Experiences and attitudes of clinical and academic nurses about infection prevention and control nursing curriculum and duties - a qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases are becoming more widespread and re-emerging, causing psychological, social, economic, and health effects at both national and international levels. Specialist nurses can help prevent and control these infections. However, in Iran, there are currently no specialist infection prevention and control (IPC) nurses to manage and control infections. This study aims to explore clinical and academic nurses' attitudes toward IPC nursing curriculum and duties. METHODS: The study used a qualitative content analysis approach. Thirty-six participants, including clinical and academic nurses, were selected using a purposeful sampling method. Data was collected through seven focused group discussions. The accuracy and validity of the research tools were measured using the Four-Dimension Criteria developed by Lincoln and Guba. Data analysis was conducted using directed content analysis. RESULTS: The data analysis of the discussions held in the seven focus groups extracted 628 codes. Three themes were developed from the qualitative analysis: "Core characteristics of the curriculum", "Expected competencies and skills", and "Evaluation." These themes were derived from nine main categories and 25 subcategories. CONCLUSIONS: Specialist IPC nurses can play important roles in various positions and environments. Therefore, educational policymakers in Iran should consider establishing IPC nursing courses. It is also recommended that policymakers and decision-makers in the nursing field of other less developed countries should prioritize this issue.

The survey of nursing students' attitude towards virtual education and its relationship with their satisfaction during the Covid-19 epidemic: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic has increased virtual education use. This study aimed to determine the attitude of nursing students of Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences towards virtual education and its relationship with their satisfaction during the Covid-19 pandemic. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted during 2020-2021 with the participation of 229 nursing students (undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral) who had spent at least one semester virtually at Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. The sampling method was convenience. The data collection tool was a questionnaire consisting of three parts. The first part included students' demographic information and the second and third parts included the standard questionnaire of individual development and educational assessment to determine students' attitudes toward virtual education and their satisfaction with this type of education. IBM SPSS statistics 22 software and descriptive and analytical statistical tests were used for data analysis. RESULTS: According to the study results, the mean score of students' attitudes toward virtual education was 35.1 ± 11.3 and the mean score of students' satisfaction with this educational method was 88.3 ± 30.6, both of which are at the desired level. Also, a direct relationship was found between students' attitudes and satisfaction scores (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, the attitude of nursing students to virtual education and their satisfaction with this educational method had been at the desired level. Therefore, the relevant authorities should also consider the necessary planning in the field of using this educational method and improving students' attitudes towards it under normal conditions.

Isolation and identification of potential probiotic Lactobacillus species from feces of infants in southwest Iran.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the potential probiotic properties of Lactobacillus strains isolated from feces of infants and also to determine their antimicrobial activity against some enteropathogenic bacteria. METHODS: The Fecal samples were prepared from 120 infants aged less than 24 months. In total, 105 Lactobacillus strains were identified by phenotypic tests. Thirty isolates were randomly selected to study their potential probiotic properties. These isolates were examined for resistance to acid (pH: 2.5, 2 h) and bile (oxgall 0.3%, 8 h), adhesion to HT-29 cells, antibiotic susceptibility, and antimicrobial activities. RESULTS: On basis of 16S rRNA sequencing, 30 isolates identified as Lactobacillus fermentum (n = 11; 36.7%), Lactobacillus plantarum (n = 9; 30%), Lactobacillus rhamnosus (n = 6; 20%), and Lactobacillus paracasei (n = 4; 13.3%). All tested strains survived at acid and bile conditions. Six Lactobacillus strains revealed high adherence to HT-29 cells. Three strains including the L. fermentum (N2, N7), and the L. plantarum (N20) showed good probiotic potential and inhibited the growth of Yersinia enterocolitica ATCC 23715, Shigella flexneri ATCC 12022, Salmonella enterica ATCC 9270, and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) ATCC 43887. The antibiotic resistance test showed that all the isolates were susceptible to tetracycline, and chloramphenicol. CONCLUSIONS: Lactobacillus strains like L. fermentum (N2, N7), and the L. plantarum (N20), could be potential probiotic, but further in vitro and in vivo studies on these probiotic strains are still required.