[Vaccination against Streptococcus pneumonia and knowledge about it in the cardiology and general practitioners patients]. / Szczepienia przeciw Streptococcus pneumoniae i wiedza w tym zakresie pacjentów Poradni Kardiologicznej i Poradni Lekarza Rodzinnego.

UNLABELLED: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a reason of many infectious diseases, from prosy respiratory tract infections to the grave bacterial hematosepsis which often is a cause of patients death. Infection spreads with droplets or sometimes by direct contact. Symptomatic Staphylococcal infections most often unfold as a otitis, sinusitis, broncho-pneumonia and lobal pneumonia or as a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchial asthma aggravation or they can be the cause of many other illnesses like: meningitis and encephalitis, endocarditis, epicarditis, peritonitis, arthritis and hematosepsis. The aim of the study was to evaluate anti-streptococcal vaccinations and to analyze cardiology patients and General Practitioners patients knowledge about Streptococcus pneumoniae. MATERIAL AND METHODS: There were 312 Cardiology and General Practitioners patient's from Outpatients Clinic in Katowice included to the study. Additionally there were national registers analyzed involving anti-streptococcal vaccination and streptococcal infections data from years from 2006 to 2009. Informations about anti-streptococcal vaccination and data evaluating knowledge about streptococcal infections problems were obtained from the poll made especially for this study. RESULTS: Results of the study showed, that patient's knowledge about anti-streptococcal vaccination is very poor. From 312 patients included to the study only 16 were vaccinated and 118 persons had no knowledge about Streptococus pneumoniae. Data from the national registers showed, that in the years 2006-2009 the invasive form of streptococcal infection had similar number of patients - 273 and 274 respectively - in Silesia, 28 and 26 patients respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The knowledge about anti-streptococcal vaccinations is very poor and a number of people vaccinated small. There is the need to provide more information to rise the number of vaccinated persons, especially in the group of increased risk and consequently reduce worker absenteeism in the work and financial loss.

[B hepatitis vaccination evaluated in population of non-medical staff members]. / Szczepienia ochronne przeciw wirusowemu zapaleniu watroby typu B, oceniane w populacji doroslych pacjentów niebedacych pracownikami sluzby zdrowia.

UNLABELLED: Hepatitis belongs to a group of diseases caused by different hepatotropic viruses, which are responsible for inflamation of the liver. The most common form of liver infection is hepatitis B virus (HBV). It is transmitted by blood and other body fluids. The infection can also occur during pregnancy--the fetus contact with mother physiological fluids, direct contact with infected blood, unprotected sexual contact and intravenous administration of drugs using of unsterile needles. Chronic hepatitis B accounts for approximately 80% of liver cancer. HBV constitutes a major epidemiological threat. According to statistical data over 2 billion people worldwide are infected. 60% of patients are non-symptomatic, while 40-50 develop disease symptoms. All this often lead to inflamation, cirrhosis hepatis and hepatocellular carcinoma. HBV vaccinaton presents the only effective way to prevent the disease. Therefore it is extremely important to make people fully aware of the disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate hepatitis virus B vaccination and hepatitis incidence rate in the patients, who are non-medical staff members. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Family Doctor Office and Cardiology Clinic patients were included in the study. The source of data was questionnaire concerning anti-hepatitis B vaccination and hepatitis occurrence. RESULTS: The research was conducted on a group of 312 patient (109 male and 203 female). In this group, 168 people got vaccinated against the hepatitis B (53.84%). 29 patients (9.29%) had little knowledge about such a possibility of immunization, while 17 people (5.44%) knew nothing about the vaccination. The most common reason for vaccination was preventive action (preparation for medical treatment)--83 people (49.40%). Only 10 people (3.20%) from the studied group got infected. The most frequent reason were medical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: In Poland, the number of people vaccinated against B hepatitis is still very low. Therefore it is necessary to run a nationwide informative campaign and to intensify pro-vaccination activities. All this is extremely important for prevention of serious complications such as: liver failure, cirrhosis hepatis and hapatocelluar carcinoma. In the studied group it was medical procedures that became the source of infection. To guard ourselves against such situations in future it is vital to introduce and follow septic and antiseptic regime.

[Vaccination against influenza--recommendations and reality in the assessments of patients of cardiology and family physician center]. / Szczepienia przeciw grypie--zalecenia a rzeczywistosc oceniane wsród pacjentów poradni lekarza rodzinnego i poradni kardiologicznej.

UNLABELLED: Influenza is one of the most common diseases in the world. It occurs seasonally and is a viral disease contracted by a direct contact (respiratory droplets), causing many serious complications. The best way to prevent influenza is to get vaccinated once a year, which is the cheapest and the most effective protection. Research results have confirmed positive effects of influenza vaccination in the group of patients above the age of 65 and under the age of five. The group of high-risk patients comprises people with chronic diseases, especially people suffering from chronic conditions like heart and lung diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate influenza vaccination and influenza incidence rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Family Doctor Office and Cardiology Clinic patients were included to the study The source of data was questionnaire concerning anti-influenza avaccination and influenza occurrence. Another source of the data were records from the National Health Institute, the Public Sanitation Institute and the Warsaw Epidemiological Center. RESULTS: The research was conducted on a group of 312 patients. In this group, 134 people got vaccinated against the seasonal influenza (42.94%). Regular vaccination was declared by 78 patients (58.20%). 29 people had symptoms of influenza. From a group of higher-risk patients above the age of 65, 35 patients got vaccinated (51.47%). In this group only 3 people got ill (8.57%). CONCLUSIONS: According to research, not enough Poles get vaccinated against seasonal influenza. Moreover, not all of them do this regularly. Vaccinated people get ill less frequently than people who have not been vaccinated, which proves the effectiveness of vaccination. There is a need of further informative actions and wide-spread activities in order to increase the number of vaccinated people, especially from a higher risk group, which - based on the latest research results - is significant in a prevention of complications, including the development of acute coronary syndrome.

Impact of post-hospital cardiac rehabilitation on the quality of life of patients after surgical treatment for coronary artery disease.

INTRODUCTION: The quality of life of cardiovascular patients is worse than that of healthy individuals. Pain, dyspnea, and fatigue impair daily activities, which in turn leads to decreased life satisfaction and emotional deterioration. The objective of comprehensive treatment, including early rehabilitation, is to reduce the risk of complications, progression, and recurrence of the disease, as well as to restore, maintain, or improve all aspects of the patient's quality of life to the greatest extent possible. AIM: To assess the quality of life of patients who underwent surgical treatment for coronary artery disease and completed the second phase of cardiac rehabilitation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 100 patients undergoing early cardiac rehabilitation in stationary conditions after coronary artery bypass grafting. The group included 21 women and 79 men; their age ranged from 40 to 75 years. The study employed a questionnaire of our own design. RESULTS: Post-hospital cardiac rehabilitation resulted in quality of life improvements, especially with regard to psychological aspects, reducing the occurrence of anxiety from 44% to 21%. In addition, the rehabilitation program reduced the occurrence of subjective ailments such as chest pain (from 68% to 10%), fatigue (from 40% to 33%), and dyspnea (from 50% to 12%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite the achievement of quality of life improvements among patients after surgery coronary artery by-pass grafting and early cardiac rehabilitation, the result is not fully satisfactory. Systematic treatment and education should be continued to further improve the health of patients.

[The prophylaxis of HIV infection in nursing practice]. / Profilaktyka zakazenia wirusem HIV w pracy pielegniarki.

The prophylaxis belongs to the most effective and beneficial methods of preventing diseases not only from economic point of view. Educated and knowledgeable society is a result of effective prophylaxis. The analysis of the obtained results can be summarized by the statement that human fear limits rational and professional perception of the issues relating to HIV/AIDS in selected professional groups. The development of information, education and counseling influence the HIV/AIDS epidemics.