NOSOCOMIAL INFECTION
|
|
Selected abstract: |
|
1. Klompas M. Does this patient have ventilator-associated pneumonia? JAMA. 2007 Apr 11;297(14):1583-93. Review. Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass 02115, USA. mklompas@partners.org CONTEXT: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common and serious nosocomial infection. Accurate, timely diagnosis enables affected patients to receive appropriate therapy and avoids mistreatment of patients having other conditions. OBJECTIVE: To review the published medical literature describing the precision and accuracy of clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data to diagnose bacterial VAP relative to a histological gold standard. DATA SOURCES: English-language articles identified by a structured search strategy using MEDLINE (January 1966-October 31, 2006) and Google Scholar. Additional articles were identified through the reference lists of studies and review papers identified by the search strategy. STUDY SELECTION: Included studies described clinical findings associated with VAP in 25 or more patients receiving mechanical ventilation who subsequently underwent pulmonary biopsy or autopsy. Fourteen studies describing clinical findings in 655 patients met inclusion criteria. DATA EXTRACTION: Data were abstracted onto a structured form, allowing calculation of the likelihood ratios (LRs) for each sign or combination of findings. DATA SYNTHESIS: The presence or absence of fever, abnormal white blood cell count, or purulent pulmonary secretions do not substantively alter the probability of VAP. However, the combination of a new radiographic infiltrate with at least 2 of fever, leukocytosis, or purulent sputum increases the likelihood of VAP (summary LR, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.97-7.9). The absence of a new infiltrate on a plain chest radiograph lowers the likelihood of VAP (summary LR, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.87). Fewer than 50% neutrophils on cell count analysis of lower pulmonary secretions makes VAP unlikely (LR range, 0.05-0.10). CONCLUSIONS: Routine bedside evaluation coupled with radiographic information provides suggestive but not definitive evidence that VAP is present or absent. Given the severity of VAP and the frequency of serious conditions that can mimic VAP, clinicians should be ready to consider additional tests that provide further evidence for VAP or that establish another diagnosis. 2. Maharaj D. Puerperal Pyrexia: a review. Part II. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 2007 Jun;62(6):400-6. Review. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wellington School of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. dean.maharaj@otago.ac.nz Puerperal pyrexia and sepsis are among the leading causes of preventable maternal morbidity and mortality not only in developing countries but in developed countries as well. Most postpartum infections take place after hospital discharge, which is usually 24 hours after delivery. In the absence of postnatal follow-up, as is the case in many developing countries, many cases of puerperal infections can go undiagnosed and unreported. Besides endometritis (endomyometritis or endomyoparametritis), wound infection, mastitis, urinary tract infection, and septic thrombophlebitis are the chief causes of puerperal infections. The predisposing factors leading to the development of sepsis include home birth in unhygienic conditions, low socioeconomic status, poor nutrition, primiparity, anemia, prolonged rupture of membranes, prolonged labor, multiple vaginal examinations in labor, cesarean section, obstetrical maneuvers, retained secundines within the uterus and postpartum hemorrhage. Maternal complications include septicemia, endotoxic shock, peritonitis or abscess formation leading to surgery and compromised future fertility. The transmissions of infecting organisms are typically categorized into nosocomial, exogenous, and endogenous. Nosocomial infections are acquired in hospitals or other health facilities and may come from the hospital environment or from the patient's own flora. Exogenous infections come from external contamination, especially when deliveries take place under unhygienic conditions. Endogenous organisms, consisting of mixed flora colonizing the woman's own genital tract, are also a source of infection in puerperal sepsis. Aseptic precautions, advances in investigative tools and the use of antibiotics have played a major role in reducing the incidence of puerperal infections. Part II of this review describes the best management of wound infection, pelvic abscess, episiotomy infection, thrombophlebitis, mastitis, urinary tract infection, and miscellaneous infections. Target Audience: Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians Learning Objectives: After completion of this article, the reader should be able to recall that world wide puerperal sepsis is a leading cause of maternal mortality, state that many of the predisposing factors are preventable, explain that both nosocomial infections as well as exogenous infections are serious factors, and relate that septic techniques and antibiotics can play a major role in reducing the incidence of puerperal infections. Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Management & Drugs:16464. Hwang RW, Herndon JH. The business case for patient safety. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2007 Apr;457:21-34. Review. 16465. Perez-Gonzalez LF, Ruiz-Gonzalez JM, Noyola DE. Nosocomial bacteremia in children: a 15-year experience at a general hospital in Mexico. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2007 Apr;28(4):418-22.
|