Joint Simulation Drill Conducted
by 18 Medical Institutions
Jeollanam-do recently conducted a simulation drill to enable a swift response and prevent further transmission in the event of a healthcare-associated infectious disease outbreak.
This drill was carried out in cooperation with the Korean Infection Control Nurses Association and included Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital, 18 sentinel surveillance medical institutions for healthcare-associated infectious diseases, and approximately 80 participants, including officials from local public health centers.
The sentinel surveillance medical institutions for healthcare-associated infectious diseases are public hospitals with more than 100 beds, designated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.
The goal was for medical institutions and public health agencies to collaborate in quickly containing and preventing the spread of infection among patients, healthcare staff, and others. The drill was conducted as a tabletop exercise using hospital floor plans, based on a virtual scenario of an in-hospital healthcare-associated infectious disease outbreak.
The exercise focused on identifying the cause of the outbreak, confirming the scale of occurrence, and managing methods such as isolating patients. In addition, participants shared infection control measures and activities that should be strengthened in medical institutions to prevent additional cases, and discussed efficient strategies.
Healthcare-associated infections are infections that occur in patients, caregivers, or healthcare workers as a result of medical activities in healthcare institutions. There are six types under surveillance by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency: vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) infection, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infection, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infection, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA) infection, and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) infection.
Jeollanam-do continues to monitor trends in the occurrence of healthcare-associated infectious disease cases. Centered on Hwasun Chonnam National University Hospital, nine medical institutions participate in network meetings, risk management, and case-by-case individual consultations.
Jeong Gwangseon, Director of the Health and Welfare Bureau of Jeollanam-do, stated, "We will strengthen the management system preemptively in cooperation with medical institutions to block the spread of healthcare-associated infectious diseases," and urged, "We also ask residents to actively practice preventive measures such as handwashing to help prevent infectious diseases."
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