Being attendant at pediatric clinics can increase bacterial contamination risk on hands?

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the bacterial growth of the attendants’ hands and to determine the difference between the hospitalized and non-hospitalized attendants’ hands’ bacterial growth. Materials and Methods: In this study, the samples taken from the hands of attendants who were accompanying the hospitalized patients were examined. As a control group attendants who were not hospitalized was chosen. The samples were taken from the attendants’ hands and between the fingers using the swap which was wetted by steril serum physiological. Samples were inoculated to bood agar (BA) and eosine methylene blue agar (EMB) immediately. Inoculated plates were incubated 24-48 hours at 370C and growth was evaluated. Growth was identified using colony morphology, Gram stain, catalase and oxidase reaction. Catalaz positive bacteria were investigated for beta hemolysis, colony morphology on BA, Gram stain and microscopic appearance. Growth characteristics of Gram-negative bacilli on EMB and microscopic appearance were determined. All samples were identified by Vitec II. Results: All participants were women and their average age were 28.93±6.09 (min=18, max=45). It was determined that the rate of bacterial growth was 10% in case group and there was not growth in control group. The difference was statistically insignificant (χ² = 5.263, p = 0.056). Conclusions: In conclusion, the bacterial growth on 10% of participants’ hands in case group is an important and remarkable result. Being at the border of statistical difference between the two groups suggest that similar studies should be conducted with a larger sample group. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(2) 2021 p.263-267

Relationship between alexithymia and empathy in nursing and midwifery studentsHemşirelik ve ebelik öğrencilerinde aleksitimi ile empati arasındaki ilişki. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.14687/jhs.v15i2.5285]

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the relationship between alexithymia and empathy in nursing and midwifery students. Method: This descriptive, correlational and cross-sectional study was performed 240 students who volunteered to participate in the study on the date during which data were collected studying at the nursing and midwifery department of the Faculty of Health Sciences of a state university during the 2016-2017 Spring Semester. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Basic Empathy Scale (BES) and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Frequency, percentage, mean, Mann-Whitney U test for binary groups, Kruskal-Wallis H Test and Spearman correlation analysis test for more than two groups were used in the evaluation of data. Findings: The average age of 240 students who participated in the study was 21.72±1.30 years, and 66.3% of them (n=159) were nursing students while 33.7% of them (n=81) were midwifery students. When the averages of the TAS-20 scores were examined, it was determined that 15.4% (n=37) of the students had a score of 61 or more and included alexithymic group. There was a significant negative relationship between the BES and TAS-20 (r=-.167, p=.010). Conclusion: It is observed that there is a negative relationship between students' alexithymia and empathy and that individuals without alexithymia tendency have higher empathy developing skills.  Extended English summary is in the end of Full Text PDF (TURKISH) file. ÖzetAmaç: Bu araştırma, hemşirelik ve ebelik bölümü öğrencilerinde aleksitimi ile empati arasındaki ilişkiyi belirlemek amacıyla yapıldı. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı, ilişki arayıcı ve kesitsel nitelikte yapılan çalışma, 2016-2017 Bahar Yarıyılı’nda verilerin toplandığı tarihte çalışmaya katılmaya gönüllü 240 öğrenci ile gerçekleştirildi. Veriler; Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Temel Empati Ölçeği (TEÖ) ve Toronto Aleksitimi Ölçeği (TAÖ-20) kullanılarak toplandı. Verilerin değerlendirilmesinde; frekans, yüzde, ortalama, ikili gruplarda Mann Whitney U Testi, ikiden fazla gruplarda Kruskal Wallis-H testi ve Spearmen korelasyon analiz testi kullanıldı. Bulgular: Araştırmaya katılan 240 öğrencinin yaş ortalamaları 21.72±1.30, %66.3’ü (n=159)  hemşirelik ve %33.7’si (n=81) ebelik öğrencisi idi. TAÖ-20 puan ortalamaları incelendiğinde, öğrencilerin %15.4’ünün (n=37) 61 ve üstü puan alarak aleksitimik gruba dahil olduğu saptandı. TEÖ ve TAÖ-20 ölçekleri arasında zıt yönde anlamlı düzeyde bir ilişki olduğu saptandı (r=-.167, p=.010). Sonuç: Öğrencilerin aleksitimi ile empati arasında zıt yönde bir ilişki olduğu, aleksitimi eğilimi olmayan bireylerin empati kurma yeteneklerinin daha yüksek olduğu görülmektedir.

Non-infected penile prosthesis cultures during revision surgery; comparison between antibiotic coated and non - coated devices

Introduction:

Aim of this study is to investigate bacterial growth on non-infected devices and compare antibiotic-coated and non-coated implants.

Materials and methods:

The charts of 71 patients who underwent revision surgeries for penile prosthesis between 1995 and 2013 were reviewed. Of those, 31 devices were antibiotic-coated prostheses, while 40 of the implants were non-coated. Swab cultures were routinely obtained from corporal, pump or reservoir site during the operation. If a bacterial biofilm was determined on the prosthesis, it was also cultured.

Results:

A total of 5 different organisms were cultured from 18 patients. Of them, 4 devices were antibiotic-coated and the other 14 were non-coated devices. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common organism, while Staphylococcus hominis, beta hemolitic streptococcus, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis were also cultured. All patients who had positive cultures were treated with appropriate antibiotics for four weeks postoperatively. Median follow-up time was 41 months, ranging between 8 and 82 months. One prosthesis (non-coated) became clinically infected in the follow-up period with a totally different organism. Culture positivity rates of antibiotic-coated and non-coated devices were 13% and 35% respectively and the result was significant (p=0.00254).

Conclusions:

Positive bacterial cultures are present on non-infected penile prostheses at revision surgeries in some of the patients. Antibiotic coated prostheses have much less positive cultures than non-coated devices.

Do the pens used by nursing students in clinics cause bacterial contamination?

BACKGROUND

Health professionals and their medical equipment have long been known to act as vectors of infectious diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of pens used by nursing students working in clinics in relation to transmission of bacteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted in Sakarya University School of Health Sciences in March 2012, with the voluntary participation of 40 third-grade nursing students during their clinical practice. In total, 40 writing items were surveyed.

RESULTS

Twenty-two (55%) of the students were doing their clinical practice at pediatrics department and 18 (45%) were at obstetrics and gynecology department. All the samples consisted of pens and bacterial contamination was observed in 5 (12.5%) of them. The microorganisms identified were: 1 (2.5%) sample was Staphylococcus hominis, 2 (5%) were Staphylococcus epidermidis, 1 (2.5%) was Staphylococcus haemolyticus, and 1 (2.5%) was Staphylococcus warneri.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the risks of nosocomial infections, especially in pediatric units, if not enough attention is paid to the cleanliness of the pens used in the clinics.

Breastfeeding twins: a qualitative study

The purpose of this qualitative research was to explore the needs and difficulties of mothers who had multiple babies at Sakarya County by focusing on their breastfeeding experience. Ten mothers who gave birth to multiple infants participated in the study voluntarily. The framework method of data analysis was applied systematically both within and across cases, with categories and themes identified by reading transcripts of interviews. Major themes generated from focus narrative interviews are described. These themes are: willingness of mothers to breastfeed and continue, management of breastfeeding, use of pacifier, daily life, instructions of healthcare personnel, and advices from practice of experienced mothers. This study showed that women were aware of the importance of mother's milk for their babies. They all, somehow, made intensive efforts to breastfeed their twins. Women who expect and/or have multiple babies need much more support and guidance, which may include advice for nutritional and daily care.