Emergency medicine Australasia : EMA
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2013
Blood pressure cuffs as a vector for transmission of multi-resistant organisms: colonisation rates and effects of disinfection.
Blood pressure (BP) cuffs are potential vectors for transmission of multi-resistant organisms (MROs). The present study aims to determine MRO colonisation rates in BP cuffs from areas of high patient flow as an assessment of the quality of disinfection and infection control practices. ⋯ Although MRSA and VRE were infrequently isolated, current disinfection and infection control protocols need to be improved given the greater recovery of organisms from the inner compared with outer surfaces of BP cuffs.
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Urinary retention is a common acute presentation for men in their later decades. Potential contributing pathologies are numerous. We report an unusual case of acute urinary retention requiring catheterisation secondary to sacral herpes zoster reactivation (S2-4) in an 88-year-old man with minimal preceding obstructive symptoms.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2013
Factors involved in intensive care unit mortality following medical retrieval: identifying differences between intensive care unit survivors and non-survivors.
The study aimed to determine factors related to ICU mortality in critically ill patients transferred by Adult Retrieval Victoria (ARV) medical staff. Patients who died in ICU after interhospital transfer were compared against those who survived. ⋯ Advanced age, lower mean arterial blood pressure and tachycardia towards the completion of transfer were associated with increased ICU mortality in this population. Clinicians should be aware of the additional risk for cardiac patients.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2013
Use of ultrasound for non-trauma patients in the emergency department.
In the past decade, there has been substantial knowledge translation in the use of ultrasound (US) by critical care physicians to aid diagnosis of the non-trauma patient. This study aimed to determine emergency doctors' level of training in ultrasonography, pattern of US use in regular practice and barriers to US use for the non-trauma patient presenting to an emergency department. ⋯ Among ED personnel, use of US to diagnose several non-traumatic conditions was low, but specific training was associated with significantly more US use. Increased training and availability of US-experienced supervisors might further improve utility of this important adjunct to the practice of emergency medicine.
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Emerg Med Australas · Jun 2013
Case ReportsDuboisia ingestion: An unusual cause of anticholinergic poisoning.
A male landscaper presented with an acute confusional state following intentional ingestion of Duboisia myoporoides. With supportive care, he made an uneventful recovery after 24 h. Clinical features, investigation and management of Duboisia poisoning are discussed.