• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2004

Microbial infection provokes one of the most serious complications to the patients with indwelling catheters. Ciprofloxacin (CFX) was added into the catheter materials (polyurethane or silicone) during the manufacturing process to avoid the microbial infection. Efficacy of the catheters containing CFX was investigated by using the in vitro zone of growth inhibition test method. The catheters made of polyurethane or silicone exhibited a strong antimicrobial activity against the major catheter-related microorganisms (S. aureus, S. epidermidis, P. aeruginosa and E. coli), when CFX was incorporated into the catheters. Fetal bovine serum (FBS) did not affected antimicrobial activities of the polyurethane catheters with CFX loading of 0.5 and 1.0％ (W/W) against S. aureus and S. epidermidis. However, the polyurethane catheters with 1.0％ (W/W) of CFX loading showed a significantly (P<0.05) reduced antimicrobial activity against E. coli when the catheters were exposed to FBS. Silicone catheters with 1.0 and 1.5％ (W/W) of CFX loading demonstrated effective antimicrobial activity against S. epidermidis for at least 2 weeks. These results suggest that the use of catheters containing ciprofloxacin could be effective in preventing catheter-related infections.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.344-348
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• 1996

Continuous epidural block can be useful in the management of acute and chronic pain. For the most effective analgesia, it is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter and the spread of radiopaque dye. Epidural catheterization was performed in 12 patients on the sitting position. Catheters were advanced by 10 cm cephalad in the cervical epidural space by median approach and radiopaque dye 3 ml was injected through the catheters. The position of cervical epidural catheters and the spread of dye was confirmed by radiography. The course of epidural catheter were: coiled 3/12 (25%), loop 2/12 (16.7%), straight 2/12 (16.7%). In 8 cases, the tip of epidural catheters were located within one vertebral segment from the level of insertion site. Radiopaque dye spreaded average 3.68 vertebral segment to cranially and 1.67 vertebral segment to caudally from the insertion site.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.308-311
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• 1995

The incidence of contamination of epidural catheters used for pain control was investigated. To prevent epidural infection, all patients with epidural catheters had taken amoxacillin 1.5gm/day orally. Of the cultures of catheters catched from 303 patients undergoing continuous epidrual catheterization, 5 catheters (1.7%) were found to be contaminated; cervical 1/86 (1.2%), thoracic 1/27 (3.7%), and lumbar 3/190 (1.6%). Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common etiologic agent (60%). To prevent epidural infection, sterilization of the skin around the epidural catheter and prophylactic use of broad-spectrum antibiotics are thought to be beneficial.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 1991

Continuous epidural analgesia is widely used in pain management. We investigates the incidence of contamination of epidural catheters used in epidural catheters for pain control. The tips of epidural catheters were examined for bacterial growth after use. In culture from 250 patients undergoing continuous epidural catheterization, 33(13.2%) catheters were found to be contaminated: staphylococcus epidermis 66.9%; staphylococcus aureus 12.1%; alpha streptococcus 12.1%; and others 9.1%. One significant epidural infection occured. One of the most common causes of the epidural infection during long time epidural block is the transmission of the microorganism from the contaminated skin to the epidural space along the epidural catheter. To prevent epidural infection, sterilization of the skin around the epidural catheter is essential.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.113-120
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to identify the knowledge of and adherence to the infection control guidelines for indwelling urinary catheters, central venous catheters and ventilators among intensive care nurses. The subjects were 175 intensive care nurses working in 2 upper general hospitals and 3 general hospitals. Data were collected from July 1 to July 31, 2013. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and ANOVA using SPSS 18.0 for Windows. The mean scores of the knowledge of the infection control guidelines on indwelling urinary catheters, central venous catheters and ventilators were 0.87, 0.82 and 0.82 points, respectively. The average scores for the adherence to the infection control guidelines for indwelling urinary catheters, central venous catheters and ventilators were 4.18, 4.04 and 4.07 points, respectively. Statistically significant correlations were found between the knowledge of and adherence to the infection control guidelines for indwelling urinary catheters (r=.72, p<.00), central venous catheters (r=.54, p<.001) and ventilators (r=.30, p<.001). The knowledge of and adherence to the infection control guidelines for indwelling urinary catheters differed significantly according to gender, educational status, total career, number of patients, type of hospital, and attendance of seminar. The knowledge of and adherence to the infection control guidelines for central venous catheters differed significantly according to educational status, total career, number of patients, type of hospital, and attendance of seminar. The knowledge level of the infection control guidelines for the ventilator differed significantly according to the total career. The results of this study indicate that education and training programs for improving the knowledge of adherence to the infection control guidelines should be developed.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.175-182
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• 2007

In vitro ciprofloxacin (CFX)-release study and bioassay using microorganisms were performed to estimate the retention of the antimicrobial activity of the CFX-incorporated central venous catheters (CFX-CVCs). The release experiments were carried out under the optional CFX-release conditions to mimic the in vivo environment. The release of CFX experienced an initial burst followed by a slow and steady matrix-diffusion controlled release. The 1.0CP (polyurethane catheter containing 1.0% (w/w) of CFX) under dynamic condition showed a near zero-order CFX release profile, which is beneficial for the long-tenn antimicrobial activity. The modified Kirby-Bauer method was performed employing S. aureus and E. coli to evaluate the retention of antimicrobial activity of the catheters retrieved from the release experiments. The 1.0CP showed the long-term antimicrobial activity (${\geq}\;21$ days) against both S. aureus and E. coli. These results indicate that 1.0CP is useful as a long-tenn indwelling CVC.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.247-252
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• 2006

The long-term use of indwelling urinary catheters can allow bacterial adhesion to their surfaces, followed by the catheter-associated urinary tract infection. In an attempt to minimize the bacterial adhesion, various amphiphilic polyurethanes (APUs) were synthesized as potential coating materials for urinary catheters. By varying composition of the soft segments such as PEO, PTMO, and PDMS, four different polyurethanes were synthesized. All the APU-coated urinary catheters had the smooth surfaces and showed higher hydrophilicity, compared to the commercial silicone catheters. In particular, the use of APUs with the higher PEG content significantly augmented hydrophilicity and remarkably reduced the total amount of bacteria adhering to the surface. Overall, the APUs prepared in this study provided the promising potential as coating materials for urinary catheters.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.135-139
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• 1996

Intercostal nerve blockade with local anesthetics has been used extensively in the past to provide pain relief following thoracotomy. Its popularity fell, for a period, probably due to increasing use of epidural analgesia. More recently, interest has focused on intercostal nerve block with the introduction of variously sited catheters. Two epidural catheters were placed under direct vision, in the intercostal spaces just above and below the wound by feeding the catheters posteriorly from the wound edges, superficial to the parietal pleura. Bupivacaine 0.25%. Was infused continuously at a rate of 5 ml/hour through each of the two intercostal catheters. Each catheter was primed with 10 ml/hour through each of the two intercostal catheters. Each catheter was primed with 10 ml of 0.25% bupivacaine. Postoperative vital signs resembled preoperation data. Arterial carbon dioxide pressure ($PaCO_2$) was unchanged and arterial oxygen pressure ($PaO_2$) was increased during two days after surgery because oxygen was administered at 21/min. Forced vital capacities (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) were decreased the day of operation but restored to preoperative value from second operation day. VAS were increased on operation day but decreased from second operation day. Motion range of arms were not impaired. We concluded that continuous intercostal nerve block through catheters placed during thoracotomy in the adjacent intercostal spaces is a simple and effective method for management of the post-thoracotomy pain.

• Journal of The Korean Radiological Technologist Association
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.157-174
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• 2001

Ⅰ. Purpose : To evaluate the usefulness of ultrasound-guided, radiologic placement of tunneled hemodialysis catheters via internal jugular vein(IJV). Ⅱ. Materials and Methods : In 32 patients(31 chronic renal failure, 1 acute renal failure), We performed

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.298-303
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• 1995

We have inserted epidural catheter for single or continuous injection of a drug for epidural analgesia. It is important to localize the tip of epidural catheter in appropriate site to acquire the most effective analgesia. In epidural block, we observed course and location of the tip of epidural catheter. Subject: 70 patients were divided into group I(non-injection of saline group during catheter insertion) and group II(injection group during catheter insertion). Group I included cervical(n=20), thoracic(n=10), and lumbar(n=20) epidural group. Group II, cervical(n=10), and lumbar(n=10) epidural group. Method: 19G FlexTip $Plus^{TM}$ Epidural Catheter ($Arrow^{(R)}$) was inserted 10cm cephaladly in epidural space with(group II) or without(group I) saline flushing. We observed course and location of the tip of epidural catheter by C-arm image intensifier during injection of contrast media ($Omnipaque^{(R)}$). Result: In group I, the number of tips of epidural catheters located within 2 cm from inserted site were: cervical 14/20(70%), thoracic 2/10(20%). lumbar 16/20(80%). In thoracic epidural blocks, tips of epidural catheters were more cephaladly located than with cervical and lumbar epidural blocks. With cervical epidural blocks, the number of tips of epidural catheters located within 2 cm from insertion site were less in group II than group I (20% vs. 70%). But no significant differences were noted between group I and group II with lumbar epidural block(90% vs. 80%). The number of tips of epidural catheters located around a predicted site were: cervical 2/20(10%), thoracic 4/10(40%), lumbar 0/20(0%) in group I, and cervical 2/10(20%), lumbar 1/10(10%) in group II. Conclusion: It was impossible to predict the exact location of tips of epidural catheters by measuring the inserted length without epidurogram. With many cases, tips of epidural catheters were located around the insertion site in lumbar epidural blocks, and in some cases around the predicted site in thoracic epidural blocks. The results suggests that epidural block should be done at a point near the required band of analgesia.