Epidemiol Health.
2024;46(1):e2024084. 10.4178/epih.e2024084.
The prevention and response to infectious diseases in long-term care facilities in Korea: a nationwide survey
- Affiliations
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- 1Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 2Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
- 3Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- 4Department of Architecture, Dong Seoul University, Sungnam, Korea
- 5Gachon University College of Nursing, Incheon, Korea
- 6Department of Nursing Science, Sun Moon University, Asan, Korea
- 7Department of Nursing, Keimyung University Graduate School, Daegu, Korea
- 8Infection Control Office, Chung-Ang University Healthcare System, Seoul, Korea
- 9Infection Control Department, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan, Korea
- 10Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, Korea
- KMID: 2564554
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2024084
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) are communal environments for patients with chronic diseases or older adults, making them particularly susceptible to significant harm during infectious disease outbreaks. Nonetheless, LTCFs have historically been subject to less stringent infection prevention and control (IPC) mandates. This study aimed to assess the current state of LTCFs and to develop an IPC system tailored for these facilities following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
METHODS
We conducted an online survey of 11,366 LTCFs in Korea from December 30, 2022 to January 20, 2023, to evaluate the components of IPC in LTCFs. The infectious diseases targeted for IPC included COVID-19, influenza, and scabies. Additionally, we compared institution-based and home-based long-term care insurance facilities.
RESULTS
Overall, 3,537 (31.1%) LTCFs responded to the survey, comprising 1,819 (51.4%) institution-based and 1,718 (48.6%) home-based facilities. A majority (87.4%, 2,376/2,720) of these facilities experienced COVID-19 outbreaks. However, only 42.2% of home-based facilities, in contrast to 90.6% of institution-based facilities, were equipped to manage concurrent COVID-19 cases. Similarly, while 92.1% of institution-based facilities were capable of managing influenza, only 50.5% of home-based facilities could do the same. The incidence of scabies was significantly higher in institution-based facilities than in home-based ones (26.1 vs. 4.3%). Additionally, 88.7% of institution-based facilities managed scabies cases effectively, compared to only 42.1% of home-based facilities.
CONCLUSIONS
Approximately half of the LTCFs had a basic capacity to respond to infectious diseases. However, there were differences in response capabilities between institution-based facilities and home-based facilities.
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