Irish journal of medical science
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Observational Study
An observational study of the utility of continuous positive airway pressure ventilation for appropriate candidates in prehospital care in the Midwest region.
Emergency medical services (EMS) practitioners in Ireland have been recently licensed to use continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation for patients with pulmonary oedema. Both the British Thoracic Society and the Canadian Medical Association advocate the use of CPAP in hospital for patients with severe exacerbations of pulmonary oedema. ⋯ This study suggests that a suitable patient cohort for CPAP exists in the prehospital environment and highlights the need for a prospective study of CPAP use on these patients.
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Chlamydia pneumoniae causes respiratory infection in adults and children, and has been associated with asthma exacerbations and induction of Immunoglobulin (Ig) E responses. We previously reported that C. pneumoniae enhances T helper (Th) 2 responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from asthmatic patients. It is likely that toll like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 mediate cytokine responses and host defense against C. pneumoniae. Thus, we sought to determine whether engagement of TLR-2 or TLR-4 may induce IL-12 production in our C. pneumoniae model. ⋯ C. pneumoniae infection induces IgE production and modulates IL-12 responses in patients with asthma, which may be caused, in part, by differences in TLR-2 and TLR-4 stimulation.
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There are currently no Irish guidelines on screening for Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnancy. Prevalence rates in the antenatal population are not known which has prevented the development of screening recommendations for this group. ⋯ The prevalence rate of detected C. trachomatis infection was 5.6 % in the study population. Screening of antenatal patients may have a role in preventing vertical transmission of infection to the neonate.
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The discharge letter is a key component of the communication pathway between the hospital and primary care. Accuracy and timeliness of delivery are crucial to ensure continuity of patient care. Electronic discharge summaries (EDS) and prescriptions have been shown to improve quality of discharge information for general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new EDS on GP satisfaction levels and accuracy of discharge diagnosis. ⋯ The introduction of the EDS and prescription has led to improved quality of timeliness of communication with primary care. It has led to a very high satisfaction rating with GPs. ICD-10 coding was found to be grossly inaccurate when carried out by NCHDs and it is more appropriate for this task to be carried out by trained coders.