Brit J Hosp Med
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Aims/Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) significantly influence patient safety and healthcare quality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where the burden is most evident. This manuscript aims to evaluate the awareness and adherence to SSI prevention guidelines among healthcare providers at a tertiary trauma centre situated in Tirana, Albania. Methods This cross-sectional survey was conducted among practising surgeons, residents and nurses of Trauma University Hospital, Tirana. ⋯ Results The participants demonstrated a high level of patient education about SSI risks (91.9%), but lower adherence to individual prevention practices. Conclusion Despite adequate knowledge, there remains a significant gap in the implementation of SSI prevention guidelines. Strengthening continuous medical education is crucial to addressing systemic barriers, improving compliance with guidelines, and decreasing SSI rates.
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Aims/Background The present study investigated the short-term and long-term outcomes of an invasive strategy in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and a conservative strategy in non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients older than 80 years, with the aim to identify the strategy that is more beneficial than the other to this demographic population. Methods A total of 139 patients from Beijing Anzhen Hospital and the Cao County People's Hospital were included in this study, comprising those aged >80 years and diagnosed with NSTEMI between 2017 and 2022. ⋯ Compared to patients who received the conservative treatment, patients who received PCI had significantly lower rates of all-cause mortality during hospitalization and 30 days of follow-up. Conclusion Our findings support that patients older than 80 years with NSTEMI can benefit from PCI compared to the conservative treatment.
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Aims/Background Neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (NRDS) is characterized by progressive aggravation and rapid progression of respiratory distress, with a high incidence rate among premature infants. If left untreated, NRDS results in a poor prognosis. In recent years, various respiratory support modalities have received extensive attention in clinical practice. ⋯ Additionally, both groups demonstrated no significant difference in the incidence of complications such as intraventricular hemorrhage, apnea, necrotizing enterocolitis, and feeding intolerance (p > 0.05). The incidence rates of ventilator-associated lung injury and neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia in the nBiPAP group were lower than those in the nSIMV group, with a significant difference (p < 0.05). Conclusion Both nBiPAP and nSIMV have shown good effects in treating NRDS, with nBiPAP showing a significant advantage in reducing the incidence rates of complications such as ventilator-associated lung injury and neonatal bronchopulmonary dysplasia.
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Aims/Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a significant contributor to increased overall and cardiovascular mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is an accurate method for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) during both submaximal and peak exercise. Previous studies have demonstrated a strong correlation among CRF and increased cardiovascular and overall mortality rates. ⋯ ROC curve analysis showed that the AUC values for predicting PAH in PD patients using VO2peak, VO2AT, METspeak, and WRpeak were 0.675, 0.651, 0.719, and 0.689, respectively, with METspeak demonstrating the highest AUC for prediction. Conclusion The occurrence of PAH in PD patients is associated with WBC, VO2peak, VO2AT, METspeak, and WRpeak. Additionally, CPET parameters exhibit predictive value for PAH, with METspeak showing the highest AUC for prediction.
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Aims/Background Hyperuricemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood. If left untreated, hyperuricemia can progress to gout, which manifests as acute arthritic attacks, and may also lead to uric acid nephrolithiasis and other renal conditions. This widespread condition poses significant risks to human health and quality of life. ⋯ No statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of adverse drug reactions between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion The combination of benzbromarone and sodium bicarbonate tablets is highly effective in treating gout associated with hyperuricemia. This treatment not only reduces uric acid levels and the number of tophi but also enhances renal function, alleviates pain, and improves the overall quality of life for patients.