Health-care workers are at risk of exposure to occupational infections with subsequent risk of contracting diseases, disability, and even death. A systematic collection of occupational disease data is useful for monitoring current trends in work situations and disease exposures; however, these data are usually limited due to under-reporting. The objective of this study was to review literature related to knowledge, risk perceptions, and practices regarding occupational exposures to infectious diseases in Malaysian health-care settings, in particular regarding blood-borne infections, universal precautions, use of personal protective equipment, and clinical waste management. The data are useful for determining improvements in knowledge and risk perceptions among health-care workers with developments of health policies and essential interventions for prevention and control of occupational diseases.
Communicable Diseases ; Health Policy ; Malaysia* ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Exposure ; Personal Protective Equipment ; Universal Precautions ; Waste Management

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify the status of performance on standard precautions among nursing students and to examine the mediating effects of internal health locus of control on the relationship between awareness and performance on standard precautions of hospital-acquired infection control. METHODS: The participants in this study were 134 nursing students. The measurements included a standard precautions awareness and performance scale, and a multidimensional health locus of control scale. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson correlation coefficient, and simple and multiple regression techniques. Mediation analysis was performed by the Baron and Kenny's method and Sobel test. RESULTS: The mean score of standard awareness, standard performance, and internal health locus of control about standard precaution were 174.30±9.08; 169.48±12.04; and 20.43±2.82; respectively. There was a positive correlation between standard awareness and performance (r=.414, p<.001). Also, standard awareness was significantly correlated with internal health locus of control (r=.413, p=.014). Internal health locus of control showed partial mediating effects in the relationship between awareness and performance. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to improve the internal health locus of control of nursing students. Therefore, an internal health locus of control improvement program should improve performance on standard precautions for patients and themselves.
Cross Infection ; Humans ; Infection Control* ; Internal-External Control* ; Methods ; Negotiating* ; Nursing* ; Students, Nursing* ; Universal Precautions

There are many evidence-based methods to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. This review describes recent updates on the prevention of HIV infection via sexual contact, mother-to-child transmission, and occupational exposure. The use of antiretroviral therapy to prevent HIV has been a major accomplishment. Successful strategies for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV include the implementation of treatment for prevention, pre-exposure prophylaxis, and microbicides. Mother-to-child HIV transmission can be minimized by screening and administering pre-, intra-, and postpartum prophylaxis. Adherence to universal precautions and post-exposure prophylaxis are effective preventive measures for occupational exposure. The implementation of prevention strategies based on scientific evidence should decrease the spread of this epidemic.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; Anti-Infective Agents ; HIV Infections* ; HIV* ; Mass Screening ; Occupational Exposure ; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Postpartum Period ; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis ; Universal Precautions

Healthcare-associated infections are infections that develop within a hospital and were not present or incubating upon admission. Almost all healthcare-associated infections become evident 2 days after admission. A patient may develop a healthcare-associated infection after hospital discharge if the pathogen was acquired in the hospital. Healthcare-associated infections most frequently involve the urinary tract, surgical sites, the lower respiratory tract, and the bloodstream, with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus being the most common pathogens identified. The microorganisms of healthcare-associated infections are usually more antimicrobial resistant than the same ones of community origin. Prevention of healthcare-associated infections, as well as those related to intravenous devices, requires standard infection control procedures: in other words, universal precautions including hand hygiene by all healthcare workers. Management of healthcare-associated infections includes supportive care, underlying disease treatment, displacement of an intravenous or intraurethral device and appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Healthcare-associated infections are not only a personal health issue but also a public health issue; therefore, the public and the government should cooperate to contribute to developing and implementing rational solutions for these infections.
Cross Infection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Escherichia coli ; Hand Hygiene ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Public Health ; Respiratory System ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Universal Precautions ; Urinary Tract

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of comprehensive control and prevention for chronic diseases in demonstration plot of Chongqing.

METHODSResidents were enrolled through multi-stage stratified random sampling method from 17 districts or counties which had successfully established demonstration plots and 21 districts or counties which had not established demonstration plots (non-demonstration plot for short) yet on May, 2012. Questionnaire was designed to survey awareness of health knowledge, health behaviors and utilization of health supportive tools. The results were analyzed by SPSS 15.0 software.

RESULTSWe investigated 15 108 residents, 6156 of which were in demonstration plot and others (8951) were not. The findings revealed the percentage of the people who were aware the national action of health lifestyle in demonstration plot and in non-demonstration plot were 44.4% (2734/6157) and 40.2% (3598/8951), respectively, and the awareness of the hypertension risk of too much sodium were 72.4% (4458/6156) and 67.5% (6042/8951), respectively, and the awareness of the cardinal vascular disease (CVD) risk of obesity and overweight were 77.2% (4753/6157) and 69.6% (6230/8951), respectively. About the residents' health behaviors in demonstration plot and in non-demonstration plot, the utilization rates of salt restriction scoop or pot were 23.5% (1447/6157) and 17.9% (1602/8951), and the utilization rates of oil restriction pot were 16.7% (1028/6157) and 11.8% (1064/8951), respectively. Totally, 33 of the 37 indexes were shown higher in demonstration plot than that in non-demonstration plot (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe chronic diseases comprehensive control and prevention in demonstration plot was more effective, and the remarkable improvement of health knowledge and behaviors level had been achieved in demonstration plot.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Chronic Disease ; prevention & control ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universal Precautions ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the quality of life in patients with gout and their influencing factors, and to observe the effects of the intervention program of stage-based treatment of integrative medicine (IM).

METHODSTotally 120 patients with acute attack of gout within 72 h were randomly assigned to the treatment group and the control group, 60 in each group. Patients in the treatment group were treated with Huzhang Tongfeng Granule (HTG), diclofenac sodium extended-release capsule and Jinhuang Ointment (JO) in the acute stage, and Yinlian Tongfeng Granule (YTG) and Benzbromarone Tablet (BT) in the intermission stage. Patients in the control group were treated with diclofenac sodium extended-release capsule in the acute stage, and BT in the intermission stage. All patients were treated for 12 weeks. The quality of life (QOL) before and after treatment was investigated by questionnaire.

RESULTSBefore treatment there were no statistical difference in the physiological function, psychological function, social function, health self-awareness and total score between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment the scores of the four aspects and the total score were significantly improved in the two groups (P < 0.01). And the improvement of the treatment group was better than that of the control group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the gender, age, marital status, educational level, QOL with or without associated disease between the two groups (P > 0.05). The QOL of patients with joint stiffness or deformity was less than that of those without joint stiffness or deformity (P < 0.01). The total QOL scores of the gout patients were obviously correlated with the course of diseases (r = -0.324, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe QOL of patients with gout was correlated with the course of disease and joint stiffness or deformity. Stage-based treatment of IM could significantly improve the QOL of f out patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Benzbromarone ; therapeutic use ; Diclofenac ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gout ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universal Precautions

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Nurses ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control ; Operating Rooms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Universal Precautions ; Young Adult

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency ; diagnosis ; prevention & control ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Iron ; deficiency ; Reference Values ; Universal Precautions

BACKGROUND: Pathogen-transmission precautions (PTP), including standard precautions, have been introduced to control the transmission of pathogens among patients and healthcare workers. The aim of this study was to assess the level of knowledge regarding PTP and the attitude towards these precautions among healthcare workers in a hospital setting. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was performed from March to April 2007 using a self-administered questionnaire completed by 235 physicians, 491 nurses, and 117 laboratory technicians working at a large teaching hospital in urban area in Korea. RESULTS: The overall percentage of correct answers to 13 knowledge-type questions was 66.3%, and the percentage of correct answers differed significantly depending on the profession of the respondents (P<0.001) and exposure to PTP training (P=0.003). The guidelines were the preferred source of information on PTP (57.3%) followed by infection control practitioners (32.0%). The most important obstacles to compliance with PTP guidelines were lack of time (67.5%), forgetfulness (46.8%), lack of knowledge (33.8%), and lack of means (11.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Level of knowledge on the PTP guidelines was low and required improvement. Lack of time was the most important factor reported leading to poor compliance with the PTP guidelines.
Compliance ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Delivery of Health Care ; Disease Transmission, Infectious ; Hospitals, General ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Infection Control Practitioners ; Laboratory Personnel ; Universal Precautions

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify pediatric nurses' attitudes to, and compliance with, standard precautions in the prevention of hospital infections by enhancing their practice of standard precautions. METHODS: The participants were 206 nurses who worked in pediatric nursing departments of a general medical institution in Seoul. The questionnaire was a modification of Kim (2008) and consisted of 18 questions about hand washing, personal protective equipment, sharps, linen and patient care equipment. Collected data were processed using SPSS 15.0 WIN. RESULTS: Mean scores for attitudes to standard precautions and for compliance with standard precautions were 4.43 (+/-0.83) and 4.22 (+/-0.44) respectively. This difference was statistically significant (t=3.368, p=.001). The nurses' compliance with standard precautions differed significantly according to the general characteristics of age (F=8.705, p<.001), total clinical experience (F=9.426, p<.001), current department experience (F=6.555, p<.001), and education experience (t=0.616, p<.043). There was a positive correlation between attitudes to, and compliance with, standard precautions (r=.156, p=.025). CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that educational programs and policy on infection control and standard precautions for pediatric nurses are needed. Also these results should contribute to baseline data for establishing appropriate clinical policy on infection control.
Bedding and Linens ; Compliance ; Cross Infection ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Patient Care ; Pediatric Nursing ; Universal Precautions ; Child Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires