Postgraduate medical journal
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To investigate the experience of patients with perceived severe allergic disorders in obtaining allergen testing. ⋯ Patients perceived major shortfalls in relation to NHS allergy testing provision, focusing on both the availability of testing and expertise in interpreting the results. Any increased provision of testing needs to be matched by access to specialist interpretation of these tests.
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The majority of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) have a short stay of only a few days. However a small but significant number require prolonged intensive care. This is typically due to persisting, and sometimes complex, medical/surgical problems. ⋯ Structured rehabilitation programmes for post-ICU patients, tailored to individual needs, should be commenced on the ICU and continued through to and beyond hospital discharge. Care bundles, which are widely used on the ICU, are groups of interventions employed to optimise treatments or minimise complication rates. They may be additionally useful in the post-ICU ward setting by prompting clinicians to focus on, and address, commonly occurring medical and psychosocial problems in these patients.
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The demographics, clinical features and outcome of patients with pandemic influenza A (H1N1) 2009 infection were compared with a concurrent cohort of patients with seasonal influenza A infection. ⋯ In addition to age, several clinical parameters were different between pandemic A (H1N1) and seasonal influenza. However, since both seasonal and pandemic influenza can lead to significant morbidity and mortality, the impact of pre-existing seasonal influenza should not be underestimated during the pandemic period.