Diagnosis, management, and control of potential emerging infectious diseases

Im Jae Hyoung, Baek Ji Hyeon, Lee Jin-Soo
Division of Infectious Diseases, Inha University School of Medicine
Seo Yu-bin
Division of Infectious Diseases, Hanlym University School of Medicine

Due to increasing concern over emerging infectious diseases, the Korea Center for Disease Control (KCDC) carried out a joint policy project to establish a system for the diagnosis and management of potential emerging infectious diseases. The project focused on 16 emerging infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to review and present the characteristics of those 16 disease conditions, find out the current status of diagnostic methods, and establish a system for diagnosis and management.
Depending on the quality and quantity of literature on each disease, a literature review or adaptation process based on existing guidelines was conducted. The review of disease characteristics included information regarding patient screening, diagnostics, community and hospital responses, treatment, and prevention. The reporting criteria considered the existing guidelines in the infectious disease reporting form, the domestic diagnostic status, and overseas diagnosis criteria. This study summarized the disease diagnosis and confirmed whether or not it was available in Korea. Of the disease conditions that could not be diagnosed in Korea, an alternative diagnostic method was deemed necessary. The health management response plans were adapted based on government guidelines for various diseases and situations. Simulation training was conducted in hospitals with government-managed isolation rooms to determine comprehensive diagnostic, management, and response systems for the designed disease conditions.
This study aimed to establish a diagnostic system for new infectious diseases from overseas and provide rudimentary data for the establishment of a response system suitable for disease characteristics. It was recommended that efforts to establish and improve diagnosis and prevention systems for major infectious diseases should continue.

Keywords: infectious disease, inflow, diagnosis, management, response