The state of emergency medical technician education in Ghana

Objective: The National Ambulance Service (NAS) provides emergency medical services throughout Ghana and trains emergency medical technicians (EMTs) at the NAS Prehospital Emergency Care Training School (PECTS). Currently the majority of EMT training occurs primarily in a traditional didactic format. Students and faculty were interviewed to better understand their views of the current curriculum. Additionally, any barriers to integration of simulation-based learning were assessed. Following the interviews, the faculty was trained to conduct obstetric and neonatal simulations. The faculty was then observed introducing the simulations to the EMT students. Methods: A standardized list of questions developed in consultation with an education expert was used to elicit student and faculty expression of opinion. Interviews were conducted in-person in small group settings. Training sessions were conducted in-person in large group settings. Results: Students and faculty alike expressed pride in their work and 14/25 groups felt that teaching efforts were high. However, students verbalized concern involving their lack of rest (12/18) and the high volume of lectures per day (11/18). Both students and faculty felt limited by the lack of simulation tools (17/25), library resources (14/25), internet access (17/25), and infrastructure (20/25). All groups felt favorably towards the integration of simulation-based learning (25/25). Conclusion: The faculty and students of PECTS support the transition from a curriculum based on traditional didactic learning to one based on simulation learning

Patients risk factors as predictors of surgical wound infection following open heart surgery

Background: Median sternotomy wound infections are infrequent yet potentially fatal complication following cardiac surgery. The reported incidence of sternal infections ranges from 0.9 to 20%, and the incidence of mediastinitis is 1­2% in most studies. Several studies have examined and identified possible causes and risk factors associated with sternal infections. They include patient-related risk factors, and procedure-related factors. Aim of the study is the assessment of the patient's risk factors related to incidence of infection. Patients and Methods: ninety-eight cardiac surgery patients operated via median sternotomy were included in the study and the role of patient related factors (age, gender, obesity and diabetes mellitus) in the incidence of postoperative superficial and deep sternal wound infection was accessed. Results: Sternal wound infection (SWI) developed in 18 patients (18.36%). 15 patients (15.3%) had superficial SWI while 3 patients (3.06%) had deep SWI. The most common causative organism in our study was staph. aureus especially MRSA.Conclusion: Patient-related risk factors such as age, gender, obesity and diabetes mellitus are important risk factors in the development sternal wound infection

Left ventricular function as an independent prognostic factor for coronary artery bypass surgery

Background : Studies have suggested that patients with severe impairment of left ventricular function had a poor outcome following CABG surgery. Objectives: Evaluation of the role of pre-operative left ventricular function on the early post-operative mortality and morbidity following CABG. Patients and methods: This study was carried out from August 2016 to January 2017 including 40 patients undergoing CABG surgery. Patients were divided into two equal groups each containing 20 patients. Group A contained 20 patients with pre-operative ejection fraction > 50%, while group B contained 20 patients with pre-operative ejection fraction < 50%. Results: Mortality was 2 patients in group A (10%) compared to 5 patients in group B (25%) (P value = 0.031). The mean ICU stay in group A was 3.29 ± 1.49 days compared to 4.22 ± 1.98 days in group B (P value = 0.028). Pre-operative renal dysfunction improved in 2 patients (10%) from group A, compared to 1 patient (5%) in group B (P value = 0.555). Conclusion: Left ventricular function as an independent factor is a good prognostic factor regarding the early postoperative outcome in coronary artery bypass grafting including mortality, operative times, ICU stay and hospital stay

Incisional negative pressure wound therapy (INPWT) for coronary artery bypass grafting patients

Background: Surgical site infections are major complications of coronary artery bypass grafting using bilateral internal thoracic arteries. In this study we reviewed the results of using INPWT for high risk patients with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using bilateral internal mammary arteries. Patients and methods: From January 2013 to December 2016, patients with coronary artery bypass grafting using bilateral mammary arteries were enrolled in this study. Patients were from Kasr El-Einy, Beni-Suef and Fayoum University Hospitals. The total number was 427 patients, where INPWT was used in 161 patient, and conventional sterilized dressing was done in 266 patients. 2 groups were matched for statistical analysis, the first group was the control and the second group was where INPWT was used. Results: The results related to sternal wound infections were similarly attributed to the conventional group (10.9%) and the INPWT group (10.2%) (P=1.00). Patients treated with INPWT had less rate of infection than those with conventional dressing (5.5% versus 10.2%, P= 0.210), this difference was not statistically significant. Interaction tests also showed comparable results for SSI (surgical site infections) among patients with or without significant co-morbidities. Conclusion: This study suggests that the use of INPWT did not decrease the incidence of sternal wound infections in patients who had CABG surgery using bilateral internal mammary harvesting (BIMA). A larger randomized study is needed to evaluate the efficacy of this technique

Most at-risk populations: contextualising HIV prevention programmes targeting marginalised groups in Zanzibar, Tanzania

According to a 2009 UNAIDS report the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in Zanzibar; Tanzania; is low in the general population (0.6); but high among vulnerable groups; specifically sex workers (10.8); injecting drug users (15.1; and men who have sex with men (12.3). In response to this concentrated epidemic; the Government of Zanzibar; international and local non-profit organisations have focused their prevention activities on these marginal populations. Although these efforts are beneficial in terms of disseminating information about HIV/AIDS and referring clients to health clinics; they fail to address how the socio-economic status of these groups places them at a greater risk for contracting and dying from the virus. Furthermore; there is an absence of qualitative research on these populations which is needed to understand the challenges these groups face and to improve the effectiveness of interventions. Through interviews with employees of government agencies and non-profit organisations; medical professionals; vulnerable populations and HIV/AIDS patients; this paper used a political economy of health and syndemic framework to examine how local realities inform and challenge HIV/AIDS programmes in Zanzibar