Incidence of surgical wound infection in renal surgery. The effect of antibiotic prophylaxis appropriateness. A prospective cohort study. / Incidencia de infección de herida quirúrgica en cirugía renal. Efecto de la adecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica. Estudio de cohortes prospectivo.

OBJECTIVE: To assess compliance with the antibiotic prophylaxis protocol for patients who underwent renal surgery and its effect on the incidence of surgical wound infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a prospective cohort study and assessed the overall compliance and each aspect of the antibiotic prophylaxis (start, administration route, antibiotic of choice, duration and dosage) and reported the compliance rates. The qualitative variables were compared with the chi-squared test, and the quantitative variables were compared with Student's t-test. We studied the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis compliance on the incidence of surgical wound infection in renal surgery, with the relative risk. RESULTS: The study included 266 patients, with an overall compliance rate of 90.6%. The major cause of noncompliance (3.8%) was the start of the prophylaxis, and the incidence rate of surgical wound infections was 3.4%. We found no relationship between antibiotic prophylaxis noncompliance and surgical wound infections (RR=0.26; 95%CI: 0.1-1.2; P>.05). Laparoscopic surgery had a lower incidence of surgical wound infections than open surgery (RR=0.10; 95%CI: 0.01-0.79). CONCLUSIONS: The antibiotic prophylaxis compliance was high. The incidence of surgical site infection was low, and there was no relationship between the incidence of surgical site infection and antibiotic prophylaxis compliance. The incidence of infection was lower in laparoscopic surgery.

Incidencia de infección de herida quirúrgica en cirugía renal. Efecto de la adecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica. Estudio de cohortes prospectivo / Incidence of surgical wound infection in renal surgery. The effect of antibiotic prophylaxis appropriateness. A prospective cohort study

Objetivo: Evaluar la adecuación a protocolo de la profilaxis antibiótica en pacientes intervenidos de cirugía renal y su efecto en la incidencia de infección de localización quirúrgica. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo de cohortes. Se evaluó la adecuación global y de cada apartado de la profilaxis antibiótica (inicio, vía de administración, antibiótico de elección, duración y dosis). Se describieron los porcentajes de adecuación. Las variables cualitativas se han comparado con la prueba Chi2 y las cuantitativas con la prueba t-Student. Se ha estudiado el efecto de la adecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica, en la incidencia de infección de localización quirúrgica en la cirugía renal, con el riesgo relativo. Resultados: Se incluyeron 266 pacientes en el estudio. La adecuación global fue del 90,6%. La mayor causa de inadecuación fue el inicio de la profilaxis, con un 3,8%. La incidencia de infección de localización quirúrgica fue del 3,4%. No se encontró relación entre la inadecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica y la infección de localización quirúrgica (RR = 0,26; IC 95%: 0,1-1,2; p > 0,05). La cirugía laparoscópica tuvo menor incidencia de infección de localización quirúrgica que la cirugía abierta (RR = 0,10; IC 95%: 0,01-0,79). Conclusiones: La adecuación de la profilaxis antibiótica fue alta. La incidencia de infección de localización quirúrgica fue baja y no hubo relación entre la incidencia de infección de localización quirúrgica y la adecuación a la profilaxis antibiótica. La incidencia de infección fue menor en la cirugía laparoscópica

Objective: To assess compliance with the antibiotic prophylaxis protocol for patients who underwent renal surgery and its effect on the incidence of surgical wound infection. Material and methods: We performed a prospective cohort study and assessed the overall compliance and each aspect of the antibiotic prophylaxis (start, administration route, antibiotic of choice, duration and dosage) and reported the compliance rates. The qualitative variables were compared with the chi-squared test, and the quantitative variables were compared with Student's t-test. We studied the effect of antibiotic prophylaxis compliance on the incidence of surgical wound infection in renal surgery, with the relative risk. Results: The study included 266 patients, with an overall compliance rate of 90.6%. The major cause of noncompliance (3.8%) was the start of the prophylaxis, and the incidence rate of surgical wound infections was 3.4%. We found no relationship between antibiotic prophylaxis noncompliance and surgical wound infections (RR = 0.26; 95% CI: 0.1-1.2; P > .05). Laparoscopic surgery had a lower incidence of surgical wound infections than open surgery (RR = 0.10; 95% CI: 0.01-0.79). Conclusions: The antibiotic prophylaxis compliance was high. The incidence of surgical site infection was low, and there was no relationship between the incidence of surgical site infection and antibiotic prophylaxis compliance. The incidence of infection was lower in laparoscopic surgery

Kidney Smartphone Diagnostics.

Here we present a method for a mobile point-of-care (POC) testing of urinary albumin concentration, a biomarker of kidney damage and cardiovascular disease. The self-testing strips are meant to be interpreted by means of a smartphone application. The limits of detection range from 0.15 to 0.30 g/L urinary albumin, though results below 0.10 g/L are presented in a quantitative manner and estimates larger than this threshold are shown as categorical variables in a qualitative manner for increasing urinary albumin concentrations. Calibrated once under standard conditions, the app enables the user to capture problem samples and calculate the corresponding concentration. Negative and positive findings must be interpreted, taking into account the inherent limitations of the method, and professional health advice must be requested for diagnostic considerations. Acknowledgment of the association between early life nutrition and long-term renal health and the adoption of preventive strategies targeting high-risk groups is key for the reduction of the burden of chronic kidney disease on a global scale.

Hormonal Smartphone Diagnostics.

Mobile point-of-care diagnostics are paramount for the provision of healthcare. Hormonal diagnostics are powerful tools to monitor timely changes in human physiology. Hormone concentrations in serum directly correlate with urine excretions with minor time delays. Therefore, rapid tests for hormones in urine have been widely used for decades as means of early diagnostics, particularly in lateral flow immunoassay formats. However, the challenge of reading and interpreting these binary tests remains. Here we present a method for utilizing mobile technologies to quantitatively read and interpret hormonal test strips. The method demonstrates the detection of a urinary by-product of progesterone, pregnanediol glucuronide (PdG), and its relation to ovulation and the fertility cycle.

Reusable, robust, and accurate laser-generated photonic nanosensor.

Developing noninvasive and accurate diagnostics that are easily manufactured, robust, and reusable will provide monitoring of high-risk individuals in any clinical or point-of-care environment. We have developed a clinically relevant optical glucose nanosensor that can be reused at least 400 times without a compromise in accuracy. The use of a single 6 ns laser (λ = 532 nm, 200 mJ) pulse rapidly produced off-axis Bragg diffraction gratings consisting of ordered silver nanoparticles embedded within a phenylboronic acid-functionalized hydrogel. This sensor exhibited reversible large wavelength shifts and diffracted the spectrum of narrow-band light over the wavelength range λpeak ≈ 510-1100 nm. The experimental sensitivity of the sensor permits diagnosis of glucosuria in the urine samples of diabetic patients with an improved performance compared to commercial high-throughput urinalysis devices. The sensor response was achieved within 5 min, reset to baseline in ∼10 s. It is anticipated that this sensing platform will have implications for the development of reusable, equipment-free colorimetric point-of-care diagnostic devices for diabetes screening.

The regulation of mobile medical applications.

The rapidly expanding number of mobile medical applications have the potential to transform the patient-healthcare provider relationship by improving the turnaround time and reducing costs. In September 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance to regulate these applications and protect consumers by minimising the risks associated with their unintended use. This guidance distinguishes between the subset of mobile medical apps which may be subject to regulation and those that are not. The marketing claims of the application determine the intent. Areas of concern include compliance with regular updates of the operating systems and of the mobile medical apps themselves. In this article, we explain the essence of this FDA guidance by providing examples and evaluating the impact on academia, industry and other key stakeholders, such as patients and clinicians. Our assessment indicates that awareness and incorporation of the guidelines into product development can hasten the commercialisation and market entry process. Furthermore, potential obstacles have been discussed and directions for future development suggested.

Holographic detection of hydrocarbon gases and other volatile organic compounds.

There is a need to develop sensors for real-time monitoring of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrocarbon gases in both external and indoor environments, since these compounds are of growing concern in human health and welfare. Current measurement technology for VOCs requires sophisticated equipment and lacks the prospect for rapid real-time monitoring. Holographic sensors can give a direct reading of the analyte concentration as a color change. We report a technique for recording holographic sensors by laser ablation of silver particles formed in situ by diffusion. This technique allows a readily available hydrophobic silicone elastomer to be transformed into an effective sensor for hydrocarbon gases and other volatile compounds. The intermolecular interactions present between the polymer and molecules are used to predict the sensor performance. The hydrophobicity of this material allows the sensor to operate without interference from water and other atmospheric gases and thus makes the sensor suitable for biomedical, industrial, or environmental analysis.

[Proceedings in the implantation of a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy program]. / Implantación de un programa de prostatectomia radical laparoscópica.

OBJECTIVE: To describe our proceedings in the implatation of our laparoscopic radical prostatectomy program (LRP). METHODS: Our working agenda and step-oriented implementation of our LRP program are shown. RESULTS: Four main steps were scheduled to acomplish this goal. These were: Preparatory phase, programed open conversion, development and analysis. Overlapping of each of these phase occured although their major content run on a time-basis. After basic skills acquisition and updating of our equipment we moved into the fixed-time open conversion we allowed us to progresively improve our performance without putting our patients into risks. Operative time of this phase exceeds that of our open cases in 63 minutes and no major complications took place. A rapid decrease in the operative time was noted after the first 15 cases (197' vs 264'). CONCLUSION: Implantation of a program of LRP can be done safely with a pre-planned program tailored to the needs and characteristics of each group and institution.

Implantación de un programa de prostatectomía radical laparoscópica / Proceedings in the implantation of a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy program

Objetivo: Exponer la implantación de nuestro programa de prostatectomía radical laparoscópica (PRL). Material y métodos: Se presenta la metodología y el plan de trabajo seguido en nuestro Centro. Resultados. La implantación del programa de PRL se hace en diferentes de fases coincidentes de manera parcial cronológicamente: fase de preparatoria, fase de reconversión programada, fase de desarrollo y fase de análisis. La primera es un periodo de aprendizaje de la técnica laparoscópica y de adquisición de equipamiento. La fase de reconversión realizada sobre nueve pacientes supone el comienzo de la técnica laparoscópica con una limitación en el tiempo para evitar alargamiento del tiempo quirúrgico y morbilidad. En nuestra experiencia, el incremento medio de tiempo quirúrgico ha sido de 63 minutos respecto a la prostatectomía radical abierta y no hemos tenido complicaciones mayores en este periodo. El tiempo quirúrgico medio disminuyó rápidamente tras los primeros 15 pacientes (197’ vs 264’). Conclusiones: La implantación de un programa de PRL es factible sin que conlleve riesgos añadidos a los pacientes haciéndolo mediante una planificación ordenada previamente que se debe ajustar a las particularidades de cada grupo e institución (AU)

Objective: To describe our proceedings in the implatation of our laparoscopic radical prostatectomy program (LRP). Methods: Our working agenda and step-oriented implementation of our LRP program are shown. Results: Four main steps were scheduled to acomplish this goal. These were: Preparatory phase, programed open conversion, development and analysis. Overlapping of each of these phase occured although their major content run on a time-basis. After basic skills acquisition and updating of our equipment we moved into the fixed-time open conversion we allowed us to progresively improve our performance without putting our patients into risks. Operative time of this phase exceeds that of our open cases in 63 minutes and no major complications took place. A rapid decrease in the operative time was noted after the first 15 cases (197’ vs 264’). Conclusion: Implantation of a program of LRP can be done safely with a pre-planned program tailored to the needs and characteristics of each group and institution (AU)