Pediatr Infect Vaccine.  2015 Dec;22(3):136-142. 10.14776/piv.2015.22.3.136.

Role of Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Disease during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Outbreak in Korea, 2015

• Kim KH

• KMID: 2315677
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14776/piv.2015.22.3.136

Abstract

The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (KSPID) has participated in the task force team consisting of government authorities as well as civil medical experts and facilities to block the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2015. KSPID posted the "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Pop-up" in the homepage of The Korean Pediatric Society and The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. KSPID also released the "Guidelines for testing for MERS in children and adolescents" and the "Instructions for the Operation of National Safe Hospital" for children and adolescents in a timely manner. Such actions were aimed to prevent unnecessary anxieties, studies and isolation of pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms and signs caused by other common microbial etiologies as being suspected for MERS patients. This strategy relieved the doctors and parents from unnecessary fear and prevented the loss of unnecessary health care costs, and has proven to be a well-judged guideline and management protocol as evaluated after the final end of MERS outbreak. KSPID and its members should support the presence of pediatric infectious disease (PID) specialists in every medium size hospitals in Korea by developing the need for consultation fees for PID consultation in the hospital based practice and promoting the potential for cost savings related to prevention of health care associated infections and optimal prescription of antimicrobial agents. KSPID and its members need to approach and develop a communication plan to political decision makers to demonstrate and convince them of the importance of a PID specialist service.

Keyword

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; Republic of Korea; Pediatrics; Infectious Disease Medicine; Roles

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Advisory Committees
Anti-Infective Agents
Anxiety
Child
Communicable Diseases*
Cost Savings
Delivery of Health Care
Fees and Charges
Health Care Costs
Humans
Infectious Disease Medicine
Korea*
Middle East*
Parents
Pediatrics
Prescriptions
Republic of Korea
Specialization
Anti-Infective Agents

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