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S Saint

Publications and source records attributed to S Saint.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

Do physicians judge a study by its cover? An investigation of journal attribution bias.

The effect of a journal's prestige on readers' impressions of an article is unknown. Two hypotheses were tested: first, that attribution of a study to a "high" prestige journal would be associated with improved impressions and attribution to a "low" prestige journal would be associated with diminished impressions; and second, that formal training in epidemiology and biostatistics would mitigate the effects of this journal attribution bias. The study was designed as a trial among a random sample of 264 internists. Participants were asked to read an article and an abstract from either the Southern Medical Journal (SMJ) or the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM). Questionnaires were constructed that either attributed the article or abstract to its source or presented it as unattributed. After each article or abstract, respondents were asked to rate the quality of the study, the appropriateness of the methodology employed, the significance of the findings, and its likely effects on their practice. A 20-point impression score was created based on responses to these statements. The effect of attribution to a specific journal and formal epidemiology training on impression scores were assessed using linear regression. Of the 399 eligible participants, 264 questionnaires were returned (response rate 66%). Differences in impression scores associated with attribution of an article or abstract to the NEJM were.71 [95% C.I. (-.44-1.87)] and.50 [95% C.I. (-.87-1.87)] respectively; differences in impression scores associated with attribution of an article or abstract to the SMJ were -.12 [95% C.I. (-1.53-1.30)] and -.95 [95% C.I. (-2.41-.52)]. A stratified analysis demonstrated that epidemiology training did not meaningfully alter the effect of journal attribution on participants' impression scores. If journal attribution bias exists, it is likely to exert small and clinically insignificant effects when physicians read articles carefully. Formal training in epidemiology and biostatistics does not appear to alter these results.

Bias↗
PubMed2000

Clinical and economic effects of pulmonary artery catheterization in nonemergent coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between use of pulmonary artery catheterization with hospital outcomes and costs in nonemergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Fifty-six community-based hospitals in 26 states. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 13,907 patients undergoing nonemergent CABG surgery between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 1997. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Discharge abstracts for each patient were examined. Stratified and multivariate analyses were used to assess the impact of pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) on in-hospital mortality, length of stay in the intensive care unit, total length of stay, and hospital costs. Outcomes were adjusted for patient demographic factors, hospital characteristics, and hospital volume of PAC use in the year of analysis. Fifty-eight percent of the patients received a PAC. After adjustment, the relative risk of in-hospital mortality was 2.10 for the PAC group compared with the patients who did not receive a PAC (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.40 to 3.14; p < 0.001). The mortality risk was significantly higher in hospitals with the lowest third of PAC use (odds ratio, 3.35; 95% CI, 1.74 to 6.47; p < 0.001) and not significantly increased in the highest two thirds of users (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% CI, 0.99 to 2.66; p = 0.09). Days spent in critical care were similar; however, total length of hospital stay was 0.26 days longer in the PAC group (p < 0.001). Hospital costs were $1,402 higher in the PAC group. CONCLUSION: In the setting of nonemergent CABG surgery, pulmonary artery catheterization was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality, greater length of stay, and higher total costs, particularly in hospitals with low volume of PAC use.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Journal reading habits of internists.

We assessed the reading habits of internists with and without epidemiological training because such information may help guide medical journals as they make changes in how articles are edited and formatted. In a 1998 national self-administered mailed survey of 143 internists with fellowship training in epidemiology and study design and a random sample of 121 internists from the American Medical Association physician master file, we asked about the number of hours spent reading medical journals per week and the percentage of articles for which only the abstract is read. Respondents also were asked which of nine medical journals they subscribe to and read regularly. Of the 399 eligible participants, 264 returned surveys (response rate 66%). Respondents reported spending 4.4 hours per week reading medical journal articles and reported reading only the abstract for 63% of the articles; these findings were similar for internists with and without epidemiology training. Respondents admitted to a reliance on journal editors to provide rigorous and useful information, given the limited time available for critical reading. We conclude that internists, regardless of training in epidemiology, rely heavily on abstracts and prescreening of articles by editors.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

The clinical and economic consequences of nosocomial central venous catheter-related infection: are antimicrobial catheters useful?

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential for many hospitalized patients, but they are associated with important infectious complications. Recent studies have indicated that CVCs coated with antimicrobial agents reduce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR BSI). To estimate the clinical and economic consequences of short-term central venous catheter-related infection and the potential usefulness of antimicrobial-coated catheters, we reviewed and synthesized the available relevant literature. Statistical pooling was used to estimate the incidence of both catheter colonization and CR BSI. The attributable mortality of CR BSI was also evaluated. In addition, the economic consequences of both local and systemic catheter-related infection was estimated from literature reports that used micro-costing and other techniques. Among patients in whom standard, noncoated CVCs are in place for an average of 8 days, 24.7% are expected to develop catheter colonization (95% confidence interval [CI(95)], 22.0%-27.5%). Approximately 5.2% (CI(95), 3.9%-6.5%) will develop CR BSI. The attributable mortality of CR BSI remains unclear, but recent studies are consistent with a range from 4% to 20%. An episode of local catheter-related infection leads to an additional cost of approximately $400, whereas the additional cost of CR BSI ranges from approximately $6,005 to $9,738. Formal economic analyses indicate that CVCs coated with antibacterial agents (such as chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine or minocycline-rifampin) likely reduce infectious complications, yielding economic advantages. In light of the substantial clinical and economic burden of catheter-related infection, hospital personnel should adopt proven cost-effective methods to reduce this common and important nosocomial complication.

Anti-Infective Agents↗
PubMed2000

Antimicrobial resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae: implications for patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. During the past decade, the prevalence of penicillin resistance in S pneumoniae has increased dramatically, with resistance rates approaching 45% in some areas of the United States. Streptococcus pneumoniae has also acquired resistance to other commonly used antimicrobials, including cephalosporins, macrolides, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. While vancomycin and the newer quinolones are currently highly active against most strains of S pneumoniae, reduced susceptibilities to these agents have been identified in some strains. Prior use of antimicrobial agents is the major risk factor for colonization and infection with antibiotic-resistant strains. beta-Lactam antibiotics remain the treatment of choice for infections caused by susceptible S pneumoniae. The optimum therapy for penicillin-resistant strains remains unclear. Appropriate empirical therapy for patients with community-acquired pneumonia depends in part on the community-specific resistance patterns of S pneumoniae to various antibiotics. In this article, we provide an overview of the development of S pneumoniae resistance to commonly used antibiotics and discuss the implications of the development of resistance on treatment decisions.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

Cost-effectiveness of antiseptic-impregnated central venous catheters for the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infection.

CONTEXT: A recent randomized controlled trial and meta-analysis indicated that central venous catheters impregnated with an antiseptic combination of chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine are efficacious in reducing the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI); however, the ultimate clinical and economic consequences of their use have not been formally evaluated. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incremental clinical and economic outcomes associated with the use of antiseptic-impregnated vs standard catheters. DESIGN: Decision analytic model using data from randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and case-control studies, as well as safety data from the US Food and Drug Administration. SETTING AND PATIENTS: A hypothetical cohort of hospitalized patients at high risk for catheter-related infections (eg, patients in intensive care units, immunosuppressed patients, and patients receiving total parenteral nutrition) requiring use of a central venous catheter. INTERVENTION: Short-term use (2-10 days) of chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated multilumen central venous catheters and nonimpregnated catheters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Expected incidence of CR-BSI and death attributable to antiseptic-impregnated and standard catheter use; direct medical costs for both types of catheters. RESULTS: In the base-case analysis, use of antiseptic-impregnated catheters resulted in a decrease in the incidence of CR-BSI of 2.2% (5.2% for standard vs 3.0% for antiseptic-impregnated catheters), a decrease in the incidence of death of 0.33% (0.78% for standard vs 0.45% for antiseptic-impregnated), and a decrease in costs of $196 per catheter used ($532 for standard vs $336 for antiseptic-impregnated). The decrease in CR-BSI ranged from 1.2% to 3.4%, the decrease in death ranged from 0.09% to 0.78%, and the costs saved ranged from $68 to $391 in a multivariate sensitivity analysis. CONCLUSION: Our analyses suggest that use of chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated central venous catheters in patients at high risk for catheter-related infections reduces the incidence of CR-BSI and death and provides significant saving in costs. Use of these catheters should be considered as part of a comprehensive nosocomial infection control program.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
PubMed1999

Preventing catheter-related bacteriuria: should we? Can we? How?

Up to 25% of hospitalized patients undergo urinary catheterization, and about 5% develop bacteriuria each day of catheterization. Catheter-related bacteriuria is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We performed an evidence-based synthesis of the literature on preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (UTIs) to develop recommendations for clinicians. Catheterization should be avoided when not required and when needed, should be terminated as soon as possible. Use of suprapubic and condom catheters may be associated with a lower risk of UTI than use of urethral catheters. Aseptic catheter insertion and a properly maintained closed drainage system are crucial to reducing the risk of bacteriuria. Instillation of antimicrobial agents into the bladder or urinary drainage bag and rigorous meatal cleansing seem to be of little benefit. Use of urinary catheters coated with silver alloy may reduce the risk of UTI. Systemic antimicrobial drug therapy seems to prevent UTIs, but primarily for patients catheterized for 3 to 14 days. Antibiotic drug prophylaxis is especially valuable in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate or renal transplantation. Using these methods, urinary catheter-associated UTI can often be prevented for weeks, but not longer terms.

Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary↗
PubMed1999

Efficacy of antiseptic-impregnated central venous catheters in preventing catheter-related bloodstream infection: a meta-analysis.

CONTEXT: Central venous catheters impregnated with chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine have recently been introduced for the prevention of catheter-related infections. However, there remains some uncertainty regarding the efficacy of these catheters because of conflicting reports in the literature. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated central venous catheters in the prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infection. DATA SOURCES: Studies identified from a computerized search of the MEDLINE database from January 1966 to January 1998, reference lists of identified articles, and queries of principal investigators and the catheter manufacturer. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized trials comparing chlorhexidine-silver sulfadiazine-impregnated central venous catheters with nonimpregnated catheters were included. The outcomes assessed were catheter colonization and catheter-related bloodstream infection confirmed by catheter culture. DATA EXTRACTION: Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria for catheter colonization and included a total of 2611 catheters. Eleven studies with a total of 2603 catheters met the inclusion criteria for catheter-related bloodstream infection. Most patients in these studies were from groups considered to be at high risk for catheter-related infections. Summary statistics were calculated using Mantel-Haenszel methods under a fixed-effects model. DATA SYNTHESIS: The summary odds ratio for catheter colonization was 0.44 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36-0.54; P<.001), indicating a significant decrease in catheter colonization associated with impregnated catheters. The studies examining the outcome of primary interest, catheter-related bloodstream infection, had a summary odds ratio of 0.56 (95% CI, 0.37-0.84; P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Central venous catheters impregnated with a combination of chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine appear to be effective in reducing the incidence of both catheter colonization and catheter-related bloodstream infection in patients at high risk for catheter-related infections.

Anti-Infective Agents, Local↗
PubMed1999

The effectiveness of a clinical practice guideline for the management of presumed uncomplicated urinary tract infection in women.

PURPOSE: Acute uncomplicated urinary tract infection is a common and costly disorder in women. To reduce potentially unnecessary expense and inconvenience, a large staff-model health maintenance organization instituted a telephone-based clinical practice guideline for managing presumed cystitis in which women 18 to 55 years of age who met specific criteria were managed without a clinic visit or laboratory testing. We sought to evaluate the effects of the guideline. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed a population-based, before-and-after study with concurrent control groups at 24 primary care clinics to assess the effect of guideline implementation on resource utilization and on the occurrence of potential adverse outcomes. We measured the proportion of patients with presumed uncomplicated cystitis who had a return office visit for cystitis or sexually transmitted disease or who developed pyelonephritis within 60 days of the initial diagnosis. Relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated, adjusting for the effects of clustering within clinics. RESULTS: A total of 3,889 eligible patients with presumed acute uncomplicated cystitis were evaluated. As compared with baseline, guideline implementation significantly decreased the proportion of patients with presumed cystitis who received urinalysis (RR = 0.75; CI, 0.70 to 0.80), urine culture (RR = 0.73; CI, 0.68 to 0.79), and an initial office visit (RR = 0.67; CI, 0.62 to 0.73), while increasing the proportion who received a guideline-recommended antibiotic 2.9-fold (CI, 2.4 to 3.7-fold). In the prospective comparison of the 22 intervention and two control clinics, the guideline decreased the proportion of patients who had urinalyses performed (RR = 0.80; CI, 0.65 to 0.98) and increased the proportion of patients who were prescribed a guideline-recommended antibiotic (RR = 1.53; CI, 1.01 to 2.33). Adverse outcomes did not increase significantly in either comparison. CONCLUSION: Guideline use decreased laboratory utilization and overall costs while maintaining or improving the quality of care for patients who were presumptively treated for acute uncomplicated cystitis.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Antibiotics in acute bronchitis: a meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Most patients with acute bronchitis who seek medical care are treated with antibiotics, although the effectiveness of this intervention is uncertain. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials to estimate the effectiveness of antibiotics in the treatment of acute bronchitis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: English-language studies published January 1966 to April 1998 were retrieved using MEDLINE, bibliographies, and consultation with experts. Only randomized trials that enrolled otherwise healthy patients with a diagnosis of acute bronchitis, used an antibiotic in the treatment group and a placebo in the control group, and provided sufficient data to calculate an effect size were included. RESULTS: We identified eight randomized controlled trials that satisfied all inclusion criteria. These studies used one of three antibiotics (erythromycin, doxycycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole). The use of antibiotics decreased the duration of cough and sputum production by approximately one-half day (summary effect size 0.21; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.36). For specific symptoms, there were nonsignificant trends favoring the use of antibiotics: a decrease of 0.4 days of purulent sputum (95% CI, -0.1 to 0.8), a decrease of 0.5 days of cough (95% CI, -0.1 to 1.1), and a decrease of 0.3 days lost from work (95% CI, -0.6 to 1.1). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests a small benefit from the use of the antibiotics erythromycin, doxycycline, or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of acute bronchitis in otherwise healthy patients. As this small benefit must be weighed against the risk of side effects and the societal cost of increasing antibiotic resistance, we believe that the use of antibiotics is not justified in these patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Urinary catheters: what type do men and their nurses prefer?

OBJECTIVES: Urinary catheters are used frequently, but the relative risks and benefits of different types of devices are not clear. We sought to determine the beliefs of both older male patients and nursing staff about the relative merits and problems of condom and indwelling catheters. DESIGN: Patient and nurse survey using convenience sampling. SETTING: A University-affiliated Veterans Affairs medical center. PARTICIPANTS: Men hospitalized on medical, rehabilitation and nursing home units using either an indwelling or a condom catheter were invited to participate as were all members of the nursing staff on these units. Of 116 eligible patients, 104 were interviewed (response rate = 90%). Of 107 eligible nursing staff members, 99 completed the questionnaires (response rate = 92%). INTERVENTION AND MEASUREMENTS: Consenting patients were interviewed personally about their urinary catheter. The nursing staff were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients were mostly older and predominantly hospitalized on the medical service. Compared with those using an indwelling catheter, patients using a condom catheter were more likely to believe that their catheter was comfortable (86 vs 58%, P = .04) and less likely to believe it was painful (14 vs 48%, P = .008) or to restrict their activity (24 vs 61%, P = .002). The nursing staff had a mean of 13 years nursing experience, and the majority worked in the nursing home unit. Most of the nursing staff respondents believed that condom catheters were less painful and restrictive for patients and were easier to apply, but they also believed that they fell off and leaked more often and required more nursing time. CONCLUSIONS: Both patients and nursing staff prefer condom to indwelling catheters for patient comfort, but they recognize that dislodgment and leaking are major drawbacks of condom catheters. A more secure condom catheter would greatly improve the management of male incontinence.

Aged↗