[Procedural pain perception of preterm newborn in neonatal intensive care unit: assessment and non-pharmacological approaches]. / Percezione del dolore procedurale del nato pretermine in terapia intensiva neonatale: valutazione e tecniche non farmacologiche d'intervento.

AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reaction to the procedural pain of preterm newborn and to demonstrate the different effectiveness of the two analgesic and not pharmacological techniques of recent clinical acquisition, the use of glucose solution and the sensorial saturation, in order to identify an optimal strategy for the prevention and pain treatment. METHODS: We take a sample of 28 preterm newborns of 30-35 weeks. The subjects are divided in two randomized groups following the kind of analgesia used during the hematic sample from heel: the first group (group A) included 14 subjects, who received glucose solution associated to no nutritive suction; the second group (group B) included 14 subjects who received the sensorial saturation. The symptoms associated with pain at the moment of venous sample are measured through premature infant pain profile (PIPP) scale. RESULTS: Results show that the score was lower in the group treated with sensorial saturation (media 6.52; P<0.001) than in the group treated with glucose (media 13.80; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The use of "care" techniques (in our case sensorial saturation) ameliorates the quality of life in NICU and reduces the pain threshold perceived by newborn, reducing therefore the exposition to the pain stimulus and the possibility that some consequences due to an inadequate pain treatment in neonatal age could develop.

[Bacteriological examination of sputum (author's transl)]. / L'esame batteriologico dell'espettorato

The AA., emphasizing the importance of ascertain the bronchial source of microorganisms recoverable from sputum, recommend for this purpose the use of properly collected sputum specimens and the application of washing treatment for mucopurulent materials. The aim of the present study has been to verify the effectiveness of mechanical apparatus to homogenize sputum without affecting the viability of resident microorganisms and the usefulness of prior microscopical examination to establish the rate of dilute inocula for the culture.