Epidemiology and impact of a multifaceted approach in controlling central venous catheter associated blood stream infections outside the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Outside ICUs, CVC-ABSIs epidemiology and the results of strategies for their prevention are not well known. The aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology and the impact of a multifaceted "bundle" approach in controlling CVC-ABSIs outside ICU. METHODS: From 1991 we performed prevalence studies of device and parenteral nutrition use, and prospective surveillance of all episodes of CVC-ABSIs in a 350-bed teaching hospital. CVC-ABSIs incidence/1,000 inpatient-days was calculated. An estimated CVC-ABSIs incidence/1,000 catheter-days was calculated based on the prevalence rates of catheter use and the total number of inpatient-days in each year. On november 2008, an education programme was instituted for care of catheter lines: reinforcing instructions in aseptic insertion technique, after care and hand-washing; in order to assess the adherence to these measures the quantity of alcohol-based hand-rub consumption/1,000 patient-days was quoted in litres. From January 2009, a checklist intervention for CVC insertion in ICU was started: hand hygiene, using full barrier precautions, cleaning the skin with alcoholic chlorhexidine, avoiding femoral access and removing unnecessary catheters. Compliance with the central line insertion checklist was measured by real-time audits and was achieved in 80% of cases. RESULTS: Prevalence of use of CVC and parenteral nutrition was similar throughout the study. We followed-up 309 CVC-ABSIs cases. Estimated CVC-ABSIs rate progressively increased to 15.1/1,000 catheter-days in 2008 (0.36/1,000 inpatient-days). After the intervention, the alcohol-based hand-rub consumption increased slightly and estimated CVC-ABSIs rate fell to 10.1 /1,000 catheter-days in last three years (0.19/1,000 inpatient-days), showing a 32.9% decrease. The infection rates achieved were lower in Internal Medicine wards: decreased from 14.1/1,000 catheter-days (0.17/patient-days) in 2008 to 5.2/1,000 catheter-days (0.05/1,000 inpatient-days) in last three years, showing a 63.1% decrease. In 2009, the estimated CVC-ABSIs incidence rate was significantly lower in the Internal Medicine ward compared to the Surgery ward: rate ratio (RR) = 0.14, 95%CI: 0.03-0.60), and within the Internal Medicine ward, the estimated CVC-ABSIs incidence rate was significantly lower in 2009 compared to 2008 (RR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.04-0.91). CONCLUSION: The rate of CVC-ABSIs increased outside-ICU, and the implementation of multifaceted infection control programme decreased their clinical impact.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: epidemiology and risk factors

Objetivo: Conocer la epidemiología y los factores de riesgo asociados con la tuberculosis extrapulmonar(EPTB).Método: Los casos de tuberculosis (TB) diagnosticadas entre 1991-2008 en una población caucásica fueron clasificados como EPTB o TB pulmonar (PTB). De todos los casos, 63,7% fueron seguidos en una consulta monográfica de TB. Se utilizó un protocolo estandarizado para la recogida de los datos, incluyendo: sexo, edad, vacunación con BCG, contacto con algún paciente con PTB, tabaquismo, alcoholismo, diabetes mellitus, corticoides/fármacos inmunosupresores e infección por el VIH. Se compararon las variables entre los grupos de EPTB y de PTB. El análisis estadístico se basó en un estudio de regresión logística. Se calcularon los odds ratio (OR) y sus intervalos de confianza (IC) del 95%.Resultados: Entre 2.161 casos diagnosticados, 1.186 fueron PTB y 705 EPTB. La incidencia global de TB disminuyó desde 79.9/100.000 en 1992 hasta 27.1/100.000 en 2008, p<0,05. El número de casos de EPTB disminuyó de forma más lenta que el de PTB. La proporción de EPTB aumentó desde 30,6% de los casos en 1991-1996 hasta 37,6% en 2003-2008 (la localización ganglionar aumentó un 27%), p<0,05 en un ji al cuadrado de tendencia. En el estudio multivariante, ser mujer (OR 2,04; IC 95%: 1,56-2,66) y la edad (OR1,02; IC 95%: 1,01-1,022) se asociaron con EPTB mientras que el alcoholismo (OR 0,33; IC 95%: 0,20-0,52),

Objective To describe the epidemiology and risk factors associated with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB).Method Cases of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosed from 1991 to 2008 in a Caucasian population were classified as EPTB or pulmonary TB (PTB). Of all cases, 63.7% were followed up in a specialist TB unit. A standardised protocol for data collection was used, including: gender, age, BCG vaccination, contact with PTB patient, smoking habit, alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppressive drugs/steroids and HIV-status. These variables were compared between EPTB and PTB groups. Statistical analysis was based on logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Results Among the 2,161 cases diagnosed, 1,186 were PTB and 705 EPTB. The overall TB incidence had fallen from 79.9/100,000 in 1992 to 27.1/100,000 in 2008, P<.05. The number of EPTB cases decreased more slowly than PTB. EPTB increased from 30.6% of cases in 1991-1996 to 37.6% in 2003-2008 (lymphatic site increased 27%), by trend test P<.05. At multivariate level, being female (OR 2.04; 95% CI: 1.56-2.66) and age (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.022) were associated with EPTB, while alcohol abuse (OR 0.33; 95% CI: 0.20-0.52), smoking habit (OR 0.45; 95%CI: 0.34-0.59), contact with PTB patients (OR 0.57; 95% CI: 0.44-0.76) and BCG vaccination (OR 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44-0.92) had a protective effect. The proportion of female gender and age of patients increased over time, whilst there was a decrease in BCG vaccinated patients. Conclusions Whilst there has been a reduction in the overall incidence of TB, the proportion of EPTB increased. The proportional increase in EPTB could be explained by an increase in life expectancy and the predominance of women in the population, and by a decline in BCG vaccinated patients(AU) el tabaquismo (OR 0,45; IC 95%: (..) (AU)

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: epidemiology and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology and risk factors associated with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). METHOD: Cases of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosed from 1991 to 2008 in a Caucasian population were classified as EPTB or pulmonary TB (PTB). Of all cases, 63.7% were followed up in a specialist TB unit. A standardised protocol for data collection was used, including: gender, age, BCG vaccination, contact with PTB patient, smoking habit, alcohol abuse, diabetes mellitus, immunosuppressive drugs/steroids and HIV-status. These variables were compared between EPTB and PTB groups. Statistical analysis was based on logistic regression. Odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Among the 2,161 cases diagnosed, 1,186 were PTB and 705 EPTB. The overall TB incidence had fallen from 79.9/100,000 in 1992 to 27.1/100,000 in 2008, P<.05. The number of EPTB cases decreased more slowly than PTB. EPTB increased from 30.6% of cases in 1991-1996 to 37.6% in 2003-2008 (lymphatic site increased 27%), by trend test P<.05. At multivariate level, being female (OR 2.04; 95% CI: 1.56-2.66) and age (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01-1.022) were associated with EPTB, while alcohol abuse (OR 0.33; 95% CI: 0.20-0.52), smoking habit (OR 0.45; 95%CI: 0.34-0.59), contact with PTB patients (OR 0.57; 95% CI: 0.44-0.76) and BCG vaccination (OR 0.64; 95% CI: 0.44-0.92) had a protective effect. The proportion of female gender and age of patients increased over time, whilst there was a decrease in BCG vaccinated patients. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst there has been a reduction in the overall incidence of TB, the proportion of EPTB increased. The proportional increase in EPTB could be explained by an increase in life expectancy and the predominance of women in the population, and by a decline in BCG vaccinated patients.

Non-hospital-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA chronic carrier patients in infection control.

This study reports research on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonized-infected patients who were admitted to a 320-bed hospital. Specifically, we report on the difficulties related to MRSA infection control as a consequence of the increasing incidence of non-hospital-associated MRSA acquisition and patients as chronic carriers who are frequently readmitted to the hospital.

[Use of diagnostic and therapeutic resources in patients hospitalized for heart failure: influence of admission ward type (INCARGAL Study)]. / Utilización de recursos diagnósticos y terapéuticos en pacientes ingresados por insuficiencia cardíaca: influencia del servicio de ingreso (estudio INCARGAL).

BACKGROUND: Heart failure (HF) is the most rapidly growing cardiac pathology in industrialized countries, and already the primary cause of hospital admissions of elderly people. Outside the field of clinical trials, there have not been many studies in Spain of the influence of the admission department on diagnostic and therapeutic management, whether this affects short-term and long-term prognosis, and the factors that determine the department the patient is admitted to. OBJECTIVE: . To analyze whether management and prognosis of patients admitted with heart failure differ depending on the admission ward (cardiology versus internal medicine-geriatrics). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 951 patients (505 men and 446 women) consecutively hospitalized for HF in the cardiology (n = 363) and internal medicine-geriatrics (n = 588) wards of 12 hospitals of Galicia and recruited over a maximum period of 6 months. The main epidemiological and clinical variables were recorded at admission, and the complications, treatments, and clinical status were recorded at release.Results. HF patients had a mean age of 75.5 12 years (women 78.5 years and men 72.6 years). The average hospitalization time was 11 8 days and 50.8% were first admissions. Total hospital mortality was 6.8%. Fifty-nine percent (58.9%) of patients had arterial hypertension, 31.9% ischemic heart disease, 27.6% cardiac valve disease, 28.5% diabetes mellitus, and 32.5% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The patients admitted to cardiology ward were younger (72.5 13 vs 77.4 11 years; p < 0.005), more frequently men (51.9 vs 43.7%; p < 0.005), more often first hospitalizations (54.8 vs 48.4%; p < 0.005), and acute pulmonary edema was more common (22.8 vs 9.2%; p < 0.005). The odds ratio (and 95% CI) for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures in relation to admission ward (reference group internal medicine-geriatrics), adjusted for age, sex, systolic function, number of hospitalizations, and history of dementia, hypertension, COPD, AMI, valve disease and ischemic heart disease, are: echocardiogram, 3.49 (2.58-4.73); catheterization, 6.42 (3.29-12.55), admission to intensive care, 3.94 (2.15-7.25), revascularization, 2.15 (0.57-8.08), and beta-blocker treatment, 3.39 (1.93-5.97). No differences in hospital mortality (6.6% in cardiology vs 7% in internal medicine-geriatrics) or average hospitalization time were found between departments. CONCLUSIONS: The admission ward was related with a clear difference in HF management, with better adherence to guidelines and more use of resources by cardiologists. This was unrelated with differences in hospital mortality so a longer follow-up of these patients is required to evaluate the impact of these therapeutic measures on the prognosis and evolution of HF, as well as the cost-benefit relation in an elderly patient population.