Wiping Out Central Line Associated-Bloodstream Infections: Cleaning High Touch Surfaces in the PICU

Problem: Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are a significant, preventable healthcare-related complication of hospital admission and medical management of critically ill and medically complex patients. CLABSIs result in significant adverse outcomes such as increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in the hospital, increased cost of treatment, and increased rates of readmission. Direct and indirect contact within the patient’s hospital environment are potential means of transmission for microorganisms, increasing the inherent risk of acquiring a CLABSI. Method: For this quality improvement (QI) project, a pre-post design was utilized to evaluate the effect of a standardized high touch surface cleaning protocol on CLABSIs. This was completed with the utilization of retrospective and prospective chart review three months prior to and following the implementation of this protocol. Nurses were provided with education via a virtual staff meeting four weeks prior to implementation as well as the utilization of infographic bathroom flyers. The QI project evaluated number of CLABSIs, nursing compliance, and LOS in the ICU. Results: Seventy-six patients with 87 central lines met criteria and were included in this QI project. There was one CLABSI in three months prior to implementation and one CLABSI during the study period. The average PICU LOS was 18.29 days. RN compliance with cleaning high touch surfaces together was 11.54%. Implications for Practice: After evaluating the implementation of the new high touch surface cleaning protocol in the pediatric ICU (PICU), the number of CLABSIs were the same. Clinical significance was exemplified as the PICU remained CLABSI-free for over 100 days after the study period ended. More research is necessary, including future studies containing more pediatric patients, greater sample sizes, multiple ICUs or institutions, and longer study periods

Low sugar oat products are more sustainable, why are they not on the shelves of supermarkets?

Excess sugar in individuals’ diets may lead to weight related health problems such as obesity and diabetes. Sugar in processed foods is used to add sweetness and intensify flavor this is common in products such as oatmeal and granola bars. Reducing the amount of sugar in food products can contribute to all three pillars of sustainability environmental, economic and social. The goal of this report is to show the steps of developing a reduced sugar oatmeal food product up to the point that it is ready for conducting a sensory evaluation. This report and possible presentation at the WCU’s research day will also partially meet the requirements of the NTD 450 (Field to Fork Events), the capstone course of the Department of Nutrition’s Sustainable Food Systems Management concentration. This report and presentation will connect the developed food product with environmental sustainability (impact of sugar refining industry on the environment) and address social sustainability of this locally sourced food product. The ultimate goal of this project is to show-case an example of a sustainable food product development from farm to event

North Dakota\u27s Monuments: What They Reveal of the State\u27s People and Their Character

Monuments and memorials are found in every society and civilization throughout history. These structures serve as commemorations of people, events, wars, victories, and disasters. The building of monuments allows the people of a society to express for posterity their jubilation, reverence, and grief. In turn, monuments and memorials reflect the values and beliefs of the society. As a result, historians study monuments and memorials to gain a better understanding of the people, culture, and values of a society or civilization. The study of monuments and memorials, as well as commemoration in general, is a growing field in both American and world history, but no study to date has addressed the structures located in North Dakota and what they reveal about the people who worked to see them built. This study seeks to fill that void. The monuments selected for this study fall into two categories: those dedicated to North Dakota’s historical pioneers and those devoted to the legendary pioneers. The historical pioneers are those identified individuals from whom character traits, values, and attitudes are drawn and celebrated as a reflection of the traits, values, and attitudes the monuments’ commissioners admire and seek to emulate. By contrast, the legendary pioneers are unidentified; they represent those ordinary men and women who faced incredible challenges in order to establish the social, cultural, political, and economic foundations of the state. The monuments’ commissioners chose to honor those unnamed pioneers as those who led the way for subsequent generations of the state’s residents. In so doing, the commissioners are able to project onto these legendary pioneers those character traits they believe have been passed down from the pioneering generation— those traits the commissioners wish to see perpetuated in future generations as well. The examination of both the historical and legendary pioneers celebrated by North Dakotans reveals a distinct set of character traits and attitudes displayed and revered by the monuments’ commissioners—the North Dakota character described by historian Elwyn B. Robinson in his History of North Dakota (1966)

Synthesis of 6-Aminopenicillanic Acid-Protein Conjugates for Development of Enzyme Immunoassay for B-Lactam Antibiotics

An enzyme immunoassay specific for several B-lactam antibiotics rather than individual antibiotics was investigated. The goal to develop an enzyme immunoassay for analysis of a whole class of compounds at one time is different than the goal of most enzyme immunoassays which desire specificity for drugs or hormone levels. Detection of the presence of all B-lactam antibiotics is wanted and identification of specific antibiotics is not needed. 6-Aminopenicillanic acid, the common structural moiety of B-lactam antibiotics was used tin this investigation. Methods of preparation of 6-aminopencillanic ac id conjugates 2nd antibodies needed for enzyme immunoassays have been developed. 6-Aminopenicillanic acid was conjugated to ovalbumin and bovine gamma globulin for production of antibodies with specificity to 6-aminopenicillanic acid. 6-Aminopenicillanic acid was also linked to the enzyme· horseradish peroxidase for future use in enzyme immunoassays. Antibodies produced against 6-aminopenicillanic acid are antigenic towards the thiazolidine ring of penicillins as shown by their affinity to ampicillin and penicillin. Anti-6-aminopenicillanic acid antibodies should therefore be antigenic towards other semisynthetic penicillins because 6-aminopenicillanic acid is usually used in their synthesis

Diversity of macroinvertebrates in tributaries of the jacks fork and current rivers, Ozark national scenic riverways, Missouri and efficacy of springfed tributaries as refugia

Disturbance is a dominant force shaping stream communities and recovery from disturbance requires the presence of refugia or environments where disturbance effects are lessened. In the Missouri Ozark region, groundwater-dominant streams or spring-fed tributaries are possible refugia. To determine if spring-fed tributaries serve as thermal refugia to macroinvertebrates, the movement of macroinvertebrates and the community composition were measured from spring-fed and surface-fed confluences in the Current River, Missouri during the middle of winter and summer. Macroinvertebrate communities in summer could be placed into three categories: surface-fed tributaries, Current River main channel, and spring-fed tributaries. Spring-fed tributary macroinvertebrate communities were unique in composition which suggests these tributaries were unlikely thermal refugia for macroinvertebrates because they were not a reflection of the communities present in the entire confluence. At the smaller-scale of mesohabitats within the tributaries, communities were unique and could be categorized as belonging to the structural environment of riffles, pools, and marginal vegetation. Further work on a family of flies, Chironomidae, within these mesohabitats revealed that this family alone could convey the same community relationship patterns as those revealed using the entire macroinvertebrate community. Refugia work indicates spring-fed tributaries could be important contributors to the numbers of macroinvertebrates transported downstream to support recovery in the main channel. Work at the mesohabitat scale revealed high structural diversity in the streams with corresponding diversity in macroinvertebrate communities. Work on the Chironomidae indicated potential use of this family in habitat assessment especially in environments unsuitable to other macroinvertebrate taxa

Effects of a Pornography Use Reduction Program

Pornography use has been shown to be highly common among young men, with numerous documented deleterious effects. Though the dangers of pornography use are well documented, few studies have attempted to determine what methods can be used to decrease use, including use among men attending Christian colleges. The present study began to address this gap by studying different groups of men who sought to decrease their use. Implications of these results are discussed

Chronicles of Oklahoma

Article explores the music and story behind behind the Mosquito Dance, a Cherokee-Natchez tradition. Charlotte Heth also examines the music of the Horse Fly Dance, a similar melody