ABSTRACT
Despite being typically perceived as "clonal" organisms, bacteria and archaea possess numerous mechanisms to share and co-opt genetic material from other lineages. Several mechanisms for horizontal gene transfer have been discovered, but the high mosaicity observed in many bacterial genomes outscales that explained by known mechanisms, hinting at yet undiscovered processes. In this issue of Cell, Hackl et al. introduce a new category of mobile genetic elements called tycheposons, providing a novel mechanism that contributes to the prodigious genomic diversity within microbial populations. The discovery and characterization of tycheposons prompts a reevaluation of microbial diversification in complex environments.
Subject(s)
Bacteria , Archaea/genetics , Bacteria/genetics , Gene Transfer, Horizontal , Genome, Bacterial/genetics , Interspersed Repetitive SequencesABSTRACT
Research indicates that 8.5% of all patients undergoing surgical procedures for more than 3 hours develop pressure ulcers. In some types of surgery, incidence rates in excess of 25% have been reported. An 11-month study was conducted on the safety and efficacy of an experimental alternating air device in comparison with a tertiary care facility's conventional practice. A series of 217 patients undergoing surgical procedures scheduled for a minimum of 3 hours were enrolled. No ulcers developed in the experimental group and 11 ulcers developed in seven patients in the control group (8.75% incidence rate). Of the 11 ulcers, one was Stage I, four were Stage II, and six were unstageable secondary to eschar. The difference between the groups is significant at the P = 0.005 level. Individuals who developed ulcers had a length of stay approximately 7 days longer than the hospital average for comparable patients who did not develop ulcers.
Subject(s)
Beds/standards , Intraoperative Complications/prevention & control , Pressure Ulcer/prevention & control , Aged , Air , Female , Humans , Intraoperative Complications/etiology , Intraoperative Complications/nursing , Male , Middle Aged , Nursing Assessment , Pressure Ulcer/etiology , Pressure Ulcer/nursing , Risk Factors , Time FactorsABSTRACT
This article reports the results of a survey of contrast media usage in hospitals in five southeastern states. Forty-three percent of hospitals surveyed reported using nonionic contrast media 100% of the time, while 71% used nonionic contrast more than 75% of the time. Hospitals with fewer than 399 beds showed an increase in universal nonionic contrast usage compared to hospitals with more than 400 beds. Survey results also showed that radiographers administer contrast media in 90% of hospitals. On average, radiographers administered contrast twice as often as radiologists. Hospitals favored selective protocols as the primary method to reduce nonionic contrast media usage. The low rate of reactions for nonionic contrast was the primary reason hospitals chose to use nonionic contrast.
Subject(s)
Contrast Media/administration & dosage , Radiology Department, Hospital , Contrast Media/adverse effects , Contrast Media/classification , Contrast Media/economics , Drug Costs , Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data , Hospital Administration , Hospital Bed Capacity , Hospital Bed Capacity, 300 to 499 , Humans , Nurses/statistics & numerical data , Organizational Policy , Radiography/statistics & numerical data , Radiology/statistics & numerical data , Radiology Department, Hospital/organization & administration , Radiology Department, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Southeastern United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Student nurse organizations can develop reciprocal programs with hospitals which can be mutually beneficial to both organizations. Hospitals need to recruit and retain qualified nurses through cost-effective methods. NSAs need to develop financial support for their group's activities. Both the hospital and the NSA need to expose students to various nursing roles in an effort to reduce reality shock. Developing a reciprocal relationship between an NSA and a hospital is one method of meeting the complementary objectives of both organizations.
