Guidelines For Prevention Research Articles

Barriers and facilitators to evidence-based perioperative hypothermia management for orthopaedic patients: Asystematic review.

To assess barriers and facilitators to the implementation of guidelines for the prevention of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia in orthopaedic patients. Systematic review. Nine databases: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Scopus, Web of Science and Trip Clinical Evidence Database. Primary studies published in English between January 2008 to July 2022 were screened. Study selection, quality assessment, and data extraction were completed independently by researchers. Data were extracted using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research and mapped to the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change strategies. Eighty-seven studies were included in the review. The most frequently reported barriers and facilitators related to evidence strength, relative advantage, and cost of implementing perioperative hypothermia prevention guidelines. The top four ERIC strategies were: Identify and prepare champions; Conduct educational meetings; Assess for readiness and identify barriers and facilitators; and Inform local opinion leaders. This review provides synthesized evidence regarding barriers and facilitators to perioperative hypothermia guidelines for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Our work provides theory guided strategies to promote implementation of perioperative hypothermia prevention to assist nurses caring for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Findings provide professionals caring for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery with theory-informed strategies to improve perioperative hypothermia prevention. Reducing perioperative hypothermia will improve outcomes for patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery. The review is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020. Due to the study design, no patient or public consultation took place.

Dietary patterns to promote cardiometabolic health.

Multiple professional societies recommend the Mediterranean and/or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension dietary patterns in their cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines because these diets can improve cardiometabolic health and reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. Furthermore, low sodium intake can be particularly beneficial for patients with hypertension. Carbohydrate restriction, with an emphasis on including high-quality carbohydrates and limiting refined starches and foods and beverages with added sugars, can promote weight loss and cardiometabolic benefits in the short term, compared with higher carbohydrate intake. Evidence is lacking for sustained, long-term effects of low carbohydrate and very low carbohydrate intake on cardiometabolic risk and cardiovascular outcomes. Time-restricted eating, in the context of an overall healthy dietary pattern, can promote cardiometabolic health by aligning food intake with the circadian rhythm, although its effect on hard clinical outcomes remains to be proven. Although there is no one dietary pattern that is appropriate for all patients, engaging in shared decision-making with patients, utilizing behaviour-change principles and engaging members of the health-care team, such as registered dietitian nutritionists, can lead to substantial improvement in the lifestyle and overall health trajectory of a patient. Emphasizing the similarities, rather than differences, of recommended dietary patterns, which include an emphasis on vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, whole grains and minimally processed protein foods, such as fatty fish or plant-based proteins, can simplify the process for both patients and clinicians alike.

Developing bullying prevention guidelines for nurse interns’ and its effects on their assertiveness

BackgroundBullying is a serious problem that has short and long term negative consequences for nurse interns. Bullying prevention guidelines have a great impact on reducing the incidence of bullying among nurse interns.AimThe present study aimed to evaluate the effect of developing bullying prevention guidelines on nurse interns’ assertiveness levels.MethodsA methodological study design was used to conduct the study at Ain Shams University Hospitals in Cairo Governorate, Egypt. The study subjects consisted of all nurse interns enrolled in the 2022–2023 internship year and their number 121 nurse interns. The data were collected using four tools: the Bullying Knowledge Questionnaire, the Negative Act Questionnaire Revised (NAQ-R), the Individual Bullying Behaviors in Clinical Practice Survey, and the Assertiveness Inventory.ResultsThe scores for total bullying knowledge and assertiveness after the implementation of the prevention guidelines were significantly increased (91.4% and 86.3%, respectively) among those who were exposed to bullying than among those with pretest scores of (34.7% and 11.8% respectively) (P < 0.001).ConclusionBullying prevention guidelines significantly reduced nurse interns bullying and improved their assertiveness. The study recommended the dissemination and generalization of the developed bullying prevention guidelines in different training settings.

High-Fidelity Simulation in Wound Care Education: A Qualitative Evaluation of Efficacy and Acceptability

BackgroundHigh-fidelity simulation is an effective tool in nursing education, but a research gap exists in its application to wound care training. This study explored the acceptability of working with simulated patients (SPs) with moulaged wounds to improve students' wound care skills. MethodThis descriptive qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 14 student nurses who competed a high-fidelity wound simulation. Data were analysed using a deductive thematic approach. FindingsFindings are presented with reference to the Australian Standards of Wound Prevention and Management guidelines. Four main themes (and six subthemes) were identified: realism (moulage and SPs), situational awareness (decision making and task focus), reflective practice (learning from others and self-reflection), and consolidation of practice. ConclusionThe standards-based simulation proved effective and acceptable to students.

Video based educational intervention in waiting area to improve awareness about health screening among patients visiting family medicine clinics

BackgroundMultiple educational modalities have been utilized including leaflet, face-to-face counseling and watching videos in waiting areas for engaging patients. Considering the two challenges of waiting time frustration and lack of health screening awareness, Family Physicians’ waiting area are an ideal place to bridge this gap. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of video-based health education intervention in improving knowledge about health screening among patients and their families sitting in waiting area of Family Medicine clinics.MethodsIt was a pre and post quasi-experimental study that was conducted in family medicine clinics located at main campus and Outreach centers of a tertiary care hospital. A total of 300 participants were approached during the six month period. The intervention consisted of an educational video on health screening. The content of the video was taken from the recommended preventive care guidelines from CDC and USPSTF. The pre-and post-intervention knowledge of the participants was assessed through a semi-structured coded questionnaire by an interviewer who was trained in data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Pre and post intervention knowledge adequacy was determined using MacNemar’s Chi-square test.ResultsTotal 300 participants voluntarily participated into the study. Median age of the participants was 28 (IQR = 23.25–36.75) years. Majority of participants were males (56%). Following the intervention, there was significant increase in the proportion of participants (51.3% versus 68%) who had understanding of health screening check-up (p < 0.001). Following the study intervention, there was significant increase in proportion of participants who had adequate knowledge related to diabetes (p = 0.045), hypertension (p < 0.001), cholesterol (p < 0.001), cervical cancer (p < 0.001), colon cancer (p < 0.001) and hepatitis B & C (p < 0.001). No significant improvement in breast cancer related knowledge was observed (p = 0.074). Highest post-intervention increase in knowledge from baseline was observed for hypertension (13.3% versus 63.3%) followed by colon cancer (24.3% versus 59.3%), cholesterol (67 versus 96.7%), hepatitis b & C (56.7% versus 77.3%), diabetes (29.7% versus 48%), cervical cancer (1.7% versus 19%), and breast cancer (7.7% versus 18.3%).ConclusionThis study highlighted a pivotal role of an educational video intervention in clinic waiting area to improve awareness regarding health screening among patients and their families. Further interventional community based or multicenter studies are warranted to assess the long-term impact of these educational videos on knowledge and utilization of health screening among adult population.

Implementation of surgical site infection care bundle in patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgeries

PurposeSurgical site infection (SSI) is one of the frequent healthcare associated infections linked with significant morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and death. SSI can be reduced by implementation of customized care bundle components as per standard guidelines. Hence this study was undertaken with the objective to implement care bundle in patients undergoing elective gastrointestinal surgeries and assess their impact on SSI rate. MethodsThe study was an interventional study conducted in the department of surgical gastroenterology for 8 months. Sample size was calculated to be 196 and only elective surgeries are included. CDC NHSN 2023 guidelines are used for surveillance of SSI and global guidelines for prevention of SSI was used for preparation of list of pre-operative, intraoperative and post-operative care bundle components and were implemented before the start of the study. ResultsOverall SSI rate and compliance to SSI care bundle in this study are 13.8% and 28.6%, respectively. When compared with the baseline SSI rate of 19.4%, there is reduction of 28.9% in SSI rate after the implementation of care bundle. Escherichia coli (54.2%) is the most commonly isolated organism. Care bundle non-compliant surgeries are associated with 2.3 times (relative risk-2.3) increased risk of SSI. There is fluctuating trend in compliance of care bundle and SSI rates across months. ConclusionThis study shows the importance of implementation of set of care bundle for prevention of SSI which can be customized and adapted for reducing SSI.

Protecting hospital staff and patients: Developing guidelines for patient-perpetrated harassment prevention in Japan.

Protecting hospital staff and patients: Developing guidelines for patient-perpetrated harassment prevention in Japan.

An alternative approach to protect micro-cracked reinforced concrete under a marine environment

This research aimed to establish prevention guidelines and mitigate the effects of chloride penetration in micro-cracked concrete by enhancing the quality of additive materials or fly ash and employing galvanic cathodic protection to guard against steel corrosion. The effects of micro-crack deterioration in reinforced concrete beams on the corrosion of reinforcing steel bars were investigated. Fly ash (FA) was replaced ordinary Portland cement (OPC) at rates of 0 %, 15 %, 30 %, and 45 % by weight of binder, with a water-to-binder (W/B) ratio of 0.45. Prevention measures included removing large particle sizes of the fly ash, and grinding to achieve high fineness, ensuring that particles retained on a sieve No.325 were less than 5 %. The test results showed that increasing the replacement of OPC with FA improved the chloride penetration resistance of the concrete, with lower detected chloride content compared to OPC concrete, and reduced the weight loss of the reinforcing steel bars. Additionally, the improvement of fly ash (IPF concrete) reduced the electric current to less than 20 mA, whereas the control concrete (PC) exhibited electric currents of about 80–100 mA. Another effective method for protecting against steel corrosion is the use of galvanic cathodic protection (GCP) in concrete, which can help reduce the electric current to 10 mA. Guidelines and preventive measures are suggested to ensure that structures can withstand environmental over time, maintaining their reliability and safety throughout their service life.

ENGLISH

Introduction and objectives: Eating disorders are a growing problem in our society, especially among young people. The aim of this study is to know which are the individual and social factors that support and perpetuate the danger of suffering from eating disorders, and their possible consequences on the sports and academic performance of individuals. Material and method: The sample consisted of 395 athletes between 12 and 16 years of age (M = 14.07; SD = 1.35), of whom 142 (35.9%) were female and 253 (64.1%) male. A questionnaire was administered to collect information on sociodemographic data, body image, use of social networks, social relationships, sports practice, risk of eating disorders, and academic and sports performance. In the analysis, firstly, cross-tabulations were carried out to observe the body distortion of the respondents according to body mass index; secondly, a linear regression was performed to analyze the factors influencing the risk of eating disorders. In addition, correlations were performed to find out the relationship between risk of manifesting eating disorders and academic and sports performance. Results: The main result shows that there is a high risk of eating disorders among young athletes, due to a high distortion of body image, which becomes the main determinant factor. In addition, relationships with family and friends have a significant influence on this danger. On the other hand, behaviors related to eating disorders cause academic and sports performance to decrease. Conclusión: Due to these data, it is necessary to generate and promote prevention and early detection guidelines during adolescence.

Lipidome changes due to improved dietary fat quality inform cardiometabolic risk reduction and precision nutrition

Current cardiometabolic disease prevention guidelines recommend increasing dietary unsaturated fat intake while reducing saturated fats. Here we use lipidomics data from a randomized controlled dietary intervention trial to construct a multilipid score (MLS), summarizing the effects of replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat on 45 lipid metabolite concentrations. In the EPIC-Potsdam cohort, a difference in the MLS, reflecting better dietary fat quality, was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of cardiovascular disease (−32%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): −21% to −42%) and type 2 diabetes (−26%; 95% CI: −15% to −35%). We built a closely correlated simplified score, reduced MLS (rMLS), and observed that beneficial rMLS changes, suggesting improved dietary fat quality over 10 years, were associated with lower diabetes risk (odds ratio per standard deviation of 0.76; 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.98) in the Nurses’ Health Study. Furthermore, in the PREDIMED trial, an olive oil-rich Mediterranean diet intervention primarily reduced diabetes incidence among participants with unfavorable preintervention rMLS levels, suggestive of disturbed lipid metabolism before intervention. Our findings indicate that the effects of dietary fat quality on the lipidome can contribute to a more precise understanding and possible prediction of the health outcomes of specific dietary fat modifications.

A bibliometric analysis of studies conducted over the last 10 years on cardiovascular disease risk identification and prevention in primary care

Objective: This bibliometric analysis was conducted to determine the trends of studies on cardiovascular disease risk identification and prevention in primary care from 2013 to 2024 and visualize the latest developments. Methods: The data were collected in February-March 2024 from the database “Web of Science Core Collection,” the analysis was carried out using the VOSviewer program. The change in the number of publications of the published articles by year, author, country, and institution citation analyses, country, institution, and author collaboration analyses, journal and author co-citation analyses, and keyword analyses were evaluated. Results: Five hundred and ninety-two authors from 64 countries and 377 institutions contributed to 443 studies published in 80 journals between 2013 and 2024 on determining and preventing cardiovascular disease risk in primary care. "BMC Family Practice" was the journal in which most articles were published, and "Circulation" was the most cited. The first three countries that support published articles most are the United States, England, and Australia. Focusing on the topics "blood-pressure control", "coronary-artery calcium", "physician-pharmacist collaboration", "low-density lipoprotein cholesterol", "health-risk assessment", "pollution", "primary care", "coronary heart disease", "prevention", "cardiovascular disease" and "mortality" will help fill the gap in the field. Conclusions: This bibliometric analysis has shown increasing interest in studies related to cardiovascular disease risk and prevention in primary care. Primary prevention guidelines are important resources in addressing risk factors. Global collaborations and long-term studies are necessary in this field, led by developed countries with a high disease burden.

Development of best evidence-based practice protocols for central venous catheter placement and maintenance to reduce CLABSI.

Although evidence-based interventions can reduce the incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), there is a large gap between evidence-based interventions and the actual practice of central venous catheter (CVC) care. Evidence-based interventions are needed to reduce the incidence of CLABSI in intensive care units (ICU) in China. Professional association, guidelines, and database websites were searched for data relevant to CLABSI in the adult ICUs from inception to February 2020. Checklists were developed for both CVC placement and maintenance. Based on the Integrated Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework, a questionnaire collected the cognition and practice of ICU nursing and medical staff on the CLABSI evidence-based prevention guidelines. From January 2018 to December 2021, ICU CLABSI rates were collected monthly. Ten clinical guidelines were included after the screening and evaluation process and used to develop the best evidence-based protocols for CVC placement and maintenance. The CLABSI rates in 2018, 2019, and 2020 were 2.98‰ (9/3021), 1.83‰ (6/3276), and 1.69‰ (4/2364), respectively. Notably, the CLABSI rate in 2021 was 0.38‰ (1/2607). In other words, the ICU CLABSI rate decreased from 1.69‰ to 0.38‰ after implementation of the new protocols. Additionally, our data suggested that the use of ultrasound-guidance for catheter insertion, chlorhexidine body wash, and the use of a checklist for CVC placement and maintenance were important measures for reducing the CLABSI rate. The evidence-based processes developed for CVC placement and maintenance were effective at reducing the CLABSI rate in the ICU.

Cholesterol Lowering in Older Adults: Should We Wait for Further Evidence?

Current guidelines for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events in adults up to age 75years are well-established. However, recommendations for lipid-lowering therapies (LLT), particularly for primary prevention, are inconclusive after age 75. In this review, we focus on adults ≥ 75years to assess low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) as a marker for predicting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, review risk assessment tools, highlight guidelines for LLT, and discuss benefits, risks, and deprescribing strategies. The relationship between LDL-C and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in older adults is complex and confounded. Current ASCVD risk estimators heavily depend on age and lack geriatric-specific variables. Emerging tools may reclassify individuals based on biologic rather than chronologic age, with coronary artery calcium scores gaining popularity. After initiating LLT for primary or secondary prevention, target LDL-C levels for older adults are lacking, and non-statin therapy thresholds remain unknown, relying on evidence from younger populations. Shared decision-making is crucial, considering therapy's time to benefit, life expectancy, adverse events, and geriatric syndromes. Deprescribing is recommended in end-of-life care but remains unclear in fit or frail older adults. After an ASCVD event, LLT is appropriate for most older adults, and deprescribing can be considered for those approaching the last months of life. Ongoing trials will guide statin prescription and deprescribing among older adults free of ASCVD. In the interim, for adults ≥ 75years without a limited life expectancy who are free of ASCVD, an LLT approach that includes both lifestyle and medications, specifically statins, may be considered after shared decision-making.

Antibiotic Management for Early-Onset Sepsis in Neonates With Gestational Ages of ≥ 34 Weeks: The Kaiser Sepsis Calculator Versus the 2010 CDC Guidelines.

The traditional approach to neonatal early-onset sepsis (NEOS) management, involving maternal risk factors and nonspecific neonatal symptoms, usually leads to unnecessary antibiotic use. This study addresses these concerns by evaluating the Kaiser sepsis calculator (KSC) in guiding antibiotic therapy for NEOS, especially in high-incidence facilities (over 4/1,000 live births), by comparing it against the 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for neonates ≥34 weeks with suspected sepsis, thereby emphasizing its implications for personalized patient care. This is a prospective observational study. All neonates of 34 gestational weeks or more, presenting with either maternal risk factors or sepsis symptoms within 12 hours of birth, were included in the study. The analysis focused on antibiotic recommendations by the 2010 CDC guidelines versus those by the KSC at presumed (0.5/1,000) and actual (16/1,000) sepsis incidence rates. NEOS was identified in 14 cases (14.1%). Compared to the KSC, at an incidence rate of 16 per 1,000, the KSCresulted in a significant 32.3% reduction in antibiotic treatment (74 cases (74.7%) vs. 42 cases (42.4%), respectively; p < 0.001). The calculator advised immediate antibiotic utilization for 13 out of 14 (92.9%) diagnosed cases, suggesting further evaluation for the remaining cases. When a presumed incidence of 0.5/1,000 was applied, the KSC indicated antibiotics less frequently than when using the actual rate of 16/1,000 (p<0.001) with two missed NEOS cases. Using the KSC led to a decrease of 32 cases (32.3%)in unnecessary antibiotic prescriptions compared to adherence to 2010 CDC guidelines. However, setting a presumed incidence below the actual rate risked missing NEOS. The calculator was effective when actual local incidence rates were used, ensuring no missed cases needing antibiotics.

Assessing Barriers to Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review.

The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has greatly increased. Previously dominated by infectious diseases, LMICs are the new epicentre of CVDs. CVD is a common problem amongst the population in theAfrican continent; however, many countries in LMICs lack the resources to stem the rise of CVDs. A systematic review was conducted between March and July 2023 to assess barriers to the primary prevention of CVDs in studies conducted in LMICs. Online databases, such as Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, and MEDLINE, were consulted. Keywords included primary prevention, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, weight loss, and physical fitness, all of which focused on LMICs. To enrich the literature review, efforts were made to check other listed references and more papers were retrieved. The inclusion criteria were countries in LMICs, CVD, full-text, and peer-reviewed journals. Qualitative and quantitative studies were included. Exclusion criteria included high-income countries, secondary prevention, and research unrelated to CVDs, such as barriers in oncology or mental health. A total of 1089 papers were retrieved from the search engines. After applying the exclusion criteria for LMICs, only 186 papers were retained. A further search for quality, relevance, and duplicity reduced the qualifying number to 50 papers. Further efforts to retrieve the data and examine the quality of the studies resulted in 18 final selected studies. Three categories emerged based on the type of barriers: physician barriers, patient barriers, and health system barriers. Evidently, in several LMICs, guidelines for CVD prevention were lacking, and too much emphasis was placed on secondary prevention at the expense of primary prevention, a lack of human resources, and inadequate infrastructure. Overworked healthcare providers were unable to allocate adequate time to the patients. There was no shared decision-making process. Patient barriers included lack of motivation, no symptoms, low level of education, no insurance, long physical distances to the facilities, and inadequate medicationor stock out. Some of the major barriers included closing and opening hours, poor operating space, inadequate funding from the government or donors, and lack of electronic medical services. There are many barriers to accessing primary prevention services for CVDs. These barriers can be divided into patient, physician, or health system barriers. More research needs to be conducted in LMICs to address the increasing risk factors for CVDs. Greater investment is required by national governments to provide more resources. Task shifting and shared decision-making are some of the quick wins.

Midwives as influencers in skin care for newborns at risk of atopic diseases : Survey of midwives' current recommendations

The prevalence of atopic diseases remains high. Initial studies suggest that primary prevention with regular basic care may influence the incidence of atopic dermatitis in infants; however, data are unclear. Midwives play an important role in the care of women in the peripartum period and therefore also in providing advice on topics such as skin care, breastfeeding and nutrition of the newborn and young infant. The aim of this study was to determine the care recommendations for newborns by midwives. We conducted across-sectional survey among German midwives using questionnaires on the topic of newborn skin care. A total of 128 questionnaires were analyzed. The most common recommendations were oil-based herbal topicals (34.9%) and plain water (34.0%). Approximately 70% of midwives reported recommending various options when there was aknown family history of atopic diathesis. It was remarkable that most of the midwives' recommendations were identical regardless of the presence of an atopic diathesis. Essential care products are only used "when necessary". Training programs for midwives on the topic of "care and strengthening of the skin barrier", taking into account the current guidelines for allergy prevention, should be implemented.

Implementation and evaluation of a SARI surveillance system in a tertiary hospital in Scotland in 2021/2022

ObjectiveTo set up and evaluate a new surveillance system for severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in Scotland. Study designCross-sectional study and evaluation of surveillance system. MethodsThe SARI case definition comprised patients aged 16 years or over with an acute respiratory illness presentation requiring testing for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 and hospital admission. Data were collected from SARI cases by research nurses in one tertiary teaching hospital using a bespoke data collection tool from November 2021 to May 2022. Descriptive analyses of SARI cases were carried out. The following attributes of the surveillance system were evaluated according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines: stability, data quality, timeliness, positive predictive value, representativeness, simplicity, acceptability and flexibility. ResultsThe final surveillance dataset comprised 1163 records, with cases peaking in ISO week 50 (week ending 19/12/2021). The system produced a stable stream of surveillance data, with the proportion of SARI records with sufficient information for effective surveillance increasing from 65.4% during the first month to 87.0% over time. Similarly, the proportion where data collection was completed promptly was low initially, but increased to 50%–65% during later periods. ConclusionSARI surveillance was successfully established in one hospital, but for a national system, additional sentinel hospital sites across Scotland, with flexibility to ensure consistently high data completeness and timeliness are needed. Data collection should be automated where possible, and demands on clinicians minimised. SARI surveillance should be embedded and resourced as part of a national respiratory surveillance strategy.

Ostomy Care Nurses' Knowledge and Practice Related to Prevention and Management of Parastomal Hernias in Adults: A Nationwide Survey of UK Stoma Care Nurses.

The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge and practices of ostomy care nurses related to the United Kingdom's Association of Stoma Care Nurses (ASCN) 2016 guidelines for prevention and management of parastomal hernia (PSH) in adults. Cross-sectional descriptive study. The target population was approximately 300 stoma care nurses; 120 useable responses to the survey were received, reflecting a response rate of approximately 40%. A 31-item questionnaire was developed for the purposes of this study, consisting of multiple choice and short answer questions grouped into 2 sections; demographics, and knowledge and practices. The questionnaire was distributed to members of the ASCN who work with adults via an online survey platform with the aim of reaching as many respondents as possible. The Chi-square test was used to determine relationships between the nominal demographic data and the nominal knowledge and practices data. Almost two-thirds of respondents (65%, n =78) rated their knowledge relating to prevention and management of PSH as good or excellent. Nevertheless, 79.8% (n=95) indicated they needed additional education to improve their knowledge and practice related to prevention of PSH. Those who rated their knowledge as excellent or good were significantly more likely to be aware of the guidelines compared to those who ranked their knowledge as average or poor. Study findings suggest variability in knowledge among UK stoma care nurses, along with a desire for additional education in this area of care.

Pregnancy and COVID—Complications and its Challenges: A Case Series from a Tertiary Care Center in the Northeastern Part of India

The objective was to describe the course of management of all the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-positive pregnant women, admitted to a 150-bedded tertiary care center in Guwahati, Assam, from March 01, 2021, till June 15, 2021. We collected a case series of 13 COVID-19-positive pregnant women, mostly in their second and third trimesters, admitted to our center between March 01, 2021, and June 15, 2021. All of the cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection were confirmed by a positive result on real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests. We aimed to show the course of management and maternal outcomes in these cases. The Results show that among the 13 infected pregnant women, three presented with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia and were treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) and the rest were treated in wards as the mild category and discharged successfully. Two among them required invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and one was managed on non-invasive ventilation (NIV). Of the two mechanically ventilated patients, one succumbed to the illness and the other patient was successfully weaned in 5 days and shifted out after 15 days of the ICU stay. The third patient was on NIV support for 7 days, weaned off to low-flow oxygen therapy via face mask/ nasal prongs, and shifted out after 17 days of the ICU stay. Data on pregnant women with coronavirus infection are scarce and contradictory as the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on pregnancy is not clear. It is highly important to systemically investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 to provide strong guidelines for prevention, treatment, and management.

Effectiveness of an Information Booklet on the Awareness of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) among Health Care Professionals in a Selected Primary Care Hospital

The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge on Antibiotics and its resistance among healthcare professionals and the effectiveness of an information booklet, which includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines for to use of Antibiotics to prevent Antimicrobial resistance (AMR). AMR occurs when bacteria change over time and no longer respond to medicines. Antimicrobial resistance leads to higher medical costs, prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality. Knowledge of Antibiotics is essential in preventing from ill effects of AMR. According to the CDC, in 2018, inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics contributed to antibiotics-resistant conditions, which led to 2 million infections and killed about 23,000 Americans annually. In India, 4.95 million people died in 2019 suffered from drug-resistant infections and antibiotic resistance was the direct cause for 1.27 million of those deaths. An experimental research design employed non probability convenient sampling technique to select the 60 samples in a selected primary care hospital. The majority, 44 (73%), of health professionals were between the ages of 21 and 30 years, 40(67%) were nurses, 13(22%) were medical practitioners and 7(11%) were pharmacists. While considering their area of work majority 20(33%) of them, were from the ward and 14(23%) from the ICU setting. Level of knowledge gain score measured using Extended McNemar`s chi-square test revealed health professionals gained 20.27% with 95% CI and it was found statically significant (c2=43.81 P=0.001***). The study results recommend such an interdisciplinary approach of training doctors, nurses and pharmacists to become sensitive and update themselves to reduce the incidence of Antimicrobial resistance among the common public.