Bacterial Species, Susceptibility to antibiotics and characteristics of patients with surgical site infections.

Surgical site infections (SSI) are the most common healthcare-associated infections. Approximately 2-5% of all surgeries develop SSI as a complication. These infections are responsible for significant fatality, morbidity, and length of hospital stay. The purpose of this study was to describe characteristics of SSI in a community hospital in Puerto Rico. This was cross-sectional study. Between July 2013 and August 2015, 5468 major operative procedures were performed and 31 SSI were reported for an overall SSI incidence rate of 0.57%. A total of 31 cases of SSI were studied. The mean age of patients was 59.4 years, with a range of to 29 to 89 years. The median age was 64 years. The sex distribution showed 22 women (71%) and 9 men (29%). The prevalence rate of diabetes mellitus was 13/31 (42%). In this study 90% of patients with SSI had at least one underlying health condition (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, age > 65 years). Location of surgical site infections were: abdominal 16 (52%), orthopedic 4 (13%), pelvic 7 (22%), stump 3 (10%), and chest tube 1 (3%). A total of 12 different bacterial pathogens were found. A single etiologic agent was identified in 18 patients (53%) and multiple agents were found in 13 patients (47%). Enterococcus faecalis was the most common pathogen (45% of patients) followed by Escherichia coli (39% of patients). The majority of bacteria isolated from cultures were susceptible to B-lactams and aminoglycosides.

Social support and psychological well-being as possible predictors of complicated grief in a cross-section of people in mourning / Apoyo social y bienestar psicológico como posibles predictores de estado de duelo complicado en población de personas en duelo

Objective: To analyze the variations in complicated grief (CG) through sociodemograohic and functioning well variable: psychologycal well-beIng (PW), received social support (RSC) and satisfaction with the social support (SRSC).Method: transversal study, n= 110 people sample who arrive to a free grief listening centre through an ad hoc questionnaire including sociodemographic variables, complicated grief level according to Prigerson Inventory of Complicated Grief (ICG), well- being according to Well-being Ryff's Questionnaire and Sarason Questionnaire to social support measure. Descriptive and correlational (Pearson) analyses executed. Also, step by step backward multiple regression analyse.Results: Averaged CG 44.91, PW 119.23, RSC 10.56 people, SRSC 13.48. Predictive CG variables were: CG, PW, RSC, SRSC, postloss moths, pharmacological help received and parents relationship. Adjusted R-squared 42.4%.Conclusions: PW and satisfactory RSC could be considered CG level predictors. Recommendation is to study depressive symptoms, to clarify the influence in RSC perception. This study contributes to increase the centre efficiency, so that functioning well variables are able to predict CG level

Objetivo: Analizar las variaciones en estado de duelo complicado (DC) a través de variables sociodemográficas y de funcionamiento óptimo: bienestar psicológico (BP), apoyo social disponible (ASD) y satisfacción con el apoyo social disponible (SASD). Método: Estudio transversal, N = 110 personas que acuden a un centro gratuito de escucha de duelo (CE), a través de cuestionario que incluía aspectos sociodemográficos Inventario de Duelo Complicado de Prigerson (IDC), adaptación española del Cuestionario de Bienestar Psicológico de Ryff y versión abreviada del Cuestionario Sarason de Apoyo Social (SSQSR). Se realizó análisis descriptivo y correlacional con Pearson. Se utilizó regresión lineal múltiple por método paso a paso de eliminación hacia atrás.Resultados: El estado medio DC 40.91 (DT = 11.89), de BP 119.23 (DT = 18.75), de ASD 10.56 (DT = 6.31) personas y SASD 13.48 (DT = 4.17). Las variables predictivas del nivel de DC fueron: BP, ASD, SASD, meses desde la pérdida, recibir ayuda farmacológica previa y parentesco progenitor. El R- cuadrado ajustado resultó de 42.4%. Conclusiones: Podemos considerar BP y el SASD predictores del estado de DC. Sería adecuado esclarecer el efecto de sintomatología depresiva en la percepción de ASD. Este estudio contribuye a aumentar eficiencia del recurso, al poder predecir en parte el DC mediante variables que no implican deterioro del deudo

Growth pattern differences of captive born Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus) calves and those rescued in the Brazilian northeastern coast.

The aim of this work was to analyze whether there are differences between the development pattern of Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus) calves born in captivity and those rescued and kept under rehabilitation. Biometrics data were collected from 1990 to 2010 from 38 calves, 29 of which still had the remnants of the umbilical cord and had been rescued from the Brazilian northeastern coastline (Group I), and nine individuals that were born in captivity and remained with their mothers (Group II). Among the measures obtained through biometry, the total length and weight of the animal were recorded. Given that the breastfeeding of calves occurs approximately until the age of 2 yr, data obtained until the 24th month of life of each individual were evaluated. An average increase in weight of 53.50 +/- 38.54 kg (mean +/- standard deviation [SD]) was detected in Group I and a gain of 106.87 +/- 47.21 kg (mean +/- SD) in Group II. From months 13 to 24, no significant difference in the weight increment was observed. A similar pattern occurred with regard to the increase in the overall length during the first year, where animals from Group I grew 34.81 +/- 17.94 cm (mean +/- SD) and from Group II grew 83.83 +/- 28.21 cm, a statistically significant difference. The growth was not significantly different from 13 to 24 mo. The results found in this study identified the need for a review of the nutritional diet offered to orphaned calves rescued and kept in captivity. The results also support the need for a better adequacy of facilities for these animals as a way to encourage the management strategies adopted for manatee calves maintained in captivity.

Ultrasmall functional ferromagnetic nanostructures grown by focused electron-beam-induced deposition.

We have successfully grown ultrasmall cobalt nanostructures (lateral size below 30 nm) by optimization of the growth conditions using focused electron-beam-induced deposition techniques. This direct-write nanolithography technique is thus shown to produce unprecedented resolution in the growth of magnetic nanostructures. The challenging magnetic characterization of such small structures is here carried out by means of electron holography techniques. Apart from growing ultranarrow nanowires, very small Hall sensors have been created and their large response has been unveiled.