Curso y final de la vida profesional de Elvira López Mourín / Course and professional end of the nurse elvira lópez mourín

Introducción: Elvira López Mourín fue una enfermera profesional y militar que formó parte de la primera promoción de enfermeras profesionales de la Cruz Roja española. Se trasladó al Hospital de Melilla para atender las demandas sani tarias de la Guerra del Rif. Su participa ción en el acto del primer vuelo sanitario español la convirtió en noticia en los me dios de la época y ha permitido recupe rar su figura. Su recorrido profesional se pierde después del año 1933 cuando se incorpora como enfermera del Cuerpo Auxiliar Subalterno del Ejército en el Hospital Militar de Urgencia de Madrid. Objetivo: determinar el curso y final profesional de la enfermera Elvira López Mourín. Método: se realizó una revisión bibliográfica en los medios electrónicos y de biblioteca disponibles. Se solicitó a los principales archivos históricos docu mentación de sus años de servicio. Se realizaron entrevistas a tres informantes y vecinos del pueblo natal de Elvira que la habían conocido. Resultados: Elvira López Mourín presta sus servicios como enfermera profesional y militar en el Cuerpo Auxiliar Subalterno del Ejército hasta el año 1939, cuando es sometida a un Consejo de Guerra, bajo el gobierno de la dicta dura franquista, del que queda absuelta de todos los cargos. A partir del 12 de mayo de 1940 se reincorpora al Cuerpo Auxiliar Subalterno del Ejército prestando sus servicios en el Hospital Militar de Ur gencia de Madrid hasta el 4 de septiem bre de 1958 cuando se retiró. Conclusión: el acto que rememo ra a Elvira López Mourín es su exitosa participación en la primera misión de vuelo sanitario en España. Durante su carrera profesional ejerció como enfer mera en Melilla y como parte del Cuerpo Auxiliar Subalterno del Ejército en el Hospital Militar de Urgencia de Madrid (AU)

Background: Elvira López Mourín was a professional and military nurse who was part of the first promotion of professional nurses of the Spanish Red Cross. She moved to the Melilla Hospital to meet the health demands of the Rif War. Her participation in the act of the first Spanish sanitary flight made her news in the media of the time and has allowed her figure to be recovered. Her professional career was lost after 1933 when she joined the Army's Junior Auxi liary Corps as a nurse at the Madrid Emergency Military Hospital. Purpose: to determine the course and professional end of the nurse Elvira López Mourín. Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out in the available electronic and library media. Documentation of his years of service was requested from the main historical archives. Interviews were conducted with three informants and re sidents of Elvira's hometown who had known her. Results: Elvira López Mourín pro vided her services as a professional and military nurse in the Subordinate Auxiliary Corps of the Army until 1939, when she was subjected to a War Council, under the government of the Franco dictators hip, from which she was acquitted of all charges. As of May 12, 1940, she rejoi ned the Subordinate Auxiliary Corps of the Army, providing her services at the Emergency Military Hospital in Madrid until September 4, 1958, when she reti red. Conclusion: the act that comme morates Elvira López Mourín is her suc cessful participation in the first medic flight mission in Spain. During her pro fessional career, she worked as a nurse in Melilla and as part of the Subordinate Auxiliary Corps of the Army at the Madrid Emergency Military Hospital. She retired at the age of 65 in 1958 and worked as a nurse during the reign of Alfonso XIII and Victoria Eugenia and the Rif War, the dic tatorship of Primo de Rivera, the go vernment of the Second Republic, the Civil War, and the government of the Franco dictatorship (AU)

Enfrentamiento a la COVID-19 desde la Atención Primaria de Salud de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias

Introducción: La Atención Primaria de Salud constituye el cimiento fundamental del Sistema Nacional de Salud, donde se concretan las actividades de prevención, estilos de vida saludable, promoción de salud, las políticas y programas de salud. El surgimiento de una pandemia anunciada por la Organización Mundial de la Salud hizo necesario la preparación del país para su enfrentamiento, los servicios médicos de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias tuvieron un papel importante. Objetivo: Exponer las acciones que se desarrollaron en el enfrentamiento a la pandemia. Resultados: Los médicos de la atención primaria recibieron y extendieron la capacitación al resto del personal de salud, así como a todas las categorías de personal de forma estratificada, dinámica y actualizada. Entre las medidas higiénico sanitarias anti epidémicas destaca el uso obligatorio del nasobuco, lavado frecuente de las manos con agua y jabón, uso de soluciones desinfectantes, distanciamiento físico, los locales de reunión del personal ventilados, desinfección de los locales con soluciones de cloro, sobre todo las superficies. La pesquisa activa como elemento esencial en la búsqueda de casos con síntomas respiratorios o sugestivos de COVID-19. Conclusiones: El cumplimiento de las medidas higiénico sanitarias permitió la contención de la epidemia en el personal de las entidades relacionadas con la defensa.

Introduction: Primary Health Care constitutes the fundamental foundation of the National Health System, where prevention activities, healthy lifestyles, health promotion, health policies and programs are specified. The emergence of a pandemic announced by the World Health Organization made it necessary to prepare the country for its confrontation, the medical services of the Revolutionary Armed Forces played an important role. Objective: To publicize the actions that were developed in the confrontation with the pandemic. Results: Primary care physicians received and extended the training to the rest of the health personnel, as well as to all categories of personnel in a stratified, dynamic and updated manner. Among the anti-epidemic hygienic-sanitary measures, the mandatory use of the mask, frequent hand washing with soap and water, use of disinfectant solutions, physical distancing, ventilated meeting places for staff, disinfection of premises with chlorine solutions, especially all surfaces. Active investigation as an essential element in the search for cases with respiratory symptoms or those suggestive of COVID-19. Conclusions: The fulfillment of the sanitary hygienic measures allowed the containment of the epidemic in the personnel of the entities related to the defense.

Gerência do cuidado: perspectivas interacionistas a partir dos significados atribuídos pela enfermagem militar / Care management: interactionists perspectives from meanings assigned by military nursing

A enfermagem possui múltiplos contextos de atuação profissional, dentre eles a área militar, com especificidades para o cenário hospitalar. Nessa conjuntura, tais profissionais desenvolvem suas atividades para oferecer um cuidado de qualidade aos usuários em uma constante troca de interações humanas, que também são simbólicas. No conjunto de interações para o processo de trabalho da enfermagem está a gerência do cuidado, conformada mediante articulação entre as dimensões assistencial e gerencial da enfermagem. Ademais, tem-se que às ações da gerência do cuidado relacionam-se o planejamento, utilização de ferramentas e instrumentos, organização, habilidades relacionais, dentre outras atividades que surgem e se fortalecem a partir das interações humanas. Estas, por sua vez, em virtude de seu campo simbólico, podem imprimir especificidades para a própria gerência do cuidado. Sendo assim, a pesquisa em tela teve como objeto os significados atribuídos pela enfermagem militar à gerência do cuidado. Para tanto, utilizou-se o Interacionismo Simbólico para interpretá-los. Foram, portanto, objetivos da pesquisa: desvelar os significados de gerência do cuidado de enfermagem atribuídos por profissionais de enfermagem militares, no contexto hospitalar; identificar os fatores que influenciam a construção e/ou o desenvolvimento desses significados e; compreender as relações simbólicas entre os significados e a prática da gerência do cuidado, na perspectiva da enfermagem militar, no contexto hospitalar. Trata-se de uma pesquisa exploratória, qualitativa, que teve como referencial metodológico a Teoria Fundamentada nos Dados. O projeto de pesquisa obteve sua aprovação em dois comitês de ética em pesquisa. O estudo foi realizado em um hospital militar do Rio de Janeiro/RJ, com 20 profissionais de enfermagem, militares, que trabalham em unidades de internação de adultos, em clínica médica e cirúrgica, delimitando três grupos amostrais: oito (08) enfermeiras encarregadas (oficiais), oito (08) enfermeiras assistentes (oficiais) e quatro (04) técnicos de enfermagem (sargentos). A coleta de dados foi realizada no período de setembro de 2021 a fevereiro de 2022, a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas. O processo de análise dos dados, seguindo o referencial metodológico, ocorreu simultaneamente a coleta de dados, a partir de três níveis analíticos: codificação aberta, codificação axial e integração, para em seguida formar a matriz teórica. Como resultados, emergiram as seguintes categorias: Processo de trabalho da enfermagem militar no contexto hospitalar; Ações e interações simbólicas para o desenvolvimento da gerência do cuidado de enfermagem no contexto militar e; Construção e fortalecimento de uma identidade profissional: fortalezas para a enfermagem e para o contexto de trabalho. O conjunto dessas categorias conformam o modelo paradigmático, vislumbrando a seguinte matriz teórica: O processo de trabalho e de militarização influenciando e determinando a gerência do cuidado na enfermagem militar. Os resultados revelaram que a gerência do cuidado de enfermagem para a enfermagem militar envolve interações humanas que qualificam o processo de trabalho diante de especificidades e heterogeneidade das profissões inseridas nos cenários de saúde e de cuidados. Realizar uma pesquisa em uma instituição militar possibilitou encontrar resultados em um contexto particularizado, onde emergiram dados sobre o processo de trabalho de enfermagem e a influência da cultura organizacional na execução de suas atividades, destacando conexões entre gerência do cuidado e necessidades dos pacientes, bem como suas interações que emergiram assuntos como liderança, empatia e comunicação no ambiente de trabalho. Portanto, os significados sobre gerência do cuidado de enfermagem permeiam uma série de atribuições, habilidades e condutas da equipe de enfermagem relacionadas às suas interações e interpretações que influenciam suas ações no ambiente de trabalho. O estudo tem como limitação ter sido realizado em apenas uma Organização Militar do Sistema de Saúde, no âmbito hospitalar. O estudo torna-se relevante e inovador por ser uma problemática pouco explorada no campo da ciência da enfermagem, além de contribuir com evidências sobre a assistência de enfermagem militar para além do campo operativo e suas implicações para a qualidade da assistência prestada a clientes hospitalizados.

Nursing has multiple contexts of professional performance, including the military area, with specificities for the hospital setting. In this context, these professionals develop their activities to offer quality care to users in a constant exchange of human interactions, which are also symbolic. In the set of interactions for the nursing work process is the management of care, formed through the articulation between the care and managerial dimensions of nursing. Furthermore, care management actions are related to planning, use of tools and instruments, organization, relational skills, among other activities that arise and are strengthened from human interactions. These, in turn, by virtue of their symbolic field, can imprint specificities for the care management itself. Therefore, the research on screen had as its object the meanings attributed by military nursing to care management. Therefore, Symbolic Interactionism was used to interpret them. Therefore, the research objectives were: to reveal the meanings of nursing care management attributed by military nursing professionals in the hospital context; identify the factors that influence the construction and/or development of these meanings and; understand the symbolic relationships between the meanings and practice of care management, from the perspective of military nursing, in the hospital context. This is an exploratory, qualitative research, which had the Grounded Theory as a methodological framework. The research project was approved by two research ethics committees. The study was carried out in a military hospital in Rio de Janeiro/RJ, with 20 nursing professionals, military, who work in adult hospitalization units, in medical and surgical clinic, delimiting three sample groups: eight (08) nurses in charge (officers), eight (08) assistant nurses (officials) and four (04) nursing technicians (sergeants). Data collection was carried out from September 2021 to February 2022, based on semi-structured interviews. The data analysis process, following the methodological framework, occurred simultaneously with data collection, from three analytical levels: open coding, axial coding and integration, to then form the theoretical matrix. As a result, the following categories emerged: Military nursing work process in the hospital context; Symbolic actions and interactions for the development of nursing care management in the military context and; Construction and strengthening of a professional identity: strengths for nursing and the work context. The set of these categories make up the paradigmatic model, envisioning the following theoretical matrix: The work and militarization process influencing and determining the management of care in military nursing. The results revealed that the management of nursing care for military nursing involves human interactions that qualify the work process in view of the specificities and heterogeneity of the professions inserted in the health and care settings. Conducting research in a military institution made it possible to find results in a particular context, where data on the nursing work process and the influence of organizational culture on the execution of its activities emerged, highlighting connections between care management and patients' needs, as well as their interactions that emerged issues such as leadership, empathy and communication in the work environment. Therefore, the meanings about nursing care management permeate a series of attributions, skills and behaviors of the nursing team related to their interactions and interpretations that influence their actions in the work environment. The study has the limitation of having been carried out in only one Military Organization of the Health System, in the hospital environment. The study becomes relevant and innovative because it is a problem little explored in the field of nursing science, in addition to contributing with evidence on military nursing care beyond the operative field and its implications for the quality of care provided to hospitalized clients.

La enfermería tiene múltiples contextos de actuación profesional, incluyendo el área militar, con especificidades para el ámbito hospitalario. En ese contexto, estos profesionales desarrollan sus actividades para ofrecer una atención de calidad a los usuarios en un constante intercambio de interacciones humanas, que también son simbólicas. En el conjunto de interacciones para el proceso de trabajo de enfermería está la gestión del cuidado, formada a través de la articulación entre las dimensiones asistencial y gerencial de enfermería. Además, las acciones de gestión del cuidado están relacionadas con la planificación, el uso de herramientas e instrumentos, la organización, las habilidades relacionales, entre otras actividades que surgen y se fortalecen a partir de las interacciones humanas. Estos, a su vez, en virtud de su campo simbólico, pueden imprimir especificidades para la propia gestión del cuidado. Así, la investigación en pantalla tuvo como objeto los significados atribuidos por la enfermería militar a la gestión del cuidado. Por lo tanto, se utilizó el Interaccionismo Simbólico para interpretarlos. Por lo tanto, los objetivos de la investigación fueron: revelar los significados de la gestión del cuidado de enfermería atribuidos por los profesionales de enfermería militar en el contexto hospitalario; identificar los factores que influyen en la construcción y/o desarrollo de estos significados y; comprender las relaciones simbólicas entre los significados y la práctica de la gestión del cuidado, en la perspectiva de la enfermería militar, en el contexto hospitalario. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa, exploratoria, que tuvo como marco metodológico la Grounded Theory. El proyecto de investigación fue aprobado por dos comités de ética de la investigación. El estudio fue realizado en un hospital militar de Rio de Janeiro/RJ, con 20 profesionales de enfermería, militares, que actúan en unidades de hospitalización de adultos, en clínica médica y quirúrgica, delimitando tres grupos muestrales: ocho (08) enfermeros responsables (oficiales ), ocho (08) auxiliares de enfermería (oficiales) y cuatro (04) técnicos de enfermería (sargentos). La recolección de datos se realizó de septiembre de 2021 a febrero de 2022, a partir de entrevistas semiestructuradas. El proceso de análisis de datos, siguiendo el marco metodológico, ocurrió simultáneamente con la recolección de datos, a partir de tres niveles analíticos: codificación abierta, codificación axial e integración, para luego formar la matriz teórica. Como resultado, surgieron las siguientes categorías: Proceso de trabajo de la enfermería militar en el contexto hospitalario; Acciones e interacciones simbólicas para el desarrollo de la gestión del cuidado de enfermería en el contexto militar y; Construcción y fortalecimiento de una identidad profesional: fortalezas para la enfermería y el contexto de trabajo. El conjunto de estas categorías componen el modelo paradigmático, vislumbrando la siguiente matriz teórica: El trabajo y el proceso de militarización influenciando y determinando la gestión del cuidado en la enfermería militar. Los resultados revelaron que la gestión del cuidado de enfermería para la enfermería militar involucra interacciones humanas que califican el proceso de trabajo frente a las especificidades y heterogeneidad de las profesiones insertas en los escenarios de salud y cuidado. La realización de una investigación en una institución militar permitió encontrar resultados en un contexto particular, donde surgieron datos sobre el proceso de trabajo de enfermería y la influencia de la cultura organizacional en la ejecución de sus actividades, destacando conexiones entre la gestión del cuidado y las necesidades de los pacientes, así como así como de sus interacciones surgieron temas como el liderazgo, la empatía y la comunicación en el ambiente laboral. Por lo tanto, los significados sobre la gestión del cuidado de enfermería permean una serie de atribuciones, habilidades y comportamientos del equipo de enfermería relacionados con sus interacciones e interpretaciones que influyen en sus acciones en el ambiente de trabajo. El estudio tiene la limitación de haber sido realizado en un solo Organismo Militar del Sistema de Salud, en el ámbito hospitalario. El estudio se vuelve relevante e innovador por tratarse de un problema poco explorado en el campo de la ciencia de enfermería, además de contribuir con evidencias sobre el cuidado de enfermería militar más allá del campo operatorio y sus implicaciones en la calidad de la atención brindada a los clientes hospitalizados.

Chiropractic in the United States Military Health System: A 25th-Anniversary Celebration of the Early Years.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this report is to record noteworthy events that occurred during the early years of chiropractic in the United States Military Health System (MHS). METHODS: We used mixed methods to create this historical account, including documents, artifacts, research papers, and reports from personal experiences. RESULTS: Chiropractic care was first included in the MHS in 1995, after years of legislative activity. The initial program was a 3-year study of the feasibility and advisability of integrating chiropractic in the MHS. This period was called the Chiropractic Health Care Demonstration Project; 20 pioneering chiropractors began their MHS journeys at 10 military bases in fiscal year 1995. The Demonstration Project was extended for 2 more years to gather research data, and 3 additional military facilities were added during those years to accomplish that purpose. The Demonstration Project concluded in 1999. In 2000, Congress approved the development of permanent chiropractic services and benefits for members of the uniformed services. These new clinics opened in 2002. CONCLUSION: This is the first article to chronicle the history of chiropractic in the MHS, and highlights some of the important events in the early years of chiropractors working within the MHS. Because of the efforts of the early MHS chiropractors to pave the way for a permanent chiropractic benefit for the deserving members of the United States uniformed services, chiropractic care is now offered at more than 60 United States military facilities.

El servicio de sanidad militar en el proceso de modernización, burocratización y profesionalización del ejército argentino (1888-1938) / The military health service in the process of modernization, bureaucratization and professionalization of the Argentine Army (1888-1938)

RESUMEN Hacia fines del siglo XIX y principios del siglo XX se inició la modernización, burocratización y profesionalización del Ejército Argentino. Como resultado de ese proceso se conformaron las divisiones del Ejército, esto es, organizaciones militares autónomas entre sí, compuestas por unidades de diferentes armas, elementos de apoyo de combate y de servicios. Entre estos últimos estaba el de sanidad militar, que actuaba en las unidades operativas de los distritos militares para el reconocimiento de los ciudadanos para el Servicio Militar Obligatorio y en los hospitales militares. Este artículo tiene por objetivos: 1) caracterizar ese proceso en sus relaciones con las concepciones de la defensa, organización, funciones y despliegue territorial del Ejército; 2) analizar, en ese marco, la conformación del servicio de sanidad militar entre 1888, con la sanción de la Ley Orgánica del Cuerpo de Sanidad del Ejército y la Armada, y 1938, con los cambios en el diseño orgánico del Ejército en vísperas de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

ABSTRACT At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, a process of modernization, bureaucratization and professionalization of the Argentine Army was initiated. As a result of this process, Army divisions were formed, which are autonomous military organizations composed of units of various weapons, combat support elements and services. Included among the latter was the military health service, which acted both in the operational units of the military districts in order to incorporate citizens into the Compulsory Military Service as well as in military hospitals. This article aims to: 1) characterize this process in relation to the concepts of defense, organization, functions and territorial deployment of the Army; 2) analyze, within that framework, the formation of the military health service between 1888 -when the Organic Law of the Sanitary Corp of the Army and the Navy was sanctioned - and 1938 - when the Army's organic design was changed on the eve of the Second World War.

Avaliação da produtividade, dos custos e da satisfação dos usuários do setor odontológico de um hospital militar / Evaluation of productivity, costs and users' satisfaction of the dental service from a military hospital

Introduction: the evaluation of health services can be considered as a manner to promote the continuous improvement of attention, providing the user with a service of better quality. Being the Hospital of Military Police of Santa Maria (HBM/SM) a public service offered to the corporation, it should also be evaluated, so that measures can institute to its expansion. Objective: to analyze the service provided and the public's satisfaction attended by the HBM/ SM. Methods: three hundred and seventy monthly production maps were evaluated from 2010 to 2016 in order to verify the dental procedures performed and the patients treated. The satisfaction surveys answered by users were also appraised. The monthly expenses were determined by adding: salaries, dental material, emergency expenses, depreciation and estimated fixed costs. The working hours for dentists were calculated annually according to the working arrangements of each professional. Results: the total cost was R$ 6.866.119,03 being performed 103.075 dental procedures, resulting in an average cost of R$ 66,61 per procedure. The monthly average of dental procedures (preventive and curative) was 1.207,74 ± 328,49. Dependents represent 48.03% of the users and the military staff, 44.87%. The vast majority of users considered the dental service excellent or good in relation to the different aspects evaluated. The average number of procedures/hour exceeded SUS goal (3 procedures/hour) to achieve maximum economic efficiency in 5 of the 7 years evaluated. Conclusion: even being more economically advantageous to maintain a proper dental care center for the corporation's members and their dependents, economic measures can be adopted, such as renegotiation of outsourcing contracts, direct contracting of professional or implementation of the Temporary Military Health Program.

Introdução: sendo o Setor Odontológico do Hospital da Brigada Militar de Santa Maria um serviço público oferecido para corporação, este deve ser avaliado para que se instituam medidas de ampliação. Objetivo: analisar o serviço prestado e a satisfação do público atendido pelo referido setor. Metodologia: foram avaliados 370 mapas mensais de produção de 2010 a 2016, nos quais constam os procedimentos odontológicos realizados e os pacientes atendidos, e as pesquisas de satisfação respondidas pelos usuários. Os gastos mensais foram determinados somando-se salários, material odontológico, despesas emergenciais, depreciação e custos fixos estimados. As horas de trabalho dos dentistas foram calculadas de acordo com o regime de trabalho de cada um. Resultados: o custo total foi de R$ 6.866.119,03, sendo realizados 103.075 procedimentos odontológicos, resultando num custo médio por procedimento de R$ 66,61. A média mensal de procedimentos odontológicos foi de 1.207,74 ± 328,49. A grande maioria dos usuários considerou o serviço ótimo ou bom em relação aos diferentes aspectos avaliados. A média de procedimentos/hora superou a meta do SUS, de 3 procedimentos/hora para atingir máxima economicidade, em 5 dos 7 anos avaliados. Conclusão: mesmo sendo mais vantajoso economicamente manter um centro de atendimento odontológico próprio para os integrantes da corporação, pode-se propor medidas de economicidade a serem adotadas, como renegociação dos contratos terceirizados, contratação direta dos profissionais ou implementação do Programa de Militares Estaduais de Saúde Temporários.

Infective endocarditis at a tertiary care centre in Saudi Arabia: review of 47 cases over 10 years

To describe the pattern of infective endocarditis in a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a retrospective review was made of all cases admitted between 1993 and 2003. Of 47 patients, a native valve was involved in 37 [78.7%] and a prosthetic valve in 10 [21.3%]. Predisposing cardiac conditions were present in 27 patients: rheumatic and congenital heart disease were the most common. Blood cultures were positive in 76.4% of patients: the most commonly isolated organisms were Staphylococcus spp. in 20 patients [12 Sta. aureus and 8 coagulase-negative staphylococci] and Enterococcus spp. [6 patients]. The complication rate was 78.7% and hospital mortality rate was 8.5%

Evaluation of antiepileptic drugs in pregnancy in a Jordanian army hospital

We aimed to determine a treatment protocol for pregnant women with epilepsy. We selected 50 pregnant women from the antenatal clinic, King Hussein Medical Centre, who had been treated for epilepsy prior to pregnancy. They were divided into 3 groups. Group A [n = 16] received monotherapy with carbamazepine, group B [n = 16] received combined therapy with carbamazepine and phenytoin, and group C [n = 18] received no drugs because they refused treatment for fear of harming the fetus. Only 1 woman on monotherapy had seizures. In group B, no one had seizures, but 2 pregnancies were terminated because of neural tube defects. In group C, 5 patients had 1-2 seizures. No babies delivered to women in group C had congenital anomalies but 25% of babies born to mothers in groups A and B had minor congenital anomalies, a statistically significant difference

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women in Jordan

To determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in Jordan, sera from 280 pregnant women were tested during the period January 2000-May 2001. Blood samples were taken after the first antenatal visit. Serum was separated and tested for Toxoplasma IgG antibodies using an indirect fluorescent antibody. Seroprevalence gradually increased with age, from 31.7% at 15-24 years to 90.0% at 35-45 years. Regression analysis showed that seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis is positively correlated with age and residence. Consumption of undercooked meat and contact with soil were significant risk factors

Comparison of prostaglandin E2 tablets or Foley catheter for labour induction in grand multiparas

The efficacy, safety and outcome of prostagl and in [PG]E2 was compared with Foley catheter for labour induction in gr and multiparous women. At a hospital in Jordan, 147 women with Bishop score </= 5 were r and omized to receive 3 mg PGE2 vaginal tablets [n = 75] or 50 mL intracervical Foley catheter [n = 72]. The change in Bishop score was significantly higher in the PGE2 group than the catheter group, and time from induction to delivery was significantly shorter in the PGE2 group. Significantly more women needed oxytocin for labour augmentation in the catheter than the PGE2 group and fetal distress was significantly more frequent. For gr and multiparas, PGE2 vaginal tablets may be preferable for ripening the cervix as well as for labour induction

Microbiology of wound infection after caesarean section in a Jordanian hospital

To determine the microbiology of wound infection following caesarean section and to evaluate the use of Gram stain for the predicton of subsequent microbiological culture results, 1319 surgical wounds were followed up. We did Gram stains and cultures on exudates from open wounds and on aspirates if the wounds had demonstrable fluid collection. Incidence of post-caesarean wound infection was 8.1%. Ninety-three [86.9%] of 107 infected wounds were culture positive, with Staphylococcus aureus the most frequently found organism [42%]. Organisms seen by Gram stain yielded a sensitivity of 96.6%, specificity of 88.9%, positive predictive value of 97.7% and negative predictive value of 84.2% when used to predict positive culture results for bacterial wound infection

Pregnancies past the estimated date of confinement: labour and delivery outcome

To compare labour and delivery outcomes in women undergoing induction and those having spontaneous onset for pregnancies past the estimated date of delivery, a prospective study of 395 singleton, uncomplicated pregnancies was performed. Labour was induced in 175 women. Overall caesarean section rate was 9.4%, with no significant difference between the 2 groups. Overall rate of assisted vaginal deliveries was 7%, higher in the induction group than the spontaneous onset group but the difference was not significant. There was no significant difference in occurrence of intrapartum meconium, nor for maternal morbidity. No neonate needed intubation. No perinatal deaths occurred. Perinatal mortality and morbidity are preventable, and induction of labour before 42 weeks is justifiable to prevent adverse outcomes

Use of thermonuclease testing to identify Staphylococcus aureus by direct examination of blood cultures

Blood cultures submitted to the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Queen Alia Military Hospital, Amman during 1999-2001 were examined to evaluate thermonuclease testing for identifying Staphylococcus aureus in blood culture broths growing gram-positive cocci. Of 170 cultures studied, 129 yielded gram-positive staphylococci and 41 yielded other gram-positive cocci. Toluidine blue-deoxynucleic acid agar plates were used to test for thermonuclease activity. St and ard tube coagulase tests were performed on the isolates. Direct detection of thermonuclease activity in 76 blood culture broths containing gram-positive staphylococci showed 100% correlation with subsequent tube coagulase tests. The thermonuclease test provides a fast, specific and reliable confirmation of S. aureus bacteraemia by direct examination of blood culture broths that contain gram-positive cocci. This allows for timely, optimal antibiotic therapy

Current status of critical care medicine and its future / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To reviewing the developmental history and to make an overall inquiry of the status quo of critical care medicine(CCM)in China,in order to make suggestions regarding the future development of this subspecialty in this country,particularly in the army forces.Methods Relevant articles regarding this subspecialty were retrieved from the published literature,and important events as well as advances in this field were reviewed to illustrate the history of establishment of intensive care unit(ICU),important events in the development,and academic advances in this subspecialty in this country and especially in the army forces.Results The review illustrated that this subspecialty of medical science had made a big stride in the past thirty years,and it has become one of the major forces in the medical arena in this country.The change in stratification of patients as a whole,further fragmentation of medical discipline,experiences obtained from participation in the care of mass casualties in multiple disasters,concerted efforts made by specialists devoted to this field of medicine,as well as strong support from the administration had given tremendous impetus to an upsurge of this subspecialty. In this army forces,this subspecialty had advanced in pace with that in the whole country.The inauguration of Military Association of CCM had further pushed forward the science and arts of CCM in the armed forces.Nevertheless,there are still many important problems in this field to be investigated.Conclusions The administration should give more support and advices for development of this important medical subspecialty in the armed forces,in order to further raise the standard of the arts and science of this branch of medical science to face any challenge in the care of serious illnesses and injuries encountered both in peace time and in combats.It is also important to propagate the perception of CCM in the medical establishments of grassroots level.

Who uses the emergency room services?

This study aimed to clarify whether patients attending an emergency room generally had non-urgent problems. A study was made of 2841 patients attending the emergency room of Prince Zaid Ben Al-Hussein military hospital [south Jordan] over a 1-month period using data from the registration book. Patients were classified into four classes of urgency [life-threatening, urgent, non-urgent, trivial]. The attendees were mainly children [26.4%]. The admission rate was 3.2% and non-urgent conditions accounted for 91% of cases. Much of the use of emergency services was found to be inappropriate, a situation which should be changed

Caesarean sections at Queen Alia Military Hospital, Jordan: a six-year review

In the 6-year period from 1 August 1991 to 31 July 1997, at Queen Alia Military Hospital, Amman, Jordan, 1339 caesarean sections were performed out of a total 17 392 deliveries, representing an overall incidence of 7.7%. Indications for the caesarean sections were variable. Whether the operation was a primary or repeat procedure was often a major consideration. Efforts to prevent unnecessary caesarean sections should focus on reducing the frequency of first-time procedures