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At least 1,225 records · Page 68Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Isolation of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria in treated dental unit waterlines.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the presence of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria (NTM) in dental unit waterlines that were being routinely treated with an intermittent use waterline cleaner. STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted at a hospital dentistry clinic where immunocompromised patients are seen. Water samples from two lines on one of two dental units were taken before and after routine weekend chemical treatment. Sampling was repeated on two subsequent occasions, on the same unit, at three monthly intervals. Laboratory techniques included centrifugation and membrane filtration to detect small numbers of organisms. RESULTS: Mycobacterium simiae was isolated from one of the four pre-treatment samples and from two of the four post-treatment samples. Mycobacterium mucogenicum was isolated from one of the four post-treatment samples. CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study found that NTM were present in DUWLs that were being routinely treated with an intermittent use chemical cleaner. Practitioners are urged to understand the limitations of available DUWL treatments, and to consider the use of sterile water for non-surgical, as well as surgical, treatment of immunocompromised patients.

Cetylpyridinium↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Comparative study of two antitussive drugs in the treatment of acute dry cough of infectious origin (prospective, randomized, single blind study)].

The objective was to compare, during a 5-day therapy, the efficacy and tolerability of an antihistaminic antitussive syrup, oxomemazine, combining a small quantity of guaifenesine (T), with a centrally acting antitussive, clobutinol (S), in adult patients aged from 18 to 70 years and presenting with a dry cough of infectious origin. This study was performed by 22 general practitioners and 130 ambulatory patients were enrolled. The primary criterion of this multicenter, randomized, single blind study was to compare the evolution of cough intensity using a Visual Analog Squale (VAS) graduated from 0 to 10 cm. Nine secondary criteria including tolerability were also assessed. With regard to cough intensity, the treatments were not equivalent. A greater reduction was observed with T (-5.2 +/- 2.3 versus -4.3 +/- 2.3). This result was confirmed by a further reduction in cough intensity at days: 2 (p = 0.04), 4 (p = 0.05), and 5 (p = 0.02). The frequency of cough disappearance before the end of the study was significantly greater for T than for S: 46% versus 29% (p = 0.05). The time before disappearance of the cough was 4.0 + 1.1 days for both medicines. Induction of sleep and the frequency of nocturnal wakening were significantly better for T from day 4 (p = 0.02). The drowsiness induced by T meant that diurnal quality of life was better with S on days 1 (p = 0.002) and 2 (p = 0.01). Tolerability was similar for both medicines. In conclusion, as a symptomatic treatment of dry cough, T is efficient and well tolerated. Moreover, we have observed a tendency towards superior efficacy of T than S. T is therefore a useful alternative in the therapeutic armamentarium available to the general practitioner.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Controlled management of public relations following a public health incident.

This paper describes the management of public relations following an outbreak of multidrug resistant TB at a London hospital. Eight patients were involved, all of the secondary cases occurred in HIV seropositive patients, and three cases died. The paper describes how the the Incident Committee undertook to recall contacts of the cases for screening, inform the general practitioners of all of the contacts about their patients' exposure, warn other organizations and professionals interested or involved in the management of HIV in the London area as to the nature of the incident, and establish a helpline, before informing a wider audience through the EPINET, Communicable Disease Report and national press.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2001

Intensive care unit antimicrobial resistance and the role of the pharmacist.

Over the past 20 yrs, pharmacists have successfully integrated their services and expertise to gain acceptance as full members of pediatric, surgical, medical, and intensive care unit (ICU) patient care teams. The pharmacists' training in pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and pharmacoeconomics complements the expertise of other members of the patient care team. Generally, a strong background in infectious diseases and critical care also provides a focal point for clinical pharmacy service intervention. Although practitioners often focus on issues exclusively related to their specific hospital or ICU, the issues surrounding antibiotic resistance are more global and societal in nature. Medical, surgical, and pharmaceutical practices inside the hospital and ICU extend their influence into the community. Customs and practices of daily living in our society coupled with use of agents capable of altering microbial flora impact our hospital and ICU when patients from the community are admitted. The misuse of antibiotics and the lack of effective infection control programs are often identified as key components in the perpetuation of these phenomena. The focus for the pharmacist and the ICU team must be on the optimization of antibiotic use and infection control guidelines. This review will address the many issues that surround the appropriate use of antibiotics and what role the pharmacist can play in ensuring the optimal use of infection control measures in the ICU and hospital.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1997

[Food-borne streptococcal epidemics].

Approximately two days after a high school final year farewell party a striking number of pupils and teachers became ill with pharyngitis. The regional public health medical office carried out a questionnaire study with a control group of younger pupils. The regional food control unit studied the preparation and handling at food. Some bacterial cultures received from general practitioners were identified by the regional clinical-microbiological laboratory. Seventy-six percent of the 216 exposed pupils who answered (94% response rate) against 15% of 238 answering in the control group (83% response rate) became ill. The peak incidence was two days after the party. The infectious agent was beta-haemolytic streptoccoci group-A, T-type 25. A salad made of pasta and vegetables that were not cooked and handled properly must have been the vehicle of infection although no salad was left for cultivation. Salads made of pasta must be prepared with great care and effectively cooled. When suspecting a food-borne epidemic, clinicians should immediately inform the regional public health medical office, and the municipal food control unit must take part in the investigations. It is important that bacterial cultures are identified by the regional clinical-microbiological laboratory. It should be considered to make it mandatory that the involved personnel accepts clinical examination and microbiological sampling in cases of suspected food-borne infection.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Risk factors for motor neuron disease: a case-control study based on patients from the Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Register.

In order to identify risk factors for the subsequent development of motor neuron disease (MND) we have carried out a case-control study of incident patients in Scotland, identified using the Scottish Motor Neuron Disease Register. A standard questionnaire was given to 103 patients and the same number of community controls matched on a one to one basis using the general practitioner's (GP) age and sex register. Recall bias was minimised by using GP records to verify the subject's report. There was an overall lifetime excess of fractures in patients, odds ratio (OR) = 1.3 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.7-2.5) and this was highest in the 5 years before symptom onset (OR = 15, 95% CI, 3.3-654). There was no association with non-fracture trauma but the OR for a manual occupation in patients was 2.6 (95% CI, 1.1-6.3). Both occupational exposure to lead (OR = 5.7, 95% CI, 1.6-30) and solvents/chemicals (OR = 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-10) were significantly more common in patients. No consistent association was found between MND and factors reflecting socioeconomic deprivation in childhood; childhood infections or social class. Our results identify a number of different factors which may contribute to the aetiology of MND.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[The wound care center in surgery: an interdisciplinary concept for diagnostic and treatment of chronic wounds].

In Germany there is no standardized wound care for patients with chronic wounds in specialized centers. We have established a wound care unit for the past 6 years. The principal concept of therapy was characterized by standardized local surgery, moist wound dressings and concomitant treatment of the underlying disease. We performed local therapy, coordinated the interdisciplinary treatment and developed a new wound documentation system for quality control. We established a close network, integrating general practitioners and home care organizations to realize a mainly outpatient treatment supported by short hospital therapy. Exclusive outpatient treatment was performed in 42% of all patients. According to our prospective data, we achieved an improvement in wound care: 69% of the wounds resistant to therapy for a mean of 30 months healed within 12 months after therapy according to our protocol. Our data strongly supported the importance of local surgery: neither wound depth nor wound infection had any influence on the healing rate, presumably due to radical excisional debridement of necrotic tissue. The presented data justify on medical and economic grounds the establishment of such wound care centers in Germany.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed2006

A cluster-randomized educational intervention to reduce inappropriate prescription patterns for elderly patients in general practice--The Prescription Peer Academic Detailing (Rx-PAD) study [NCT00281450].

BACKGROUND: Age-related alterations in metabolism and excretion of medications increase the risk of adverse drug events in the elderly. Inappropriate polypharmacy and prescription practice entails increased burdens of impaired quality of life and drug related morbidity and mortality. The main objective of this trial is to evaluate effects of a tailored educational intervention towards general practitioners (GPs) aimed at supporting the implementation of a safer drug prescribing practice for elderly patients > or = 70 years. METHODS/DESIGN: Approximately 80 peer continuing medical education (CME) groups (about 600 GPs) in southern Norway will be recruited to a cluster randomized trial. Participating groups will be randomized either to an intervention- or a control group. The control group will not receive any intervention towards prescription patterns in elderly, but will be the target of an educational intervention for prescription of antibiotics for respiratory tract infections. A multifaceted intervention has been tailored, where key components are educational outreach visits to the CME-groups, work-shops, audit and feedback. Prescription Peer Academic Detailers (Rx-PADs), who are trained GPs, will conduct the educational outreach visits. During these visits, a set of quality indicators (QIs), i.e. explicit recommendations for safer prescribing for elderly patients, will be presented and discussed. Software will be handed out for installation in participants' practice computers to enable extraction of pre-defined prescription data. These data will subsequently be linked to corresponding data from the Norwegian Prescription Database (NorPD). Individual feedback reports will be sent all participating GPs during and one year after the intervention. Feedback reports will include QI-scores on individual- and group levels, before and after the intervention. The main outcome of this trial is the change in proportions of inappropriate prescriptions (QIs) for elderly patients > or = 70 years following intervention, compared to baseline levels. DISCUSSION: Improvement of prescription patterns in medical practice is a challenging task. Evidence suggests that a thorough evaluation of diagnostic indications for drug treatment in the elderly and/or a reduction of potentially inappropriate drugs may impose significant clinical benefits. Our hypothesis is that an educational intervention program will be effective in improving prescribing patterns for elderly patients in GP settings.

Aged↗
PubMed1977

[Examination for infertility in cattle (author's transl)].

In order to evaluate clinically recognisable manifestations while undertaking examinations for fertility in cattle it is necessary to take cognizance of the physiological events taking place during the puerperium. The frequently incorrect diagnoses of cystic degeneration of the ovaries during this period can be avoided if the mechanisms controlling ovarian activity are properly understood. The close interaction between the ovaries, the hypothalamus, the hypophysis and adrenals as well as the luteolytic mechanism controlling ovarian activity is discussed. Attention is focussed on the effect of various pathogens on the endometrium, the influence of nutrition on the reproductive cycle and the consequent ovarian changes. The necessity to institute fertility examinations on a herd basis is stressed rather than attempts at treating the individual animal which, according to the owner, requires veterinary attention. By doing so a much more satisfactory service can be rendered. The existence of competent diagnostic centres, where the practitioner can obtain a metabolic or infection profile, is absolutely essential when fertility examinations on a herd basis are considered.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Prescription drug advertising: trends and implications.

Prescription drug advertisements which appeared in two leading American medical journals in 1972, 1977 and 1982 were analyzed to discover possible trends in advertising. The 5016 ads examined showed that ads for the diuretic-cardiovasculars, especially the beta-adrenergic blocking agents and the slow channel inhibitors, as well as the analgesics, had increased, while ads for the anti-infectives and tranquilizers had diminished. The average amount of space allocated for each ad had increased. On the average, most ads (69%) depicted neither male nor female patients in their graphics, and a trend of increased neutrality was observed. When the hormones were excluded, an average of 21% of the ads showed male patients and 10% showed females. Since a relationship was discerned between the leading drugs advertised and the leading prescriptions filled, it was concluded that advertising does have some effect on the prescribing behavior of practitioners. The findings suggest that great investment in advertising is necessary in order to achieve high levels of sales for such drugs as Valium (diazepam) which do not have a clear-cut ameliorative effect on a specific physiological condition. On the other hand, it was suggested that saturation advertising would not significantly enhance the sales of such drugs as Dyazide (triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide) because of its well established therapeutic value in the control of hypertension. Ten advertising companies, on the average, had purchased 67% of all advertising space and five had purchased almost half (47%). The same two pharmaceutical companies were among the top five advertisers and the same five were among the top ten for the three years studied.

Advertising↗
PubMed2000

Review article: the continuing dilemma of dyspepsia.

Dyspepsia drains a substantial proportion of healthcare resources in industrialized countries and an appropriate management strategy is needed. An aetiological role for Helicobacter pylori infection has been demonstrated in a number of pathological conditions associated with dyspepsia, such as peptic ulcer and gastric malignancies, but not in functional dyspepsia. Endoscopy and diagnosis-based treatment, H. pylori testing and eradication therapy, history taking and empirical therapy, are the main tools that are currently available for managing patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Endoscopy identifies malignancies and organic diseases of the proximal gut and therefore provides reassurance to both doctors and patients. It should be recommended in older patients with suspicious symptoms and it has proven to be more cost-effective than empirical H2-receptor antagonists in patients with ulcer-like symptoms. Empirical eradication in all dyspeptics without suspicious symptoms is a cost-effective approach that cures the majority of peptic ulcers. Nevertheless, it does not control symptoms in the majority of patients, it may exacerbate gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, and it encourages antibiotic resistance. The realities of current clinical practice require empirical therapy in most, if not all, the dyspeptics seen by general practitioners. A detailed history taking can help to diagnose gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and to identify suspicious symptoms. Furthermore, identification of dyspepsia subgroups may provide guidance for empirical therapy. Nevertheless, even analysis of individual symptoms does not provide a sufficient diagnostic yield to differentiate functional from organic dyspepsia and appropriate investigations are needed in patients with poor response to short-term therapy or frequent relapses.

Dyspepsia↗
PubMed1999

Method of physician remuneration and rates of antibiotic prescription.

BACKGROUND: Rates of antibiotic prescription in Canada far exceed generally accepted rates of bacterial infection, which led the authors to postulate that rates of antibiotic prescription depend to some extent on factors unrelated to medical indication. The associations between antibiotic prescription rates and physician characteristics, in particular, method of remuneration and patient volume, were explored. METHODS: The authors evaluated all 153,047 antibiotic prescriptions generated by 476 Newfoundland general practitioners and paid for by the Newfoundland Drug Plan over the 1-year period ending Aug. 31 1996, and calculated rates of antibiotic prescription. Linear and logistic regression models controlling for several physician characteristics, specifically age, place of education (Canada or elsewhere), location of practice (urban or rural) and proportion of elderly patients seen, were used to analyse rates of antibiotic prescription. RESULTS: Fee-for-service payment (rather than salary) and greater volume of patients were strongly associated with higher antibiotic prescription rates. Fee-for-service physicians were much more likely than their salaried counterparts to prescribe at rates above the median value of 1.51 antibiotic prescriptions per unique patient per year. The association between rate of antibiotic prescription and patient volume (as measured by number of unique patients prescribed to) was evident for all physicians. However, the association was much stronger for fee-for-service physicians. Physicians with higher patient volumes prescribed antibiotics at higher rates. INTERPRETATION: In this study factors other than medical indication, in particular method of physician remuneration and patient volume, played a major role in determining antibiotic prescribing practices.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Vacuum-assisted closure versus saline-moistened gauze in the healing of postoperative diabetic foot wounds.

Diabetic foot wounds present a great challenge to wound care practitioners. The objective of this pilot study was to determine whether vacuum-assisted closure (V.A.C.) therapy would afford quicker wound resolution as compared to saline-moistened gauze in the treatment of postoperative diabetic foot wounds. Ten patients were randomized into either the experimental V.A.C. group or control saline gauze group. Included in the study were diabetic patients 18 to 75 years of age who had a nonhealing foot ulceration. Excluded were those patients with venous disease, coagulopathy, or those who had active infections not resolved by initial surgical debridement. All foot ulcers were surgically debrided prior to initiation of V.A.C. or gauze treatment. In the experimental group, V.A.C. dressings were applied in accordance with manufacturer's protocol for chronic wounds and changed every 48 hours. In the control group, saline gauze dressings were applied at the time of surgical debridement and changed twice a day thereafter. Measurements and photos were obtained to document wound progress. Main outcome measures included: 1) time to satisfactory healing (calculated from date of initial debridement to date of definitive closure, and 2) change in wound surface area (calculated from initial wound tracing to final tracing). Satisfactory healing in the V.A.C. group was achieved in 22.8 (+/- 17.4) days, compared to 42.8 (+/- 32.5) days in the control group. Surface area changes of 28.4% (+/- 24.3) average decrease in wound size in the V.A.C. group, compared to a 9.5% (+/- 16.9) average increase in the control group during measurement period.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Diabetic coma and bases of proper treatment].

Hyperglycaemic, hyperosmolar coma developing in diabetes mellitus-with or without ketoacidosis-is a perilous metabolic catastrophe, preserving its clinical importance even nowadays. The features of the two basic forms of diabetic coma, the development and characteristics of clinical symptoms and laboratory alterations caused by absolute or relative lack of insulin are reported by the author. The importance of early diagnosis and up-to-date intensive treatment is emphasized, regarding the need of decreasing of the still now considerable mortality rate. Fundamental principles of the therapeutic interventions are the following: improvement of the microcirculation through appropriate compensation of fluid and elektrolytes, intravenous or intramuscular administration of low-dose insulin, prevention of hypokalemic condition, and correction of acidosis under pH 7,1 value. Moreover, the well-planned supportive treatment is also essential: prevention of thromboembolism, averting the occasional development of shock caused usually by infections, and prophylaxis of the often fatal cerebral oedema. The estimation and follow-up of osmolality and the prevention of rapid changes in serum glucose and electrolyte levels are of particular importance in every cases. Careful observation of the patients regarding the cardiorespiratory and renal functions is of great significance in both (first and second) phases of the treatment. Improvement of patients' education, controlled care of diabetic patients, reduction of the number of recidive cases and increasing knowledge regarding diabetes among the general practitioners are determined by the author as the future possibilities for the prevention of this severe metabolic disorder.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1983

Hepatitis B and dental personnel: transmission to patients and prevention issues.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is considered an occupational risk for dental professionals. The Centers for Disease Control have participated in eight investigations regarding dental professionals who were suspected of transmitting HBV infection to their patients. This article summarizes the findings of the investigations, the postulated mechanism of transmission of HBV, control measures suggested, and follow-up of the dental practice for those dentists who were chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen. The approach by the centers for managing dental professionals who are HBsAg positive and those dental professionals who are HBsAg positive and implicated as transmitting HBV infection to patients are outlined. If HBV transmission cannot be interrupted, by suggested measures, then more restrictive measures should be decided on by state or local health officials, or both. These could include removal of the practitioner's license. HBV-infected dental personnel can transmit HBV infection to their patients. The measures suggested for the HBV carrier are designed to allow the dental practitioner to continue practice, but, at the same time, give maximum protection to the patient.

Dental Care↗
PubMed1996

An evaluation of one and two airflow filters in preventing the movement of bacteria through the anesthesia circle system.

A review of the literature demonstrated that controversy exists as to whether anesthesia circle systems can be a source of transmission of bacteria to patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of one airflow filter (on the expiratory limb) versus two airflow filters (one on the inspiratory limb and one on the expiratory limb) in the prevention of bacterial migration in the anesthesia circle system, during general anesthesia, using semiquantitative analysis of the number of bacterial colony forming units (CFUs). This study consisted of two randomized groups receiving one or two airflow filters. Thirty-five volunteers participated in the study. At the conclusion of the surgical cases, a culture was taken of the anesthesia circle system. The cultures were read at 24 and 48 hours for the presence of CFUs. No CFUs were reported in either group. The results of the study were inconclusive. Therefore, the use of one airflow filter on the expiratory limb should remain the standard of care, pending additional research. Some practitioners may use a second airflow filter when there is a greater risk of infection, such as in the case of an immunocompromised patient. However, this study can neither support nor question the effectiveness of this practice.

Air Microbiology↗
PubMed2002

Changes in antibiotic prescribing for children after a community-wide campaign.

CONTEXT: Overuse of antibiotics has contributed to microbial resistance, compromising the treatment of bacterial infections. Very high levels (>50%) of antibiotic resistance among invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae have been documented in Knox County, Tennessee. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a community-wide intervention aimed at reducing inappropriate antibiotic use among children. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The Knox County Health Department led a multifaceted year-long campaign (May 1997 through April 1998) aimed at decreasing unnecessary antibiotic use among children. Tennessee's 3 other major urban counties (Shelby, Hamilton, and Davidson) did not conduct similar campaigns and served as controls. Evaluation included white and black children (aged <15 years) enrolled in Tennessee's Medicaid Managed Care Program in the 4 study counties, representing 36% of the study counties' children (464 200 person-years observed). INTERVENTION: Educational efforts were directed toward health care practitioners (primarily via peer leader presentations) and to the parents of young children and the public (primarily via printed materials). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The intervention-attributable effect on antibiotic use, defined as the excess percentage change in oral antibiotic prescription rates in Knox County between the 12-month preintervention and postintervention periods, relative to that of control counties. RESULTS: Antibiotic prescription rates declined 19% and 8% among Knox County and control county children, respectively, yielding an 11% intervention-attributable decline (95% confidence interval, 8%-14%; P<.001). The intervention-attributable decrease in prescription rates was greatest among children aged 1 to less than 5 years (among white children, 8% [P<.001]; among black children, 18% [P<.001]). CONCLUSIONS: A community-wide educational intervention reduced antibiotic prescription levels among children in Knox County.

Adolescent↗