BACKGROUND: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are increasingly being reported throughout the world, which is a significant problem for patient treatment and infection control. Carbapenem-resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is mainly due to carbapenem-hydrolyzing β-lactamase, which tends to spread through genetic mobile elements. Therefore, the detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) carriers is particularly important for the prevention and epidemiological monitoring of these infections. In this study, we performed surveillance cultures for CPE in patients admitted to the hospital and evaluated the prevalence of CPE. METHODS: Stool cultures were obtained from a total of 228 patients at our tertiary-care hospital between March and May 2017. Stool specimens were inoculated on ChromID CARBA agar (bioMérieux, France) and incubated for 18-24 hours. Suspicious colonies with pink or bluish-green color were screened for CPE by the modified Hodge test (MHT) and carbapenemase inhibition test (CIT). We performed PCR to detect five carbapenemase genes, bla(KPC), bla(IMP), bla(VIM), bla(NDM), and bla(OXA-48). RESULTS: Among 228 isolates, seven were suspicious for CPE: four Klebsiella pneumoniae, one Escherichia coli, one Enterobacter aerogenes, and one Serratia marcescens. Two K. pneumoniae isolates showed positive reactions in both the modified Hodge test and inhibition test with phenylboronic acid. By PCR, bla(KPC) was identified in these two K. pneumoniae isolates. CONCLUSION: Our results showed a very low prevalence (2/228, 0.9%) of CPE in our tertiary-care hospital based on surveillance culture in a recent three month period.
Agar ; Enterobacter aerogenes ; Enterobacteriaceae* ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Serratia marcescens

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the modifiable factors affecting breastfeeding planning and duration among healthy mothers and their use of breastfeeding information resources. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a community setting. Four hundreds participants were recruited at five pediatric clinics and three community health centers located in Paju-si and Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, between January and May 2019. Based on the breastfeeding decision-making model, driven by Martens and Young’s work, the survey items consisted of demographics, childbirth and breastfeeding characteristics, and breastfeeding information resources. In the analysis, 389 responses were used in the t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. Information resource networks were compared before and after childbirth including a subgroup analysis depending on the breastfeeding duration. Results: The modifiable factors affecting breastfeeding planning and duration were antenatal and postpartum breastfeeding education and the provision of information in the hospital.The frequency of Internet use and websites visited were notable and potentially modifiable factors, which were also observed in the networks showing different relationship patterns according to participant subgroups and times. The childbirth event increased the centralization of the network in the planned group, while the network of the non-planned group was more diffused after childbirth. The network of the short-term breastfeeding group was characterized by a more centralized pattern and the resources of high betweenness centrality than the long-term group. Conclusion Breastfeeding education is a consistent factor that affects breastfeeding behavior. A well-designed internet-based approach would be an effective nursing intervention to meet the needs of women seeking breastfeeding information and changing their behaviors.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the modifiable factors affecting breastfeeding planning and duration among healthy mothers and their use of breastfeeding information resources. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a community setting. Four hundreds participants were recruited at five pediatric clinics and three community health centers located in Paju-si and Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, between January and May 2019. Based on the breastfeeding decision-making model, driven by Martens and Young’s work, the survey items consisted of demographics, childbirth and breastfeeding characteristics, and breastfeeding information resources. In the analysis, 389 responses were used in the t-test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. Information resource networks were compared before and after childbirth including a subgroup analysis depending on the breastfeeding duration. Results: The modifiable factors affecting breastfeeding planning and duration were antenatal and postpartum breastfeeding education and the provision of information in the hospital.The frequency of Internet use and websites visited were notable and potentially modifiable factors, which were also observed in the networks showing different relationship patterns according to participant subgroups and times. The childbirth event increased the centralization of the network in the planned group, while the network of the non-planned group was more diffused after childbirth. The network of the short-term breastfeeding group was characterized by a more centralized pattern and the resources of high betweenness centrality than the long-term group. Conclusion Breastfeeding education is a consistent factor that affects breastfeeding behavior. A well-designed internet-based approach would be an effective nursing intervention to meet the needs of women seeking breastfeeding information and changing their behaviors.

The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) is the initial non-invasive investigation of choice for population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. We evaluated the positivity rate in repeated tests using the same fecal specimen that showed borderline results in the FIT. A total of 6,465 patients were tested with the FIT in a tertiary-care hospital from July to December 2016. FIT was done using OC-Sensor PLEDIA (Eiken Chemical Co., Tokyo, Japan). Among 6,465 patients, 364 (5.6%) patients showed a positive FIT result of over 20 µg Hb/g feces. A total of 112 (1.7%) patients showed borderline scores of 10.2–20 µg Hb/g feces, and 5,989 (92.6%) patients showed negative results of less than 10 µg Hb/g feces. Among the 101 repeat-tested patients, 19 (18.8%) of the patients' scores converted to levels above the positive cut-off threshold. Repeated results of 19 patients showed score elevations from 20.2 to 68 µg Hb/g feces. These results suggest that it is most important to analyze properly prepared samples, even if only once. Therefore, the laboratory staff should ensure the proper preparation of stool specimens for FIT. Laboratory directors should choose the best cut-off value for detecting CRC at their respective institutions.
Colorectal Neoplasms ; Feces ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Occult Blood

Escherichia coli can harbor genomic pks islands that code for a polyketide-peptide genotoxin known as colibactin. E. coli strains carrying pks islands trigger genetic instability. pks islands have been significantly associated with bacteremia. We investigated the molecular epidemiology of bacteremic E. coli isolates and the prevalence of bacteremia-causing E. coli carrying pks islands. A total of 146 E. coli isolates were collected at a tertiary-care hospital from January 2015 to December 2016. The phylogenetic groups were determined by multiplex PCR. All isolates were screened by PCR for sequence type 131 (ST131)-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in mdh and gyrB. For detection of pks islands, we performed PCR for the clbB and clbN genes as colibactin system markers. Phylogenetic group B2 was the most common, accounting for 54.1% (N=79) of the isolates, followed by group D with 29.5% (N=43), group A with 11.6% (N=17), and group B1 with 4.8%. Of the group B2 isolates, 40.5% were ST131 strains and 32.9% carried pks islands. Only three ST131 isolates in group B2 carried the clbB and clbN genes, while the other 23 ST131 isolates did not. The pks gene might not be associated with ST131 strains.
Bacteremia* ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Humans ; Islands* ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence*

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare disparities in the individuals with acquired vision impairments. Methods: This study is a qualitative research using thematic analysis. Data were collected from January to March 2024 through one-on-one semi-structured interviews with a total of 11 individuals with acquired vision impairments. Results: The analysis revealed 5 main themes and 19 subthemes. The identified main themes were physical injury and aggravation, psychological tension, difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle, mastery of self-management and emergence of social requirements. Conclusion The findings of this study contribute to a deep understanding of the health management experiences of individuals with acquired vision impairments. Additionally, this study identifies their healthcare needs and provides directions for rehabilitation nursing and health promotion behaviors. It is necessary to explore methods for developing tailored health care programs for individuals with acquired vision impairments and to address their needs for physical environments and social systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare disparities in the individuals with acquired vision impairments. Methods: This study is a qualitative research using thematic analysis. Data were collected from January to March 2024 through one-on-one semi-structured interviews with a total of 11 individuals with acquired vision impairments. Results: The analysis revealed 5 main themes and 19 subthemes. The identified main themes were physical injury and aggravation, psychological tension, difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle, mastery of self-management and emergence of social requirements. Conclusion The findings of this study contribute to a deep understanding of the health management experiences of individuals with acquired vision impairments. Additionally, this study identifies their healthcare needs and provides directions for rehabilitation nursing and health promotion behaviors. It is necessary to explore methods for developing tailored health care programs for individuals with acquired vision impairments and to address their needs for physical environments and social systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare disparities in the individuals with acquired vision impairments. Methods: This study is a qualitative research using thematic analysis. Data were collected from January to March 2024 through one-on-one semi-structured interviews with a total of 11 individuals with acquired vision impairments. Results: The analysis revealed 5 main themes and 19 subthemes. The identified main themes were physical injury and aggravation, psychological tension, difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle, mastery of self-management and emergence of social requirements. Conclusion The findings of this study contribute to a deep understanding of the health management experiences of individuals with acquired vision impairments. Additionally, this study identifies their healthcare needs and provides directions for rehabilitation nursing and health promotion behaviors. It is necessary to explore methods for developing tailored health care programs for individuals with acquired vision impairments and to address their needs for physical environments and social systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare disparities in the individuals with acquired vision impairments. Methods: This study is a qualitative research using thematic analysis. Data were collected from January to March 2024 through one-on-one semi-structured interviews with a total of 11 individuals with acquired vision impairments. Results: The analysis revealed 5 main themes and 19 subthemes. The identified main themes were physical injury and aggravation, psychological tension, difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle, mastery of self-management and emergence of social requirements. Conclusion The findings of this study contribute to a deep understanding of the health management experiences of individuals with acquired vision impairments. Additionally, this study identifies their healthcare needs and provides directions for rehabilitation nursing and health promotion behaviors. It is necessary to explore methods for developing tailored health care programs for individuals with acquired vision impairments and to address their needs for physical environments and social systems.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of healthcare disparities in the individuals with acquired vision impairments. Methods: This study is a qualitative research using thematic analysis. Data were collected from January to March 2024 through one-on-one semi-structured interviews with a total of 11 individuals with acquired vision impairments. Results: The analysis revealed 5 main themes and 19 subthemes. The identified main themes were physical injury and aggravation, psychological tension, difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle, mastery of self-management and emergence of social requirements. Conclusion The findings of this study contribute to a deep understanding of the health management experiences of individuals with acquired vision impairments. Additionally, this study identifies their healthcare needs and provides directions for rehabilitation nursing and health promotion behaviors. It is necessary to explore methods for developing tailored health care programs for individuals with acquired vision impairments and to address their needs for physical environments and social systems.