Boot camp approach to surgical residency preparation: feedback from a French university hospital.

INTRODUCTION: The transition from medical student to surgical resident is not a simple one. The aim of this study was to report the experience of a university hospital in the organization of the induction course for future surgical residents and the contribution of a video support in the learning of the suture. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We were able to study two consecutive years of students (October 2020 and 2021). Concerning the practical and technical workshops (learning suture) we carried out a comparative study between two groups of students. A group that had video support for learning suture (video group) and a group without video (control group). The evaluation of the suture was performed in a blinded manner by two supervising surgeons. The other practical workshop was drain fixation; the students did not have a video for this workshop. A comparative study was also performed for the drain fixation workshop between the two groups (video group and control group). A program of theoretical courses was also set up. This program is established according to the different future functions of the residents by integrating medico-legal notions and teamwork. Satisfaction questionnaires were given to the students and the answers were given two months after taking up their duties in the hospital (6 questions with Likert scale and 4 free questions). RESULTS: The cohort consisted of 58 students (29 each in 2020 and 29 in 2021). Comparative analyses of the evaluation of the suture workshops showed better performance in the video group compared with the group without video. The comparison of these two groups did not show significant differences in the drain fixation workshop. The theoretical teaching was broken down according to the students' future tasks and each speaker was a specialist in his or her field of expertise. The results of the questionnaires showed a desire on the part of the students to increase the time spent on practical workshops and theoretical forensic teaching. CONCLUSION: We were able to show through these two years of a program that we were able to offer a surgical resident preparation course. In addition, we have highlighted the contribution of a video support in the learning curve of the suture.

A Clustered Case Series of Mucorales Detection in Respiratory Samples from COVID-19 Patients in Intensive Care, France, August to September 2021.

While COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis is now well described in developed countries, COVID-19-associated mucormycosis (CAM) has seemed to remain quite rare in Europe. A retrospective study was performed between March 2020 to September 2021 among COVID-19 adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Toulouse Hospital (Southern France). PCR screening on respiratory samples, which target Aspergillus or Mucorales DNA, were performed, and the number of fungal detections was evaluated monthly during the study period. During the 19 months of the study, 44 (20.3%) COVID-19 ICU patients had a positive PCR for Aspergillus, an overall rate in keeping with the incidence of ICU COVID-19 patients. Ten patients (7.1%) had a positive Mucorales PCR over the same period. Surprisingly, 9/10 had a positive Mucor/Rhizopus PCR in August-September 2021, during the fourth Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant wave. Epidemic investigations have identified a probable environmental cause linked to construction works in the vicinity of the ICU (high levels of airborne spores due to the mistaken interruption of preventive humidification and summer temperature). Even if CAM are apparently rare in Europe, a cluster can also develop in industrialised countries when environmental conditions (especially during construction work) are associated with a high number of COVID-19 patients in the ICU.

Mass Training In Situ During COVID-19 Pandemic: Enhancing Efficiency and Minimizing Sick Leaves.

INTRODUCTION: Avoiding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) work-related infection in frontline healthcare workers is a major challenge. A massive training program was launched in our university hospital for anesthesia/intensive care unit and operating room staff, aiming at upskilling 2249 healthcare workers for COVID-19 patients' management. We hypothesized that such a massive training was feasible in a 2-week time frame and efficient in avoiding sick leaves. METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study. Training focused on personal protective equipment donning/doffing and airway management in a COVID-19 simulated patient. The educational models used were in situ procedural and immersive simulation, peer-teaching, and rapid cycle deliberate practice. Self-learning organization principles were used for trainers' management. Ordinary disease quantity in full-time equivalent in March and April 2020 were compared with the same period in 2017, 2018, and 2019. RESULTS: A total of 1668 healthcare workers were trained (74.2% of the target population) in 99 training sessions over 11 days. The median number of learners per session was 16 (interquartile range = 9-25). In the first 5 days, the median number of people trained per weekday was 311 (interquartile range = 124-385). Sick leaves did not increase in March to April 2020 compared with the same period in the 3 preceding years. CONCLUSIONS: Massive training for COVID-19 patient management in frontline healthcare workers is feasible in a very short time and efficient in limiting the rate of sick leave. This experience could be used in the anticipation of new COVID-19 waves or for rapidly preparing hospital staff for an unexpected major health crisis.

Epidemiology and risk factors for ureteral stent-associated urinary tract infections in non-transplanted renal patients: a systematic review of the literature.

PURPOSE: Pathophysiology and risk factors for Ureteral Stent-Associated Urinary Tract Infection (USAUTI) have been poorly investigated. This situation results in highly diverse practices regarding USAUTI prevention, diagnosis and treatment. The aim of the present study was to describe the epidemiology and risk factors for USAUTI in non-transplanted patients. METHODS: We conducted a systematic literature review based on a comprehensive PubMed® bibliographic strategy, between October 1998 and March 2020. The methodological quality of the studies included was analyzed according to dedicated grids. The main endpoints were the correlation between different potential risk factors and infection ureteral stent-associated urinary tract infection or colonization rate. Conclusions and their level of evidence were reported on the basis of a critical analysis of the best available scientific evidence. This work has been submitted to a national review, which enabled the potentially divergent opinions of experts to be collected, thereby ensuring adequate quality of data. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Twenty-six studies out of the 505 articles identified, were included in the final analysis. Staphylococcus spp, E. coli, Klebsiella spp, Pseudomona aeruginosa, Enterococcus spp. and Candida spp. were the microorganisms most often responsible for asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) or USAUTI. Longer indwelling time, diabetes mellitus, female gender, chronic renal failure, diabetic nephropathy and cancer were identified as risk factors for ABU and ureteral stent colonization. No specific risk factor for UTI was identified in the literature studied. A causal relationship between ureteral stent colonization and USAUTI or urosepsis remains to be demonstrated.

Surgical site infection after trans urethral resection of the prostate (TURP): 2008-2013 French national SSI surveillance ISO-RAISIN.

OBJECTIVE: To describe surgical site infection (SSI) after transurethral resection of prostate (TURP) from the French national database. METHODS: A national SSI surveillance system was implemented in 1999. Each year, the network included urology departments that included at least two months plus one month follow-up, or at least 100 consecutive targeted surgical procedures. A dataset of patients who underwent urology procedures during the six-year period 2008-2013 was made available. SSI diagnosis was made according to standardised CDC criteria. Descriptive analyses were performed using SAS software version 9.4. RESULTS: A total of 12,897 TURPs were performed by 89 urology departments. The crude incidence SSI rate was 2.43 (95% confidence interval = 2.16-2.79). The mean delay for diagnosis was 11.9 ± 8.9 days. The treatment of the SSI required a new surgical intervention in 1.35%. In the multilevel multivariate analysis, ASA score and duration of follow-up were the only parameters correlated with the SSI rate. CONCLUSIONS: On more than 12,000 TURPs surveyed, the SSI rate was 2.43. ASA score and duration of follow-up were the only parameters correlated with the SSI rate.

Prosbiotate: a multicenter, prospective analysis of infectious complications after prostate biopsy.

PURPOSE: Prostate biopsy side effects have a role in the controversy over screening for prostate cancer. We measured the precise incidence of infection after prostate biopsy and determined risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective, multicenter study in France from April to June 2013. All prostate biopsies done during this period were included in study. A web based questionnaire was used to identify patient characteristics, biopsy methods and postoperative infectious episodes. External audit helped ensure data completeness. The primary outcome was the post-biopsy infection rate. We determined risk factors for infectious complications using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The study included 2,718 patients, of whom 6% reported receiving antibiotics in the previous 6 months and 7.4% had a history of prostatitis. Recommended antibiotic prophylaxis consisting of 2 fluoroquinolone tablets 2 hours before examination for prostate biopsy was noted in 78.3% of cases. Post-biopsy sepsis was found in 76 subjects (2.8%). On multivariate analysis predictors of post-biopsy sepsis were noncompliance with antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-3.9, p = 0.001), antibiotic treatment in the previous 6 months (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-3.9, p = 0.015) and a history of prostatitis (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2-2.4, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: In this study the incidence of post-prostate biopsy sepsis was 2.8% and no deaths were reported. Risk factors identified on multivariate analysis were noncompliance with antibiotic prophylaxis according to guidelines, antibiotic treatment in the previous 6 months and a history of prostatitis.

Cardiac implantable devices: surveillance of surgical site infections and assessment of professional practices.

BACKGROUND: A programme for quality assurance and prevention of infection risk during implantation of cardiac medical devices (pacemakers and defibrillators) was set up in our hospital. AIM: We sought to assess surgical site infection rate and compliance with infection-control practices (principally antibiotic prophylaxis). METHODS: Surgical site infections associated with implanted medical devices were monitored in patients during a 6-month period and a 1-year follow-up. Professional practices concerning the use of prophylactic antibiotics in surgery were assessed. RESULTS: The surgical site infection rate was 2.3%. Overall compliance was 45% for the use of antibiotic prophylaxis. CONCLUSIONS: Optimal compliance with antibiotic prophylaxis was not reached in the present series, which demonstrated a surgical site infection rate of 2.3%. More effort must be made to achieve full compliance with preventive measures in the implantation of medical devices.

Seasonality of serum prostate-specific antigen levels: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The measurement of PSA serum levels is central to all early detection programs for prostate cancer. Although individual PSA values were known to fluctuate in the short and long term, the influence of insolation and seasons on PSA had not been addressed to date. To assert the relationship between total and free PSA and meteorological data in 8644 participants (55-70 years) in the French arm of the ERSPC study. METHODS: Blood sample was taken at the local laboratory after informed consent and frozen sera were sent for central testing of total and free PSA. PSA measurement was performed within 7 days on the Access 1.0 automat with Hybritech reagents. Monthly meteorological data -- insolation, daily temperatures and rain precipitations -- were obtained from the local branches of the National Meteorology Agency. RESULTS: Total PSA -- but not free PSA -- was correlated with insolation, that is the monthly accrual in hours of sunshine during which the intensity was higher than 120 Watt x m(-2) (r = 0.05 (95%CI: 0.03-0.07; p < 0.0001)) while no relationships were shown between insolation and percent-free PSA (free PSA divided by the total PSA). Interdependence between total PSA and insolation was also apparent with respect to the 3 ng/mL ERSPC cutoff for recommending biopsies (213.1 vs. 206.2 hours, p = 0.004). Such relationship was even more evident in summer when the tested participants more often had a PSA > 3 ng/mL (17.1% vs. 14.3%, p = 0.0006) than in the rest of the year, resulting in 23% more chances of being referred for biopsies (Odds ratio 1.23, 95%CI: 1.10-1.40). CONCLUSIONS: Total PSA was shown to be strongly associated with insolation and seasons while the percent-free PSA was not influenced.

[Epidemiology of nosocomial infections after cataract surgery and role of the Infection Control Committee in prevention]. / Epidémiologie des infections nosocomiales après opération de la cataracte et rôle du CLIN dans la prévention.

Despite of a low incidence (3 for 1,000), post-cataract surgery endophthalmitis remains a serious complication with a poor prognosis. The nosocomial definition is almost always present despite the endogenous origin; the latter is associated with the risk prone operative procedure, and the presence of numerous normal flora on skin and conjunctiva. Within this context, the incriminated bacteria are coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. Micro-outbreaks of postoperative Pseudomonas aeruginosa endophthalmitis have an exogenous origin. In order to prevent these nosocomial infections, the role of the "infection control committee" and the operational hygiene team is very important: 1) survey of new infectious cases and of the hospital environment; 2) infection control measures about pre and intra operative preparation of the patient; 3) operating room maintenance.