The weight status of children in late childhood within south East Wales and predictions for their future health.

BACKGROUND: Current child measurements of weight status in Wales are determined at early childhood only. A further measurement at late childhood could identify adiposity levels prior to adolescence and young adulthood. The aim of this study therefore was to determine current adiposity levels in a cohort of children at late childhood and present a prediction of future levels upon entering young adulthood. METHODS: In total, 288 boys (M age = 10.94 years, SD = 0.58) and 257 girls (M age = 10.78 years, SD = 0.63) from South East Wales were measured for anthropometry and their body mass index (BMI) (kg/m2) determined. International Obesity Task Force data predicted their BMI at age 18 years. RESULTS: Approximately one quarter of boys and girls in late childhood were classified at an unhealthy weight. Predictive data showed that by age 18 years, this percentage had increased to approximately one-third in both genders. CONCLUSION: The overweight and obesity levels in our cohort were high and predicted that many could become obese adults. This study therefore supports the call for the current Wales child measurement programme to be extended to report weight status in late childhood.

Outbreak of bacterial endocarditis associated with an oral surgery practice: New Jersey public health surveillance, 2013 to 2014.

BACKGROUND: In October and November 2014, the New Jersey Department of Health received reports of 3 patients who developed Enterococcus faecalis endocarditis after undergoing surgical procedures at the same oral surgery practice in New Jersey. Bacterial endocarditis is an uncommon but life-threatening condition; 3 patients with enterococcal endocarditis associated with a single oral surgery practice is unusual. An investigation was initiated because of the potential ongoing public health risk. METHODS: Public health officials conducted retrospective surveillance to identify additional patients with endocarditis associated with the practice. They interviewed patients using a standardized questionnaire. An investigative public health team inspected the office environment, interviewed staff, and reviewed medical records. RESULTS: Public health officials identified 15 confirmed patients with enterococcal endocarditis of those patients who underwent procedures from December 2012 through August 2014. Among these patients, 12 (80%) underwent cardiac surgery. One (7%) patient died from complications of endocarditis and subsequent cardiac surgery. Breaches of recommended infection prevention practices were identified that might have resulted in transmission of enterococci during the administration of intravenous sedation, including failure to perform hand hygiene and failure to maintain aseptic technique when performing procedures and handling medications. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation highlights the importance of adhering to infection prevention recommendations in dental care settings. No additional patients with endocarditis were identified after infection prevention and control recommendations were implemented. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Infection prevention training should be emphasized at all levels of professional dental training. All dental health care personnel establishing intravenous treatment and administering intravenous medications should be trained in safe injection practices.

'Do not attempt resuscitation' decision-making: a study exploring the attitudes and experiences of nurses.

At the time of the research being undertaken, a policy regarding resuscitation decisions did not exist at a local hospital. However, it was proposed that a new 'do not attempt resuscitation' policy should be implemented. Nurses' attitudes to, and experiences of, the communication involved in 'do not attempt resuscitation' decision-making were explored and compared with five variables (nurses' age, nurses' grade, years of nursing, area of nursing practice and length of nursing experience on current ward). Seventy-eight qualified nurses, who made up a convenience sample, participated in the study. An adapted questionnaire was used to explore nurses' attitudes to, and experiences of, 'do not attempt resuscitation' decision-making. The findings suggested that nurses' attitudes did generally concur with the guidelines outlined in the new policy. However, in practice, there were many disparities between nurses' experiences of current 'do not attempt resuscitation' decision-making and the policy's guidelines. There were no significant differences between nurses' attitudes to current 'do not attempt resuscitation' decision-making and the five variables. However, there was one significant difference identified between nurses' experiences and the area of nursing practice (p=0.008). To adhere to the principles of the forthcoming 'do not attempt resuscitation' policy at the local hospital, the research findings have suggested that changes need to occur to both nurses' attitudes to and nurses' experiences of current 'do not attempt resuscitation' decision-making.