BACKGROUND: The ultimate goal of hospital infection control is to decrease the hospital infections. The change of hospital infections were depended closely to the healthcare workers' infection control practice keeping the infection control polices as recommendations. This study tried to measure the knowledge of nurses about the evidence based guidelines of hospital infection control to analysis the variables to impact on their knowledge, and to identify whether evaluation indexes for hospital infection effect on their knowledge. METHODS: Questionnaire survey was done nationally to 32 general hospitals over 300 beds from August 4, 2003 to the end of December. Only 12 hospitals that over about 10% of total nurses participated in this survey were included in this analysis. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS 12.0 for Windows PC (Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: The mean scores of hospital evaluation indexes of 12 hospitals were in mid range, and the scores of nurses' knowledge about the hospital infection control guidelines were in mid range. By multiple regression analysis and univariate analysis, nurses' knowledge of infection control was found to be strongly associated with every year attendance on infection control education. Hand hygiene evaluation index, infection control for health care workers index and total sum of evaluation indexes were significant to the nurses' knowledge. CONCLUSION: The significant variable to the nurses' knowledge of hospital infection control was identified as an annual education attendance. The education about hospital infection control should be done mandatory to nurses' education programs every year.
Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Hand Hygiene ; Hospitals, General* ; Infection Control* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Cross Infection* ; Infection Control*

No abstract available.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to analyse the activities and status of infection control nurses (ICNs) and the trends of them since the first full-time ICN had been appointed in 1991. METHODS: Questionaries were mailed to 164 general hospitals with more than 300 beds. 85 hospitals were responded (51.8%) from 17June to 11 November 2003. RESULT: Full-time ICN was employed in 37.5%, 88.8% hospitals employed only one ICN regardless full-time or part-time ICN. ICNs spent time on surveillance (40.7%), teaching (29.4%), and meeting et al (30.3%). Surveillance was practice (67.5%), but surgical site surveillance was done in 12.1%. Personal characteristics and IC activities were significantly different between full-time and part-time ICNs. No of ICNs were increased by the national regulation and policy making. ICNs have improved the efficacy of infection control (IC) and abolished many wasteful ICs, The intensity of surveillance and the number of hospitals keep on hospital environmental control guidelines were increased. CONCLUSION: The number of ICNs was lower than 1980s' recommendation. The regulation on the ratio of ICN to beds should be added. The general features and activities of ICNs have been improved since 1991. However, to step up IC, the reward and support systems for ICN should be established.
Cross Infection ; Hospitals, General* ; Humans ; Infection Control* ; Policy Making ; Postal Service ; Reward

BACKGROUND: Health care workers (HCWs) are exposed to patients' blood occupationally by needlesticks or sharps injuries and by direct contact to mucous membranes or skins. This study was performed to investigate actively the descriptive epidemiology of HCWs' blood exposures in a University Hospital in Korea. METHODS: Over a 5 year period (from Jan, 1996 to Dec. 31, 2000), in a acute, educational, tertiary and about 1,500 beds university hospital, blood exposure episodes were reported by HCWs. The reported cases of 532 were analysed epidemiologically and statistically using PC SAS 6.12. RESULTS: The proportions of male and female were 44.0% (234), 56.0% (298) respectively the mean age was 29.2 years and the mode of career was 12 months. Distributions by job titles were 44.9% (239/532) in doctors' 29.5% (157/532) in registered nurses' 9.0% (48/532) in aid nurses, 6.4%(34/532) in housekeepers and 4.3%(23/532) in technicians. The proportions per 100 HCWs by job category were 4.4%(239/5,489) in doctors, 3.7%(157/4,262) in registered nurses and 1.3%(23/ 1,786) in technicians. and that per 100 beds was 6.8% (529/7,730). Distribution of reported cases were 13.0% (69/532), 11.5% (61/532), 9.2%(49/532) in March, April and May respectively. The major type of exposure was percutaneous injuries (96.3%, 513/533), and the most of them was needlesticks (91.4%, 469/513). The largest number of blood exposures occurred in inpatient ward(48.4%, 257/532) and the most injured body part was fingers (782%, 412/527), especially 1st finger (25%, 84/332). Blood exposure accidents were occurred during invasive procedures(66.3%, 341/514) and most of them were blood sampling(22.9%, 78/341) and recapping(20.8%, 71/341). Hepatitis B virus was the major bloodborne pathogens of reported cases (55.8%. 293/525). Post exposure prophylaxis and follow up were done for susceptible person but the seroposive conversions in them were not found. The association between job categories and exposure types and that between job titles and occurrence places were significant statistically(CMH chi-square p=0.001). The reporting cases of HBV exposures were decreased but those of HIV exposures were increased annually during the study period. CONCLUSION: We could find the descriptive epidemiology of Hews' occupational exposures to blood in a university hospital in Korea. And we can support the data in order to establish the policy or act for HCWs' safety and health from the boodborne hazards. In addition, to confirm the preventive effects of infection control activities for Hews from the risk of bloodborne diseases.
Blood-Borne Pathogens ; Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Fingers ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B virus ; HIV ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Male ; Mucous Membrane ; Needlestick Injuries ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupations ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Skin

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of inhalation method using essential oils on the preoperative anxiety of hystrectomy patients, and to provide effective and holistic nursing care to them. The research design was a nonequivalent control group non synchronized design. The data were collected from February 1 to March 31, 2002 at D Medical Center in Busan. The subjects were forty one patients that were operated on under general anesthesia for hystrectomy. They were assigned to two groups, twenty one subjects in the experimental group and twenty subjects in the control group. The tool of the Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) was used to anxiety on all patients the day before surgery and the preoperative period Then systolic and diastolic blood pressure. pulse rate levels were measured the day before surgery and the preoperative period. The experimental group received two treatments of inralation method using essential oils of with lavender, ylang ylang, and bergamot oil. The data were analyzed by be chi test and the independent t-test The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. Hypothesis 1: It has been supported that the experimental group received inhalation method using essential ons might cause lower level of the preoperative VAS anxiety than that of the control group(t = -2. 93. p = .006) 2. Hypothesis 2: It has been rejected that the experimental group received inhalation method using essential oils might cause lower level in the preoperative systolic blood pressure than the control group(t=-.120, p= .905). It has been rejected that the experimental group received inhalation method using essential oils might cause lower level in the preoperative diastolic blood pressure than the control grouP.(t=1.766, p=.085). 3. Hypothesis 3. It has been supported that the experimental group received inhalation method using essential oils might cause lower level in preoperative pulse rate than the control group(t=5.853, p=.000) According to these results. inhalation method using essential oils can be considered an effective nursing intervention that relieves the preoperative anxiety of hysterectomy patients and stabilizes vital sign partially.
Anesthesia, General ; Anxiety* ; Blood Pressure ; Busan ; Cananga ; Heart Rate ; Holistic Nursing ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Inhalation* ; Lavandula ; Nursing ; Oils, Volatile* ; Preoperative Period ; Research Design ; Vital Signs

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive estimation of pulmonary artery pressure is an important component of echocardiographic studies. A number of methods are available for estimation of pulmenary pressure, each with varying degrees of reported accuracy. To assess accuracy and difficulties, noninvasive pulmonary artery pressure estimates were performed in infants and children with congenital heart diseases. METHODS: Noninvasive estimates from 8 methods were compared with catheterization measurements. Systolic pressure was estimated by the Burstin method and from perak tricuspid regurgitation velocity, and also from systolic pressure gradients through the VSD(ventricular septal defect) and PDA(patent ductus arteriosus). Mean pressure was estimated by acceleration time divided by ejection time measured from Koppler spectrum obtained at the right ventricular out flow tract. Diastolic pressure was estimated from pulmonary regurgitation velocity spentrum at end-diastolic, and also from diastolic pressure gradient through the patent ductus arteriosus. RESULTS: IN systolic pressure, Burstin and tricuspid regurgitation velocities estimates correlated significantly(r=0.92, 0.90 respectively), whereas VSD and PDA estimates correlated less well with catheterization estimates(r=0.83, 0.65 respectively). The mean pressure, measured from RVOT(right ventricular outflow tract) Doppler spectrum corresponded well with catheterization pressure(r=0.89), whereas those obtained from the main pulmonary artery correlated less well(r=0.74). The diastolic pressure estimates from pulmonary regurgitation velocity spectrum, revealed good correlation(r=0.79), but those from diastolic Doppler spectrum at PDA correlated less well with catheterization estimates(r=0.63). CONCLUSION: All of eight Doppler echocardiographic methods seemed to be easily performable for estimation of pulmonary artery pressure. But, the degree of accuracy was variable. Because a pressure estimante from only a single method may be in error, care should be taken in combining use of other(one or two) methods.
Acceleration ; Blood Pressure ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Child ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; Echocardiography* ; Echocardiography, Doppler ; Heart Diseases ; Humans ; Infant ; Pulmonary Artery* ; Pulmonary Valve Insufficiency ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency

We report a case of atrophoderma vermiculata with an unusual location. Besides symmetrical small pitted macules and linear atrophic depressions on both cheeks, there were unilateral atrophic depressed macules on the forehead, the right popliteal fossa and left up-per arm in our case. The histopathologic findings of these lesions showed a slight degree of epidermal atrophy with follicular pluggings and flattened rete ridges. In the dermis, there were mild perivascular in-filtrations of mononuclear cells. In addition, we could find out no pilosebaceous unit and other adnexal structures were diminished in number.
Arm ; Atrophy ; Cheek ; Depression ; Dermis ; Forehead

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Animals ; Interleukin-2 ; Mice*