Epidemiology and Health

Original Article

Hand-to-face contact behaviors during indoor activities in daily life among Korean adults: an observational pilot study using videotaping: Hyang Soon Oh, Mikyung Ryu, Youngran Yang; Epidemiol Health. 2021;43:e2021030. Published online April 22, 2021; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2021030

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Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Hand-to-face contact (HFC) is the major route for the self-inoculation of pathogens. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of HFC behaviors among Korean adults during indoor activities.

METHODS

Thirty participants were enrolled in the study, and 2 hours of videotaped data were collected from each participant. Contact data were recorded by examining the frequency and duration of HFC on the videos. Three training sessions were conducted for 2 readers to ensure the accuracy and reliability of videotape reading. Re-reading and verification of selected video data were performed to confirm intrapersonal and interpersonal validity. Contact exposure (CE) was determined by multiplying the contact frequency (CF) by the contact duration (CD) to quantify the intensity of contact during the observation time (2 hours).

RESULTS

A total of 3,007 HFCs (1,305 mucous membrane contacts and 1,702 non-mucous membrane contacts) were observed for 60 person-hours. The median CF (person/2 hr) of the mucous membranes (eye; 4.0, nose; 15.5, mouth; 16.5) was 39.5/person and the median total CD was 177.0 sec/person. The median CE (frequency-duration/sec/person) was 5,795.0 (mouth: 1,356.0, nose: 600.0, eye: 57.5).

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that the mouth and nose were the most frequent exposure sites for HFC. Avoiding habitual HFC, awareness of self-inoculation by HFC, and vigorous hand hygiene should be strengthened to prevent the spread of infections.

Summary

Korean summary
· 얼굴의 가장 빈번한 직접 자가 손접촉 노출은 입과 코에서 발생했습니다. · 접촉 노출량 지표 (contact exposure)는 입과 코에 자가 손접촉을 보다 잘 구별할 수 있습니다. · 습관적인 손-얼굴 접촉을 피하고, 마스크 사용 및 철저한 손위생으로 감염성 질환의 전파를 예방해야 합니다.

Key Message
• Average contact frequency (no./person) and contact duration (sec/person) of hand-to-face contact to the mucous membranes were high on the mouth, nose and then nose. • Contact exposure could differentiate more distinguished the hand contacts to mouth and to nose than contact frequency. • Hand-to face contacts, especially to mouth and then to nose can be the most frequent route of self-inoculation among Korean adults. • Avoiding habitual hand-to-face contacts, mask use, and vigorous hand hygiene should be strengthened as we counter epidemics of transmitting infectious diseases.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Impact of a Serious Game (#RedPingüiNO) to Reduce Facial Self-Touches and Prevent Exposure to Pathogens Transmitted via Hands: Quasi-Experimental Intervention
Marta Arévalo-Baeza, Alejandro Viuda-Serrano, Carmen Juan-Llamas, Pablo Sotoca-Orgaz, Iván Asín-Izquierdo
JMIR Serious Games.2023; 11: e45600. CrossRef
Hemşirelik Öğrencilerine Eğitimleri Sırasında Öğretilen Asepsi Uygulamalarının Covid -19 Pandemi Dönemindeki Bireysel Uygulamalarına Etkisi
Ayşe SERPİCİ, Neriman AKANSEL, Nursel VATANSEVER, Vahit DALKIZAN
Uludağ Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi.2023; 49(2): 245. CrossRef
Hand-to-Face Contact of Preschoolers during Indoor Activities in Childcare Facilities in the Republic of Korea
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International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(20): 13282. CrossRef

Epidemiologic Investigation

Healthcare worker infected with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in Korea, 2015: Hae-Sung Nam, Mi-Yeon Yeon, Jung Wan Park, Jee-Young Hong, Ji Woong Son; Epidemiol Health. 2017;39:e2017052. Published online November 12, 2017; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2017052

17,435 View
282 Download
26 Web of Science
39 Crossref

Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
During the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in Korea in 2015, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) confirmed a case of MERS in a healthcare worker in Daejeon, South Korea. To verify the precise route of infection for the case, we conducted an in-depth epidemiological investigation in cooperation with the KCDC.

METHODS

We reviewed the MERS outbreak investigation report of the KCDC, and interviewed the healthcare worker who had recovered from MERS. Using the media interview data, we reaffirmed and supplemented the nature of the exposure.

RESULTS

The healthcare worker, a nurse, was infected while performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for a MERS patient in an isolation room. During the CPR which lasted for an hour, a large amount of body fluid was splashed. The nurse was presumed to have touched the mask to adjust its position during the CPR. She suggested that she was contaminated with the MERS patient’s body fluids by wiping away the sweat from her face during the CPR.

CONCLUSIONS

The possible routes of infection may include the following: respiratory invasion of aerosols contaminated with MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) through a gap between the face and mask; mucosal exposure to sweat contaminated with MERS-CoV; and contamination during doffing of personal protective equipment. The MERS guidelines should reflect this case to decrease the risk of infection during CPR.

Summary

Korean summary
2015년 한국의 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) 유행 기간 중 질병관리본부는 MERS 환자 심폐소생술(cardio–pulmonary resuscitation, CPR)에 참여한 간호사에서 MERS를 확진하였다. 이 사례에 대해 대전광역시 메르스 대응 민간역학조사지원단에서 심층역학조사를 실시한 결과 (1) CPR 수행 중 MERS-CoV에 오염된 에어로졸의 호흡기 침투, (2) MERS-CoV에 오염된 땀의 점막 침투, (3) 보호구 탈의 과정에서 MERS-Cov에 오염 등이 가능한 감염 경로로 파악되었다. 본 사례는 MERS 환자에 대한 CPR 수행 및 수행자의 보호구 착용과 관련하여 MERS 관리 지침의 개정이 필요함을 시사한다.

Citations

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MERS-Epidemiologic Investigation

Epidemiological investigation of the 119th confirmed Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus case with an indefinite mode of transmission during the Pyeongtaek outbreak in Korea: Jong Hyuk Choi, Byoungin Yoo, Soon Young Lee, Eun Gyu Lee, Moran Ki, Woncheol Lee, Jong Rak Jung, Kyujin Chang; Epidemiol Health. 2015;37:e2015054. Published online December 10, 2015; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih/e2015054

16,983 View
223 Download
5 Web of Science
1 Crossref

Abstract Summary PDF Supplementary Material

Abstract

Since the first case was diagnosed on May 20, 2015, there were 186 confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) until the end of outbreak in South Korea. Although medical institutions were the most identifiable sources of MERS transmission in South Korea, similar to other countries, in-depth epidemiological investigation was required for some confirmed cases with indefinite contact history or hospital visit records. The subject of epidemiological investigation in the present study was a 35 year-old male patient diagnosed with MERS (#119) who lived in Asan-city and worked in Pyeongtaek-city. Various potential sources of transmission were carefully investigated. While he could have been exposed to MERS through a friend from Saudi Arabia or confirmed MERS cases in his workplace, neighboring areas, and medical institutions, as well as contacts in his home, the chances of transmission were low; however, the potential for transmission through his local community could not be excluded. Practically, it was difficult to determine the modes of transmission for all outbreak cases in communicable disease that occurred in this short period of time. The investigation to identify the mode of transmission in this case was ultimately unsuccessful. However, the various data collected and analyzed to reveal modes of transmission provided detailed information that could not be collected using only interview surveys.

Summary

Korean summary
2015년 한국에서 유행한 메르스 환자들 중, 감염 경로가 불분명한 119번째 환자에 대한 심층 역학조사를 통해 다양한 감염경로의 가능성을 검토하였다. 감염경로를 명확하게 밝혀내지 못한 한계점이 있지만, 지역사회 전파에 대한 가능성을 제시하였다. 감염병 대유행시 효율적인 감염경로 파악을 위해서는 다방면의 자료에 대한 확보체계와 이를 신속히 분석하고 판단할 수 있는 전문 인력 확충이 필요하다.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

A database of geopositioned Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus occurrences
Rebecca E. Ramshaw, Ian D. Letourneau, Amy Y. Hong, Julia Hon, Julia D. Morgan, Joshua C. P. Osborne, Shreya Shirude, Maria D. Van Kerkhove, Simon I. Hay, David M. Pigott
Scientific Data.2019;[Epub] CrossRef

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