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At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Incidence of enteric bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus in day care centers in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

The incidence of enteric bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus in four day care centers in Akwa Ibom State was studied using culture techniques. The percentage frequencies of the isolates from 124 samples were Staphylococcus aureus (33.9), Escherichia coli (19.0), Klebsiella sp (14.4), Citrobacter sp (12.5) and Proteus mirabilis (7.4). The sources of contamination were floors, chairs, skin, bed linen, door handles, fans, children's tables, walls, windows, ceiling, headmistress's table and chairs, drinking water and wash water. Cultures from Aunty Chimmy's Day Care and Nursery School, Eket and Ideal Day Care and Nursery School, Eket yielded more organisms than those from Trinity International Nursery School, Ikot Ekpene and Adiaha Obong Day Care Center in Uyo. The results revealed the insanitary conditions in these day care centers. The enforcement of an effective public health enlightenment program is advocated in order to attract sufficient attention of the proprietors of these establishments to the role of fomites as reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1989

[Oxygen treatment and cigarette smoking. A potentially fatal combination].

The case of a 60 year old male, who died while smoking in bed during oxygen therapy, is presented. The patient suffered from chronic airway obstruction and emphysema with respiratory insufficiency and he died from carbon monoxide poisoning, after the bed linen and the oxygen cylinder were ignited. Domiciliary oxygen therapy should not be prescribed to patients, who do not give up smoking.

Burns↗
PubMed1987

Nosocomial dermatitis and pruritus caused by pigeon mite infestation.

We report an outbreak of pigeon mite infestation involving two patients, two nurses, and one physician on a medical ward in a municipal hospital. The index patient developed a diffuse, pruritic erythematous maculopapular rash on his trunk and extremities. Dermanyssus gallinae, a nonburrowing, blood-sucking avian mite was identified on the patient and his bedding. A second patient who complained of scalp pruritus had mites present on her pillow and bed linen. The intern taking care of both patients, and two nurses who had contact with these patients, had mite infestation. Pigeons roosting on the air conditioners and near the doors connecting the patients' rooms to a sunporch were the source of the mites. The outbreak abated after control measures were instituted that prevented pigeons from roosting on the porch. This outbreak illustrates an unusual cause of nosocomial pruritic dermatitis that may be misdiagnosed as scabies or pediculosis. Physicians and health care personnel working in metropolitan areas are alerted to mites as a cause of pruritic dermatitis that may be chronic, recurrent, or unresponsive to ectoparasiticides.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

Infection control of herpes simplex virus infections in obstetrics and gynecology.

The rising incidence of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections and concern about nosocomial transmission require the establishment of effective, reasonable infection control measures. Guidelines are based on the knowledge that herpes is usually transmitted by direct contact but may also be spread by droplets. Obstetric inpatients with evidence of HSV infection, including lesions or a positive culture, should be given a private room and bathroom. Gown and glove precautions should be taken by hospital personnel in contact with contaminated areas or articles. Perineal pads and bed linens should be handled as infected discharges and double bagged. The mother can handle and feed her infant under supervision. Infants with suspected herpes infections should be kept in a special care, observation or isolation nursery unit. Hospital personnel with herpetic lesions on exposed body surfaces should not work with newborns, if possible. They may work with obstetric patients if the lesions are covered and strict hand washing is employed. To avoid herpetic whitlow, gloves should be worn on both hands when handling suspicious lesions. An employee with active herpetic whitlow must wear a glove on the involved hand while working in patient care areas. Anecdotal reports suggest that acyclovir is of value in suppressing whitlow.

Cross Infection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Current results and methods in eradication of typhus fever on the Serbian territory excluding autonomic provinces].

Since 1969 Serbia has been conducting the programme of eradication louse-borne typhus. To this effect of Law on the eradication of communicable diseases has been passed. In addition to Republic Commission, as well as 6 regional commissions, and 18 communal commissions in whose territory the disease is being eradicated, have been formed. The operations consist of four phases: preparatory attack, consolidation and final phase. The methods and measures applied under the programme include the measures concerned with the control of vectors, i.e. lousiness, measures to detect the source of infection, respectively patients with louse-borne typhus and Brill-Zinsser disease. The control of louseiness effected through the impregnation of underwears and bed linens by means of syntheic insecticides (DDT, Maltox), as well as through health education activities, has yielded good results, so that the highest rate of lousiness: 9.08% (Sjenica, Tutin 4.37%), was reduced to less than 1% in 1972. To detect the source of infection, both active and pasiive investigation has been carried out. Active investigation included regular control of the health state through thermometry applied to registered households with lice. Passive investigation is carried out trough out -patient units and residential services which take care of all febrile patients coming from endemic areas. The results obtained from the three-year operations indicate that the percentage of dected patients with Brill-Zinsser amounts to 0--4--3.9%, as well as that it is still lagging behind with respect to the immunity acquired through previous affections in the endemic areas. The distribution of detected patients with Brill-Zinsser especially indicates that a small number of patients from endemic ares has been detected. The paper presents the criteria for the evaluation of results, making a proposal that a professional body should be formed at the federal level to coordinate the methods and programmes of operations. In addition that body's task would be to expand the operations to all endemic areas in the country.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1980

[The dispersal of pathogens from infected patients shown by environmental culturing (author's transl)].

During a two year's period environmental culturing was done to control hygienic measures, for pedagogical reasons or to trace a source of infection in a large university hospital. Phage typing of Staphylococcus aureus, pyocine typing of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and resistograms and biotypes of Enterobacteriaceae and Acinetobacter were used to compare patient strains with environmental isolates. It could be shown that the infecting organisms can be cultured not only from the site of infection where samples for bacteriological diagnosis usually are taken. But numerous sites of the patients' environment proved to be contaminated with pathogens indistinguishable from the infecting strains. These sites were for example: the patient's hands and other parts of his healthy skin, the outside of wound dressing, bed linen, clothes, floors and nursing utensils. The results convincingly provided reasons for environmental decontamination and for the institution of barrier nursing techniques.

Acinetobacter↗
PubMed1997

Environmental contamination due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: possible infection control implications.

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible role of contaminated environmental surfaces as a reservoir of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals. DESIGN: A prospective culture survey of inanimate objects in the rooms of patients with MRSA. SETTING: A 200-bed university-affiliated teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Thirty-eight consecutive patients colonized or infected with MRSA. Patients represented endemic MRSA cases. RESULTS: Ninety-six (27%) of 350 surfaces sampled in the rooms of affected patients were contaminated with MRSA. When patients had MRSA in a wound or urine, 36% of surfaces were contaminated. In contrast, when MRSA was isolated from other body sites, only 6% of surfaces were contaminated (odds ratio, 8.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.7-25.5; P < .0001). Environmental contamination occurred in the rooms of 73% of infected patients and 69% of colonized patients. Frequently contaminated objects included the floor, bed linens, the patient's gown, overbed tables, and blood pressure cuffs. Sixty-five percent of nurses who had performed morning patient-care activities on patients with MRSA in a wound or urine contaminated their nursing uniforms or gowns with MRSA. Forty-two percent of personnel who had no direct contact with such patients, but had touched contaminated surfaces, contaminated their gloves with MRSA. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that inanimate surfaces near affected patients commonly become contaminated with MRSA and that the frequency of contamination is affected by the body site at which patients are colonized or infected. That personnel may contaminate their gloves (or possibly their hands) by touching such surfaces suggests that contaminated environmental surfaces may serve as a reservoir of MRSA in hospitals.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1965

PARATHION POISONING FROM FLANNELETTE SHEETS.

Two small boys were admitted to the Lions Gate Hospital in coma and acute respiratory distress. They improved and the first boy was sent home; after two nights he was back in hospital in a worsened state. Poisoning with organic phosphate was suspected, and after investigation some flannelette sheets were taken from his home for testing. They proved to have been contaminated with parathion ("nerve gas") in the hold of a ship sailing from Antwerp to Vancouver; the parathion had been offloaded in California. The remainder of the sheets were traced. The symptomatology and treatment of organic phosphate ester poisoning and the chemical testing of parathion are discussed.

Atropine↗
PubMed1991

Linen in the hospital bed: effects on patients' well-being.

The aim of the study was to determine if using linen in hospital beds affects patients' well-being. An experimental group consisting of 52 patients (mean age: 64.4 years) at a medical ward used linen in the bottom sheet, the protective sheet, the pillow-case and the patient gown for 4 weeks. A control group consisting of 40 patients (mean age: 67.5 years) at the same ward was observed for 4 weeks using the conventional material (cotton, cotton/polyester). Marginal positive effects on patients' well-being were noted when linen was used. It was discussed that the relative importance of the bed material to patients' well-being may be low, compared to medical treatment, nursing, etc. Given the high cost of linen, about 15 times more than the conventional material, it was suggested that the health care system should refrain from large-scale use of linen in hospital beds.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Magnetic field characteristics of electric bed-heating devices.

Measurements of the flux density and spectra of magnetic fields (MFs) generated by several types of electric bed heaters (EBH) were made in order to characterize the MFs to which the fetus may be exposed in utero from the mother's use of these devices. Data on MPs were gathered from more than 1,300 in-home and laboratory spot measurements. In-home measurements taken at seven different positions 10 cm from the EBHs determined that the mean flux density at the estimated position of the fetus relative to the device was 0.45 microT (4.5 mG) for electric blankets and 0.20 microT (2.0 mG) for electrically heated water beds. A rate-of-change (RC) metric applied to the nighttime segment of 24 h EMDEX-C personal-dosimeter measurements, which were taken next to the bed of volunteers, yielded an approximate fourfold to sixfold higher value for electric blanket users compared to water-bed heater users. These same data records yielded an approximate twofold difference for the same measurements when evaluated by the time-weighted-average (TWA)MF exposure metric. Performance of exposure meters was checked against standard fields generated in the laboratory, and studies of sources of variance in the in-home measurement protocols were carried out. Spectral measurements showed that the EBH's measured produced no appreciable high-frequency MFs. Data gathered during this work will be used in interpreting results from a component of the California Pregnancy Outcome Study, which evaluates the use of EBHs as a possible risk factor in miscarriage.

Abortion, Spontaneous↗
PubMed1994

Intraoperative pressure sore prevention: an analysis of bedding materials.

The relationship between operating room (OR) table surfaces and skin integrity was examined. Preoperatively, patients (N = 505) were rated for pressure sore potential (Hemphill); postoperatively, skin condition was assessed. Skin changes were more likely with a standard mattress only or with surgery longer than 2.5 hr. The overlay was more effective than the foam and gel or standard foam mattresses for preventing pressure sore formation. Factors predictive of pressure sore development included surgery of 2.5+ hr, 40+ years, vascular disease, and a preoperative Hemphill value of 4+. Patient characteristics, surgical experience variables, and OR table surfaces are determinants in pressure sore development.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Sleeping on a wedge diminishes exposure of the esophagus to refluxed acid.

In a randomized crossover study, we compared the effect on gastroesophageal reflux of three sleeping positions: elevation of the head of the bed on standard eight-inch bed blocks; elevation by a foam wedge; or a flat position. Fifteen subjects with moderate to severe reflux symptoms were studied in each position on consecutive nights using continuous intraesophageal pH monitoring. We found no difference in reflux frequency among the positions. The wedge caused a statistically significant decrease in the time that distal esophageal pH was less than 4 as compared to the flat position. The wedge also decreased the longest episode experienced by the subjects. Elevation on blocks caused a similar improvement in parameters but failed in this study to achieve statistical significance. Both elevation by a wedge and on blocks showed a trend towards a decrease in clearance time as compared to the flat position. The patients did not always prefer elevation on a wedge, but for some it is a valuable alternative to elevation by bed blocks.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

Methods for warming intravenous fluid in small volumes.

PURPOSE: Laboratory experiments were performed to determine warming rates of albumin 5% at room temperature and human packed red blood cells (PRBCs) at 4 degrees C in small volumes. Four methods used in clinical practice to warm volumes appropriate for neonates were studied. METHODS: The fluids were warmed either by infusion through a fluid warmer with temperature-controlled coaxial tubing (Group I), immersion in a water bath at 37 degrees C (Group II), placing pre-filled syringes (10 and 20 ml) between a circulating water mattress and a forced-air warming blanket (Group III), or placing the same syringes between the water mattress and cotton towels (Group IV). The temperature of each fluid was recorded for the next 60 sec after the bolus injection in group I and every five minutes for a total of 30 min for the other groups. The time constant of warming for each group was calculated. The time constant and the temperature reached after the warming period were compared among groups. RESULTS: In group I 20 ml room temperature albumin 5% or 4 degrees C blood reached temperatures of 36.9 +/- 1.5 degrees C and 34.5 +/- 2.3 degrees C within 60 sec, respectively. This was faster than all other techniques used (P < 0.001). The time constants measured for the albumin and the PRBCs were 0.23 +/- 0.1 and 0.20 +/- 0.05 minutes respectively. After 15 min albumin and PRBCs in group II reached 35.5 +/- 0.4 degrees C and 33.4 +/- 0.3 degrees C, in group III reached 33.7 +/- 1.0 C and 32.8 +/- 1.7 C, and in group IV reached 29.5 +/- 0.1 degrees C and 23.3 +/- 0.8 degrees C after 15 min respectively. CONCLUSION: Warming of intravenous fluids in small volumes is accomplished most rapidly using a fluid warmer with temperature-controlled coaxial tubing and occurs more slowly in syringes, bottles, or bags exposed to various environmental conditions.

Albumins↗