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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Acquisition of multidrug-resistant organisms among hospital patients hospitalized in beds adjacent to critically ill patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether patients hospitalized in beds physically adjacent to critically ill patients are at increased risk to acquire multidrug-resistant pathogens. DESIGN: Cohort study.Setting. Shaare Zedek Medical Center, a 550-bed medical referral center. PATIENTS: From April to September 2004, we enrolled consecutive newly admitted patients who were hospitalized in beds adjacent to either mechanically ventilated patients or patients designated as "do not resuscitate" (DNR). For each of these patients, we also enrolled a control patient who was not hospitalized in a bed adjacent to a critically ill patient. We collected specimens from the anterior nares, the oral cavity, and the perianal zone at the time of admission and subsequently at 3-day intervals until discharge or death. Specimens were cultured on selective media to detect growth of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, including Acinetobacter baumannii, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), extended-spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). RESULTS: We enrolled 46 neighbor-control pairs. Among neighbors and controls, respectively, the incidence rates for isolation of A. baumannii was 8.3 and 4 isolations per 100 patient-days (relative risk [RR], 2.1 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 0.8-5.2]; P=.12), the incidence rates for MRSA were 1.4 and 2.6 isolations per 100 patient-days (RR, 0.6 [95% CI, 0.1-2.3]; P=.45), the incidence rates for ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were 10.5 and 9 isolations per 100 patient-days (RR, 1.2 [95% CI, 0.6-2.4]; P=.84), the incidence rates for VRE were 4.3 and 4.8 isolations per 100 patient-days (RR, 0.9 [95% CI, 0.3-2.4]; P=1), and the composite incidence rate was 21.7 and 16.2 isolations per 100 patient-days (RR, 1.3 [95% CI, 0.8-2.3]; P=0.3). CONCLUSIONS: In this pilot study, we did not detect an increased incidence rate of isolation of multidrug-resistant pathogens among patients hospitalized in beds adjacent to critically ill patients. Further studies with larger samples should be conducted in order to generate valid data and provide patients, physicians, and policy makers with a sufficient knowledge base from which decisions can be made.

Critical Illness↗

Carvedilol use at discharge in patients hospitalized for heart failure is associated with improved survival: an analysis from Organized Program to Initiate Lifesaving Treatment in Hospitalized Patients with Heart Failure (OPTIMIZE-HF).

BACKGROUND: The IMPACT-HF trial demonstrated that carvedilol use at the time of heart failure (HF) hospital discharge significantly increased 90-day postdischarge treatment rates. Whether there is an early survival benefit associated with this therapeutic approach in patients hospitalized for HF is unknown. We examined the early effects on mortality and rehospitalization of carvedilol use at discharge in patients hospitalized for HF and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) compared with outcomes in patients who are eligible for, but do not receive, beta blockers before discharge. METHODS: The OPTIMIZE-HF program enrolled 5791 patients admitted with HF in a web-based registry at 91 hospitals participating with prespecified 60- to 90-day follow-up from March 2003 to December 2004. Outcomes data were prospectively collected on patients eligible for beta-blocker therapy and analyzed according to predischarge beta-blocker use. RESULTS: The mean age was 69.7 years; 63% were male, etiology was ischemic in 52%, and mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 24.3%. A total of 2720 patients had LVSD, among whom 2373 (87.2%) were eligible to receive a beta blocker at discharge and carvedilol was prescribed in 1162 (49.0%). Discharge use of carvedilol was associated with a significant reduction in mortality risk at 60 to 90 days (hazard ratio 0.46, P = .0006) and mortality or rehospitalization (odds ratio 0.71, P = .0175) compared to no predischarge beta blocker. Predischarge use of carvedilol was well tolerated with high rates of continued therapy at 60 to 90 days follow-up. Similar findings were observed for other evidence-based beta blockers. CONCLUSIONS: Carvedilol use at the time of HF hospital discharge is well tolerated, improves treatment rates, and is associated with an early survival benefit. These findings provide further support for guideline recommendations that carvedilol or other evidence-based beta blocker should be initiated before hospital discharge in stable patients with HF and LVSD.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗

The Hospital Elder Life Program: a model of care to prevent cognitive and functional decline in older hospitalized patients. Hospital Elder Life Program.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the Hospital Elder Life Program, a new model of care designed to prevent functional and cognitive decline of older persons during hospitalization. PROGRAM STRUCTURE AND PROCESS: All patients aged > or =70 years on specified units are screened on admission for six risk factors (cognitive impairment, sleep deprivation, immobility, dehydration, vision or hearing impairment). Targeted interventions for these risk factors are implemented by an interdisciplinary team-including a geriatric nurse specialist, Elder Life Specialists, trained volunteers, and geriatricians--who work closely with primary nurses. Other experts provide consultation at twice-weekly interdisciplinary rounds. INTERVENTION: Adherence is carefully tracked. Quality assurance procedures and performance reviews are an integral part of the program. PROGRAM OUTCOMES: To date, 1,507 patients have been enrolled during 1,716 hospital admissions. The overall intervention adherence rate was 89% for at least partial adherence with all interventions during 37,131 patient-days. Our results indicate that only 8% of admissions involved patients who declined by 2 or more points on MMSE and only 14% involved patients who declined by 2 or more points on ADL score. Comparative results for the control group from the clinical trial were 26% and 33%, and from previous studies 14 to 56% and 34 to 50% for cognitive and functional decline, respectively. Effectiveness of the program for delirium prevention and of the program's nonpharmacologic sleep protocol have been demonstrated previously. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the Hospital Elder Life Program successfully prevents cognitive and functional decline in at-risk older patients. The program is unique in its hospital-wide focus; in providing skilled staff and volunteers to implement interventions; and in targeting practical interventions toward evidence-based risk factors. Future studies are needed to evaluate cost-effectiveness and longterm outcomes of the program as well as its effectiveness in non-hospital settings.

Activities of Daily Living↗

Depression and immunity. Lymphocyte function in ambulatory depressed patients, hospitalized schizophrenic patients, and patients hospitalized for herniorrhaphy.

Mitogen-induced lymphocyte stimulation responses in ambulatory patients with major depressive disorder did not differ from those of matched controls. Lymphocyte responses in hospitalized schizophrenic patients and in patients hospitalized for elective herniorrhaphy similarly did not differ from responses of controls. The number of peripheral-blood T cells was decreased among the ambulatory depressed patients but not in the schizophrenic patients. These findings, together with previously reported decreased lymphocyte function in hospitalized depressed patients, suggest that decreased lymphocyte function is associated specifically with depression and not related to hospital effects or nonspecifically to other psychiatric disorders. The results also suggest that altered immunity in depression may be related to severity of depressive symptoms.

Adult↗

Clinico-bacteriological examination of Betadine skin disinfectant fluid and liquid soap in hospitalized patients and hospital employees.

The effectivity of Betadine skin and mucosa disinfectant solution and Betadine hand disinfectant soap (MUNDIPHARMA A. G. and EGIS Pharmaceuticals has been examined in hospitalized patients and hospital employees. The history of the production of polyvynilpyrrolidone-iodine (PVP-Iodine) the mechanism of actions and the biological effects of these products have been discussed. Bacteriological samples were collected from the skin of four regions most frequently used for injection (fossa cubitalis, right and left hands and gluteal region, right and left sides) of 10 hospitalized patients before and after washing these regions with Betadine. The average of 68 microorganisms Colony Forming Unit (CFU) recorded before disinfection decreased below 1 CFU on average in the samples taken after disinfection. From both hands of 6 hospital employees 190 CFUs could be demonstrated following washing hands with the commonly used soap. After washing hands with Betadine soap a total of 1 CFU could be demonstrated. The hands of 44 hospital employees were infected with E. coli of non-pathogenous reference strain whereafter samples were collected. After the disinfection of the hands with Betadine liquid soap samples were taken again. In the samples taken before disinfection an average of 745 CFUs, in samples taken after disinfection an average total of 11 CFUs were found. The results prove the outstanding disinfectant action of the two examined Betadine products.

Colony Count, Microbial↗

[Etiologic agents of fungemia in hospitalized patients].

The aim of performed examinations was the analysis of fungi as etiological agents of blood infections in patients hospitalized in surgical wards, internal medicine wards and intensive care units of the Medical Academy Central Clinical Hospital in Warsaw. Blood samples from patients hospitalized in 1997 were examined. Peripheral blood samples were incubated in BacT/Alert system (Organon Teknika, USA). Positive blood samples were inoculated on Sabouraud medium with chloramphenicol (bioMerieux, France or Oxoid, England). The time of cultivation was from 48 hours to 7 days at 30 degrees C. Fungal strains were identified by standard mycological procedures with the use of chromogenic medium BBL CHROMagar Candida (Becton Dickinson, USA) and biochemical test ID 32 C (bioMerieux, France). Susceptibility of strains to antifungal agents was determined by ATB FUNGUS method (bioMerieux, France). The total number of positive blood cultures in 1997 was 1380. Forty-two fungal strains were isolated from blood samples (3%). Strains belonged to the following species: C. albicans (17 isolates), C. parapsilosis (15), C. glabrata (3), melibiosica (2), C. pelliculosa (2), C. guilliermondii (1), C. tropicalis (1) and T. beigelii (1). Among fungi cultured from patients hospitalized in operative wards dominated C. parapsilosis (11) and C. albicans (10) strains, whereas from patients hospitalized in conservative wards most often C. albicans (6) strains were isolated. Candida strains were mostly susceptible to antifungal agents tested. It was interesting to culture Trichosporon beigelii (T. cutaneum) strain as an etiological agent of fungemia. This strain was multidrug-resistant.

Antifungal Agents↗

Risk factors of acute pulmonary thromboembolism in Japanese patients hospitalized for medical illness: results of a multicenter registry in the Japanese society of pulmonary embolism research.

BACKGROUND: Although the prophylaxis of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE) in hospitalized patients has been improving in Japan, there is no report concerning APTE of Japanese medical patients. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the characteristics of APTE in Japanese patients hospitalized for medical illness, through a retrospective study. METHODS: In a total of 1,438 registry patients with pulmonary thromboembolism for recent 10 years, 1,027 patients with APTE were analyzed with respect to underlying diseases or predisposing factors, and clinical course. RESULTS: A hundred thirty three patients hospitalized for medical illness developed APTE, among 433 in-hospital APTE patients. The prevalence of APTE in women was more than in men. The mean age of the patients at diagnosis was 61 +/- 17 years. Main risk factors were a prolonged immobilization, stroke, cancer, indwelling central venous catheter. Fifty-four patients had 3 or more risk factors. In-hospital mortality rate was 23%. CONCLUSIONS: Japanese patients in this registry had almost the same findings as in western patients, except for some points that had the possibility of demonstrating a difference between westerners and Japanese in the development of APTE. Our results will be available for establishing the prevention of APTE in medical patients in Japan.

Aged↗

[Prevention of fungal infections in hospitalized patients].

Hospital acquired infections due to fungi are primarily caused by yeast species of the genus Candida and mould species of the genus Aspergillus. Underlying disease with severely impaired defence mechanisms as well as certain forms of immunosuppressive and aggressive chemotherapy are the most important prerequisites for such secondary fungal infections. Aspergillus spec. usually infect man via exogenous routes, whereas Candida spec. mostly originate from the patient's own microbial flora. Under certain circumstances invasion of tissues follows (endomycosis). Exogenous Candida infections may likewise occur through contaminated hands of personnel and medical devices. The density of yeast cell distribution in hospital wards decreases with the distance from the primary source: the Candida infected human patient. Preventive measures protecting the patient at risk include: Permanent surveillance by routine cultural and serological examinations for the detection of an early infection of the skin, mouth, oesophagus, urinary tract, vagina and the bowel. Monitoring of patients is essential for early detection of dissemination and contributes to the control of fungal decontamination measures. Selective local decontamination is effected by the use of nonabsorbable compounds such as nystatin and amphotericin B in the gastrointestinal tract, and in oral and genital mucous membranes. Oral administration of ketoconazole has also been recommended. For the disinfection of skin appropriate chemicals are available. In the control of the environment of the endangered patient special attention must be paid to meticulous management of catheters. These measures are to be supported by careful disinfection policy concerning the hands of personnel and medical equipment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aspergillosis↗

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in elderly patients hospitalized in the 1990s: a favorable outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical characteristics and survival of elderly and younger hospitalized patients who sustain cardiac arrest and receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the 1990's and to assess predictors of survival. DESIGN: Retrospective survey of cardiac arrest database and hospital charts, plus telephone follow-up. SETTING: 450-bed acute care teaching hospital. STUDY POPULATION: Seventy-eight hospitalized patients 70 years or older and 73 hospitalized patients under 70 years of age. MEASUREMENTS: Survey of cardiac arrest data base, hospital charts, and telephonic follow-up to allow (1) comparison of clinical characteristics, survival, and long-term follow-up between two age groups and (2) univariate and multivariate analysis of predictors of mortality. MAIN RESULTS: Pre-arrest clinical characteristics were not significantly different between the age groups. Prior to arrest the majority of patients were functionally active, and over one-third were hospitalized for acute coronary artery syndromes. In approximately 85% of the patients, the arrest was witnessed, and 70% of the patients had their cardiac rhythm monitored at onset of the arrest. Survival was not significantly different between the age groups; 26% of the total 151 patients were discharged. No significant difference was noted in pre-post arrest functional status of survivors. Survival at 1, 2, and 3 years in elderly and younger survivors was 86% versus 80%, 76% versus 67%, and 71% versus 61%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified the presence of coronary artery disease, admission systolic blood pressure, and functional level to be independent pre-arrest predictors of mortality. At the time of the arrest, the initial cardiac rhythm and duration of CPR were found to be independent predictors of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients hospitalized in the 1990's who receive CPR have outcomes similar to younger patients who receive CPR. The favorable outcome in the elderly patients may reflect patient selection: the majority of our patients were functionally active prior to hospitalization, without multiple serious illnesses; many were hospitalized for acute coronary artery syndromes; and, in most cases, the arrest was witnessed with the patient's cardiac rhythm monitored at onset of the arrest.

Adult↗

Tetracycline resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from hospital patients.

Hospital isolates of Escherichia coli resistant to tetracycline (TC) were studied to identify mechanisms which regulate TC resistance levels and ability to transfer TC resistance. Antibiotic resistance patterns, resistance levels to TC, and ability to transfer TC resistance were determined for the isolates. Similar data were obtained for the transferable plasmids after transfer to several new host strains of E. coli. Of the 110 isolates, 50% were able to transfer TC resistance by conjugation. There was a nearly linear relationship between the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of TC for the hospital strains and the percentage of strains at a given MIC that could transfer TC resistance. The strains that were simultaneously resistant to tetracycline, streptomycin, and ampicillin had relatively high MICs of TC and high ability to transfer TC resistance. These results and surveys of TC-resistant E. coli by others suggest that TC resistance levels and transmissibility may be influenced by other resistance markers. The isolates which did not transfer TC resistance by conjugation were tested for the presence of TC resistance plasmids by mobilization or by transformation with deoxyribonucleic acid from the isolates. Evidence for plasmid-mediated TC resistance was found in 92 (84%) of the 110 hospital strains.

Colicins↗

The state of the provision of nutritional care to hospitalized patients--results from The Elan-Cuba Study.

Current nutritional care provision to 1905 patients hospitalized in 12 Cuban hospitals is presented in this article, diagnosed after conducting the Hospital Nutrition Survey (HNS), as part of the activities comprising the Cuban Study of Hospital Malnutrition (Elan-Cuba). The obtained HNS results were contrasted with standards regarding the nutritional assessment of hospitalized patient, the diagnosis of nutritional disorders occurring in the patient, and the identification of patients in need of nutritional intervention. The Elan-Cuba Study returned a 41.2% malnutrition rate [Barreto Penié J, Cuban Group for the Study of Hospital Malnutrition. State of malnutrition in Cuban hospitals. Nutrition 2005;21:487-97]. However, malnutrition was recorded as an independent diagnosis in only 0.4% of the surveyed clinical charts. It could not be shown that medical care teams were systematically applying any of the techniques and procedures recommended for the assessment of the nutritional status of hospitalized patients. In the best of the cases, only 40.6% of the surveyed patients had their height and weight recorded in their clinical charts at admission, 9.0% of those with more than 15 days of hospitalization had a prospective value of weight, and less than 20.0% of them had their serum albumin levels and/or their counts of Lymphocytes annotated on their clinical charts. Although 10.9% of the surveyed patients (median of the subcategories values; range: 3.5-41.2%) fulfilled an indication for nutritional intervention, support (enteral and/or parenteral) was only provided to less than 15.0% of them, with the exception made of patients on NPO, of whom 32.3% received either of the two modes of artificial nutrition listed above. It is to be noticed that none of the patients with chronic organic failure were on nutritional support at the time of the survey. The current nutritional care provision to the hospitalized patient might explain the increased rates of hospital malnutrition documented in the Elan-Cuba Study, and should lead to the design and urgent implementation of nutritional and metabolic intervention programs in the surveyed hospitals, given the deleterious effects of nutritional disorders upon the ultimate results of the medical and surgical actions, and the quality and costs of medical care.

Cuba↗

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of nefazodone in the treatment of patients hospitalized for major depression.

BACKGROUND: There are few published placebo-controlled clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of the newer antidepressants in markedly or severely depressed hospitalized patients. This study demonstrates the efficacy of nefazodone compared with placebo in the treatment of patients hospitalized for major depression. METHOD: Nefazodone and placebo treatment were compared in a 6-week trial of 120 patients hospitalized for DSM-III-R diagnosed major depression (without psychosis) at 2 study centers. Efficacy was evaluated using standard psychiatric rating scales, and patients were monitored for safety. RESULTS: Nefazodone treatment resulted in a significant reduction (p < .01) of the 17-item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D-17) total score compared with placebo from the end of the first treatment week through the end of the study (-12.2 nefazodone vs. -7.7 placebo). At the end of the trial, significantly more nefazodone-treated patients (50%) than placebo-treated patients (29%) had responded, as indicated by their Clinical Global Impressions-Improvement score (p = .021) or by a > or = 50% reduction in their HAM-D-17 scores (p = .017). Significantly more patients treated with nefazodone (36%) than placebo-treated patients (14%) had a HAM-D-17 score < or = 10 at the end of treatment (p = .004). Significant treatment differences (p < .01) in favor of nefazodone were also seen in the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale; the HAM-D retardation, anxiety, and sleep disturbance factors; and HAM-D item 1 (depressed mood). Patients with dysthymia in addition to major depression also showed significant improvement (p < .05) when treated with nefazodone, with significant differences in response rates seen as early as week 2 and through the end of the trial. The mean nefazodone dose was 491 mg/day at the end of week 2 and 503 mg/day at the end of treatment. Nefazodone was well tolerated, and the number of patients discontinuing owing to adverse events was small, with no significant safety issues noted in either treatment group. Fewer nefazodone-treated than placebo-treated patients discontinued owing to lack of efficacy. CONCLUSION: Nefazodone was superior to placebo in the treatment of marked to severe major depression in patients requiring hospitalization. The clinical benefit of nefazodone was evident as early as the first week of treatment as judged by several measures of efficacy, with significant differences from placebo sustained throughout the trial.

Adult↗

Yield of sputum microbiological examination in patients hospitalized for exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with purulent sputum.

BACKGROUND: Whether sputum microbiological examination should be performed systematically in hospitalized patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations remains unclear. OBJECTIVES: To assess the yield of sputum microbiological examination in COPD patients hospitalized in a medical ward for an acute exacerbation with purulent sputum. METHODS: Two hundred consecutive exacerbations in 118 patients were studied. Patients underwent sputum microbiological examination on admission and baseline lung function tests and CT scans were recorded. Factors associated with positive culture were analyzed. RESULTS: Sputum culture was positive (>or=10(7) CFU/ml) in 59% of samples, Haemophilus influenzae and Streptococcus pneumoniae being the most frequent pathogens. Factors associated with positive culture were bronchiectasis, long-term oxygen therapy and low FEV1. Pseudomonas spp. were found in 8.5% of all patients, who all had a FEV1<50% of predicted and were older. Only 25% of sputum samples satisfied all quality criteria. Sputum culture was positive in a high proportion of these samples (80.5%), but also in one half of samples with >25 leukocytes but >10 epithelial cells per field. Microbiological results induced a change in antibiotic therapy in 43.9% of cases with both quality criteria but also in 25.2% of cases with only one quality criterion. Finally, a predominant aspect after Gram stain was found in all positive samples. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that sputum microbiological examination with direct examination and leukocyte count should be performed routinely in patients hospitalized for COPD exacerbations with purulent sputum, especially when FEV1 is less than 50% predicted and in patients with bronchiectasis.

Aged↗