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Biomedical subjects

K Crossley

Publications and source records attributed to K Crossley.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1989

Needlestick injuries and needle disposal in Minnesota physicians' offices.

Because little is known about needlestick injury and needle disposal in non-hospital settings, we surveyed physicians' offices in Minnesota. Recapping of needles was frequent (51.1%, 72 of 141) and injuries had occurred during the past year in 44.0% of offices. When of known cause, needlesticks were most common during blood drawing and recapping (52.0%, 13 of 25). Small offices more often recapped needles, but only metropolitan small offices reported more frequent injuries. Only 37.6% of offices used a protocol for management of injuries, and in less than half (45.4%) was physician evaluation routine. Although most offices used plastic containers and a majority (73.0%) incinerated or autoclaved needles prior to disposal, small offices more often disposed of sharps in their routine solid waste. Larger metropolitan offices more consistently followed current recommendations for handling and disposing of needles. There is a need for education efforts to address these issues for physicians and their office staff.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Human immunodeficiency virus antibody testing. A description of practices and policies at US infectious disease-teaching hospitals and Minnesota hospitals.

A questionnaire that asked about policies concerning the use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody tests was sent in January 1987 to the 200 hospitals in the United States that conduct infectious disease (ID) fellowship training (US ID hospitals) and to all 171 short-term-care Minnesota hospitals. Information was received from 189 of the US ID hospitals (94.5%) and from 160 (94%) of the Minnesota hospitals. Only 49% of the US ID hospitals and 37% of the Minnesota hospitals had an HIV antibody test-ordering policy; 47% of the US ID hospitals and 39% of the Minnesota hospitals had a specific educational program for physicians about the HIV antibody test; and 62% of the US ID hospitals and 41% of the Minnesota hospitals had an HIV autopsy policy. Marked variety existed in approaches to handling test results, obtaining patient consent, and providing risk-reduction information among the hospitals surveyed. These data suggest the need for a consensus on optimal use of HIV antibody testing at hospitals.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1988

Analysis of the use of HIV antibody testing in a Minnesota hospital.

We retrospectively studied the clinical use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) antibody serology at one 450-bed medical center and affiliated clinics from April 1985 through August 1986. No restrictions were placed on the use of HIV antibody serology during that time, although it was recommended that consent be obtained and risk-reduction information be provided. Testing was performed for 275 patients; results for 25 (9%) of these were positive. Nearly half (44%) of the patients had no recognized risk factor for HIV infection recorded in their charts. For an additional 44% of the patients, the test was medically indicated but consent and counseling were not documented. For only 10% of HIV antibody tests was there notation that consent was obtained and that risk-reduction information was provided. These results indicate that HIV antibody testing is often done without consent and that opportunities to provide risk-reduction counseling are being missed.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗
PubMed1986

Wild-pigeon-related psittacosis in a family.

Three members of a family acquired psittacosis after exposure to a wild pigeon. Each of the patients had pulmonary infiltrates, prominent headache, abdominal complaints, and serologic evidence for infection with Chlamydia psittaci. Of 759 cases of psittacosis reported to the Centers for Disease Control for the period of 1974 to 1981, some 75 (10 percent) were associated with pigeons. Fifty-two of the cases were associated with domestic pigeons and 23 with wild pigeons. Pigeons represent a largely unrecognized reservoir of psittacosis in the United States.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Causes for hospitalization of nursing home residents: the role of infection.

Little is known about specific clinical conditions that lead to hospitalization of nursing home patients. To explore this, the authors examined the hospitalizations of 128 nursing home residents and compared them with hospitalizations of 320 patients from the outpatient clinic. Hospitalized nursing home patients were older, were admitted to medical services more frequently, and had more nonspecific complaints on admission. Nursing home patients were hospitalized most frequently for diseases of the circulatory system (16 per cent), respiratory system (14 per cent), and genitourinary system (12 per cent); clinic patients, for diseases of the circulatory system (25 per cent) and nervous system (10 per cent), neoplasms (10 per cent), and signs and symptoms of ill-defined conditions (10 per cent). The most frequent causes of hospitalization for all patients were diseases of the circulatory system (23 per cent), nervous system (10 per cent), and neoplasms (10 per cent). Among patients from the nursing home, infections caused substantially more admissions (27 per cent) than among patients originating from clinic (12 per cent; P less than 0.001). These findings disclose an important opportunity to reduce health care costs and enhance quality of life in the nursing home, particularly through the treatment and control of infections.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Pharmacokinetics of vancomycin: observations in 28 patients and dosage recommendations.

Studies of the pharmacokinetics of vancomycin were conducted in a group of 28 patients with serious staphylococcal infection. Serum specimens were collected before and on 11 occasions after vancomycin administration. Serum concentration time data were fitted to a biexponential equation, using nonlinear regression analysis. A prolonged distribution phase with a half-life of 0.5 +/- 0.3 h (standard deviation) and a central component volume of 9.0 +/- 4.0 liters were demonstrated. Wide interpatient variation was observed in the terminal half-life which ranged from 3 to 13 h (mean, 6 h) and in the distribution volume which ranged from 14 to 111 liters (mean, 39 liters). A correlation of 0.45 (Pearson product moment correlation coefficient) was found between vancomycin clearance and creatinine clearance. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that 50% of the variance (R2) in the terminal half-life and vancomycin clearance could be explained on the basis of renal function, volume of distribution, age, weight, and sex. These observations suggest that adults with normal renal function should receive an initial dosage of 6.5 to 8 mg of vancomycin per kg intravenously over 1 h every 6 to 12 h. After 24 h, and through the period of therapy, trough and peak serum vancomycin concentrations should be monitored, and the dose and dosage interval should be changed to produce the desired peak (30 to 40 micrograms/ml) and trough (5 to 10 micrograms/ml) levels.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Comparison of radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay methods in determining gentamicin pharmacokinetic parameters and dosages.

Radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay methods for analysis of serum gentamicin levels have been shown to be comparable. The purpose of this study was to determine if serum concentration-time data from the same patient assayed by radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay would provide the same estimates for half-life, elimination rate constant, distribution volume, drug clearance, and gentamicin dose. A total of 103 pre- and postinfusion serum samples were obtained from 32 patients. The samples were divided and assayed by radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay. Serum concentration-time data were fitted to a one-compartment model, and kinetic calculations were performed using the method of Sawchuk et al. (Clin. Pharmacol. Ther. 21:362-369, 1977). While good correlation was established between the two assay methods, significant (P less than 0.05) mean differences were seen in distribution volume (25%), gentamicin clearance (15%), and half-life (11%), using the quantitative data from both methods. Because of differences noted in these pharmacokinetic parameters, significant differences were also noted in dosage calculations. We conclude that there are differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters obtained using results from the radioimmunoassay and enzyme immunoassay. These differences also translate into significant differences between dosage recommendations when individualization of the gentamicin regimen is attempted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1982

Acute and chronic hepatic involvement of brucellosis.

Two patients with brucellosis are presented; one with acute hepatitis and the other with a chronic draining sinus at the right costal margin which originated from an abscess of the liver. Brucella abortus infection may be manifest by nonspecific hepatic inflammation or, occasionally, by granulomatous hepatitis. Rarely, cirrhosis may result if untreated. Chronic hepatic and splenic involvement, which is characterized by tissue calcification, can be seen in Brucella suis infection. Suppurative complications may develop after many years of dormancy. This variable response to Brucella infection seems related to species differences and perhaps differing immune response in the host. Because Brucella suis has been more commonly recovered in recent years, more patients with chronic hepatic and splenic involvement may be seen in the future.

Adult↗