Development of a Protocol for the Direct Breastfeeding of Premature Infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a direct breastfeeding protocol for premature infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and investigate its efficacy. BACKGROUND: Direct breastfeeding increases the amount and duration of breastfeeding. However, NICUs have low direct feeding rates owing to medical staff anxiety, lack of knowledge and experience, and fear of overwork. Accordingly, this study developed a protocol for direct breastfeeding in the NICU and evaluated its effect. METHODS: The protocol was developed through a literature review, expert validation, and preliminary investigation. Its application effects were identified using a nonexperimental, evidence-based research design targeting premature infants, their mothers, and NICU nurses. RESULTS: The protocol comprised 5 areas and 23 items. Application of the protocol resulted in continuous weight gain of the infants and increased self-efficacy in the mothers' direct breastfeeding ( t = 3.219, P = .004). Significant increases were noted in NICU nurses' direct breastfeeding activities ( t = 3.93, P < .001), breastfeeding rates in the NICU ( P = .037), and direct breastfeeding rates ( P = .007). CONCLUSIONS: Results underscore the value of an evidence-based protocol for improving breastfeeding rates in premature infants. This study highlights the need for continuous nursing education on protocol applications and human resource support.

[A comparison of the rates of hemolysis and repeated blood sampling using syringe needles versus vacuum tube needles in the emergency department].

PURPOSE: This study was done to compare the rates of hemolysis and repeated sampling in blood samples obtained by a syringe needle versus a vacuum tube needle. METHODS: A randomized, prospective study was used to evaluate the differences between the two blood sampling methods. The study group consisted of patients seen in the emergency department (ED) for blood sampling to determine electrolyte level. ED patients were randomly assigned to either the syringe group or the vacuum tube group. All blood samples were collected by experienced ED nurses and hemolysis was determined by experienced laboratory technologists. Data were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and binary logistic regression. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five valid samples were collected (74 in the syringe group versus 71 in the vacuum tube group). 5 of 74 (6.8%) blood samples in the syringe group and 8 of 71 (11.3%) in the vacuum tube group hemolyzed. Repeated blood sampling occurred for 2 of 74 (2.7%) and 3 of 71 (4.2%) in each group respectively. There were no significant differences in rates of hemolysis and repeated sampling between two groups (B=1.97, p=.204; B=2.36, p=.345). CONCLUSION: Venipuncture with syringe needles can be recommended for ED nurses to obtain blood samples.

Effect of high-frequency chest wall oscillation on pulmonary function after pulmonary lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the feasibility of high-frequency chest wall oscillationtherapy in immediate postoperative lung recruitment after pulmonary lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer compared to conventional chest physiotherapy. DESIGN: A prospective, single-blind, randomized trial was conducted at Samsung Medical Center between March 2010 and May 2010. SETTING: Patients were randomized to either the high-frequency chest wall oscillation group or the conventional percussive physiotherapy (control) group. PATIENTS: : Briefly, the eligibility criteria included 1) participants between the ages of 35 and 70 yrs, 2) candidates of lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer, and 3) the first elective surgery of the day. Sixty-six patients were enrolled in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Patients in the control group had routine postoperative percussive chest physiotherapy four times a day. Participants in the high-frequency chest wall oscillation group received three sessions of high-frequency chest wall oscillation treatment every 8 hrs for 15 mins starting 4 hrs after surgery. All the treatments and measurements were performed by randomly assigned nursing staff who had received standardized education for respiratory care and who were not aware of the details of the study. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The primary outcome was postoperative change of forced expiratory volume for 1 sec, and secondary outcomes were changes in arterial oxygen partial pressure and saturation. Safety outcomes and pain scores were also investigated. Patients in the high-frequency chest wall oscillation group experienced significantly improved recovery of pulmonary function as assessed by forced expiratory volume for 1 sec on the third and fifth postoperative days (p = .03) and improved oxygenation on the first postoperative day (p < .01). There were no significant differences in pain score or analgesic requirements. There were no unexpected complications, such as hemodynamic deterioration, postoperative bleeding or chest tube, and wound problems associated with the high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy. CONCLUSIONS: High-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy after pulmonary lobectomy resulted in significantly improved immediate postoperative pulmonary function recovery compared to conventional physiotherapy, without any significant adverse effects. These results suggest that high-frequency chest wall oscillation therapy may be a valuable tool in the postoperative care of non-small cell lung cancer patients with lobectomy.

Characterization of erythromycin resistance of Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from pharyngitis patients in Korea.

Six hundred fifteen isolates of Streptococcus pyogenes were collected over a 6-year period from patients with pharyngitis in Korea. All isolates were characterized in terms of their antibiotic resistance, the phenotypes of erythromycin resistance, the frequencies of erm(B), erm(A), and mef(A) genes, and the emm genotype. The prevalent emm genotypes were emm12 and emm4. Moreover, the emm12 genotype was found to be the most resistant strain to erythromycin. Among the 126 strains demonstrating resistance to erythromycin, those with erm(B) were the most prevalent, accounting for 64.3% of the total. In summary, it is suggested that the S. pyogenes pathogen isolated from pharyngitis patients in Korea developed resistant gene acquisition, as well as a resistant phenotype, according to the annual prevailing emm type. It is also suggested that the emm genotype distribution of erythromycin-resistant strains is correlated to the acquisition of resistant genes.

The roles of critical care advanced practice nurse.

PURPOSE: To determine and compare the perception among nurses and doctors of the roles and tasks of critical care advanced practice nurses (APNs) in order to establish standardized and formally agreed role criteria for such critical care APNs. METHOD: This study measured and analyzed the necessity of each of the roles and tasks of critical care APNs, as perceived by nurses and doctors, through a survey of 121 participants: 71 nurses in 7 intensive care units (ICUs) at a general hospital in Seoul, and 50 doctors who used ICUs. Data collection utilized a questionnaire of 128 questions in the following fields: direct practice (79), leadership and change agent (17), consultation and collaboration (15), education and counseling (11), and research (6). RESULTS: Both the nurses' and the doctors' groups confirmed the necessity of critical care APNs, with doctors who frequently used ICUs indicating a particularly strong need. As for the priority of each role of critical care APNs, the nurses considered direct practice to be the most critical, followed by education and counseling, research, consultation and collaboration, and leadership and change agent. The doctors also considered direct practice to be the most critical, followed by education and counseling, consultation and collaboration, research, and leadership and change agent. There was a statistically significant difference between how the two groups regarded all the roles, except for the consultation and collaboration roles. As for the necessity of each role of critical care APNs, the nurses considered research to be the most necessary, followed by education and counseling, consultation and collaboration, leadership and change agent, and direct practice. The doctors, on the other hand, considered education and counseling to be the most necessary, followed by research, consultation and collaboration, leadership and change agent, and direct practice. The responses of the two groups to all the roles, except for education and counseling roles, were significantly different. CONCLUSION: Nurses and doctors have different perceptions of the roles and tasks of critical care APNs. Thus, it is necessary for the combined nursing and medical fields to reach an official agreement on a set of criteria to standardize for the roles and tasks of critical care APNs.