PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the handwashing behaviors of intensive care nurses based on personal statements, and to identify the microorganisms represented in the hand flora preshift and postshift. METHODS: This prospective study was performed with 60 intensive care nurses between January and December 2008, at a training and research hospital at a university in Turkey. Samples were taken from the hands of the nurses for bacteriological culture, using the bag-broth method, at the beginning and end of the shift. The samples were cultured aerobically and the colonies that grew were counted and identified. The nurses completed a self-report questionnaire, and their answers were evaluated. RESULTS: The frequency of handwashing by participants during each shift was 32.8 +/- 13.9. Overall, 65% of the nurses preferred alcohol-based antiseptic solutions for handwashing, 95% used paper towels to dry their hands, and 98.3-100% of the nurses washed their hands after performing care procedures. The Escherichia coli and coagulase negative Staphylococcus species were found to be at significantly higher levels in the postshift hand culture samples when compared to the preshift hand culture sample values. Enterobacter cloacae was the only species found in the postshift hand culture samples of the nurses. CONCLUSIONS: The number of colonies of the microorganisms in the hand flora of the nurses increased postshift. The handwashing behavior of intensive care nurses must be improved as they nurse critical patients.
Coagulase ; Enterobacter cloacae ; Escherichia coli ; Hand ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Critical Care ; Intensive Care Units ; Prospective Studies ; Staphylococcus ; Turkey ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders and when compared to the vast knowledge pertaining to adults with IBS, very little is known about IBS in children and adolescents. We aimed to explore the prevalence of IBS, identify symptoms and contributing factors and also to examine the efficacy of trimebutine maleate in children and adolescents. METHODS: The study involved 345 children and adolescents (4-18 years) and parents were requested to fill in a questionnaire, Rome III criteria was used to diagnose IBS. To exclude organic disease, all patients underwent medical investigations. Half of the randomly selected IBS patients were treated with trimebutine maleate while the rest of IBS patients were not. The IBS patients were reevaluated at the end of 3 weeks. RESULTS: The prevalence of IBS according to Rome III criteria in children and adolescents was 22.6% and IBS with constipation was the predominant subtype. Back pain (OR, 6.68), headache (OR, 4.72) and chronic fatigue (OR, 3.74) were significantly higher in IBS group. The prevalence of IBS in both parents and depression in mothers was greater for the patient group than the healthy controls (P < 0.0001). The prevalence of functional dyspepsia in IBS group was 80.8% and was significantly higher than control group. Clinical recovery was seen in 94.9% of the trimebutine maleate group versus spontaneous recovery in 20.5% of the non-medicated group. The difference was significant (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: IBS is a common disorder in children and adolescents. IBS is closely associated with somatic and familial factors. Trimebutine maleate is effective for pediatric IBS patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Back Pain ; Child ; Constipation ; Depression ; Dyspepsia ; Fatigue ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Maleates ; Mothers ; Parents ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rome ; Trimebutine

PURPOSE: Calprotectin is a cytosolic protein with immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative actions. The concentration of calprotectin increases in infection, inflammation, and malignancy. We determined if calprotectin can be used as a marker for the diagnosis and follow-up of bowel inflammation in cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA). METHODS: In total, 32 patients newly diagnosed with CMPA were included (24 IgE-mediated, 8 non-IgE-mediated). In all subjects, a complete blood count, total IgE, cow's milk-specific IgE, and fecal calprotectin (FC) were assessed before and after a cow's milk protein (CMP) elimination diet was started. The results were compared with those of 39 healthy children. RESULTS: The mean FC value before the CMP elimination diet was 516+/-311 microg/g in the 32 patients with CMPA and 296+/-94 microg/g in the control group (P=0.011). The mean FC value after the diet in these patients was 254+/-169 microg/g, which was significantly different from the mean value before the CMP elimination diet (P<0.001). When we compared FC levels before the CMP elimination diet in the IgE-mediated group with the control group, we found no significant statistical difference (P=0.142). The mean FC value before the CMP elimination diet was 886+/-278 microg/g in the non-IgE-mediated group and 296+/-94 microg/g in the control group; this difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). In the IgE-mediated and non-IgE-mediated groups, FC values after CMP elimination diet were 218+/-90 microg/g and 359+/-288 microg/g, respectively, and FC values before CMP elimination diet were 392+/-209 microg/g and 886+/-278 microg/g, respectively; these differences were statistically significant (P=0.001 and P=0.025, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: FC levels may be a useful marker for follow-up treatment and recurrence determination in CMPA.
Blood Cell Count ; Child ; Cytosol ; Diagnosis* ; Diet ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Immunoglobulin E ; Inflammation* ; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex* ; Milk Hypersensitivity ; Milk Proteins* ; Milk* ; Recurrence

Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a caustic agent which is used in farms, homes and hospitals for cleaning skin and wounds as an antiseptic solution. It may lead to digestive system injuries in case of ingestion. We present a two-days-old newborn case which was carried to the emergency unit with complaints of poor breastfeeding, uneasiness and crying for 4-6 hours. Her mom confessed that she had given a spoon of 10% BAC solution for her cough. Initial laboratory tests were in normal ranges. A gastroscopy performed in the second hour of her admission revealed an hyperemic and edematous mucosa in the middle third of esophagus and a circumferential ulceration followed in the distal portion. Hereupon, a conservative treatment for 10 days was administered and the control gastroscopy demonstrated that the damage was almost totally improved. She was the youngest case with this etiology and successfully treated with conservative approach.
Agriculture ; Benzalkonium Compounds* ; Breast Feeding ; Cough ; Crying ; Digestive System ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Esophagitis* ; Esophagus ; Gastroscopy ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mucous Membrane ; Reference Values ; Skin ; Ulcer ; Wounds and Injuries