We made use of a neurosurgical care unit (NCN) from May 1986. The NCU differs from the intensive care unit (ICU) in several points. The NCU has 16 beds for neurosurgical patients who require continuous observation while the intensive therapy is not likely to be required. Wall units for oxygen and suction are equipped for each bed. One of the patient's family or relatives could attend the patient in the NCU. Neurosurgical nurse education has been offered monthly according to a scheduled curriculum to enhance an ability of neurosurgical close observation. The NCU has several unique advantages. The NCU can solve the bed availability problem caused by not only increased requirement for beds but also patients who were stabilized but still dependant or had some risk of sudden deterioration. Patients in the NCU require more observation than therapy. Thus, the NCU requires less equipments than the ICU, so it is cheap to set up. Regular neurosurgical nurse education fills up the efficiency of the NCU. Attendance of the family not only adds man-power but also provides a skinship and more intimate therapeutic environment. It also potentiates ability to care at home by their family. Our model of NCU has brought so significant advantages that we may advocate the efficacy of such an intermediate care facility, and present here our model of NCU.
Curriculum ; Education ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Intermediate Care Facilities ; Oxygen ; Suction

OBJECTIVETo determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among mentally retarded residents of rehabilitation center of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan province, southern Iran.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was carried out in central rehabilitation institute of Hormozgan province in summer 2010. Fecal samples of all 133 residents (72 males, 61 females) aged 3-52, were collected in triplicate. Specimens were examined by direct smear, formalin-ether concentration techniques and stained by permanent Trichrome, Ziehl-Neelsen stains. Statistical analysis was conducted by SPSS 13.5.

RESULTSIntestinal parasitic infections were seen in 48.5% (64 out of 133 subjects: 53.4% in males and 46.6% in females). Strongyloides stercoralis with 17.3% showed the highest incidence followed by Entamoeba coli (9.8%), Blastocystis hominis (7.5%), Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Endolimax nana (2.3%), Hymenolepis nana (0.8%), Oxyuris vermicularis (0.8%), and Chilomasix mesnili (0.8%). Double infections were found to be as: Strongyloides stercoralis + Giardia lamblia (2.3%), Entamoeba coli + Giardia lamblia (1.5%), Entamoeba coli + Blastocystis hominis (1.5%), Oxyuris vermicularis + Entamoeba coli (0.8%), Strongyloides stercoralis + Entamoeba coli (0.8%), respectively.

CONCLUSIONSOur findings reveal that strongyloidiasis is a common disease among mentally retarded population in southern Iran.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Feces ; parasitology ; Female ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Institutionalization ; Intermediate Care Facilities ; Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Male ; Mentally Disabled Persons ; Middle Aged ; Strongyloides stercoralis ; isolation & purification ; Strongyloidiasis ; epidemiology ; parasitology ; Young Adult