Surgical-site infections (SSIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections in patients undergoing surgery. Surgical site preparation to prevent SSI is aimed at reducing the number of microorganisms introduced into the operative sites. Antiseptics are used to remove transient bacteria and reduce the number of commensal organisms present on the skin. The most commonly used agents are chlorhexidine, povidone-iodine, and alcohol. All of these agents have broad-spectrum activity against various pathogens. Although each agent has its advantages and disadvantages, alcohol-based antiseptic solutions containing chlorhexidine are recommended in the available guidelines. Further well-designed studies are required to identify the best antiseptics for SSI prevention.

Recent evidence indicates that water is one of the most overlooked and underestimated sources of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) are a group of natural waterborne pathogens that can persist in premise plumbing for long periods because of their unique characteristics. These include disinfectant resistance, viability inside amoeba, biofilm formation, and growth in nutrient-depleted environments. The pathogens can affect patients through various mechanisms, including direct contact, ingestion, aspiration, and aerosol inhalation. Most importantly, the transfer of pathogens between human microbiota and premise plumbing can cause hospital water systems to be reservoirs of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Biofilms formed on the outlet devices, such as tap faucets, shower heads, and sink drains provides an ideal niche for transmission of antimicrobial resistance. Contaminated wastewater systems are often sources of HAIs. A combination of interventions must be employed to manage water-related HAIs, including the general reinforcement of infection control measures, thermal and chemical disinfection, and consistent water flow.

Background: Hand hygiene is considered the simplest and most cost-effective method of infection prevention. Regular observation and feedback on hand hygiene compliance are key strategies for its enhancement. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand hygiene surveillance, including direct observation and feedback, by comprehensively analyzing the reported hand hygiene compliance within the Korean National Healthcare-Associated Infections Surveillance System from 2019 to 2022. Methods: Participating medical institutions included general hospitals and hospitals with infection control departments that consented to participate. Hand hygiene surveillance was conducted using direct observation. Collected data, including healthcare workers, clinical areas, hand hygiene moments, and hand hygiene compliance, were recorded to calculate hand hygiene compliance rates. Additionally, the volume of alcohol-based hand sanitizers used per patient per day was investigated as an indirect indicator of hand hygiene compliance. The study was conducted from July 2019 to December 2022. Results: Hand hygiene compliance increased from 87.2% in Q3 2019 to 89.9% in 2022. Nurses and medical technologists showed the highest compliance rates, whereas doctors showed the lowest compliance rates. Intensive care units excelled in compliance, whereas emergency de partments lagged. Compliance was highest after patient contact and lowest when the patient’s surroundings were touched. Larger hospitals consumed more alcohol-based hand sanitizers than smaller hospitals did. Conclusion This study confirmed an improvement in hand hygiene compliance through sustained surveillance, indicating its contribution not only to preventing infection transfer within healthcare facilities but also to fostering a culture of hand hygiene in the country.

Respiratory infections pose significant global public health challenges, with pneumonia being the major contributor. Rapid and accurate diagnoses of respiratory infections remain paramount. This review focuses on the evolution of diagnostic laboratory testing for infectious pneumonia and traces advancements from the past to the present. From early Gram staining to the advent of modern molecular biology techniques, various diagnostic approaches are explored. Additionally, the potential advantages, limitations, and practical applications of emerging diagnostic laboratory technologies are discussed with the aim of providing valuable insights for healthcare workers involved in infection control, enhancing their understanding of the latest trends and precise interpretations of pneumonia diagnoses.

The rapid COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test using Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 and the conventional COVID-19 PCR test using Standard M nCoV Detection were compared after matching for sex, age, and hospitalization period. The rapid COVID-19 PCR test group exhibited shorter turnaround time and emergency department stay.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common and costly disease that affects millions of people worldwide each year. Accurate laboratory diagnosis of UTI is crucial to reduce antimicrobial resistance in UTI pathogens because of unnecessary antimicrobial use. Routine urinalysis with urine dipstick analysis and Gram staining can be used to screen for UTI. The conventional ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing UTIs involves culture-based tests. This method entails culturing the urine sample to amplify the bacteria to detectable levels, followed by biochemical and serological tests, as well as antimicrobial susceptibility tests. However, culture-based tests have the disadvantage of requiring 48-72 hours to report results owing to the time needed for bacterial growth. Therefore, various methods have been developed and are used to diagnose UTI to replace time-consuming culture tests. These methods include flow cytometry, mass spectrometry, and nucleic-acid-based diagnostic tests. This review introduces various laboratory methods used to diagnose UTI in clinical microbiology laboratories and discusses their principles and interpretation methods.