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7599/hmr.2011.31.3.200

Abstract

Healthcare personnel (HCP) face a wide range of occupational hazards, including needle-stick injuries, back injuries, latex allergy, violence, and stress. In particular, occupational exposures to infectious agents, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV),or tuberculosis, are devastating to the victims. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the global burden of disease from occupational exposure to be 40% of hepatitis B and C virus infections and 2.5% of the HIV infections among HCP. Infectious disease cases for which compensation is given by the Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency are increasing, and tuberculosis is the most common infectious disease compensated by KOSHA for HCP in Korea. While viral respiratory infections are common in health care settings, systematic surveillance has not been established yet in Korea. Infection control programs for HCP, such as engineering control in medical facilities, immunization, post exposure prophylaxis, and use of personal protective equipment need to be improved in Korea. This article describes the epidemiologic characteristics of occupational infectious diseases among HCP in Korea, especially focusing on needle-stick injuries and airborne infections. Also brief commentary is offered concerning effective measures for the control and prevention of occupational infectious disease transmission among HCP.

Keyword

Healthcare Personnel; Occupational Diseases; Infection; Needlestick Injuries; Respiratory Tract Infections

MeSH Terms

Back Injuries
Communicable Diseases
Compensation and Redress
Delivery of Health Care
Disease Transmission, Infectious
Hepacivirus
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus
HIV
HIV Infections
Humans
Immunization
Infection Control
Korea
Latex Hypersensitivity
Needlestick Injuries
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Exposure
Occupational Health
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
Respiratory Tract Infections
Tuberculosis
Violence
Viruses
World Health Organization

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Proportion of infectious diseases among 307 healthcare personnel compensated by the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation between 1998 and 2004. *Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (2), Cellulitis (2), Meningitis (1), Encephalitis (1), Purulent otitis media (1), Epidemic hemorrhagic fever (1), Septicemia with pseudomonas (1), Poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (1), Choroiditis (1).

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  Fig. 2 Occupational groups of healthcare personnel exposed to infectious diseases; a total of 307 cases compensated by the Korea Labor Welfare Corporation between 1998 and 2004.

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