Biomedical subjects

O Roy

Publications and source records attributed to O Roy.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

[Urinary function integrity in the elderly person].

How can nurses help preserve the integrity of elimination in the elderly? Further, what new perspectives must they bring to practice? First, health professionals must rid themselves of their misconceptions, especially the belief that incontinence is "normal" in the aging process. The authors provide avenues for reflection and action, with a view to arriving at a dynamic clinical practice focusing on quality of life and the well-being of the individual. In terms of new perspectives, nurses are encouraged to stop limiting themselves to assisting with personal hygiene because this deprives the client of possible recourse to a better adaptation. Nurses must no longer dispense comfort by reassuring the incontinent person that "there's no harm done". This message ignores the real-life experience associated with the problem and reinforces the idea of normality. Assessment of the client's condition must go beyond the superficial and instead target interventions that lead to a resolution. Updating the caregiver's and the client's knowledge, enhancing the nurse's role in prevention and treatment, combining various approaches to care and improving communication are good places to start.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Evolution and significance of circulating procalcitonin levels compared with IL-6, TNF alpha and endotoxin levels early after thermal injury.

To determine the evolution and significance of circulating procalcitonin (ProCT), IL-6 TNF alpha and endotoxin levels early after thermal injury, we performed a prospective, single unit, longitudinal study. Forty burn patients with total body surface area (TBSA) > 30 per cent were studied, of whom 33 suffered an inhalation injury. Blood samples were taken on the day of admission, every 4 h during the first day and daily during the first week. All patients had increased ProCT and IL-6 levels without any proven infection. Endotoxin and TNF alpha levels remained very low or undetectable. ProCT and IL-levels correlated well with the severity of skin burn injury (respectively, p < 0.006 and p < 0.028, using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test). ProCT levels are not associated with smoke inhalation. ProCT and IL6 are prognostic factors of mortality at the time of admission but less reliable than the clinical UBS (unit burn standard) score. Endotoxin and TNF alpha were undetectable, suggesting that the problem of the early gut bacterial translocation remains to be proven.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Aging: better understanding, better care].

Although aging is a developmental stage, bias against seniors is still pervasive. This phenomenon is not new; history has recorded a devaluing of the elderly. Perceptions of old age and aging also affect the delivery of health care and nursing services. A nurse's pessimistic viewpoint can translate into a loss of dignity, identity and decision-making power for seniors. It is essential that nurses use experiential and scientific knowledge to promote a better understanding of the aging process as part of normal development. These two types of knowledge will enable them to understand the process in its entirety and to grasp the true meaning of being old. Chronological age is not the only clue to biological aging. There is no unique model. Aging is a combination of various profiles of complex relationships between biological, psychological and social variables. A better knowledge of the normal aging process will encourage nurses to have a realistic and positive view, to facilitate elders' adjustment, and help them to maintain a better quality of life.

Aged↗

PubMed1994

[The aged patient with dementia].

This article focuses on the behavioral problems and care needs of elders with dementia and on the associated burden and suffering that can occur within the family unit. The authors explore these complex issues and suggest take-charge strategies to assist the nurse. Adopting Orem's self-care theory as the frame of reference, they describe the clinical manifestations of dementia and outline environmental, behavioral and medication options. By way of example, a case study presents the story of Mr. Tremblay, an elderly client with Alzheimer's disease. His care, provided by the nurse in collaboration with family and significant others, is also described. The authors suggest that appropriate care of clients like Mr. Tremblay cannot be accomplished in isolation and that a collaborative approach among health care professionals is required.

Aged↗

PubMed1988

Neonatal meningitis due to Gardnerella vaginalis.

A case of meningitis due to Gardnerella vaginalis occurred in a five-day-old newborn who had clinical signs of fever, polypnea and a grey complexion. After treatment with ampicillin, cefotaxime and netilmicin, the patient's condition improved, and no sequelae were observed. The bacterium isolated from a pure culture of the cerebrospinal fluid was identified by biochemical characteristics to be Gardnerella vaginalis, but it was not possible to define the source and mode of contamination.

Ampicillin↗

PubMed1987

[Study of the sensitivity to pipemidic acid, pefloxacin and norfloxacin of 444 bacterial strains isolated at a general hospital].

After one year of use of pefloxacin in the intensive care unit, medicine unit and surgery unit and the following recent commercialization without prescription of norfloxacin, we studied for a period of two months (april and may 1986) the susceptibility to pipemidic acid, to pefloxacin and norfloxacin of 444 bacteria strains isolated obtained from clinical specimens. The antibiotic susceptibility is determined by disk diffusion test. We obtained the following results: susceptible methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (SMSA 63 strains): 85.7% PEFS, 11.1% PEFI, 79.4% NORS, 15.9% NORI, resistant methicillin Staphylococcus aureus (RMSA 36 strains): 33.3% PEFS, 2.9% PEFI, 41.6% NORS, 0% NORI; Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae (252 strains): 94% PIPS, 94.8% PEFS, 97.2% NORS; Enterobacter, Proteus indol (+), Providencia and Citrobacter (33 strains): 72.7% PIPS, 72.7% PEFS, 84.8% NORS; Pseudomonas aeruginosa (53 strains): 32% PEFS, 47.2% PEFI, 90.6% NORS, 5.6% NORI; Acinetobacter (7 strains): 57.2% PEFS, 42.8% PEFI, 42.8% NORS, 28.6% NORI. Norfloxacin in active in vitro against the majority of the P. aeruginosa isolated. We found an important methicillin and pefloxacin resistance among the Staphylococcus aureus isolated: 36 strains RMSA (36.4% out of Staphylococcus aureus) and 23 strains RMSA PEFR (63.8% out of RMSA). These later strains were isolated in eight different units mainly in visceral surgery unit and geriatric units but not in intensive care unit. After an epidemiologic study and the following recommendations to physicians and nurses: treatment by pefloxacin should be used only after bacteriological results and associated with an other antibiotic, the handwashing should be frequent and regular to prevent the spread of infection, four months later we isolated 26 strains of RMSA with 7 RMSA PEF (26.9%).2$

Acinetobacter↗