Status of infection prevention and control capacity in Korean hospitals: implications for disaster response and pandemic preparedness

Abstract

ObjectivesThis study aims to explore the association of hospital infection prevention and control (IPC) structure (i.e. a dedicated IPC team and/or IPC committee) and IPC capacity in Korean hospitals, as well as its implications in the response and preparedness to COVID-19. Study designThis was a cross-sectional study using data collected through a nationwide survey. MethodsParticipating hospitals completed an online questionnaire. Participation was voluntary. The survey questionnaire was developed by the government in consultation with IPC experts. The questionnaire was distributed to 2108 hospitals, including both acute and long-term care hospitals. The independent variables were the presence of an IPC team and/or IPC committee. The dependent variables were IPC activities and capacity measures, which were based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on the core components in IPC. ResultsA total of 1442 hospitals completed the survey. Hospitals with IPC structures conducted significantly more IPC activities in all outcome measures compared with hospitals without IPC structures, with the exceptions of monitoring hand hygiene and screening for infectious diseases that showed non-significant differences. Hospitals with IPC structures showed a significant difference in performance in IPC risk assessment, operating outbreak response teams and appraisal of hospital IPC policies compared with hospitals without IPC structures. ConclusionsThe presence of a dedicated IPC team and IPC committee was associated with increased IPC activities and IPC capacity. Hospitals with IPC teams and IPC committees showed strong implementation of planning, appraisal, resource management and outbreak response, indicating that strengthening IPC structures within hospitals is the key to more effective IPC and disaster response.