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Biomedical subjects

J K Miller

Publications and source records attributed to J K Miller.

168 records · Page 10Linked to original sources

National surveillance of dialysis-associated diseases in the United States, 1988.

To determine trends in a variety of dialysis-associated diseases and practices, the Centers for Disease Control surveyed 1,734 chronic hemodialysis centers in the United States in 1988 in conjunction with the annual facility survey performed by the Health Care Financing Administration. The response rate to a mailed questionnaire was 91%. These 1,586 centers represented 107,804 patients and 28,501 staff members. Over the last 13 years, the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection decreased from 3.0 to 0.2% among patients and from 2.6 to 0.1% among staff members. Over the same time, the prevalence of HBsAg-positivity declined from 7.8 to 1.5% among patients and from 0.9 to 0.3% among staff members. Hepatitis B vaccine was given by 90% of the centers. By the end of 1988, 17% of susceptible patients and 53% of susceptible staff members had received all three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. From 1982 to 1988, as a result of receiving vaccine, the prevalence of antibody to HBsAg increased from 12 to 20% among patients and from 18 to 54% among staff. The incidence of non-A, non-B hepatitis in 1988 was reported to be 1.0% among patients and 0.1% among staff members. Fifteen percent of the centers reported pyrogenic reactions in the absence of septicemia among their patients and 45% reported septicemia. The reported incidence of dialysis dementia among hemodialysis patients was 0.2%, with a case fatality rate of 25%. In 1988, 67% of centers reported that they reused disposable dialyzers; these centers treated 72% of the dialysis patient population. Among centers that reused disposable dialyzers, the average number of reuses ranged from 2 to 50 (mean, 11) and the maximum number of times a disposable dialyzer was reused ranged from 3 to 131 (mean, 28). Chemical germicides used for reprocessing dialyzers included formaldehyde; Renalin, a peracetic acid-hydrogen peroxide-based germicide; and glutaraldehyde-based germicides. Reuse of disposable dialyzers was not associated with any increased risk of acquiring HBV infection among either patients or staff. However, pyrogenic reactions occurring in clusters were more frequently reported in centers that reused conventional dialyzer membranes compared with centers that did not. This increased risk was only associated with centers that reused these dialyzers in a manual reprocessing system, a result consistent with those obtained in 1986 and 1987. Eighteen percent of centers reported treating at least some of their patients by high flux dialysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Communicable Diseases↗

Four copyright infringement court cases involving educators.

The Anglo-American legal system is based on the law, and the interpretation of the law through judicial decisions. The four copyright infringement cases described here have significantly influenced our understanding of "fair use" copying, as it applies to educators and educational institutions.

Copyright↗

National surveillance of dialysis-associated diseases in the United States, 1987.

The Centers for Disease Control surveyed 1,630 chronic hemodialysis centers in the United States in 1987 in conjunction with the annual facility survey done by the Health Care Financing Administration. Information was obtained on the following diseases and practices: 1) hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in patients and staff members; 2) infection control procedures for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive patients; 3) frequency of HBsAg serologic screening; 4) use of hepatitis B vaccine; 5) non-A, non-B hepatitis in patients and staff members; 6) pyrogenic reactions and septicemia; 7) dialysis dementia; 8) new dialyzer syndrome; 9) high flux dialysis; 10) reuse of dialyzers, dialyzer caps, bloodlines, transducer filters; 11) cleaning and disinfection procedures; and 12) human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The response rate to a mailed questionnaire was 91%. These 1,486 centers represented 97,225 patients and 27,123 staff members. During the last 12 years, the incidence of HBV infection decreased from 3.0% to 0.2% among patients and from 2.6% to 0.1% among staff members. Over the same time, the prevalence of HBsAg-positivity declined from 7.8% to 1.7% among patients and from 0.9% to 0.4% among staff members. Hepatitis B vaccine was given by 88% of the centers. By the end of 1987, 14% of susceptible patients and 49% of susceptible staff members had received all three doses of hepatitis B vaccine. From 1982 to 1987, as a result of receiving vaccine, the prevalence of antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) increased from 12% to 18% among patients and from 18% to 50% among staff. The incidence of non-A, non-B hepatitis in 1987 was reported to be 1.2% among patients and 0.2% among staff members. Fourteen percent of the centers reported pyrogenic reactions among their patients, and 46% reported septicemia in the absence of pyrogenic reactions. Pyrogenic reactions were significantly more likely to be reported by centers that practiced high flux dialysis. The reported incidence of dialysis dementia among hemodialysis patients was 0.2%, with a case fatality rate of 29%. Among patients developing dialysis dementia, the case fatality rate was higher in those centers that used deionization (DI) without reverse osmosis (RO) (47%) compared with centers that used RO (28%) (not significant, p greater than 0.05). In 1987, 64% of centers reported that they reused disposable dialyzers. These centers treated 70% of the dialysis patient population.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Microsurgical instrument handling systems. A new approach to instrument budget control.

1. Large portion of a hospital's supply budget is allocated for repair and replacement of surgical instruments. Microsurgical instrumentation can account for 18% or more of a total OR budget. 2. Managing the surgical instrument repair and replacement budgets with greater emphasis on accountability can help demonstrate effective cost containment. Cost savings may be experienced through appropriate use of surgical instrument management systems for handling, sterilization, and storage of microsurgical instruments. 3. Many facilities are implementing quality control programs to minimize replacement and repair costs, to ensure surgical instrument integrity, and to extend the life of their investment. Education, management information systems, improved communication, and appropriate use of instrument handling systems are some components of budget accountability in the operating room.

Budgets↗