Antibiotic usage in chronic rhinosinusitis: analysis of national primary care electronic health records.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyse rates of antibiotic usage in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) in primary care in England and Wales and to identify trends in the choice of antibiotics prescribed. METHODS: We used linked data from primary care EHRs, with diagnoses coded using the Read terminology (Clinical Practice Research Datalink) from consenting general practices, with (2) hospital care administrative records (Hospital Episode Statistics, HES recorded using ICD-10). RESULTS: From the total of 88,317 cases of CRS identified, 40,462 (46%) had an antibiotic prescription within 5 days of their first CRS diagnosis. Of patients receiving a first line antibiotic within 5 days of CRS diagnosis, over 80%, in each CRS group, received a subsequent prescription for an antibiotic. Within 5 years of diagnosis, 9% are estimated to have had 5 or more antibiotics within 5 days of a CRS-related consultation. With data spanning almost 20 years, it was possible to discern trends in antibiotics prescriptions, with a clear increasing trend towards macrolide and tetracycline prescribing evident. CONCLUSIONS: While antibiotics may have been prescribed for acute exacerbations, we have found high rates of repeated antibiotic prescription in some patients with CRS in primary care. There is a need for stronger evidence on the role of antibiotics in CRS management.

Risk of mortality and cardiovascular events following macrolide prescription in chronic rhinosinusitis patients: a cohort study using linked primary care electronic health records.

BACKGROUND: Macrolide antibiotics have demonstrated important anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients. However, reports of increased risks of cardiovascular events have led to safety concerns. We investigated the risk of all-cause and cardiac death, and cardiovascular outcomes, associated with macrolide use. METHODOLOGY: Observational cohort (1997-2016) using linked data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, Hospital Episodes Statistics, and the Office for National Statistics. Patients aged 16-80 years with CRS prescribed a macrolide antibiotic or penicillin were included, comparing prescriptions for macrolide antibiotics to penicillin. Outcomes were all-cause mortality, cardiac death, myocardial infarction, stroke, diagnosis of peripheral vascular disease, and cardiac arrhythmia. RESULTS: Analysis included 320,798 prescriptions received by 66,331 patients. There were 3,251 deaths, 815 due to cardiovascular causes, 925 incident myocardial infarctions, 859 strokes, 637 diagnoses of peripheral vascular disease, and 1,436 cardiac arrhythmias. A non-statistically significant trend towards increased risk of myocardial infarction during the first 30 days following macrolide prescription was observed. No statistically significant short- or long-term risks were observed for macrolide prescription. No significant risks were identified for clarithromycin in particular. CONCLUSIONS: Although not statistically significant, our best estimates suggest an increased short-term risk of myocardial infarction in patients with CRS following macrolide prescription, supporting previous observational evidence. However, confounding by indication remains a possible explanation for this apparent increased risk. We found no evidence of longer term increased risks.

Telepsychiatry in Asperger's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Internet technology offers psychiatrists new opportunities for remote interaction with patients. It also raises issues regarding therapeutic effectiveness, safety, technical problems and possibilities for overcoming them, and matters related to specific mental health problems such as autism. The case presented concerns an adolescent male with severe social impairment and isolation as manifestations of Aspergers syndrome. METHODS: The patient was accepted contact with psychiatric services through telepsychiatry, which enabled initial assessment and the development of a therapeutic relationship. RESULTS: In due course the patient was able to attend the clinic in person. He became somewhat reconciled to his family. With appropriate adaptations he was able to resume his education and career. CONCLUSIONS: Telepsychiatry shows promise in engaging with patients with autism spectrum disorders. As experience accrues, there is some evidence that it is safe and effective. Adaptations to traditional clinical psychotherapy may be required.

Discrete-choice experiment to analyse preferences for centralizing specialist cancer surgery services.

BACKGROUND: Centralizing specialist cancer surgery services aims to reduce variations in quality of care and improve patient outcomes, but increases travel demands on patients and families. This study aimed to evaluate preferences of patients, health professionals and members of the public for the characteristics associated with centralization. METHODS: A discrete-choice experiment was conducted, using paper and electronic surveys. Participants comprised: former and current patients (at any stage of treatment) with prostate, bladder, kidney or oesophagogastric cancer who previously participated in the National Cancer Patient Experience Survey; health professionals with experience of cancer care (11 types including surgeons, nurses and oncologists); and members of the public. Choice scenarios were based on the following attributes: travel time to hospital, risk of serious complications, risk of death, annual number of operations at the centre, access to a specialist multidisciplinary team (MDT) and specialist surgeon cover after surgery. RESULTS: Responses were obtained from 444 individuals (206 patients, 111 health professionals and 127 members of the public). The response rate was 52·8 per cent for the patient sample; it was unknown for the other groups as the survey was distributed via multiple overlapping methods. Preferences were particularly influenced by risk of complications, risk of death and access to a specialist MDT. Participants were willing to travel, on average, 75 min longer in order to reduce their risk of complications by 1 per cent, and over 5 h longer to reduce risk of death by 1 per cent. Findings were similar across groups. CONCLUSION: Respondents' preferences in this selected sample were consistent with centralization.

Serum albumin in Down Syndrome with and without Alzheimer's Disease.

AIMS: We investigated whether or not serum albumin concentrations in Down Syndrome were lower than those of a cohort of similarly moderately- to-severely-disabled institutionalised patients without Down Syndrome and, if so, whether or not this could be ascribed to the presence of liver disease. We also sought to determine the influence of Down Syndrome, age, liver disease, and Alzheimer's Disease on the serum albumin concentration. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study on 205 institutionalised patients with Learning Disabilities (47 with Down Syndrome, 158 without), and used multiple regression techniques to determine the relative effects of age, liver disease, and the presence or absence of Down Syndrome on the serum albumin concentration. Among Down Syndrome patients. We also sought to determine the association between serum albumin concentration and the presence of Dementia of Alzheimer's Type. RESULTS: Down Syndrome patients had lower serum albumin levels than non-Down Syndrome patients. Serum albumin concentrations declined with age at a similar rate in both groups, such that the effect on serum albumin of having Down Syndrome was equivalent to an additional 44 years of age. The serum albumin concentration in Down Syndrome patients with Alzheimer's Disease was greater than that in Down Syndrome patients without Alzheimer's Disease. CONCLUSIONS: Down Syndrome is associated with a low serum albumin concentration, independently of the presence of liver disease. The advent of Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome is not associated with a further fall, and may be associated with a rise, in serum albumin concentrations.

Suicide and religiosity--Masaryk's theory revisited.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between suicide rates and the religious climate of a community is a matter of controversy. Rising suicide rates have been attributed in part to a decline in religious observance, but contradictory evidence has also been adduced. METHODS: We compared national suicide rates, classified according to gender, age, and urban-rural location,with the results of a national survey on religious belief and practice conducted during the same year. The survey consisted of four questions dealing with different dimensions of religiosity, some of which might be considered as internal and central, others more external and social. RESULTS: Suicide rates were higher for males than for females, and for younger than for older age groups. Religiosity was, in contrast, higher among females and in rural areas. Suicides were more frequent in rural areas, which also had greater religiosity. External, social dimensions of religiosity differed more than core beliefs. CONCLUSIONS: There is evidence of an inverse relationship between religiosity and suicide when age and gender are considered, but not according to location. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis with extension into the inferior vena cava.

The incidence of puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis is estimated to range between 1 in 600 and 1 in 2000 deliveries. The cardinal signs of puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis include fever, leukocytosis, and right lower quadrant abdominal pain, most often in a recently delivered female patient. These patients are classically described as failing to improve with intravenous antibiotic therapy alone; resolution of symptoms and presumptive diagnosis is made on defervescence with the addition of intravenous heparin therapy. Objective diagnostic modalities include venography, ultrasound, laparoscopy, and MRI, although CT remains the gold standard for the identification of this under-diagnosed entity. We present a case report of a 20-year-old female treated at our facility for puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis. She was transferred to our vascular surgery service after developing the classic signs of puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis and undergoing CT demonstrating ovarian vein thrombosis with extension of free-floating thrombus into her inferior vena cava (IVC). This degree of thrombosis was particularly concerning when one considers the 3 to 33 per cent rate of pulmonary embolism reported in patients with puerperal ovarian vein thrombosis. Treatment modalities for such extensive degrees of thrombosis are described in the literature and range from hysterectomy and thrombectomy to ligation of the IVC. In our case, we prophylactically placed a suprarenal IVC Greenfield filter to protect against pulmonary embolism and proceeded with the standard regimen of anticoagulation and antibiotics. This treatment approach has been reported only twice previously in the literature, to our knowledge.

Thromboembolism. A complication of weekly chemotherapy in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

In a retrospective survey of 85 patients who received chemotherapy as treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, the authors found that clinically apparent thromboembolic disorders occurred in four of 11 patients receiving weekly chemotherapy, and in none of 74 patients who were treated on less intensive schedules, suggesting that intensive weekly chemotherapy is thrombogenic. The possible mechanisms of this effect are discussed.

Babesiosis: under-reporting or case-clustering?

Babesiosis is a tick-borne protozoan disease which principally affects animals but occasionally affects humans. Cases have been reported from many parts of Europe with no evidence of case-clustering. We report the second case of babesiosis from a small area in the west of Ireland.

Chondrolysis complicating slipped capital femoral epiphysis.

In a detailed study of 249 patients, 329 cases who had slipped capital femoral epiphysis treated at the Campbell Clinic during the period from 1935 to 1973, chondrolysis was found in 79 hips in 71 patients (28.9%). The incidence of chondrolysis is correlated with the number of factors, including sex, race, chronicity and severity of displacement, and method of treatment. On the basis of biopsy observations upon 23 patients who had chondrolysis, the natural history of the disease includes self-perpetuating synovitis, and progresses with abnormal mechanical stress on the articular cartilage and the development of osteoarthritis.