Emotional experiences in palliative care and professional quality of life: a qualitative approach.

Objective: To explore the experiences that significantly impact the professional quality of life of people providing palliative care (PC) in Ecuador. Design: Observational cross-sectional qualitative research. Methods: In September 2022, 10 focus groups were carried out in four cities in Ecuador; each group lasted from 1 to 2 h, was audio recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Recruitment was conducted through convenience sampling, and a total of 71 individuals (15 students, 50 professionals, and 6 volunteers) linked to PC participated. Content analysis with a phenomenological and inductive approach was used to analyze the data. Results: People recognized their experiences in PC as having positive and negative impacts on their professional quality of life. Experiences were mapped as affecting them at individual, relational, and contextual levels. These experiences included personal growth, opportunity to provide care, teamwork, death-related issues, inability to deal with work-related stress, social acceptance of PC, and dealing with inefficient health systems, among others. Conclusion: Despite the positive emotions that arise with caring for others, individuals working and volunteering in PC experience situations that influence their professional quality of life. Addressing these factors to increase satisfaction and ease the burden of PC work is essential. Undergraduate education, continuous professional training, and PC teams should incorporate actions to address these factors at all levels, such as teaching coping skills, fostering social support, and increasing awareness of PC.

How experiences shape professional quality of life in palliative care This study explored how working in palliative care impacts the professional quality of life of people providing palliative care in Ecuador. The research team conducted 10 focus groups in four cities in Ecuador with 71 participants. The results show that people's experiences impact their professional quality of life in positive and negative ways. These experiences also affect people at individual, relational, and contextual levels. This study has identified common experiences that should be addressed to increase satisfaction and ease the burden of working in palliative care. These should be considered in undergraduate education, continuous professional training, and within palliative care teams.

Knowledge, attitudes and perceptions of Latin American healthcare workers relating to antibiotic stewardship and antibiotic use: a cross-sectional multi-country study.

BACKGROUND: The burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Latin America is high. Little is known about healthcare workers' (HCWs) knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of antimicrobial stewardship (AS), AMR, and antibiotic use (AU) in the region. METHODS: HCWs from 42 hospitals from 5 Latin American countries were invited to take an electronic, voluntary, anonymous survey regarding knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of AS, AMR, and AU between March-April 2023. FINDINGS: Overall, 996 HCWs completed the survey (52% physicians, 32% nurses, 11% pharmacists, 3% microbiologists, and 2% "other"). More than 90% of respondents indicated optimizing AU was a priority at their healthcare facility (HCF), 69% stated the importance of AS was communicated at their HCF, and 23% were unfamiliar with the term "antibiotic stewardship". Most (> 95%) respondents acknowledged that appropriate AU can reduce AMR; however, few thought AU (< 30%) or AMR (< 50%) were a problem in their HCF. Lack of access to antibiogram and to locally endorsed guidelines was reported by 51% and 34% of HCWs, respectively. Among prescribers, 53% did not consider non-physicians' opinions to make antibiotic-related decisions, 22% reported not receiving education on how to select antibiotics based on culture results and 60% stated patients and families influence their antibiotic decisions. CONCLUSIONS: Although HCWs perceived improving AU as a priority, they did not perceive AU or AMR as a problem in their HCF. AS opportunities include improved access to guidelines, access to AMR/AU data, teamwork, and education on AS for HCWs and patients and families.

Deinococcus hibisci sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L. (mugunghwa flower).

A Gram-stain-positive, pink-pigmented, coccus-shaped, strictly aerobic, non-motile bacterium, strain THG-AG1.5T, was isolated from rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L. (Mugunghwa flower) located in Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, Republic of Korea. The isolated strain grew optimally at 25-30 °C, at pH 6.0-7.5 and in the presence of additional 0-1.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain THG-AG1.5T exhibited tolerance to UV radiation (>1500 J m-2) and to gamma radiation (>12 kGy). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-AG1.5T was closely related to Deinococcus daejeonensis MJ27T (98.03 %), Deinococcus radiotolerans C1T (97.61 %) and Deinococcus grandis DSM 3963T (97.32 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain THG-AG1.5T was 74.8 mol%. The DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-AG1.5T and its closest phylogenetically neighbours were below 63.0 %. The peptidoglycan amino acids were alanine, valine, glutamic acid, glycine, ornithine, lysine and aspartic acid. Strain THG-AG1.5T contained ribose, mannose and glucose as whole-cell-wall sugars and menaquinone-8 (MK-8) as the only isoprenoid quinone. The major component in the polyamine pattern was spermidine. The major polar lipids of strain THG-AG1.5T were a phosphoglycolipid, six unidentified glycolipids and an unidentified aminophospholipid. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0, C15 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, C17 : 0, C18 : 0 and summed feature 3. On the basis of our polyphasic taxonomy study, strain THG-AG1.5T represents a novel species within the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcushibisci sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-AG1.5T (=KACC 18850T=CCTCC AB 2016078T).

Flavobacterium limi sp. nov., isolated from forest mud.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, yellow and rod-shaped bacterial strain was isolated from forest mud located at Kyung Hee University, South Korea. Strain THG-AG6.4T grew at 10-35 °C, pH 6.0-9.5 and in the presence of 0-1.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showed that strain THG-AG6.4T was most closely related to Flavobacterium gyeonganense HME 7524T (97.66 %), Flavobacterium defluvii EMB 117T (96.93 %) and Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans S2-3HT (96.80 %). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-AG6.4T was 30.2 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain THG-AG6.4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour, F. gyeonganense HME 7524T, were below 61.0 %. The predominant quinone of strain THG-AG6.4T was MK-6. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, five unidentified glycolipids, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified lipid, an unidentified aminophospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified aminoglycolipids. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 0 10-methyl, summed feature 3 and C18 : 1ω9c. The major polyamine was homospermidine. On the basis of the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-AG6.4T, it is concluded that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium limi sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-AG6.4T as the type strain (=KACC 18851T=CGMCC 1.16060T).

Caulobacter hibisci sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L. (Mugunghwa flower).

A Gram-stain-negative, smooth, bright yellow-pigmented, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive and rod-shaped bacterial strain was isolated from rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L. (Mugunghwa flower) located in Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, South Korea. Cells were dimorphic, non-motile or non-stalked, and motile by means of peritrichous flagellum. The strain, named THG-AG3.4T, grew at 15-35 °C, at pH 6.5-9.0 and in the presence of 0-1.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain THG-AG3.4T was most closely related to Caulobacter segnis ATCC 21756T (98.64 % similarity), Caulobacter vibrioides CB51T (98.57 %) and Caulobacter henricii ATCC 15253T (97.41 %). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-AG3.4T was 64.0 mol%. In DNA-DNA hybridization, the DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-AG3.4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour was below 55.0 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-AG3.4T was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major polar lipids were found to be an unidentified lipid, two unidentified phosphoglycolipids, five unidentified glycolipids, eight unidentified aminolipids and phosphatidylglycerol. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). Thus, based on the report of the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-AG3.4T, it has been concluded that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Caulobacter, for which the name Caulobacter hibisci sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-AG3.4T (=KACC 18849T=CCTCC AB 2016077T).

Ramlibacter rhizophilus sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of national flower Mugunghwa from South Korea.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, long rods or coccoid without flagellum strain, designated THG-YS3.2.7T, was isolated from therhizosphere soil of a Mugunghwa flower collected from Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea. Growth occurred at 10-40 °C (optimum 28-37 °C), at pH 6-8 (optimum 7) and at 0-5 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). The predominant ubiquinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q-8). The major cellular fatty acids were C10 : 0, C10 : 0 3OH, C16 : 0, C17 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, C18 : 0, C18 : 3ω6c (6,9,12), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylcholine (PC). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-YS3.2.7T was 69.4 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-YS3.2.7T were identified as Ramlibacter henchirensis DSM 14656T (97.92 %), Ramlibacter tataouinensis DSM 14655T (97.90 %), Ramlibacter solisilvae KACC 17567T (97.04 %). DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-YS3.2.7T and R. henchirensis DSM 14656T, R. tataouinensis DSM 14655T, R. solisilvae KACC 17567T were 32.5±1.5, 43.1±1.1, 42.8±1.1 %, respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-YS3.2.7T represent a novel species of the genus Ramlibacter, for which the name Ramlibacter rhizophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-YS3.2.7T (=KCTC 52083T=CCTCC AB 2015357T).

Paracoccus hibisci sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L. (Mugunghwa flower).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short-rod-shaped bacterium, motile by means of one flagellum (THG-T2.8T), was isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa flower. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 6-8 (optimum 7) and with 0-5 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). The major quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major fatty acids were C10 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C18 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid, two unknown phospholipids, one unknown glycolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T2.8T was 65.5 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T2.8T were identified as Paracoccus tibetensis Tibet-S9a3T (98.6 %), Paracoccus aestuarii B7T (98.4 %), Paracoccus rhizosphaerae CC-CCM15-8T (98.3 %) and Paracoccus beibuensis JLT1284T (98.2 %). Levels of sequence similarity among strain THG-T2.8T and other species of the genus Paracoccus were lower than 98.0 %. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-T2.8T and P. tibetensis Tibet-S9A3TT, P. aestuarii B7T, P. rhizosphaerae CC-CCM15-8T and P. beibuensisJLT1284T were 36.5 % (38.8 %, reciprocal analysis), 32.8 % (34.8 %), 31.6 % (33.8 %) and 15.3 % (24.8 %), respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-T2.8T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus hibisci sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T2.8T (=KACC 18932T=CCTCC AB 2016181T).

Aquaspirillum soli sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample.

A Gram-stain-negative, smooth, opaque, white-pigmented, helical-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium that was motile by means of bipolar tufts of flagella and grew under microaerophilic conditions, was isolated from a soil sample of a reed pond in Shangqiu, Henan province, PR China. The strain, designated THG-SQE6T, grows well at 25-42 °C, pH 6.5-7.5 and in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. hylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain THG-SQE6T was most closely related to Aquaspirillum serpens IAM 13944T (97.23 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-SQE6T was 53.10 mol%. In DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, the DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-SQE6T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour was below 62.6 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-SQE6T was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were identified as C12 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C18 : 0, summed feature 3 and summed feature 8. These data support the affiliation of strain THG-SQE6T to the genus Aquaspirillum. Based on findings from the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-SQE6T, a novel species of the genus AquaspirillumnamedAquaspirillum soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-SQE6T (=KACC 18846T=CCTCC AB 2016081T).

Niabella hibiscisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a Rose of Sharon garden.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain THG-DN5.5T, was isolated from soil of a Rose of Sharon garden in Daejeon, South Korea. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-DN5.5T was found to be most closely related to Niabella yanshanensis CCBAU 05354T (97.7 % sequence similarity), Niabella ginsengisoli GR10-1T (97.0 %), 'Niabella terrae' ICM 1-15 (96.0 %), Niabella soli DSM 19437T (95.7 %) and Niabella aquatica RP-2T (95.6 %). The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-DN5.5T and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 50.0 %. The DNA G+C content was 43.1 mol%. The major polar lipid of strain THG-DN5.5T was found to be phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were identified as C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. MK-7 was the only menaquinone present. These data supported the affiliation of strain THG-DN5.5T to the genus Niabella. Strain THG-DN5.5T was distinguished from related species of the genus Niabellaby physiological and biochemical tests. In conclusion, strain THG-DN5.5T represents a novel species of the genus Niabella, for which the name Niabella hibiscisolisp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-DN5.5T (=KACC 18857T=CCTCC AB 2016086T).

Flavobacterium hibisci sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L.

A Gram-stain-negative, smooth, bright-yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strain, slightly motile by gliding, catalase- and oxidase-positive and aerobic, but growing weakly under anaerobic conditions, was isolated from the rhizosphere of the flower mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus L.) located in Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, South Korea. The strain named THG-HG1.4T grew at 15-35 °C, pH 6.5-9.0 and in the presence of 0-2.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain THG-HG1.4T was most closely related to Flavobacterium gyeonganense HME7524T (98.83 %) and Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans S2-3HT (97.28 %). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-HG1.4T was 41.2 mol%. In DNA-DNA hybridization, the DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-HG1.4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour was below 64.1 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-HG1.4T was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids, two unidentified glycolipids and an unidentified aminolipid. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3. Thus, based on the report of the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-HG1.4T, it has been concluded that the novel isolate represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium.Flavobacterium hibisci sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-HG1.4T (=KACC 18852T=CCTCC AB 2016178T) as the type strain.

Lysobacter rhizophilus sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of mugunghwa, the national flower of South Korea.

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-negative strain with one polar flagellum, designated THG-YS3.6T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of a mugunghwa flower collected from Kyung Hee University, Yongin, South Korea. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 25-30 °C), at pH 6-8 (optimum 7.0) and with 0-2.0 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). The isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C11 : 0, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c alcohol, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unknown phospholipid, one unknown lipid and three unknown aminolipids. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-YS3.6T was 65.3 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-YS3.6T were identified as Lysobacter yangpyeongensis KACC 11407T (98.7 %), Lysobacter oryzae KCTC 22249T (98.0 %), Lysobacter niabensis KACC 11587T (97.6 %) and Lysobacter terrae KACC 17646T (97.1 %). The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain THG-YS3.6T and L. yangpyeongensis KACC 11407T, L. oryzae KCTC 22249T, L. niabensis KACC 11587T and L. terrae KACC 17646T were 53.8±1.0 %, 12.9±1.2 %, 10.9±0.6 % and 7.0±1.9 %, respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-YS3.6T represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter rhizophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-YS3.6T (=KCTC 52082T=CCTCC AB 2015358T).