Biomedical subjects
Gratiana Steinkamp
Publications and source records attributed to Gratiana Steinkamp.
Different opinions of physicians on the importance of measures to prevent acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from the environment.
BACKGROUND: Since chronic infection with mucoid Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is associated with deteriorating lung function, many parents of young children with cystic fibrosis (CF) fear the first PA positive throat swab as a milestone in the progression of the disease. To reduce the risk of PA acquisition from the environment, they perform preventive measures at home or outdoors. METHODS: In an attempt to evaluate the attitude of CF physicians towards these measures and the respective consulting practice, we mailed a questionnaire to all 65 certified paediatric CF centres in Germany. RESULTS: Physicians from 54 (83%) CF clinics replied. They expressed widely different ideas about the impact of the environment for the acquisition of P. aeruginosa, and recommended a large spectrum of preventive measures. Some physicians proposed only few precautions, which focussed on the prevention of cross-infection between patients, whereas others suggested prevention of any contact with moist or wet places, e.g. use different toothbrushes for mornings and evenings, or do without air-conditioning in the car. CONCLUSIONS: CF physicians have different opinions on the risk of PA acquisition from the environment. Doctors who recommend strict precautions could engender a parental fear of a ubiquous threat from invisible bacteria. The resulting extended safety measures might impair the family's quality of life.
[COPD, the systemic disease: nutrition - an underestimated and unresolved problem].
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Parental fears of Pseudomonas infection and measures to prevent its acquisition.
BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: Chronic infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is associated with accelerated worsening of lung disease in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Fears of PA are widespread among parents of CF children, and many parents take precautions at home to prevent acquisition of the bacterium from the environment. The present study was undertaken to describe the type and intensity of these activities. METHODS: Parents of 21 CF children (7 without prior PA infection, 10 with intermittent and 4 with chronic PA infection) were investigated using semistructured interviews. These were analyzed descriptively and with respect to predominant themes. Additionally, a German personality test was used to evaluate the influence of psychological factors. RESULTS: The clinical impression of widespread parental anxieties of PA infection was confirmed. Misunderstandings concerning PA infections were related to a simplistic concept of the underlying biological mechanisms. Some parents which we classified as 'bacterium-focussed' thought that each contact with PA would lead to bacterial infection. These parents used a large variety of measures, which concerned both domiciliary and outdoor surroundings and activities. At the other end of the spectrum were parents which we classified as 'child-focussed' who mostly supported (and relied on) the child's defense mechanism instead of hygienic measures. CONCLUSIONS: Recommendations by physicians on how to prevent PA acquisition from the environment should take into account possible non-intended side effects, since some parents will exaggerate daily precautions to the detriment of the child's (and the parent's) quality of life.