Article Analysis
The purpose of the study conducted by Obasanjo, Wu, Conlon, Karanfil, Pryor, Moler, Anhalt, Chaisson, and Perl (2001) was to investigate an outbreak of scabies in an inner city teaching hospital, identify pathways of transmission, institute effective control measures to end the outbreak, and ultimately to prevent future occurrences. The issue is of clinical relevance because Norwegian scabies, the variety studied by the authors, can result in life-threatening secondary bacterial or fungal infections while simultaneously further damaging the health and well-being of hospital patients. Infection control is a critical responsibility of health care institutions and strategies to prevent infection transmission are vital.
The relationship of the problem was linked to the literature primarily in the untitled introductory section and again in the discussion section of the study. A total of 27 references were appended to the analysis.
The study was an epidemiological investigation calling for case definitions and identification in a case control study. The study is related to a nosocomial infection known as Norwegian scabies. Exposure was measured via questionnaire administered to health control workers, skin scrapings, and the taking of medical histories.
The outcome or health problem in the study was Norwegian scabies and the measurement of data was analyzed via EPI INFO, focusing on whether occupation or site of employment affected attack rates and odds of developing or having a recurrence of scabies. The target population consisted of health care workers (HCW) รป a total of 160 HCWs in the AIDS clinic of Johns Hopkins Hospital. The sample consisted of a comprehensive analysis of all employees of the institution who worked in the affected units. The sample size was specific to the institution and was adequate to answer the research question.
The results of the study wer...