Bacterial Contaminations of Home Nebulizers in Asthmatic Children / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Nebulizers are commonly used to treat children with asthma. Some pulmonary infections associated with contaminated nebulizer units have been reported. The aims of this study were to determine whether home nebulizers are repositories of bacteria and to ascertain how asthmatic patients use and maintain their nebulizers at home. METHODS: Fifty-five children with asthma aged 2 to 6 years were enrolled in this study. The parents were asked to bring their child's nebulizer units to regular follow-up visits. Bacterial samples which were obtained from the masks(or mouthpieces), nebulizer chambers and throat swabs were inoculated to blood agar, chocolate agar, and McConkey agar. Cultures were incubated at 5 percent CO2 incubator and observed after 24 hours. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding nebulizer usage and care in their child. RESULTS: Bacterial contamination was found in samples from 27(49.1%) of the 55 masks(or mouthpieces) and 24(43.6%) of the 55 chambers. The predominant microorganisms isolated were Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The questionnaire revealed that 40 parents cleaned the nebulizer units with tap water(and soap) and dried then, as they had received cleaning and drying instructions from a medical staff member. Seven organisms from nebulizer units were indistinguishable from the patient's throat isolates. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that home nebulizers in these asthmatic children were frequently contaminated with aerobic bacteria. Aerosolization might transmit these bacteria to their upper respiratory tracts. The education and training of home caregivers should include the principles of cleaning and maintenance of their child's nebulizer units.

The Relation between Father's and Adolescent's Health Behavior

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is an important period with respect to health promotion, because development of health behavior at this stage is the foundation of health in adalts. Among the social factors, family factor which affects the primary social function can be the most fundamental. We investigated the effects of father's health behavior on the health behavior of their children during adolescence. METHODS: From June to August 1999, 300 adolescent students from middle schools and high schools of areas including four cities (Seoul, Incheon, Anyang, Gunpo) and their fathers were questioned about general characteristics and health behavior such as smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise, duration of sleep, body weight, height and eating habits for breakfast ('Alameda 7'). The relationship between father's health behavior and their adolescents' health behavior was analyzed by chi-squared test. RESULTS: Among 300 adolescents and their fathers, 211 pairs responded appropriately to the questionnaires. Adolescent's smoking was not associated with father's smoking. In drinking there was no significant association between father and adolescent, but in drinking amount, father's high drinking amount was significantly associated in all students, especially in females and high school students. Regular diet, exercise, sleep did not show significant association between father and adolescent. The proportion of obesity in adolescents whose fathers were obese was significantly greater compared to those whose fathers were not. CONCLUSION: High drinking amount and obesity had a statistical significance of association between fathers and adolescents. When we consider adolescents' health behavior, their fathers' health behavior must be considered.

The Relation between Father's and Adolescent's Health Behavior

BACKGROUND: Adolescence is an important period with respect to health promotion, because development of health behavior at this stage is the foundation of health in adalts. Among the social factors, family factor which affects the primary social function can be the most fundamental. We investigated the effects of father's health behavior on the health behavior of their children during adolescence. METHODS: From June to August 1999, 300 adolescent students from middle schools and high schools of areas including four cities (Seoul, Incheon, Anyang, Gunpo) and their fathers were questioned about general characteristics and health behavior such as smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise, duration of sleep, body weight, height and eating habits for breakfast ('Alameda 7'). The relationship between father's health behavior and their adolescents' health behavior was analyzed by chi-squared test. RESULTS: Among 300 adolescents and their fathers, 211 pairs responded appropriately to the questionnaires. Adolescent's smoking was not associated with father's smoking. In drinking there was no significant association between father and adolescent, but in drinking amount, father's high drinking amount was significantly associated in all students, especially in females and high school students. Regular diet, exercise, sleep did not show significant association between father and adolescent. The proportion of obesity in adolescents whose fathers were obese was significantly greater compared to those whose fathers were not. CONCLUSION: High drinking amount and obesity had a statistical significance of association between fathers and adolescents. When we consider adolescents' health behavior, their fathers' health behavior must be considered.

The relationship between polymorphism of glucose transporter gene and the metabolic profiles such as glucose utilization and insulin secretory capacity in the offsprings of non-insulin dependent diabetic patients / 대한내과학회지

No abstract available.