Postgraduate medicine
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2022
Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk factors in a cohort of close contacts.
Many factors might affect SARS-CoV-2 transmission, but their relevance is not well established. The objectives were to assess the secondary attack rate (SAR) and the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission from confirmed index cases to their close contacts in household and non-household settings. ⋯ The risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was considerable among close contacts of infected persons. The higher risk associated with household contacts, immigrants, older index cases, close contacts with lower income level and comorbidities should be considered to address preventive interventions.
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2022
Reliability of transcutaneous hemoglobin measurements in an outpatient pediatric clinic.
Our study assessed the reliability of a transcutaneous hemoglobin (tcHgb) measurement as compared to a standard capillary hemoglobin (cHgb) measurement in screening for iron deficiency anemia in a single university-based pediatric outpatient clinic. ⋯ The measurement of a transcutaneous Hgb is less invasive for pediatric patients but has significant limitations. Smaller children (probe specifications) and movement limited the ability to obtain a tcHgb measurement in ~75% of children tested. Falsely normal tcHgb values occurred due to overestimation of hemoglobin when compared to the traditional cHgb device. The suboptimal sensitivity of the tcHgb device may cause providers to miss a diagnosis of anemia. Future research should compare both methods of Hgb assessment to the gold standard laboratory-analyzed complete blood count and use a smaller probe for children under 2, once available.
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2022
Acceptance of virtual consultations among older adults and caregivers in Malaysia: a pilot project during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the delivery of healthcare to vulnerable older adults, prompting the expansion of telemedicine usage. This study surveyed the acceptance of virtual medical consultations among older adults and caregivers within geriatric outpatient services in a tertiary hospital during the pandemic. ⋯ Caregivers and patients indicated a high level of acceptance of virtual medical consultations, which is likely facilitated by caregivers such as adult children or spouses at home or staff in care homes. To minimize the transmission of COVID-19 in a highly vulnerable group, virtual consultations are an acceptable alternative to face-to-face consultations for older people and their caregivers in our setting.
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2022
Predictive value of arterial blood lactic acid concentration on the risk of all-cause death within 28 days of admission in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.
To evaluate the ability of arterial blood lactic acid concentration to predict death within 28 days of admission of patients with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in the intensive care unit (ICU). ⋯ Arterial blood lactic acid concentration is an important independent predictor of all-cause mortality within 28 days of admission of SAP patients in the ICU.
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Postgraduate medicine · Mar 2022
Characteristics of tuberculosis-related deaths and risk factors: a retrospective cohort study in Samsun province of Turkey.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the top ten leading causes of death worldwide despite effective therapy. The present study aims to examine the characteristics of TB-related deaths in Samsun Province and to determine the risk factors. ⋯ The majority of deaths in our cohort occurred within the first two months after starting the treatment. Advanced age, male sex, a new diagnosis of TB, pulmonary TB, MDR-TB, and a treatment delay of more than ten days after diagnosis increased the risk for mortality during antituberculosis treatment.