Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021
Summary: Background: This study describes the outbreak investigations and control measures for a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a long-term care hospital (LTCH) in Seoul. Methods: The outbreak occurred from February 24, 2021 to March 2, 2021 at a 228-bed LTCH in Seoul. Monitoring o...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Infection Prevention in Practice |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259008892400091X |
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| author | Eun Jo Kim JaHyun Kang HyeonSuk Byeon |
| author_facet | Eun Jo Kim JaHyun Kang HyeonSuk Byeon |
| author_sort | Eun Jo Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Summary: Background: This study describes the outbreak investigations and control measures for a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a long-term care hospital (LTCH) in Seoul. Methods: The outbreak occurred from February 24, 2021 to March 2, 2021 at a 228-bed LTCH in Seoul. Monitoring of the outbreak continued until March 16, 2021. The LTCH investigated the outbreak in cooperation with the district public health centre. After approval from the institutional review board, the hospital's COVID-19 outbreak-related data were collected and analysed. Results: The outbreak commenced when a new caregiver tested positive for COVID-19 in routine employee screening tests. During this outbreak, eight of 342 people including 175 patients and 64 caregivers were positive for the COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2. The mean age of the confirmed cases was 75.1 years (range 55–90). Of the eight, four (50%) were males; two (25%) were caregivers; six (75%) were asymptomatic; six (75%) had previously visited a rehabilitation centre, which was located on the basement level; and one visited different hospitals' outpatient clinics. Three of the 22 environmental specimens were test-positive at the corridor's handrail and the bed rails of confirmed patients. The outbreak ended with the immediate transfer of the confirmed cases to hospitals dedicated to infectious diseases and the transfer of close contacts of these cases to designated hospitals which were organised by the health authorities. Conclusions: We found a potential link between the rehabilitation centre and the outbreak. To prevent future outbreaks at LTCHs, it is necessary to enhance each LTCH's infection control resources and competencies based on its specific requirements, with support from the government. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-daa0b5baf2ad42e886c8a250830c5a26 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2590-0889 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Infection Prevention in Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-daa0b5baf2ad42e886c8a250830c5a262025-08-20T02:14:32ZengElsevierInfection Prevention in Practice2590-08892025-03-017110042710.1016/j.infpip.2024.100427Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021Eun Jo Kim0JaHyun Kang1HyeonSuk Byeon2College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, South KoreaCollege of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea; Corresponding author. Address: College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea.Department of Neurology, Bokju Recovery Hospital, Andong, South KoreaSummary: Background: This study describes the outbreak investigations and control measures for a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak at a long-term care hospital (LTCH) in Seoul. Methods: The outbreak occurred from February 24, 2021 to March 2, 2021 at a 228-bed LTCH in Seoul. Monitoring of the outbreak continued until March 16, 2021. The LTCH investigated the outbreak in cooperation with the district public health centre. After approval from the institutional review board, the hospital's COVID-19 outbreak-related data were collected and analysed. Results: The outbreak commenced when a new caregiver tested positive for COVID-19 in routine employee screening tests. During this outbreak, eight of 342 people including 175 patients and 64 caregivers were positive for the COVID-19 virus SARS-CoV-2. The mean age of the confirmed cases was 75.1 years (range 55–90). Of the eight, four (50%) were males; two (25%) were caregivers; six (75%) were asymptomatic; six (75%) had previously visited a rehabilitation centre, which was located on the basement level; and one visited different hospitals' outpatient clinics. Three of the 22 environmental specimens were test-positive at the corridor's handrail and the bed rails of confirmed patients. The outbreak ended with the immediate transfer of the confirmed cases to hospitals dedicated to infectious diseases and the transfer of close contacts of these cases to designated hospitals which were organised by the health authorities. Conclusions: We found a potential link between the rehabilitation centre and the outbreak. To prevent future outbreaks at LTCHs, it is necessary to enhance each LTCH's infection control resources and competencies based on its specific requirements, with support from the government.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259008892400091XCOVID-19SARS-CoV-2OutbreaksRehabilitation centresLong-term careKorea |
| spellingShingle | Eun Jo Kim JaHyun Kang HyeonSuk Byeon Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021 Infection Prevention in Practice COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks Rehabilitation centres Long-term care Korea |
| title | Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021 |
| title_full | Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021 |
| title_fullStr | Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021 |
| title_short | Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in a long-term care hospital in Korea in early 2021 |
| title_sort | coronavirus disease 2019 covid 19 outbreak in a long term care hospital in korea in early 2021 |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks Rehabilitation centres Long-term care Korea |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259008892400091X |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT eunjokim coronavirusdisease2019covid19outbreakinalongtermcarehospitalinkoreainearly2021 AT jahyunkang coronavirusdisease2019covid19outbreakinalongtermcarehospitalinkoreainearly2021 AT hyeonsukbyeon coronavirusdisease2019covid19outbreakinalongtermcarehospitalinkoreainearly2021 |