Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of nebulizer therapy with normal saline on thirst and sore throat among postoperative patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group, pretest-posttest design was used with 50 participants. The experimental group received nebulizer therapy with normal saline every two hours for 10 minutes three times and wet gauze (n= 25), and the control group received only wet gauze (n= 25). Data were collected using the Numeral Rating Scale for Thirst and Sore Throat. Measurements were calculated before applying nebulizer therapy and total five times for 12 hours after treatment. Data were analyzed using the repeated measured ANOVA. Results: Thirst for the experimental group using the nebulizer therapy with normal saline improved more than for the control group (F= 3.06, p = .043). Sore throat was not significantly different between the two groups (F= 0.63, p = .565). Conclusion Study results indicate that using nebulizer therapy with normal saline can reduced thirst for postoperative patients. So nurses can apply nebulizer therapy with normal saline to reduce thirst and to improve comfort for postoperative patients.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of malocclusion with respect to grade, sex, and year among Korean pre-adolescent and adolescent students during 2012–2017. Methods: A total of 165,996 students (first grade [E1, 6–7 years of age], fourth grade [E4, 9–10 years], seventh grade [M1, 12–13 years], and tenth grade [H1, 15–16 years]) were selected by stratified sampling method and underwent the nationwide oral health examination performed by the Ministry of Education, Republic of Korea. The malocclusion assessments based on dentists’ judgments were “no malocclusion,” “needs orthodontic treatment (N-OTx),” and “under orthodontic treatment (U-OTx).” The sum of N-OTx and U-OTx cases was determined as the number of students with malocclusion. After analyzing the prevalence of malocclusion according to grade, sex, and year-by-year differences, Pearson correlation analyses and two-way analyses of variance were performed. Results: The prevalence of malocclusion was 18.7%, which increased with the grades (E1 [8.3%] < E4 [15.8%] < M1 [22.9%] < H1 [25.3%], p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the prevalence of malocclusion in each grade group for the period (p > 0.05) without significant correlation (E1, ρ = 0.129; E4, ρ = –0.495; M1, ρ = 0.406; H1, ρ = –0.383; all p > 0.05). The prevalence of malocclusion within each grade group over the six-year period was more prominent in the female (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Further studies are necessary to modify the malocclusion assessment method to account for specific types of malocclusion in pre-adolescent and adolescent students.

Although influenza A (H1N1) virus leads to self-limiting illness, co-infection with bacteria may result in cases of severe respiratory failure due to inflammation and necrosis of intra-airway, as pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis. Pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis is usually developed in immunocompromised patients, but it can also occur in immunocompetent patients on a very rare basis. We report a case of pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis complicated by co-infection of inflenaza A and Staphylococcus aureus, causing acute respiratory failure in immunocompetent patients.
Bacteria ; Coinfection* ; Humans ; Immunocompromised Host ; Inflammation ; Influenza, Human* ; Necrosis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Staphylococcus aureus* ; Staphylococcus*

An adenomyoma is a rare, benign tumor, characteristically composed of a mixture of glandular structures with intervening bundles of smooth muscle. An adenomyoma is considered to be a variant of an ectopic pancreas, without exocrine or endocrine components. Adenomyomas of the gastrointestinal tract are found most frequently in the stomach and the small intestine is rarely involved. Gastric adenomyoma is frequently localized in the antrum or pylorus and very rarely occurs in the body. Adenomyomas often appear as a submucosal mass. A 48-year-old man was referred for further management of a 2.5-cm pedunculated polyp in the stomach. The resected tumor was diagnosed as an adenomyoma of the stomach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of gastric adenomyoma that presented as a pedunculated polyp in the body and was treated completely with endoscopic resection.
Adenomyoma* ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Pancreas ; Polyps* ; Pylorus ; Stomach*

The recent mumps epidemic in South Korea has generated a large amount of public concern. This study has attempted to analyze molecular epidemiological changes of mumps virus circulating in Gwangju metropolitan area, South Korea. 953 throat swab samples were collected from patients with parotitis from May 2013 to July 2014. The majority (71.5%) of these cases have occurred in middle or high school students aged from 15 to 19 years. All samples were tested using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) that targets the short hydrophobic (SH) gene of the virus. Mumps virus SH gene was detected in 39.2% (374/953) of samples. And 82 RT-PCR products were randomly selected for nucleotide sequencing analysis. All of these sequences were determined as genotype I by phylogenetic analysis and showed the highest nucleic acid similarity (99%) with Dg1062/Korea/98 (GenBank accession no. AY309060). These results suggested that appearance of new genotype or genetic variation at the nucleotide level could be ruled out to evaluate main cause of recent mumps outbreak in Gwangju metropolitan area.
Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Korea ; Molecular Epidemiology* ; Mumps ; Mumps virus* ; Parotitis ; Pharynx ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription

Background/Aims: Since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, hospitals have implemented infection control measures to minimize the spread of the virus within facilities. This study aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on the incidence of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and common respiratory virus (cRV) infections in hematology units. Methods: This retrospective study included all patients hospitalized in Catholic Hematology Hospital between 2019 and 2020. Patients infected with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE), carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), and cRV were analyzed. The incidence rate ratio (IRR) methods and interrupted time series analyses were performed to compare the incidence rates before and after the pandemic. Results: The incidence rates of CPE and VRE did not differ between the two periods. However, the incidence of CDI increased significantly (IRR: 1.41 [p = 0.002]) after the COVID-19 pandemic. The incidence of cRV infection decreased by 76% after the COVID-19 outbreak (IRR: 0.240 [p < 0.001]). The incidence of adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and rhinovirus infection significantly decreased in the COVID-19 period (IRRs: 0.087 [p = 0.003], 0.031 [p < 0.001], and 0.149 [p < 0.001], respectively). Conclusions The implementation of COVID-19 infection control measures reduced the incidence of cRV infection. However, CDI increased significantly and incidence rates of CPE and VRE remained unchanged in hematological patients after the pandemic. Infection control measures suitable for each type of HCAI, such as stringent hand washing for CDI and enough isolation capacities, should be implemented and maintained in future pandemics, especially in immunocompromised patients.

Background: South Korea has been experiencing a third wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since mid-November 2020. Our hospital in Gwangju metropolitan city experienced a healthcare-associated COVID-19 outbreak early in the third wave. The first confirmed COVID-19 patient was a symptomatic neurosurgery resident with high mobility throughout the hospital. We analyzed the transmission routes of nosocomial COVID-19 and discussed infection control strategies. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing results according to time point and evaluated transmission routes. Results: Since COVID-19 was first confirmed in a healthcare worker (HCW) on 11/13/2020, we performed RT-PCR tests for all patients and caregivers and four complete enumeration surveys for all HCWs. We detected three clusters of nosocomial spread and several sporadic cases. The first cluster originated from the community outbreak spot, where an asymptomatic HCW visited, which led to a total of 22 cases. The second cluster, which included patient-to-patient transmission, originated from a COVID-19 positive caregiver before diagnosis and the third cluster involved a radiologist and a banker. We took measures to isolate Building 1 of the hospital for 17 days and controlled the outbreak during a period of increasing community COVID-19 prevalence. Universal screening of all inpatients upon admission and resident caregivers was made mandatory and hospital-related employees are now screened monthly. Conclusion Infection control strategies to prevent the nosocomial transmission of emerging infectious diseases must correspond with community disease prevalence. Our data reinforce the importance of multi-time point surveillance of asymptomatic HCWs and routine surveillance of patients and caregivers during an epidemic.

Background: South Korea has been experiencing a third wave of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) since mid-November 2020. Our hospital in Gwangju metropolitan city experienced a healthcare-associated COVID-19 outbreak early in the third wave. The first confirmed COVID-19 patient was a symptomatic neurosurgery resident with high mobility throughout the hospital. We analyzed the transmission routes of nosocomial COVID-19 and discussed infection control strategies. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing results according to time point and evaluated transmission routes. Results: Since COVID-19 was first confirmed in a healthcare worker (HCW) on 11/13/2020, we performed RT-PCR tests for all patients and caregivers and four complete enumeration surveys for all HCWs. We detected three clusters of nosocomial spread and several sporadic cases. The first cluster originated from the community outbreak spot, where an asymptomatic HCW visited, which led to a total of 22 cases. The second cluster, which included patient-to-patient transmission, originated from a COVID-19 positive caregiver before diagnosis and the third cluster involved a radiologist and a banker. We took measures to isolate Building 1 of the hospital for 17 days and controlled the outbreak during a period of increasing community COVID-19 prevalence. Universal screening of all inpatients upon admission and resident caregivers was made mandatory and hospital-related employees are now screened monthly. Conclusion Infection control strategies to prevent the nosocomial transmission of emerging infectious diseases must correspond with community disease prevalence. Our data reinforce the importance of multi-time point surveillance of asymptomatic HCWs and routine surveillance of patients and caregivers during an epidemic.

Since attention is sometimes required with regard to the use and handling of external medications or injection drugs in drug therapy, patients may have a feeling of “inconvenience”. We, therefore, focused on a feeling of “inconvenience when using” external medications and injection drugs, and conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate the level of awareness and current status of using assist devices that can effectively reduce such inconvenience. The survey took place at a pharmacy, and involved interviews using a questionnaire. Of the 197 respondents, valid responses were obtained from 147 individuals (74.6%). As the results, 25.9% of individuals using external medications or injection drugs responded ‘yes’ concerning the feeling of “inconvenience when using” them. In addition, 39.4% of individuals using eye drops and 10.5% of those using insulin similarly responded. However, only 10.9% knew of the availability of assist devices that are expected to reduce the inconvenience. The results revealed that a certain number of people feel the “inconvenience” of external dosage forms investigated in this study, suggesting the need for pharmacists to consider that patients may have problems using their medications, and to recommend and support the use of assist devices that can be operated by patients.

Since attention is sometimes required with regard to the use and handling of external medications or injection drugs in drug therapy, patients may have a feeling of “inconvenience”. We, therefore, focused on a feeling of “inconvenience when using” external medications and injection drugs, and conducted a questionnaire survey to investigate the level of awareness and current status of using assist devices that can effectively reduce such inconvenience. The survey took place at a pharmacy, and involved interviews using a questionnaire. Of the 197 respondents, valid responses were obtained from 147 individuals (74.6%). As the results, 25.9% of individuals using external medications or injection drugs responded ‘yes’ concerning the feeling of “inconvenience when using” them. In addition, 39.4% of individuals using eye drops and 10.5% of those using insulin similarly responded. However, only 10.9% knew of the availability of assist devices that are expected to reduce the inconvenience. The results revealed that a certain number of people feel the “inconvenience” of external dosage forms investigated in this study, suggesting the need for pharmacists to consider that patients may have problems using their medications, and to recommend and support the use of assist devices that can be operated by patients.