PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of infection control in long-term care facilities in Korea and educational needs of nurses in charge of infection control. METHODS: This was a descriptive study. A self-reported questionnaire was provided to the nurses in charge of infection control in 250 hospitals with long-term care. 209 nurses answered to the questionnaire. Data were collected from September 30 to November 7, 2016. Data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 18.0, and the educational needs were analyzed by applying the Borich Needs Assessment Model. RESULTS: Only 17.4% of the hospitals had infection control departments, and only 1.0% of the hospitals had nurses who were fully-in-charge of infection control. Regarding the educational needs on infection control, level of knowledge was statistically significantly lower in all 50 items compared to the importance. Specifically, educational demand on air and water quality management, construction and infection control, indicator management, and infectious disease management were also high. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that organization and manpower were needed for effective infection control of long-term care facilities in Korea. In addition, it was deemed necessary to develop and applicate infection control education programs as reflected on the scores obtained in the educational needs on infection control.
Communicable Diseases ; Education ; Infection Control* ; Korea* ; Long-Term Care* ; Needs Assessment ; Water Quality

BACKGROUND: Medical treatments such as restriction of phosphate, phosphate binder use, and active vitamine D therapy have been widely used for hyperparathyroidism in ESRD patients, and surgical parathyroidectomy should be considered in patients with uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 24 ESRD patients with severe and uncontrolled hyperparathyroidism despite of medical treatment who undertook surgical parathyroidectomy in Severance hospital from 1990 to 1999. RESULTS: Sixteen patients had total parathyroidectomy with immediate autotransplant, 7 patients had subtotal parathyroidectomy and only 1 patient had minimally invasive parathyroidectomy. An excellent short-term control of hyperparathyroidism was achieved in all patients after parathyroidectomy. Preoperative bone and joint pain improved in 16 of 19 patients. Muscle weakness and pain improved in 11 of 17 patiens, malaise improved in 8 of 10 patients and pruritus improved in 10 of 13 patients. In addition, clinical laboratory finding improved after parathyroidectomy. No clinical differences were seen between 16 patients who undertook total parathyroidectomy with immediate autotransplant and 7 patients who undertook subtotal parathyroidectomy. Recurrence of hyperparathyroidism ocurred in 5 of 24 patients with 4 nodular hyperplasia and 1 diffuse hyperplasia in pathologic finding. The less degree of attenuated response of intact PTH levels immediately after operation was observed in 5 recurrent cases. CONCLUSION: Good results were obtained after parathyroidectomy. We believe that histologic subtype and the attenuated response of intact PTH after surgical parathyroidectomy could be possible predictors of the recurrent hyperparathyroidism.
Arthralgia ; Autografts ; Humans ; Hyperparathyroidism* ; Hyperparathyroidism, Secondary ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Muscle Weakness ; Parathyroidectomy* ; Pruritus ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND: According to previous studies on peritoneal membrane function, solute transport significantly increased 3 years after the begining of peritoneal dialysis. However, there were only few reports regarding the change of peritoneal membrane function in long-term CAPD patients in Korea. METHODS: Clinical factors affecting peritoneal membrane function were analyzed, in patients who maintained CAPD more than 5 years. 124 patients performed peritoneal equilibration test(PET) 5 years after CAPD were included. Cross sectional study was performed to know the differences of clinical characteristics among 4 types of peritoneal membrane transport characteristics based on PET. Also, clinical factors affecting peritoneal memebrane function were analyzed in 31 patients who had undertaken PET initially and 5 years after the beginning of CAPD. RESULTS: D/P Cr was the highest(p<0.001) and ultrafiltration was the lowest(p=0.011) in high transport group. Also, the number of hypertonic glucose exchanges(more than 2.5%) per day was the highest (p=0.02), and serum albumin was the lowest(p<0.001) in this group. 17 patients were included in ultrafiltraion failure group. D/P Cr and the number of hypertonic glucose exchanges was significantly higher (p<0.001, p<0.001, respectively) and the duration of peritoneal dialysis was significantly longer(p=0.033) in ultrafiltration failure group compared with the others. D/P Cr of 124 patients was well correlated with the number of peritonitis(gamma=0.246, p=0.006), and the number of hypertonic glucose exchanges(gamma=0.33, p<0.001), but inversely correlated with serum albumin(gamma=-0.452, p<0.001) with the statistical significance. In 31 patients who undertook PET within 1 year after the begining of CAPD, although not significant, D/P Cr increased and ultrafiltration decreased after 5 years. A significant increase in D/P Cr(p=0.014) was seen in patients who experienced more than 2 episodes of peritonitis(n=14), compared with patients who experienced either peritonitis free or single episode of peritonitis(n=17). The linear regression analysis showed that the number of peritonitis and the number of hypertonic glucose exchanges per day were significantly correlated with the increased D/P Cr after 5 years(p=0.001, p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION: Clinical factors affecting peritoneal membrane function were the number of peritonitis, the use of hypertonic glucose exchanges and the duration of peritoneal dialysis. To preserve peritoneal membrane function, it is recommended to avoid hypertonic glucose exchanges and to reduce the number of peritonitis.
Glucose ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Models ; Membranes* ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis ; Serum Albumin ; Ultrafiltration