ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There was an worldwide outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) originated from China in late 2002. During that period three cases of suspected SARS and 17 cases of probable SARS were reported in Korea. With the concerns about the reemergence of SARS-coV transmission, it is important to be prepared for any possibility. So, this study is aimed to analysis the past measures in managing SARS and propose the amendatory plans to improve the preparedness. RESULTS:Questionnaires were collected among clinicians with any experience in managing the probable or suspected SARS cases in Oct. 2003. 17 out of 22 hospitals responded to the questionnaire. The contents in the questionnaire were practical activities, personal equipments, response plans, isolation facilities in emergency centers, outpatient clinics, general wards and intensive care units, and relationship with the public health department. RESULTS: The dedicated isolation rooms in emergency centers, outpatient clinics, general wards, and intensive care units were prepared in 9 (9/17, 52.9%), 5 (5/17, 29.4%), 15 (15/16, 93.7%), and 4 (4/16, 25.0%) hospitals, respectively. Except for one hospital that newly made negative pressure room for SARS, single or multi-bed rooms without airborne infection control were used in all the other hospitals. The personal precaution principles were kept quite well in general wards. Before the designation of SARS hospital by the public health department prior evalution to see if the hospital was suitable for managing SARS was conducted in only 1 (1/12, 8.3%) hospital. The results of laboratory diagnosis were reported back in 1 (1/15, 6.6%) hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The isolation facilities which can control airborne infection were almost deficient not only for SARS but also for other respiratory transmissible diseases. For the infection control of transmissible diseases including SARS, more investment is needed on medical facilities and comprehensive support from the public health department required.
Subject(s)
Humans , Ambulatory Care Facilities , China , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Emergencies , Infection Control , Intensive Care Units , Investments , Korea , Patients' Rooms , Public Health , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There was an worldwide outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) originated from China in late 2002. During that period three cases of suspected SARS and 17 cases of probable SARS were reported in Korea. With the concerns about the reemergence of SARS-coV transmission, it is important to be prepared for any possibility. So, this study is aimed to analysis the past measures in managing SARS and propose the amendatory plans to improve the preparedness. RESULTS:Questionnaires were collected among clinicians with any experience in managing the probable or suspected SARS cases in Oct. 2003. 17 out of 22 hospitals responded to the questionnaire. The contents in the questionnaire were practical activities, personal equipments, response plans, isolation facilities in emergency centers, outpatient clinics, general wards and intensive care units, and relationship with the public health department. RESULTS: The dedicated isolation rooms in emergency centers, outpatient clinics, general wards, and intensive care units were prepared in 9 (9/17, 52.9%), 5 (5/17, 29.4%), 15 (15/16, 93.7%), and 4 (4/16, 25.0%) hospitals, respectively. Except for one hospital that newly made negative pressure room for SARS, single or multi-bed rooms without airborne infection control were used in all the other hospitals. The personal precaution principles were kept quite well in general wards. Before the designation of SARS hospital by the public health department prior evalution to see if the hospital was suitable for managing SARS was conducted in only 1 (1/12, 8.3%) hospital. The results of laboratory diagnosis were reported back in 1 (1/15, 6.6%) hospital. CONCLUSIONS: The isolation facilities which can control airborne infection were almost deficient not only for SARS but also for other respiratory transmissible diseases. For the infection control of transmissible diseases including SARS, more investment is needed on medical facilities and comprehensive support from the public health department required.
Subject(s)
Humans , Ambulatory Care Facilities , China , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Emergencies , Infection Control , Intensive Care Units , Investments , Korea , Patients' Rooms , Public Health , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus , Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystemic disorder of unknown cause characterized by presence of noncaseating Epithelioid granuloma in affected organ. It was first reported in 1887 by Hutchinson and is relatively common in western countries. But it is not commonly seen in East Asia including Korea. All parts of the body can be affected, but the lung is the most frequently affected organ. Other common site of involvement include lymph node, eye, skin, etc. It is known that 3~9% of all cases of sarcoidos is associated with bone involvement. Bone involvement usually cause no symptom and frequently affect bones in hands an feet. In many cases, it is known to be associated with skin involvement. We recently experienced one case of sarcoidosis which typically showed X-ray finding of sarcoidosis with associated skin lesion(lupus pernio) and report it with review of the literature.