A pigment-producing strain of Serratia rubidaea was isolated from two consecutive cultures from a sponge of silastic foam used as a dressing for chronic crural ulcers. The bacterium caused a red discolouration of the sponge and the surrounding part of the leg. The silastic sponge creates a new type of environment for microorganisms. The growth of previously rare bacteria such as S. rubidaea may be favoured by conditions within the sponge.

Female↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The use of amphotericin B in nosocomial fungal infection.

The use of potent broad-spectrum antibacterial agents, the increasing number of immunocompromised hosts, and the use of invasive treatment modalities have exacerbated the problems involved in the management of nosocomial fungal infection. The hospital records at a tertiary-care medical center were retrospectively reviewed in an effort to determine the magnitude of these problems. A plethora of fungal species were isolated from patients. Hospital infection surveillance revealed between 30 and 40 nosocomial yeast infections per month, with 20% of nosocomial urinary tract infections caused by yeasts rather than by bacterial pathogens and one or two cases of fungemia per week. Although these figures represent a large number of nosocomial fungal infections, a significant increase in the number of such infections over the last several years could not be documented. The use of amphotericin B was found to have increased each year. The patterns of use of amphotericin B changed little between 1983 and 1987, but the number of patients treated with this agent increased dramatically.

Administration, Intravesical↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Disposition of a mixed meal by conscious dogs after seven days of treatment with cyclosporine A and prednisone.

BACKGROUND: Combination immunosuppressive therapy, that often includes prednisone and cyclosporine A (CyA), is commonly used in the treatment of organ transplant patients. We hypothesized that CyA and prednisone treatment would alter the roles of the liver and peripheral tissues in the disposal of carbohydrates from a meal. METHODS: Using the arteriovenous difference technique, we examined the disposition of an intragastrically delivered mixed meal in eight 24-hour fasted conscious dogs that had received CyA 15 mg x kg(-1) daily and prednisone 5 mg twice daily for 7 consecutive days before study (CyA-prednisone group). The results were compared with those from a group of 13 dogs (control group) receiving the same meal but no drugs. RESULTS: Neither arterial blood glucose concentrations nor arterial plasma insulin or glucagon concentrations differed significantly between the groups at any time. Cumulative net gut glucose output was equivalent to 43 +/- 9 vs 57% +/- 7% of the glucose in the meal in CyA-prednisone vs control (p = .12). The CyA-prednisone group exhibited greater (p < .05) mean net hepatic glucose uptakes (15.4 +/- 4.6 vs 4.3 +/- 2.2 micromol x kg(-1) x min(-1) and net hepatic fractional extractions of glucose (7.8 +/- 1.6 and 1.5% +/- 1.0%) than the control group. Arterial blood lactate concentrations and net hepatic lactate output were greater in the CyA-prednisone group than the control group (p < .05). Hepatic glycogen content at the end of the study was 2.5-fold greater in the CyA-prednisone group than in the control group (p < .05). The nonhepatic tissues disposed of approximately 91% of the absorbed glucose in the control group but only approximately 26% in the CyA-prednisone group (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS: CyA-prednisone treatment caused a marked shift in the carbohydrate disposal from a meal, enhancing the hepatic glucose uptake and decreasing peripheral glucose disposal.

Alanine↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Primary healthcare workers: training needs in mental health.

Particular attention is currently being given to the role of primary healthcare workers in supporting people with mental health problems in primary care (McFadyen et al, 1996). The aim of this study was to survey the views of primary healthcare workers regarding their previous mental health training and to identify their current perceived mental health training needs. A sample of 200 primary healthcare workers within Trent Health Region were interviewed using a short semi-structured interview schedule. Forty-six completed questionnaires were also received. An additional 22 respondents participated in exploratory in-depth interviews. Respondents included GPs, health visitors, practice nurses, district nurses, midwives and community psychiatric nurses. The need for further training in communication skills, particularly basic counselling skills, was highlighted. Respondents also perceived a need for additional training in coping with their own personal stress, the assessment and treatment of depression and stress/anxiety management in clients. Several themes which developed from the research were explored, including communication skills training, problems with collaborative working, coping with personal stress, the prevention of burnout and depression training. The reason why some respondents had no mental health training needs whatsoever was also addressed.

Communication↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Choosing competence.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Clinical Competence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A smarter way of nursing?

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Attitude to Computers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Cinnews: nursing computers back to health.

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Hospital Information Systems↗