An evaluation of a Stenotrophomonas maltophilia outbreak due to commercial arterial blood gas collection kit.

BACKGROUND: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a gram-negative bacterium that can cause hospital infections and outbreaks within hospitals. This study aimed to evaluate an outbreak of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, caused by ready-to-use commercial syringes containing liquid lithium and heparin for arterial blood gas collection in a university hospital. METHODS: Upon detecting an increase in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia growth in blood cultures between 15.09.2021 and 19.11.2021, an outbreak analysis and a case-control study (52 patients for the case group, 56 patients for the control group) were performed considering risk factors for bacteremia. Samples from possible foci for bacteremia were also cultured. Growing bacteria were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The genetic linkage and clonal relationship isolates were investigated with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in the reference laboratory. RESULTS: In the case-control study, the odds ratio for the central venous catheter [3.38 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.444, 8.705 ; p = 0.006)], for surgery [3.387 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.370, 8.373 ; p = 0.008)] and for arterial blood gas collection history [18.584 (95% confidence interval [CI]:4.086, 84.197; p < 0.001)] were identified as significant risk factors. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia growth was found in ready-to-use commercial syringes used for arterial blood gas collection. Molecular analysis showed that the growths in the samples taken from commercial syringes and the growths from blood cultures were the same. It was decided that the epidemic occurred because the method for sterilization of heparinized liquid preparations were not suitable. After discontinuing the use of the kits with this lot number, the outbreak was brought under control. CONCLUSIONS: According to our results, disposable or sterile medical equipment should be included as a risk factor in outbreak analyses. The method by which injectors containing liquids, such as heparin, are sterilized should be reviewed. Our study also revealed the importance of the cooperation of the infection control team with the microbiology laboratory.

Gamified Interventions for Promoting the Psychosocial Well-Being of School-Aged Children: A Scoping Review.

Gamified health interventions can offer child-centered and tailored health-promoting strategies. Evidence suggests that its various mechanics foster engagement that can be utilized to promote health and well-being and influence health behavior. At present, psychosocial challenges among school-aged children are becoming a global predicament. We conducted a scoping review to explore the range and nature of evidence on gamified interventions for promoting the psychosocial well-being of school-aged children from the general population. We followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and extracted sources of evidence from five databases. Our review findings were summarized with basic numerical analysis and provided with narrative accounts based on a gamification taxonomy and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR). We identified 12 gamified interventions and included 23 records that reported their development and evaluation. Theories on emotions, behaviors, social skills, and mental health were commonly applied frameworks. Narrative was found as the most commonly used gamification mechanic (11/12, 91.7%), followed by avatar and tasks (10/12, 83.3%), feedback system and level progression (9/12, 75%), points (7/12, 58.3%), badges (5/12, 41.7%), progress bar (4/12, 33.3%), and virtual goods, reminders, and time pressure (2/12, 16.7%). The included sources of evidence reported significant improvements in some of the measured psychosocial outcomes; however, studies on this domain for this particular target group are still considerably limited. Further research is needed to determine how the applied theories and gamification mechanics brought about the change in psychosocial outcomes, bridging the gap in current evidence.

Surveillance of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli in perianal swab samples.

Our study aimed to detect carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) and/or carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli in perianal swab samples, exploring their link to bloodstream infections (BSIs) in a tertiary-care university hospital. CRKP-related BSIs ranged from 3.7% to 9.58%, emphasizing the need to understand local risk factors for effective infection control.

School-Based Sexual Health Education for Adolescents in Turkey: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of this study is, identifying school-based intervention studies that are made regarding the Sexual Heath Education in Turkey and are reviewing systematically. Peer-reviewed articles and thesis in Turkey were systematically searched from online databases. Studies that passed the inclusion criteria were qualitatively assessed. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies showed that positive results were achieved at the end of the training. In the case of six studies, the method of expression was chosen as the training method, and only one study included the peer education method. Only one study included the social dimension of sexual health. None of the studies did report longitudinal outcomes. The negative attitudes towards sexual health education and hidden cultural resistance are, unfortunately, the main reasons for this. Considering the potential for the young population in Turkey, the number of school-based sexual health education should be increased, and educational content should be enriched.

Use of simulation practices in public or community health nursing: findings from mixed-methods systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Simulation activities are valuable for nursing education and provide an experimental learning opportunity. However, simulation scenarios have focused on nursing education of traditional medical specialities, and limited research exists on simulation for community or public health nursing education. AIMS: This study aimed to explore the methods that are being used to increase the knowledge and skills of nursing students who work for public health nursing and the evidence about the effectiveness of simulation practices in public or community health nursing. METHODS: In this systematic review, a combination of keywords was selected from Medical Subject Headings based on which eight studies were found across Science Direct, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane and PubMed databases between June 2018 and September 2018. FINDINGS: A total of eight studies were included in the mixed-methods systematic review (two qualitative, two mixed-methods and four quantitative studies). The students were satisfied with public health nursing simulation practices and had significant gains in the following activities: active learning, collaboration, critical thinking, teamwork, evaluating family and individual together, and practical communication skills. CONCLUSION: The results of this review revealed that the experiences and gains of the nurses that they gain during their education process were essential, the numbers of simulation practices in the field of public health nursing were minimal, and they should be improved qualitatively.

Nursing students' perspectives on the inclusion of course content on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health in the nursing curriculum: A descriptive qualitative study.

The aim of the study was to examine nursing students' perspectives on why and how course contents on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health should be included in the nursing curriculum. This was a descriptive qualitative study. A purposive sample was used, and 17 students participated. Thematic analyses revealed four themes: "The need for knowledge and awareness"; "Communication"; "The need for practice-based learning"; and "Inclusion of course contents on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health in the nursing curriculum". Almost all the students reported that the proportion of the course content that had been allocated to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender health was inadequate and emphasized that it is necessary to improve both the theoretical and practical components of the nursing curriculum.

Health status, health behaviours and healthcare access of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals experience many barriers to healthcare access and health disparities because of societal stigma, discrimination and homophobia by the community and healthcare providers. Therefore, this sexual minority group poses a risk for poor health status. AIMS: To determine the health status, health behaviours and healthcare access among LGBT individuals in Turkey. METHODS: The study was conducted on 140 self-identified LGBT individuals in Turkey between 11 April and 15 July 2016 as a descriptive, electronical survey design. Data were collected by questionnaire form, developed based on the researchers' review of the literature. RESULTS: The results of this study revealed that 65% of LGBT participants self-reported that their mental health status was 'poor/fair' while 69% of participants reported that their physical health was 'good/excellent'. Most of them had smoking (60%), using alcohol (76.3%) and did unprotected sex (55.3%) and reported disclosing their LGBT status to the healthcare provider (90.6%); 48.6% of participants thought that disclosing their LGBT status would affect their treatment. Barriers to healthcare access included disclosing LGBT status, societal stigma, negative attitude of healthcare provider, dissatisfaction with healthcare, and lack of health insurance and financial resources. CONCLUSIONS: These results can assist healthcare providers, especially nurses as critical members of this group, to serve LGBT individuals satisfactorily. Besides, it is expected that these results will shed light on new research.

The effect of solution-focused interviews (SFI) conducted by nurses on middle school adolescents' healthy lifestyles: a quasi-experimental study.

AIM: This study aimed at assessing the effect of solution-focused interviews for the promotion of health locus of control and self-efficacy on adolescents' healthy lifestyles. METHOD: The present study, which was designed as a quasi-experimental study, included pretest and post-test control groups and was conducted in the period between 5 February 2017 and 30 April 2017. The intervention group comprised 28 (n = 28) adolescents from a school, and the control group comprised 30 (n = 30) adolescents from another school. Solution-focused interviews, which included educational information regarding leading a healthy lifestyle as well as cognitive-behavioural interview, were conducted with the adolescents of the intervention group, 1 day per week (nine sessions in total). RESULTS: In comparison to the control group, adolescents in the intervention group exhibited differences in all the sub-dimensions health promotion scale (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results established the applicability and effectiveness of the programme, such that the health promotion programme could be included in the literature. Moreover, it is anticipated that this programme would be applied in school settings in the future.

Turkish nurse educators knowledge regarding LGBT health and their level of homophobia: A descriptive-cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Attitudes toward LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual) individuals displayed by nurse educators, who aim to educate students with a philosophy of providing equal and high-quality care to all individuals, the necessity of knowledge regarding LGBT individuals, and the inclusion of the issues related to LGBT individuals into the nursing curriculum are gaining importance nowadays. OBJECTIVES: 1. What levels of homophobia do the nurse educators have? 2. What are the knowledge requirements for nurse educators regarding the health issues encountered by LGBT individuals? 3. Are the topics related to LGBT individuals incorporated into the curriculum by the nurse educators, and what are the barriers encountered while including such topics in the education? METHODS: In the present descriptive study - cross sectional, all the nurse educators teaching undergraduate nursing programs in 96 universities in Turkey, who were accessed using their e-mail addresses, constituted the study population (N = 996). The nurse educators who agreed to participate in the study (n = 61) comprised the study sample. Data were collected online, using questionnaire developed by researchers and the Homophobia Scale. RESULTS: The present study revealed that a significant proportion of participants (59%, n = 36) require knowledge regarding the health requirements of the LGBT individuals, and a great majority of the participants (77%, n = 47) did not find content related to the healthcare issues of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual) individuals in the education they delivered. Assessment of the homophobia scale demonstrated that high levels of homophobia existed among half of the nurse educators and that the homophobia levels did not vary with age, tenure, or title (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study demonstrated that there is a lack of knowledge regarding the health issues of the LGBT individuals among the nurse educators in Turkey, and little efforts are put to acquire this knowledge. The high levels of homophobia reported among half of the nurse educators surveyed demonstrated the necessity of reviewing the nursing curriculum in a country such as Turkey, where sensitivity is required to be displayed to the marginal groups.