Background/Aims: We evaluated the status of antibiotic stewardship programs (ASPs) for physicians. This survey was a follow-up study of data from 2006 and was performed with some new questions about ASPs. Methods: The online survey collected information on infectious diseases from doctors in 84 hospitals. The questions included some about ASPs. The data were analyzed and compared with a previous report. Results: Responses came from 40 hospitals. ASPs existed in 87.5% of these (95.5% in 2006), and a computerized preauthorization system was the most common method (85.0%, 59.1% in 2006). An antimicrobial management team existed in 33 hospitals (82.5%), and the preauthorization systems were mainly implemented by infectious disease doctors (72.5%). Incentives to set up ASPs existed in only 12.5% of hospitals (2.3% in 2006). Conclusions: Computerized preauthorization ASP systems are relatively more common. To improve the uptake of ASPs in each hospital a team approach from the medical institutions is required, along with the cooperation and willingness of those involved.

Graphene-coated polymer particles have attracted research interests due to their emerging applications derived from their controlled structure and morphology. To control the properties of graphene oxide (GO)-polystyrene (PS) composite particles, the adsorption time and instantaneous adsorption conditions were investigated by varying their mixing method. Polystyrene particles prepared by emulsion polymerization were modified to have positive surface charge by adsorption of polyethylene imine (PEI) on the surface of PS particles. GO prepared by the chemical exfoliation method had negative surface charge from the oxygenated groups. The adsorption of the negatively charged GOs onto the positively charged PS particles was successfully completed, and it was found that a longer adsorption time and a greater difference in the instantaneous relative concentration led PS-GO particles to have more homogeneously coated surfaces without aggregation.

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