Effects of intracutaneous injections of sterile water in patients with acute low back pain: a randomized, controlled, clinical trial

Intracutaneous sterile water injection (ISWI) is used for relief of low back pain during labor, acute attacks of urolithiasis, chronic neck and shoulder pain following whiplash injuries, and chronic myofascial pain syndrome. We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effect of ISWI for relief of acute low back pain (aLBP). A total of 68 patients (41 females and 27 males) between 18 and 55 years old experiencing aLBP with moderate to severe pain (scores ≥5 on an 11-point visual analogue scale [VAS]) were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either ISWIs (n=34) or intracutaneous isotonic saline injections (placebo treatment; n=34). The primary outcome was improvement in pain intensity using the VAS at 10, 45, and 90 min and 1 day after treatment. The secondary outcome was functional improvement, which was assessed using the Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) 1 day after treatment. The mean VAS score was significantly lower in the ISWI group than in the control group at 10, 45, and 90 min, and 1 day after injection (P<0.05, t-test). The mean increment in PSFS score of the ISWI group was 2.9±2.2 1 day after treatment, while that in the control group was 0.9±2.2. Our study showed that ISWI was effective for relieving pain and improving function in aLBP patients at short-term follow-up. ISWI might be an alternative treatment for aLBP patients, especially in areas where medications are not available, as well as in specific patients (e.g., those who are pregnant or have asthma), who are unable to receive medications or other forms of analgesia because of side effects.

Observation in effect of perineal cleansing with sterile water on reduction of the false negative rate of mid-stream urine culture / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To compare the effect of perineal cleansing with the potassium permanganate or sterile water on mid- stream urine culture. Methods Mid- stream specimens of urine were obtained from inpatients in our hospital between January 2002 and December 2006. All these patients may be diag-nosed as urinary tract infection. The urine specimens were divided into the potassium permanganate group (n=1572, the sterilization group) and the sterile water group (n=544). The change of positive and contami-nation rate of mid-stream urine culture from the specimens was observed. More than two kinds of germs in one urine specimen were defined as contamination. Results 830 patients with urinary tract infection had been enrolled. 2116 specimens were collected and 531 strains of causative organism were detected. The positive rate of the sterilization group and the sterile water group was 20.04% and 39.71%, respectively,and such difference was significant. The rate of identical causative organism from the same patient whose spec-imen was cultivated twice in the sterilization group was 0.012% and the rate was 0.105% in the sterile water group. The difference was significant. The rate of different or one kind of causative organism from the same patient whose specimen was cultivated twice in these two groups hadn't significant deviation. The contami-nation rate of the sterilization group (0.028%) was significantly higher than that of the sterile water group (0.007%). Conclusions Perineal cleansing with sterile water can reduce the false negative rate of mid-stream urine culture without increasing the contamination rate. Potassium permanganate sterilization is re-sponsible for the high false-negative in mid-stream urine culture.

Control study in 0.45% sodium chloride solution and sterile water for injection in airway humidification of patients with mechanical ventilation / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective To observe the two different wetting fluid in airway humidification of patients with mechanical ventilation.Methods 40 patients with mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery in our hospital from January to April,2009,were divided randomly into group A and group B,group A was given 0.45% sodium chloride solution 100ml plus ambroxol 15mg as airway humidification fluid,group B was given sterile water for injection100 ml plus ambroxol 15mg as airway humidification liquid.The amount of sputum aspiration,color,viscosity,the body temperature of patients,the lungs auscultation and chest X-ray were observed.Results No statistical difference was seen in sputum volume,color,viscosity,the body temperature of patients,lungs auscultation as well as chest X ray after mechanical ventilation for 4 hours,8 hours,16 hours,24 hours,1～2 d,3～5 d,6～7 d.No statistical difference was also seen in auscultation of the lung after mechanical ventilation for 4 hours,16 hours,24 hours,1～2 d,3～5 d,6～7 d.But auscultation of the lung in group B was better than that of group A after mechanical ventilation for 8 hours.Conclusions No sufficient fact can prove that different effect exists between 100 ml 0.45% sodium chloride solution plus ambroxol 15mg and 100 ml sterile water for injection plus ambroxol 15mg as airway humidification fluid during mechanical ventilation.