Prevalencia y biometría del espolón calcáneo en la población chilena: estudio radiológico / Prevalence and biometry of the calcaneal spur in the Chilean population: radiological study

RESUMEN: El dolor en la región calcánea del pie afecta aproximadamente a un tercio de los adultos mayores de 65 años. Asimismo, una gran cantidad de sujetos que consultan por esta condición, revelan hallazgos radiológicos de un crecimiento anormal en el hueso calcáneo, en su cara plantar, en forma de gancho denominado espolón calcáneo (EC). El objetivo del presente estudio fue relacionar la prevalencia y biometría de los EC en individuos chilenos según sexo y edad. Se realizó un estudio radiológico de tipo descriptivo-correlacional donde se revisaron al azar 400 radiografías de pies en proyección lateral de 200 sujetos chilenos entre 15 y 90 años. El análisis de los 200 exámenes radiográficos mostró que en 135 (67,5 %) de ellos presentaban EC de manera unilateral o bilateral. La presencia de al menos un EC era mayor en las mujeres 104 (52 %) que en los hombres 31 (15,5 %). Sin embargo, esta diferencia no es estadísticamente significativa p= 0,621. La edad promedio de los sujetos que presentaron EC era de 60,4 años, ampliamente superior a quien no lo presentaba (43,5 años), siendo esta diferencia estadísticamente significativa P<0,05. Se puede concluir una prevalencia del 67,5 % de EC en la población de estudio, mayor en las mujeres y directamente relacionada con la edad. Esta información podría ser de gran valor morfológico y médico debido a la escasa literatura existente sobre esta materia en individuos chilenos.

SUMMARY: Pain in the talar region of the foot affects approximately one third of people over 65 years of age. Likewise, a large number of patients who consult for this condition reveal radiological findings of an abnormal growth of the hook-shaped calcaneus called a calcaneal spur (CS). The objective of the present study was to relate the prevalence and biometrics of CS in Chilean individuals according to sex and age. A descriptive-correlational radiological study was carried out where 400 lateral projection radiographs of the feet of 200 Chilean patients between 15 and 90 years of age were randomly reviewed. The analysis of the 200 people examined showed that 135 (67.5%) presented CS unilaterally or bilaterally. The presence of at least one CS is greater in the female sex 104 (52%) than in the male sex 31 (15.5%), however, this difference is not statistically significant p = 0.621. The average age of the people who presented CS is 60.43 years, much higher than those who do not present (43.51 years), this difference being statistically significant P = Sig. It can be concluded a prevalence of 67.5% of CS in the study population, higher in the female sex and directly related to age. This information will be of great morphological and medical value due to the little existing literature on this matter in Chilean individuals.

Blood culture contamination in the departments of paediatrics and child health at two tertiary training hospitals in central South Africa

Background. Bloodstream infections are an important cause of mortality in children. Blood cultures (BCs) remain the primary means of identifying organisms and their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. A shortcoming of BCs is that up to 56% of positive cultures will represent contaminants. Poor adherence to standard practices applicable to BC sampling could explain an unacceptable contamination rate. Objectives. To determine: (i) the BC contamination rate in the departments of paediatrics and child health at two tertiary hospitals in central South Africa; and (ii) BC sampling practices among paediatric clinicians. Methods. The author determined the prevalence of BC contamination by analysis of laboratory data for the period 1 May - 27 August 2019, and assessed possible factors contributing to BC contamination by surveying paediatric medical staff with a self-administered BC practices questionnaire. Results. Of the 244 BCs reviewed, 25.4% were positive. The most commonly isolated pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) (33.3%), Escherichia coli (22.2%), Enterococcus faecium (16.7%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (11.1%). In total, 15.2% of the BCs yielded contaminants and 2.9% had polymicrobial growth. The most common contaminant was CoNS. Approximately 68% of clinicians were not aware of BC sampling guidelines, and even among those who were aware of the guidelines, non-compliance was reported. Conclusions. The BC contamination rate was higher than internationally accepted rates. Educating clinicians on specific BC sampling guidelines is strongly recommended to decrease the high rate of contamination observed in this study.

The mechanics of setting up a COVID-19 response: Experiences of the COVID-19 epidemic from Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the provision of healthcare in ways that are unprecedented in our lifetime. Planning for the sheer numbers expected during the surge has required public hospitals to de-escalate all non-essential clinical services to focus on COVID-19. Western Cape Province was the initial epicentre of the COVID-19 epidemic in South Africa (SA), and the Cape Town metro was its hardest-hit geographical region. We describe how we constructed our COVID-19 hospital-wide clinical service at Groote Schuur Hospital, the University of Cape Town's tertiary-level teaching hospital. By describing the barriers and enablers, we hope to provide guidance rather than a blueprint for hospitals elsewhere in SA and in low-resource countries that face similar challenges now or during subsequent waves