• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.123-129
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• 2009

Objective: This study was aimed to identify the incidence and risk factors of vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) colonization in neurosurgical practice of field, with particular attention to intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on the Neurosurgical ICU (NICU), during the period from January. 2005 to December. 2007, in 414 consecutive patients who had been admitted to the NICU. Demographics and known risk factors were retrieved and assessed by statistical methods. Results: A total of 52 patients had VRE colonization among 414 patients enrolled, with an overall prevalence rate of 6.1%. E. faecium was the most frequently isolated pathogen, and 92.3% of all VRE were isolated from urine specimen. Active infection was noticed only in 2 patients with bacteremia and meningitis. Relative antibiotic agents were third-generation cephalosporin in 40%, and vancomycin in 23%, and multiple antibiotic usages were also identified in 13% of all cases. Multivariate analyses showed Glasgow coma scale (GCS) score less than 8, placement of Foley catheter longer than 2 weeks, ICU stay over 2 weeks and presence of nearby VRE-positive patients had a significantly independent association with VRE infection. Conclusion: When managing the high-risk patients being prone to be infected VRE in the NICU, extreme caution should be paid upon. Because prevention and outbreak control is of ultimate importance, clinicians should be alert the possibility of impending colonization and infection by all means available. The most crucial interventions are careful hand washing, strict glove handling, meticulous and active screening, and complete segregation.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제11권4호
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• pp.481-489
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects on weight of premature infants when Yakson therapy was conducted by mothers and also to measure role confidence and role satisfaction of the mothers. Method: A non-equivalent control group non-synchronized design was used. The data were collected from January to July, 2005. Thirty preform infants and mothers were assigned to either an experimental (15) or a control group (15). Yakson therapy consists of three phases: laying on of hands, caressing by hands, and laying on of hands again, each phase taking 5 minutes. Yakson therapy was provided to infants in the experimental group for 15-minutes 5 times a day far 15 days. Infant weight, mothers' role confidence and satisfaction with role were measured for both groups. Results: Compared to the control group, weight gain of infants in the experimental group (t=2.05, p=.049) was significantly increased after 15 days. The experimental group also had significantly higher scores in mothers'.ole confidence (t=1.98, p=.038). Conclusion: The results suggest that Yakson therapy can be used to increase weight gain in preform infants and improve the role confidence of mothers.

• 한국간호교육학회지
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.257-266
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• 2011

Purpose: The aim of this study was to elucidate the themes involved in a nursing experience of caring for extremely low birth weight infants (ELBWIs) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: Interviews with 6 nurses in various positions and observations in a level III NICU were conducted. The transcribed interview contents and observational notes were reviewed to analyze the data and conceptualize major themes. Results: Three major themes were identified: the fears expressed by the nurses regarding taking care of ELBWIs, reasons for persistent fears, and overcoming fears and gaining intuition. Nurses were afraid of the following factors: the physical fragility of the infants; the possibility of developing disabilities in the future; and the rapid changes in infants' physical condition. These fears were reduced when nurses had developed intuition and confidence in taking care of ELBWIs through various situational experiences. Conclusion: NICU nurses may benefit from obtaining more opportunities to participate in various learning experiences with simulated nursing situations in a variety of patient groups. Applying knowledge and skills into various nursing situations in an integrative way may contribute to enhancing nurses' confidence in nursing practice.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.386-397
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the difference of maternal attachment and the maternal role confidence between mother who feeds the child with mother's milk in sanitary pack by a nurse instead of her and mother who feeds the child with artificial milk. Methods: The subjects of this study consisted of mothers of premature baby who was in NICU and can not be fed with mother's milk directly. In the sample, 21 mothers were the breast feeding group and 20 were the bottle feeding group. Data were collected from April 3, 2004 to November 2, 2005, and were analyzed using SPSS WIN 10.0. Results: The degree of maternal attachment and maternal role confidence of the breast milk feeding group was higher than that of the bottle feeding group. In accordance with general characteristics, the difference was found in maternal attachment and maternal role confidence both breast feeding group and bottle feeding group. Conclusion: More systematic nursing mediation is required for the lactation of mother's milk in sanitary pack is planned to do positive interaction between mother and the child, which has an influence on the formation of maternal attachment and the of maternal role confidence after hospitalization.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.116-123
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• 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate the effect of targeting risk factors for the control of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) among high-risk infants in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: Infants admitted to the NICU and diagnosed with CLABSI from January to December 2013 were eligible for inclusion to the study. The CLABSI group (n=47) was matched in a 1:2 ratio to the control group (n=94) based on gestational age, birth weight, and Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology-II. Risk factors for CLABSI were identified using the Cox proportional hazard model, and analysis of the effect of these risk factors targeting infection control was performed. Results: The risk factors associated with CLABSI were prolonged central line dwell days (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.028; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.011 to 1.045; P=0.001), use of a silicone catheter (adjusted HR, 5.895; 95% CI, 1.893 to 18.355; P=0.002), surgical treatment (adjusted HR, 3.793; 95% CI, 1.467 to 9.805; P=0.006), and less probiotic supplementation (adjusted HR, 0.254; 95% CI, 0.068 to 0.949; P=0.042). By targeting these risk factors with a quality improvement initiative, the mean CLABSI incidence rate per 1,000 catheter-days decreased from 6.6 to 3.1 (P=0.004). Conclusion: Targeting risk factors for infection control significantly reduced the rate of CLABSI among high-risk infants in the NICU.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.36-41
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• 2019

Purpose: In this study, we investigated the clinical features and prognostic factors of early-onset sepsis (EOS) in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on medical records from January 2010 to June 2017 (7.5 years) of a university hospital NICU. Results: There were 45 cases of EOS (1.2%) in 3,862 infants. The most common pathogen responsible for EOS was group B Streptococcus (GBS), implicated in 10 cases (22.2%), followed by Escherichia coli, implicated in 9 cases (20%). The frequency of gram-positive sepsis was higher in term than in preterm infants, whereas the rate of gram-negative infection was higher in preterm than in term infants (P<0.05). The overall mortality was 37.8% (17 of 45), and 47% of deaths occurred within the first 3 days of infection. There were significant differences in terms of gestational age (26.8 weeks vs. 35.1 weeks) and birth weight (957 g vs. 2,520 g) between the death and survival groups. After adjustments based on the difference in gestational age and birth weight between the 2 groups, gram-negative pathogens (odds ratio [OR], 42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-1,281.8) and some clinical findings, such as neutropenia (OR, 46; 95% CI, 1.3-1,628.7) and decreased activity (OR, 34; 95% CI, 1.8-633.4), were found to be associated with fatality. Conclusion: The common pathogens found to be responsible for EOS in NICU patients are GBS and E. coli. Gram-negative bacterial infections, decreased activity in the early phase of infection, and neutropenia were associated with poor outcomes.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.184-195
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize the relationship between parental stress and nurses' communication as perceived by parents of high-risk newborns in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: The participants were 54 parents of high-risk newborns in a NICU. Data were collected from January to March 2018. Parental stress and parents' perceptions of nurses' communication ability and styles were measured using a questionnaire. Results: The average scores for parental stress and nurses' communication ability were 3.39 and 4.38 respectively, on a 5-point scale. Parents most commonly reported that nurses showed a friendly communication style, followed by informative and authoritative styles. Mothers and fathers reported significantly different levels of parental stress. Parental stress showed a negative correlation with nurses' perceived verbal communication ability. Higher scores for nurses' verbal communication ability and for friendly and informative communication styles were associated with lower parental stress induced by the environment, the baby's appearance and behaviors, and treatments in the NICU. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that nurses need to offer proper information for parents and to support parents by encouraging them to express their emotions of stress and by providing parents with therapeutic communication and opportunities to participate in care.

• 대한간호학회지
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• 제51권1호
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• pp.119-132
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the effects of a direct breastfeeding program for premature infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted during August 2016 to April 2017. Sixty mothers of premature infants were assigned to the experimental (n = 31) or control groups (n = 29). The program was comprised of breastfeeding education and direct breastfeeding support. The experimental and control groups were provided with education and counseling on breastfeeding at the time of admission and discharge. In the experimental group, the mothers initiated oral feeding with direct breastfeeding and engaged in breastfeeding at least seven times during the NICU stay. The collected data were analyzed by the χ2-test and repeated measures ANOVA using an SPSS program. Results: The experimental group showed a higher direct breastfeeding practice rate (χ2 = 19.29, p < .001), breastfeeding continuation rate (χ2 = 3.76, p < .001), and self-efficacy (F = 25.37, p < .001) than the control group except for maternal attachment. Conclusion: The direct breastfeeding program in the NICU has significant effects on the practice and continuation rate of breastfeeding and breastfeeding self-efficacy. Therefore, this program can be applied in the NICU settings where direct breastfeeding is limited.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.297-307
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• 2021

Purpose: This descriptive study compared the perceived parental stress levels between parents with very low birth weight infants (VLBWIs) and nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods: In total, 83 parents of VLBWIs and 78 NICU nurses were enrolled. Data were collected with the Parental Stress Scale (PSS) and analyzed using the t-test and analysis of variance in SAS version 9.4. Results: The average PSS score was 3.31 among parents and 3.45 among nurses. The stress score was significantly higher among nurses with children (t=2.46, p=.016) and senior nurses (t=2.12, p=.037). There was a significant difference in the stress score according to parents' education (t=3.29, p=.002) and occupation (F=3.14, p=.049) in the sights and sounds subscale. Mothers had significantly higher stress scores than fathers in the parental role alterations subscale (t=2.32, p=.023). Parental stress scores were higher than those perceived by nurses in the infant's appearance and behaviors subscale for breathing patterns (t=2.95, p=.004), followed by jerky/ restless behavior (t=2.70, p=.008). Conclusion: Nurses should provide explanations to parents of VLBWIs in order to reduce parental stress about the appearances and behavior of VLBWIs. This is more important than aspect of the NICU environment and education about parental roles.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2010

목 적:부산대학교병원 신생아 중환자실에서 2006년 3월 VRE 유행이 나타나 입원 환아를 대상으로 대변VRE 감시 배양을 시행하였다. 본 연구는 VRE 감염의 정착정도를 파악하고, 위험인자를 분석하여 향후 VRE의 출현을 예방하고자 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법: 2006년 3월부터 2007년 3월까지 본원 신생아 중환자실 환아 192명을 대상으로 주 1회 대변 감시배양 검사를 시행하였다. VRE가 분리된 환아의 위험인자를 규명하고자 성별, 재태 기간, 기저 질환, 이전 치료에 사용된 항생제의 종류, 침습적 처치의 유무 등을 의무기록을 바탕으로 후향적으로 조사하였다. 결 과:총 192명의 환아 중 VRE 양성군은 48명(25%), VRE 음성군은 189명(75%)이었다. VRE 양성 환아 중 본원 출생아는 12명(25.0%), 타병원 출생아는 36명(75.0%)이었다. VRE 양성 환아의 기저 질환으로는 선천성 심질환이 25명(52.1%)으로 VRE 양성 빈도가 유의하게 높았다(P =0.005). 항생제 중 VRE 양성군에 서 3세대 cephalosporin 사용(45.8% vs. 15.3%, P < 0.001)과 vancomycin 사용(95.8% vs. 40.9%, P < 0.05)의 기왕력이 통계적으로 유의하게 높음을 알 수 있었다. 또한 VRE 양성군에서 중심 정맥 도관(41.7% vs. 15.3%, P <0.001)이나 인공 호흡기(41.7% vs 25.0%, P =0.017)를 사용한 예가 많았고, 수술 여부(41.7% vs 16.7%, P =0.001)나 흉관 삽입의 기왕력(10.4% vs 2.7%, P =0.021)이 통계적으로 유의하게 높았다. VRE양성군 48명 중 11명(22.9%)에서 VRE 음전을 확인 하였고 VRE의 음전기간의 중앙값은 101일 이었다. 결 론: VRE 감염은 신생아 중환자실에서 중요한 원내 감염으로 부각되고 있다. 이러한 VRE 집락을 차단하기 위해서는 철저한 감염 관리와 격리를 해야 하며 침습적인 기구의 사용 및 불필요한 항생제의 사용을 줄이려는 노력이 필요하다.