The efficacy of teicoplanin, a glycopeptide antibiotic, in endocarditis is controversial, with differences observed in the efficacies of the regimens used in clinical trials in the USA and Europe. This retrospective study examined the outcomes, efficacy and safety of mono- and combination antibiotic therapy using teicoplanin, particularly in cases of Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis. A total of 115 patients, typically mixed endocarditis patients intolerant of previous antibiotic treatment, was enrolled at 29 centres throughout Europe. Combination therapy was more successful than monotherapy for treating native valve endocarditis (NVE) (93 vs. 85%, p > 0.05, NS) and for treating S. aureus NVE (84 vs. 50%, p > 0.05). Efficacies for prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) were similar (75 vs. 79%), while combination therapy was more successful in S. aureus PVE (100 vs. 67%) though the number of such patients was small (NS). Adverse events were reported by 24% of patients, with 19% probably or possibly related to teicoplanin. In 9% of cases the adverse event led to the termination of therapy. Teicoplanin was judged to be efficacious in mono- or combination therapy in streptococcal endocarditis, though augmentation with an aminoglycoside is recommended. The efficacy of teicoplanin demonstrated in enterococcal endocarditis represents a major therapeutic advance.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Health surveillance: from risk presumption to risk assessment].

A working group of the Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene Association of Lombardy, the National Association of Occupational Health Physicians the National Society of Prevention Operators made a paper in order to rationalize the sanitary surveillance, observing the laws in force and following the European Directives. The authors, thinking that everyday experience not very useful health examinations are carried out and that the sanitary surveillance should be planned according to the real working risks, give methodological directives about the way to make the mandatory clinical examinations less frequent, to the firms, to the occupational health physician and to the public occupational health operators of the local health units that must supervise the sanitary surveillance.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Application of article 35 of the DPR 303/56: experience of the operators of the Public Occupational Services and competent physicians. Sample survey].

In the last three years 450 requests of derogation to the article 35 of legislative decree 303/56 reached one third of the Public Occupational Services, with a clear progressive increase of their number. The working risks derogation is most frequently requested for are: solvents, welding fumes and metallic dusts. The operators of the Public occupational Services employed these criteria to grant the derogation: the effectiveness of the prevention, the low concentrations of the harmful agents, the occasionality of the unhealthy working, the risk lack or scarcity. In the 80% of the cases the operators of the Public Occupational Services made an inspection in only two cases they notified breaches of the law. 350 (70%) of the requested derogation were granted, 10 (20%) are now under evaluation, 90% (20%) were not allowed. In conclusion we point out that the use of the article 35 in industries with an adequate safety organization, by means of the dilution of the periodical clinical examinations, allows to better fit the health surveillance programs to the real working risks.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Risk of repetitive strain associated with occupational activities at building sites].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A low molecular weight calf pineal peptide with inhibiting effect on vitellogenin synthesis in Rana esculenta, in vitro.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Risk assessment as a tool for planning reconstruction or construction of hospitals].

The risk assessment procedure enables the Hospital General Manager to set up and plan the measures and programs for the health protection of workers, patients and visitors. This crucial procedure on the preventive scenario could also provide useful informations about strategic choices to which the general manager is often recalled such those about old building restructuration or a new building construction. Specific models for transferring and elaborating data to this new field for applicating the results of risk assessment appear therefore to be necessary and the authors suggest a discussion about these theoretical models.

Hospital Design and Construction↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Manual lifting of patients: experience at the Riuniti di Bergamo Hospital].

The manual lifting of patients is a risk factor in the working activity of hospital nurses and it causes a high prevalence of low-back pain in these workers. The evaluation of risk has been performed in various Occupational Units of our hospital in accordance with art. 4 of Legislative Decree 626/94. The results of this evaluation, have led to implement the following preventive measures: health surveillance, professional training, purchase of special furniture and ergonomic supports.

Ergonomics↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Health surveillance in construction].

In the Italian and international literature there are very few studies about work diseases and their prevention in the construction's compartment. The analysis of the most recent articles about this theme, however, suggests the presence of an high professional risk in the compartment and indicates as the most relevant risk factors noise, dusts, fibres, manual lifting, prolonged fixed postures, cumulative trauma disorders, vibrations, chemical substances and climatic conditions. The role that extra-lavorative risk factors can play on health is also relevant; those risks are due to the workers' peculiar life-style: hyper caloric diet, smoke and use of alcohol. Interventions of medical hygienic prevention, formation and information are therefore necessary. Lombardy Region, which from many years is careful to the problems about the prevention in building yards, has created a Working party who has elaborated the "Guide Lines for the sanitary surveillance in the building industry". The indications reported in the Guide Lines could represent, even for the occupational-doctors of the building contractors of the New Hospital, a good base for the working out of the workers' health care activity, in the respect of the dues of the law in force.

Facility Design and Construction↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Occupational disease in construction work].

BACKGROUND: There are very few studies in the Italian and international literature concerning occupational diseases and their prevention in the building industry. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was risk assessment in the building industry. METHODS: We analyzed the international literature and the results of our cross-sectional study, which involved more than 1000 workers. RESULTS: The analysis of several studies and of our experience suggests a high occupational risk in this field and shows as main risk factors: noise, dusts, fibers, manual lifting, prolonged static positions, repetitive motions, hand-shoulder and whole-body vibrations, chemicals and weather conditions. In addition, non-occupational risk factors can influence health: e.g., habits and lifestyle, like hypercaloric diet, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Preventive measures and training initiatives are urgently needed to improve the safety and the health among building workers.

Adult↗