Korean J Nosocomial Infect Control.  2007 Dec;12(2):112-121.

Survey on the Infection Control of Multidrug-Resistant Microorganisms in General Hospitals in Korea

• Park YJ
• Jeong JS
• Park ES
• Shin ES
• Kim SH
• Lee YS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The control of multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) is important in preventing healthcare-associated infections. We performed a survey to evaluate the current system for control of MDROs in general hospitals in Korea.
METHODS
A questionnaire consisted of queries about infection control systems, personnel, antibiotic use monitoring systems, isolation and barrier precautions, and obstacles to and opinions about MDROs. The questionnaire was mailed to 145 hospitals with more than 300 beds in November 2005.
RESULTS
One hundred and two of the 145 (70.3%) hospitals responded; 65.3% of the responded hospitals had antibiotics control programs and 96.0% of those had control programs for MDROs. Surveillance cultures for vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were taken in 21.6% and 16.7% of the hospitals, respectively. Over 90% of the hospitals had guidelines with respect to wearing gloves, collecting infectious wastes, and cleaning the environment for MRSA and VRE, but less than a half of the hospitals had the same standard for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing gram-negative bacteria and carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Most hospitals recommended gowning when contamination or invasive procedures were anticipated, but for VRE patients, gowns were used more strictly whenever there was contact with MDROs. Major obstacles related to isolation of patients infected or colonized with MDROs were the cost for isolation rooms (37.3%), and proposed solutions were reimbursement from the medical insurance company (86.3%), construction of a nationwide management system (61.8%), and effort by individual hospitals (58.8%) for MDROs infection control.
CONCLUSION
Most of the hospitals have adopted control programs, but more needs to be done. Further efforts, including periodic reporting of antibiotic resistance, sufficient cost reimbursement, and providing education and increased awareness are urgently needed.

Keyword

MRSA; VRE; Multidrug-resistant organism; Infection control

MeSH Terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Colon
Drug Resistance, Microbial
Education
Enterococcus
Gram-Negative Bacteria
Hospitals, General*
Humans
Infection Control*
Insurance
Korea*
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Postal Service
Surveys and Questionnaires
Anti-Bacterial Agents