Hospital-acquired infections in elderly patients: results of a West Anatolian University Hospital surveillance

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency and the pattern of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) in elderly (age over 65) patients, using routine surveillance data collected by the infection control committee in Dokuz Eylul University Hospital. In this study, 199 elderly patients diagnosed with HAIs in the years of 1999-2000 were included. During this period, 22.7% of all patients who had HAI were over 65 years old. The incidence rate of HAI in elderly patients was 1.2%, increasing with age. The most common types of HAIs were surgical site infections, septicemia, lower respiratory tract infections and urinary tract infections. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Risk factors for death and injuries in earthquake: Cross-sectional study from Afyon, Turkey

Aim To assess the risk factors for deaths and injuries caused by earthquakes in a high-risk earthquake zone

Prevalence of food insecurity and malnutrition, factors related to malnutrition in the elderly: A community-based, cross-sectional study from Turkey

Background and aim: Malnutrition is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in the elderly. The objectives of this study were to determine the malnutrition and food insecurity prevalence in the elderly in the Balcova District of Izmir and to evaluate the risk factors leading to malnutrition

Factors affecting adult knowledge of diabetes in Narlidere Health District, Turkey

The objective was to determine the level of knowledge on diabetes in an adult population in Turkey. In this cross-sectional study, 524 people aged over 30 were selected from the population of Narlidere Health District, Izmir, Turkey. A questionnaire was performed to determine sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge of diabetes. Each item on the questionnaire was given a score with a possible final total of 100 points. Knowledge level was evaluated in the whole group, DM-positive and -negative groups. "DM-positive" group refers to respondents who either have diabetes themselves or whose relatives have it. "DM-negative" group refers to respondents who do not have diabetes themselves and whose relatives do not. In total, 479 people were included in the study (response rate=87.6%). The mean age of the study group was 50.2 +/- 12.8 and 61% of them were women. Mean diabetes knowledge scores were 62.9 +/- 17.9 for the study group, 68.3 +/- 16.1 for the "DM-positive" group and 60.6 +/- 18.2 for the "DM-negative" group. The "DM-negative" group had a significantly lower mean score than the other two groups. Overall, diabetes knowledge was higher in participants with diabetes or who had a relative with diabetes, who were educated for more than 5 years and who had health insurance. The diabetes knowledge of the study group was not satisfactory. Diabetics and people who have relatives with diabetes had a higher knowledge level than the population without diabetes. Detailed information regarding diabetes should be provided to not only diabetics, but also the population as a whole