Nosocomial infections surveillance is the basic activity of infection control programs, and many countries conduct surveillance using various methods. We convinced that each country should conduct an adequate and efficient surveillance system depending on their situations. Here we reviewed the recent nosocomial surveillance systems of other countries. As many countries have succeeded in reducing hospital infections, we expect that Korean Nosocomial Infections Surveillance System would contribute to nosocomial infection prevention and health promotion in Korea through an active surveillance at the national level.
Cross Infection* ; Health Promotion ; Infection Control ; Korea*

No abstract available.
Stomach Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: Detection of causative allergens in respiratory allergy patients is important for diagnosis and selection of treatment modality. Allergen sensitization depends on the genetic susceptibility and environmental exposure to allergens. MATERIAL AND METHOD: In this study, we tried to find causative inhalant allergens in respiratory allergy patients who underwent skin prick test with common 55 inhalant allergens and RAST at Chungbuk National University Hospital in Chungbuk district. We also evaluated the changes of causative allergens because the environment here may be quite different, since the main population lives in the urban area and industrialization began later than in the other cities and districts. RESULTS: The major allergen was house dust mite, and its sensitivity rate did not change annually. Other indoor allergens such as cockroach, and animal dander including cat and dog showed similar trends. But the sensitization rate to tree and weed pollen except grass had significantly increased since 1995. Among pollens, the increase of sensntization to weed pollen was more marked. Ratio of sensitization rate to double or triple kinds of allergens also increased. CONCLUSION: Taken together, house dust mite is still the major allergen, but rate to pollen sensitization, especially to weed pollen has increased rapidly and significantly. It is suggested that causative allergens in repiratory allergy patients has begun to shift to pollen recently.
Allergens* ; Animals ; Cats ; Chungcheongbuk-do* ; Cockroaches ; Dander ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Environmental Exposure ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Skin

Rabbits were immunized with free-living amoebas by intravenous injections. The amoebas were Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and Naegleria fowleri and obtained by axenic cultivation in CGVS medium. Each rabbit received 10(6) of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and 10(5) of Naegleria fowleri trophozoites respectively every other day in three doses and finally one booster dose at 1 week later. Antiserum was collected from thc following day of the booster injection up to 2 months period, and stored at -30 degree C until use. The immobilization test was performed. One drop of amoeba suspension was mixed with the test serum on slide and observed the mobile state under microscope. Maximal immobilizing phenomenon observed in 30 minutes and, then gradually recovered to normal state. Inactivation of antiserum at 56 degree C for 30 minutes did not affect the immobilization phenomenon. The immobilization rates decreased by the serial dilution of antiserum. At dilution more than 1:8, the immobilization was almost the same as in the normal serum. The immobilizing antibody in anti-Acanthamoeba culbertsoni rabbit serum showed highest titre in 3rd day after booster immunization and from first to 6th week in anti-Naegleria fowleri rabbit serum. Cross matching of Acanthamoeba culbertsoni and Naegleria fowleri showed antigenic difference of the two species. It is suggested that the immobilization reaction may be of value as a supplementary test in the diagnosis of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis.
parasitology-protozoa ; free-living amoeba ; Naegleria fowleri ; Acanthamoeba culbertsoni ; rabbit ; immunology

The purpose of this study is to seek the nursing intervention for the elderly people's positive lives by investigating the causes for their loss and its meanings. The method of this research derives from a phenomenological tool as a qualitative research design. The data collection had been performed from February, 2001 until August, 2001 through systematic interviews and participatory observations of six elderly people (4 elderly women and 2 elderly men) residing in downtown Seoul. It took one and a half hour for each interview arranged five times. The analysis of this research is based upon Giorgi method and the research results on the causes for elderly people's sense of loss and its meaning are as follows. 1) bitter disappointment of family members : unfaithful children, husband's infidelity, conflict with daughter-inlaw, economic hardships. 2) bereavement : loss of spouse or children, a sense of one's own mortality. 3) regret for the past : sorrowful things, unfair treatment, a sense of resentment, a sense of futility, a feeling of helplessness, despair, resignation. 4) unpleasant memories of others : hurt of self-esteem, hostile feelings aroused by betrayal or distrust. 5) grief of lost youth : loss of health, hard married life, unlucky fate. 6) sense of another superable life : regret, awareness, maturity through suffering. As a person ages, the number of deaths of close friends and family members usually increases. The occurrence of such multiple losses can cause the elderly to become overwhelmed by the events. Care givers need to be sensitive to these losses and need to be aware that the elderly can experience an overload of grief. Counselling can often be useful in helping them to come to terms with such multiple losses.
Adolescent ; Aged* ; Bereavement ; Caregivers ; Child ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Friends ; Grief ; Humans ; Medical Futility ; Mortality ; Nursing ; Qualitative Research ; Seoul ; Spouses

PURPOSE: This study sought to find a nursing intervention tool for enhancing elderly women's lives by investigating the causes and the meaning of their grief. METHOD: This research was derived from a phenomenological tool such as qualitative research design. The data collection took place from December of 2000 until April of 2001 Through systematic interviews and participatory observations of five elderly women attending C welfare center located in downtown Seoul the data was collected. Each interview lasted an hour and a half and was arranged five times. The analysis of this research was conducted using the Giorgi method. RESULTS: (1) There was obvious physical and physiological decline caused by aging old; as well as there being spouse health problems, additional physical suffering, signs of senility, adn insomnia, (2) Further grief was imposed by unpleasant memories of the spouse; infidelity, incapability, and even disregard of her own well-being, (3) Then there was pity for children; unfaithful children, uncertain futures of the children, and early death of a child, (4) Also, regrettable fate, painful daily acttrities, unreliable factors, bad circumstances, and feelings emptiness were reported, (5) Finally, anxiety for the future; ac sense of despair, loneliness, economic hardship, and the fear of imminent death increased grief levels. CONCLUSION: A variety of programs and social meetings for the elderly to overcome their physiological or psychological crisis should be substantially developed and supported by the government. In order to implement the social welfare for the elderly women, special consideration whether on the governmental level or the personal level, should be devoted to the elderly who live without any financial support or social concern.
Aged* ; Aging ; Anxiety ; Child ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Female ; Financial Support ; Grief* ; Humans ; Loneliness ; Nursing ; Qualitative Research ; Seoul ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Social Welfare ; Spouses

A total of 162 patients with invasive cervical cancer was investigated retrospectively with a view to elucidate the efficacy of pretreatment staging procedures of application with intravenous pyelography, cystoscopy, rectosigmoidoscopy. All 72 intravenous pyelograms, 155 sigmoidoscopies, 158 cystoscopies were normal. Of 111 patients with stage Ib who had paraaortic lymph node biopsies, two patients had a positive node(0.02%). Of 51 patients with stage II who had paraaortic lymph node biopsies, five patients had positive paraaortic lymph node(10%). And the accuracy of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of invasive cervical cancer was assessed. In evaluating stage of cervical cancer, clinical staging had an accuracy of 78.9%, compared with 65.7% for CT and 58.9% for MRI. And for detection of parametrial invasion, clincal staging had an accuracy of 85.9%, compared with 85.1% for CT and 78.9% for MRI. Both modalities were comparable in evaluating lymph node metastasis ( 76.1% for CT, 74.4% for MRI ). IVP, cystoscopy and sigmoidoscopy for staging procedure evaluated in this study are unnecessary and should no longer be performed in patients with early stage cervical cancer. In addition, paraaortic lymph node biopsies in the absence of clinically suspicious nodes are not warranted. Compared with CT and MRI, pelvic examination offered improved evaluation of cervical cancer staging, parametrial invasion, but CT and MRI was useful in detecting the pelvic lymph node metastasis which was nearly impossible by clinical evaluation.
Biopsy ; Cystoscopy ; Gynecological Examination ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Urography ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Tinea faciale is a dermatophyte infection of glabrous skin of the face except moustache and beard areas of the adult male. Generally it is not considered to be unique entity, and is included under Tinea corporis. However, T. faciale is somewhat different from T. corporis in its clinical manifestation, age and sex distribution and composition of causative fungi. Because superficial fungal infection of the face has not been emphasized, there is a low index of suspicion and often incorrect diagnoses are made. This clinical and mycological investigation was made with 36 cases of Tinea faciale among out-patients in dermatologic clinic of St. Pauls hospital, Catholic Medical College, from October, 1980 to September, 1981. Following results were obtained: 1. The incidence of Tinea. faciale was 0.67% among 5,406 out-patients and 3.7% among 973 superficial fungal infections. 2. The ratio of male to female patient was 1: 2.6 and incidence rate among divided age groups was the highest in under 9(36.1%) and 10-19(16.7%), 20-29(16.7%) in order(Table 1). 3. Central clearing was showed in 43.5% of the patients, annular or circular features in 65.2%, scales in 69.6%, papules in 39.1%, pustules in 17.4% and 73.9% of the patients had singie lesion(Table 3). 4. Coexisting fungal infection was found in 10 patients(27.8%) among 36 cases a,nd the most common coexisting fungus was Microsporum canis (Table 6). 5. The incidence of causative fungi in descending order were as follows: Microsporum canis(43.8%), Trichophyton rubrum (25%), Trichophyton mentagrophyte(15.6%) Microsporum gypaeum(9.4%), Trichophyton interdigitale(6.2%) (Table 4).
Adult ; Arthrodermataceae ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Microsporum ; Outpatients ; Sex Distribution ; Skin ; Tinea* ; Trichophyton ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant* ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract*

It is currently necessary to manage chronic ischemic foot gangrene because the rate of hospitalization and operations is increasing as a result of diet change and the growth of an aging population. Chronic ischemic foot gangrene is caused by Buerger`s disease, atherosclerosis and particularly, diabetes. In this study, we used the Wagner ischemic index with Doppler flowmeter and Wagner classification on 62 patients over 8 years from 1991 to 1998 as an index for treatment and prognosis. We measured the systolic pressure to determine the ischemic index, and according to Wagner the blood flow was inadequate in cases of diabetic foot gangrene and nondiabetic foot gangrene when it was below 0.45 and 0.35, respectively. According to the observation of clinical symptoms, we divided the cases by Wagner classification. Based on the above data, we performed conservative treatment, skin graft, local flap, superficial sural arterial island flap and amputation. We then followed up the patients and observed the treatment results. We concluded that the Wagner ischemic index with Doppler flowmeter and Wagner classification was useful in determining, selecting, and predicting the rate of survival or death as a result of amputation and graft when a surgical operation is performed.
Aging ; Amputation ; Atherosclerosis ; Blood Pressure ; Classification* ; Diabetic Foot ; Diet ; Flowmeters* ; Foot Ulcer* ; Foot* ; Gangrene ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Skin ; Transplants