Journal List > Pediatr Infect Vaccine > v.22(3) > 1095982

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

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.

REFERENCES

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Table 1.
Status of Pediatric Infectious Disease Subspeciality Board Members of the Korean Pediatric Society
Status No.
Production of pediatric infectious disease subspecialist (24 over the past 5 years) by year∗
  2010 4
  2011 4
  2012 8
  2012 q
  2014 5
Total no. of pediatric infectious disease subspecialist 81
Allocation of pediatric infectious disease subspecialist by organization
  University hospital 34
  General hospital 71
  Primary clinic 7'3
  Others 1

Five in 2015 (estimated).

Running pediatric infectious disease subspecialist system since 2007.

Serving expert advisory committees of Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety at well as infection control manaaers in their oraanizations.

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