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Biomedical subjects

M McGuckin

Publications and source records attributed to M McGuckin.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1977

Airborne contamination of fine-particle nebulizers.

To determine whether bacteria present in ambient air play a role in the contamination of fine-particle reservoir nebulizers, nebulizers were placed in operation in separate hospital locations having qualitatively and quantitatively different bacterial flora in background air. Nebulizers placed in a surgical intensive care unit that had higher numbers of bacteria and a predominance of Gram-negative organisms in background air had a significantly higher incidence of nebulizer contamination (33.0%) than did nebulizers placed in a non-patient-care area that had lower bacterial counts and a predominance of Gram-positive organisms (0%) (P less than .05). The present study indicates that airborne contamination of fine-particle reservoir nebulizers occurs when bacteria present in ambient air enter the nebulizer during its operation.

Aerosols↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Elements of an effective infection control program.

In summary, the future direction of infection control in nursing homes was best stated by Eickhoff in 1978 when he said that failure to accept responsibility in hospital epidemiology will result in the loss of the opportunity to make the discipline "more scientific and to differentiate more clearly between sense and nonsense in hospital infection control." Today, ten years later, the various members of the health care team need to assume the same responsibilities in the nursing home setting, working together to advance the scientific basis of infection control and, in turn, to safeguard and improve the health of residents in long-term care institutions.

Cross Infection↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Guidelines in practice: the effect on healing of venous ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of guidelines on vascular assessment, compression usage, dressing selection, and healing rates of patients with a venous ulcer. DESIGN: Prospective descriptive intervention evaluation. SETTING: Oxfordshire Community National Health Service (NHS) Trust, United Kingdom. PATIENTS: 40 consecutive prospective patients seen by Oxfordshire district nurses, either at home or at a wound clinic coordinated by district nurses located in a surgery office. INTERVENTION: The Guideline for Diagnosis and Treatment of Venous Leg Ulcers (University of Pennsylvania) and the Oxfordshire Leg Ulcer Guideline. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Time to healing, compliance with vascular assessment, compression usage, and nursing costs. MAIN RESULTS: 91% of patients had a vascular assessment; all patients were treated with compression. Mean time to healing was 8 weeks and was not related to dressing selection or type of compression (short- versus long-stretch bandage). Nursing costs were slightly higher for wounds that healed after 12 weeks and were treated with a long-stretch bandage (Pound Sterling 170.00 [$250.00] vs Pound Sterling 272.00 [$395.00]). CONCLUSION: Use of compression was influenced by guidelines that emphasize a vascular assessment. Choice of dressing or type of compression was not a significant factor in healing rates.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Venous leg ulcers: the role of the GP and district nurse.

AIM: To identify the healing rates for patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs) who are nursed by district nurses. METHOD: The researchers performed a retrospective chart review of patients treated for VLU disease by district nurses to determine the healing rate, time to heal and variables associated with diagnosis. Forty random charts were abstracted from seven surgeries in Oxfordshire. RESULTS: Forty per cent of patients healed in less than 12 weeks and a further 42.5 per cent healed in 6.5 months. Some trusts and GPs lack understanding of what the district nursing service can offer patients with VLUs. CONCLUSION: If district nurses work collaboratively with GPs, either in the home or in a weekly clinic, they can provide good care to patients with VLUs.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Venous leg ulcers and the family physician.

Family physicians often are the first contact for patients with venous leg ulcerations (VLUs). A random survey of 2,000 family physicians was conducted to determine patterns for diagnosis and treatment of VLUs, including type of leg ulcer (arterial, venous, diabetic), whether compression therapy was ordered, whether a Doppler system was available to aide in diagnosis, and which health care professional ultimately cared for the patient. Of the 325 family physicians who participated, 96% (311/325) see patients with VLUs, averaging 1.5 VLUs per week. Compression therapy is prescribed by 96% of family physicians, and 83% (259/325) refer these patients to other health care professionals. Only 27% (89/325) have a Doppler system in the office to measure the ankle-brachial index (ABI). These findings document for the first time in the United States the large number of patients with VLUs seen by family physicians.

Bandages↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Handwashing education practices: a descriptive survey.

Hand washing is the single most important function in preventing the spread of infection. However, compliance by healthcare workers still remains under 50%. Intensive observational and interventional programs have been shown to increase compliance, but the increase in compliance is short-term. Therefore, in April 1998, we conducted a random survey of 500 members of the Association for Practitioners in Infection Control and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America to determine the didactic educational practices (in-service lectures) of practitioners with regard to hand washing. Response rate was 18% (n = 90). Eighty-eight percent (73) conducted new employee orientation, 64% (73) conducted yearly in-service, whereas monthly, quarterly, and semiannual in-service were 11% (9), 11% (9), and 14% (12), respectively. Thirty-nine percent (35) of our respondents rated their compliance to hand washing as > 50%; 31% (19), < 50%; and, 39% (33) did not know. Only 5% (4) of our respondents determined the outcome measures and cost-effectiveness of their present handwashing program. Our survey had identified the lack of ongoing education for the healthcare worker about handwashing compliance. Continuous reinforcement through monthly in-service is labor-intensive and costly. An alternative model using the patient as ongoing reinforcement may be a solution for increasing compliance.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The road to developing standards for the diagnosis and treatment of venous leg ulcers.

In early 1996 the Venous Leg Ulcer Guideline was developed for the diagnosis and treatment of venous leg ulcers. In order to discuss the development of standards in general, and the Venous Leg Ulcer Guideline in particular, we first need to understand the difference between the following terms: Critical pathway, consensus statement, guideline, and standard. There are advantages and disadvantages to the use of guidelines. In the development of a guideline, endorsement by a respected colleague is important. Development of the Venous Leg Ulcer Guideline began with a consensus statement and then underwent review by a national advisory panel and national peer review through publication. A revised guideline has now been developed which will be tested in a pilot study for clinical efficacy, effect on cost, and impact on quality of life. Validation will require implementation in a prospective clinical trial. Diagnostic and Treatment Algorithm forms for the diagnosis and treatment of venous leg ulcers were developed as part of the preliminary testing of the guideline. Although guidelines do not substitute for good clinical judgement, they can encourage clinical judgement and help reduce fragmented care and the costs associated with inappropriate treatments.

Critical Pathways↗