Population Older than 69 Had Similar Fatality Rates Independently If They Were Admitted in Nursing Homes or Lived in the Community: A Retrospective Observational Study during COVID-19 First Wave.

The aim of this study is to assess the influence of living in nursing homes on COVID-19-related mortality, and to calculate the real specific mortality rate caused by COVID-19 among people older than 20 years of age in the Balaguer Primary Care Centre Health Area during the first wave of the pandemic. We conducted an observational study based on a database generated between March and May 2020, analysing COVID-19-related mortality as a dependent variable, and including different independent variables, such as living in a nursing home or in the community (outside nursing homes), age, sex, symptoms, pre-existing conditions, and hospital admission. To evaluate the associations between the independent variables and mortality, we calculated the absolute and relative frequencies, and performed a chi-square test. To avoid the impact of the age variable on mortality and to assess the influence of the "living in a nursing home" variable, we established comparisons between infected population groups over 69 years of age (in nursing homes and outside nursing homes). Living in a nursing home was associated with a higher incidence of COVID-19 infection, but not with higher mortality in patients over 69 years of age (p = 0.614). The real specific mortality rate caused by COVID-19 was 2.270/00. In the study of the entire sample, all the comorbidities studied were associated with higher mortality; however, the comorbidities were not associated with higher mortality in the infected nursing home patients group, nor in the infected community patients over 69 years of age group (except for neoplasm history in this last group). Finally, hospital admission was not associated with lower mortality in nursing home patients, nor in community patients over 69 years of age.

Reducing the financial impact of pathogen inactivation technology for platelet components: our experience.

BACKGROUND: Pathogen inactivation (PI) technology for blood components enhances blood safety by inactivating viruses, bacteria, parasites, and white blood cells. Additionally, PI for platelet (PLT) components has the potential to extend PLT storage time from 5 to 7 days. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted into the percentage of outdated PLT components during the 3 years before and after the adoption of PLT PI technology in our institution. The PLT transfusion dose for both pre-PI and post-PI periods was similar. A retrospective analysis to study clinical safety and component utilization was also performed in the Balearic Islands University Hospital. RESULTS: As a result of PI implementation in our institution, the PLT production cost increased by 85.5%. However, due to the extension of PLT storage time, the percentage of outdated PLT units substantially decreased (-83.9%) and, consequently, the cost associated with outdated units (-69.8%). This decrease represented a 13.7% reduction of the initial cost increase which, together with the saving in blood transportation (0.1%), led to a saving of 13.8% over the initial cost. Therefore, the initial 85.5% increase in the cost of PLT production was markedly reduced to 71.7%. The mean number of PLT concentrates per patient was similar during both periods. CONCLUSIONS: The extension of PLT storage time can substantially contribute to reducing the financial impact of PI by decreasing the percentage of outdated PLTs while improving blood safety. Since the adoption of PI, there have been no documented cases of PLT transfusion-related sepsis in our region.

Uso de terapias alternativas en la cicatrización de úlceras de etiología venosa. La cromoterapia / Colour therapy in venous ulcers healing. The chromoteraphy

La úlcera de etiología venosa es la más prevalente de las úlceras de extremidad inferior. Entre el 75 y el 80% de las úlceras de la extremidad inferior son de esta etiología. De acuerdo con las evidencias disponibles, el tratamiento de las úlceras de etiología venosa tiene como base dos grandes pilares: el manejo de la úlcera como una herida crónica y el control de la hipertensión venosa crónica (HTV), su causa primordial, mediante sistemas de alta compresión decreciente y mantenida. De todos los métodos de control de la HTV, el sistema multicapa ha demostrado clínicamente que permite alcanzar un 80% de tasa de cicatrización de lesiones a las doce semanas de tratamiento, erigiéndose como el tratamiento más efectivo de los existentes hasta el momento. Por otro lado, a menudo, una compresión de 40 mm Hg en el tobillo no es bien tolerada por todas las personas afectadas de HTV crónica. Para esos casos rebeldes en los que debemos utilizar recursos alternativos, nosotros hemos utilizándola cromoterapia ya que ha demostrado, mediante varios estudios, ser útil en la curación de heridas consiguiendo, entre otros beneficios, estimular el aporte sanguíneo al lecho de la herida, favoreciendo así la oxigenación. En base a estos hechos, nos planteamos la aplicabilidad de la cromoterapia en la cura de las ulceras venosas, como tratamiento complementario a las curas habituales, cuando estos no son lo suficientemente efectivos o cuando el paciente no tolera el vendaje elástico multicapa (AU)

Venous ulcers are the most prevalent ulcers of the lower extremity. They account for75%-80% of ulcers of the lower extremity. According to the evidence available, there are two main strands to therapy: treatment of the ulcer as a chronic wound, and management of venous hypertension (VHT), the prime cause of venous ulcers. VHT is managed using decreasing and sustained high-compression systems. According to the literature, the multilayer system has been clinically shown to attain an ulcer healing rate of 80% after twelve weeks’ treatment. It is the most effective currently existing treatment. Several studies have shown colour therapy to aid wound healing. Among other effects, it stimulates the blood supply to the wound bed and encourages oxygenation, at the same time inhibiting the growth of anaerobic bacteria. On the strength of the above, we propose the use off-color therapy in treating venous ulcers, as additional treatment to standard therapy, when standard therapy is ineffective or when a patient cannot tolerate multilayer bandaging due to pain (AU)