• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-54
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• 2019

Purpose: Exposure to blood and body fluids represents a significant occupational risk for nurses. This study was done to identify the level of knowledge of and compliance with blood-borne pathogen prevention of hospital nurses according to clinical experience, and to identify factors affecting compliance with blood-borne pathogen prevention. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted in which self-reported knowledge of and compliance with blood-borne pathogen prevention was assessed. The relationships between variables were examined. Registered nurses who were employed (n=345) were surveyed. Data were analyzed using, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results: Nurses with more than 5 years experience had greater knowledge of blood-borne pathogen prevention than nurses with less than 5 years experience. However, there was no significant difference in compliance with blood-borne pathogen prevention between the two groups. No significant correlation was found between knowledge and compliance with blood-borne pathogen prevention according to experience standards. In nurses with less than 5 years experience, gender, age, reported exposure to a blood-borne pathogen, and compliance with principles of prevention had a significant impact on compliance with blood-borne pathogen prevention. For nurses with more than 5 years experience, reporting after exposure to blood-borne pathogen was a contributing factor to compliance with blood-borne pathogen prevention. Conclusion: The study results show that to improve the implementation of preventive measures against blood-borne pathogens different strategies are needed, depending on clinical experience of the nurses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2017

The study of canine vector-borne diseases in the Philippines started in the 1970s but only gained interest in the past decade. Characterization of such diseases in the Philippines remains incomplete, thus, it is necessary to obtain additional information on the prevalence and diversity of canine tick-borne diseases in the country. In this study, blood samples were obtained at two veterinary clinics in Metro Manila, Philippines from 114 dogs suspected of having canine tick-borne pathogens. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on whole blood DNA extracts followed by sequencing, and the following pathogens were detected: Hepatozoon (H.) canis (5.26%), Babesia (B.) vogeli (5.26%), Ehrlichia (E.) canis (4.39%), and Anaplasma platys (3.51%). Additionally, a set of multiplex PCR primers were developed to detect H. canis, Babesia spp. (B. canis and B. vogeli), and E. canis in canine blood. Multiplex and conventional single-reaction PCR results for the 114 dog blood samples were similar, except for one H. canis sample. Multiplex PCR is, therefore, a useful tool in screening infected dogs in veterinary clinics. This study's results, together with those of previous studies in the country, show that canine vector-borne pathogens are an emerging veterinary concern in the Philippines.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.298-309
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• 2009

Purpose: To develop a web-based program on blood-borne infection control and to examine the effect of the newly developed program on perceived threat of diseases, knowledge, preventive health behaviors for blood-borne infections, and incidence rates of accidental needle sticks and other sharp object injuries in nurses. Methods: The program was developed through the processes of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The research design involved a nonequivalent control group for pretest and posttest experiments. The setting was a 745-bed general hospital located in Korea. Results: The program was designed and developed after consulting previous studies. After development of the program was completed, it was evaluated and revised by a panel of experts. The total score for perceived threat of diseases, knowledge, preventive health behaviors in the experimental group was significantly higher compared to the control group (p<.05). The incidence rates for needle sticks and other sharp object injuries in the experimental group were significantly lower compared to the control group (p<.05). Conclusion: Application of a Web-based, blood-borne infection control program is effective, and can be expanded to other healthcare workers who also have a high risk of blood-borne infections.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.249-258
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• 2010

Purpose: To develop an e-learning blood-borne infection control program and to evaluate the effects of the program on risk perception, knowledge, preventive health behaviors related to blood-borne infections, and satisfaction with the program by nursing student. Methods: The program was developed through the processes of analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. The pre-experimental research design involved a one group pretest-posttest design. The setting was two universities located in Daejeon, Korea. Results: Using the program that was designed and developed, results for the total score of risk perception, knowledge, and preventive health behaviors in the post-test application were significantly higher than in the pre-test application (p<.05). Relevance and usefulness of the information received the highest ratings, while the system's design were demonstrated to have the lowest ratings. Those areas requiring correction were modified accordingly. Conclusions: Application of an e-learning blood-borne infection control program is effective, and can be expanded to other student nurses who also have a high risk of blood-borne infections.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.175-177
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• 2018

The objective of this polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based research was to determine the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in stray cats in Yangju and Gwacheon cities, South Korea. Total 50 stray cats were sampled for this PCR-based survey; 33 samples and 17 samples were collected from Yangju and Gwacheon cities, respectively. Total positive presence rates were 6%, 6% and 24% for hemotropic mycoplasmas, Rickettsia spp. and Babesia spp., respectively in this study. Babesia spp. was the predominant pathogen present in the stray cats of both cities followed by hemotropic mycoplasmas and Rickettsia spp. It is recommended that a large-scale study of the prevalence of infectious agents among stray cats should be undertaken in all regions of South Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.92-100
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the cognition level and the performance level of universal precautions on blood-borne infections and to analyze related-factors on the performance level for universal precautions among the nurses. Method: A total of 166 nurses participated in the survey. We performed multiple linear regression to assess the related-factors on the performance level for universal precautions. Result: The mean scores of cognition and performance level for universal precautions were 65.61(${\pm}8.74$) and 53.98(${\pm}8.42$) respectively. The mean score of the cognition level was significantly lower than the performance level in all items. The cognition level was associated with the working field. The performance level was highest for nurses working over 36 years, nurses in university hospitals, and nurses in the operating room. The cognitive level for universal precautions, education level, exposure to blood-borne infection, family's income, and marital status significantly predicted the performance level for universal precautions in the multiple linear regression model (Adjusted $R^2=0.42$). Conclusion: The cognition level for universal precautions is the strongest predictor on the performance level for universal precautions. An integrated approach should incorporate training experiences to improve cognition and perception of risk on universal precautions for preventing blood-borne infections.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.276-284
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors related to blood-borne infection prevention behaviors based on the risk perception of the health belief model among operating room nurses. Risk perception factors included perceived susceptibility, barriers, benefits, and perceived severity. Methods: Data were collected from 121 operating room nurses working in four different hospitals in Daejeon and Seoul from June 30 to May 11, 2016. Results: The mean age was 31.2 years, and the average years of clinical experience in operating room was 7.9 years. The mean score of knowledge was 13.15. The mean score of perceived susceptibility, barrier, benefit, and perceived severity were 3.76, 3.70, 3.95, and 4.64, respectively. Blood-borne infection prevention behaviors had positive correlation with perceived benefits (p=.010), but negative correlation with sensitivity (p=.009) and barrier (p=.012). The hierarchical regression model on infection prevention behavior was statistically significant (F=4.85, p<.001). The sixteen percent of variance in behavior was explained by age (${\beta}=.18$, p=.038), perceived benefit (${\beta}=.20$, p=.030), perceived susceptibility (${\beta}=-.25$, p=.005), and perceived barrier (${\beta}=-.18$, p=.042). Conclusion: In order to increase infection prevention behaviors among operating room nurses, there is a need for developing specific education program focusing on appropriate management of equipment, instruments, and environment in operating room. In addition, support from the hospital organization level need to be provided as well.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2014

Purpose: Needlestick injuries (NSI) is the most frequent occupational hazard for healthcare personnel (HCP), and immediate report and adequate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is essential in preventing occupational transmission of blood-borne pathogens. Methods: From June 2010 to October 2010, 544 NSI were reported through websites from 21 general hospitals in Korea. Among those, 499 cases of NSI were analyzed to identify the rate of follow-up treatment completion and for seroconversion. Results: 88.2% of the cases were completed with follow-up treatment, 8.8% of the NSI were not completed with follow-up treatment, and 5 cases were unavailable to trace. 4.2% cases of NSI required a hepatitis B vaccination concurrent with hepatitis B immunoglobulin. 41.1% of the cases and 31.1% of the cases needed to be tested for anti HCV and anti HIV, respectively. Prophylaxis medication for HIV was prescribed in 3 cases, and all cases completed required 1 month of medication. There was 1 case (0.2%) of seroconversion to HCV. Conclusion: The PEP completion rate was not satisfactory, and the importance of completion of PEP treatment should be emphasized through education and counseling. Also, a careful risk assessment is needed for HCP who are exposed to HCV or HIV.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.145-152
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• 2019

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are transmitted by different groups of hematophagous arthropod vectors that are distributed worldwide and can cause significant health problems for dogs. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the prevalence of selected CVBD pathogens in rural outdoor dogs based on prevention status. Between June 2017 and February 2019, blood samples were collected from 343 clinically healthy rural dogs composing two different groups: systematically managed dogs (SMD; n=92) and personally managed dogs (PMD; n=251). Vaccination and preventive medications were applied strictly following the programmed schedule for the SMD group; in contrast, in the PMD group, they were applied only when requested by the dog owners. Serological and molecular assessments showed that significantly more dogs in the PMD group were infected with B. gibsoni (P<0.001) and D. immitis (P=0.001) than those in the SMD group. These findings suggest that the regular use of preventive medications and environmental controlling efforts contribute to reducing the prevalence of CVBD pathogen infections. In addition, dogs infected with certain kinds of CVBD pathogens could remain asymptomatic, suggesting that continuous monitoring and periodic preventive treatment should be conducted even for clinically healthy dogs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.63-67
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• 2012

Mosquitoes are the vectors of a number of viral diseases in cattle, such as Akabane disease, bovine ephemeral fever, Ainovirus infection, Chuzan virus infection, and Ibaraki disease. These diseases are transmitted from an infected animal to a non-infected host via the blood feeding of the vector. In Korea, the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Services, Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is responsible for planning, implementation, laboratory investigations and reporting the results of the national surveillance program for mosquito-borne bovine diseases (MBD). The surveillance program, which was started in 1993, focused to determine the seroprevalence of each disease in cattle herds in space and time. From the epidemiological point of view, more important component of the surveillance program is to monitor infection rates in vectors for specific pathogens because this information is essential for a more precise understanding the dynamics of these diseases in a given environment and for determining risk of transmission. The aim of this study was to describe and compare methods for estimation of vector infection rates using maximum likelihood (MLE) and minimum infection rate in pooled samples. Factors affecting MLE such as number of pools, pooling size and diagnostic test performance are also discussed, assuming some hypothetical sampling scenarios for MBD.