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  • Adair posted an update 1 year, 1 month ago

    The World Health Organization (WHO) hand-rub formulations have been in use around the world for at least the past 10 years. The advent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has further enhanced their use. We reviewed published efficacy data for the original and modified formulations. Only efficacy data according to the European Norms (EN) were found. The bactericidal efficacy of the original formulations was, under practical conditions, partly insufficient (EN 1500, only effective in 60 s; EN 12791, efficacy too low in 5 min). The first modification with higher alcohol concentrations improves their efficacy as hygienic hand rub (effective in 30 s). The second (0.725% glycerol) and third (0.5% glycerol) modification improves their efficacy for surgical hand preparation (effective in 5 and 3 min). The original and second modified formulations were tested and demonstrate activity against enveloped viruses including severe acute resiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 30 s. The ethanol-based formulation is also active against some non-enveloped test viruses in 60 s (suspension tests, EN 14476). In-vivo data on the formulations would provide a more reliable result on the virucidal efficacy on contaminated hands but are currently not available. Nevertheless, the most recent modifications should be adopted for use in healthcare.Breast cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer in women worldwide, with surgery remaining the standard treatment. The adverse impact of the surgery remains controversial. #link# It has been suggested that systemic factors during the postoperative period may increase the risk of recurrence, specifically surgical site infection (SSI). The aim of this review was to critically appraise current published literature regarding the influence of SSIs, after primary breast cancer surgery, on breast cancer recurrence, and to delve into potential links between these. This systematic review adopted two approaches to identify the incidence rates and risk factors related to SSI after primary breast cancer surgery; and, secondly, to examine breast cancer recurrence following SSI occurrence. Ninety-nine studies with 484,605 patients were eligible in the SSI-focused searches, and 53 studies with 17,569 patients for recurrence-focused. There was a 13.07% mean incidence of SSI. selleck chemicals -hundred and thirty-eight Gram-positive and 442 Gram-negative isolates were identified, with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli most commonly identified. There were 2077 cases of recurrence (11.8%), with 563 cases of local recurrence, 1186 cases of distant and 25 cases which recurred both locally and distantly. Five studies investigated the association between SSI and breast cancer recurrence with three concluding that an association did exist. In conclusion, there is association between SSI and adverse cancer outcomes, but the cellular link between them remains elusive. Confounding factors of retrospective study design, surgery type and SSI definition make results challenging to compare and interpret. A standardized prospective study with appropriate statistical power is justified.

    Decontaminating and reusing filtering facepiece respirators (FFRs) for healthcare workers is a potential solution to address inadequate FFR supply during a global pandemic.

    The objective of this review was to synthesize existing data on the effectiveness and safety of using chemical disinfectants to decontaminate N95 FFRs.

    A systematic review was conducted on disinfectants to decontaminate N95 FFRs using Embase, Medline, Global Health, Google Scholar, WHO feed, and MedRxiv. Two reviewers independently determined study eligibility and extracted predefined data fields. Original research reporting on N95 FFR function, decontamination, safety, or FFR fit following decontamination with a disinfectant was included.

    A single cycle of vaporized hydrogen peroxide (H

    O

    ) successfully removes viral pathogens without affecting airflow resistance or fit, and maintains an initial filter penetration of <5%, with little change in FFR appearance. Residual hydrogen peroxide levels following decontamination were wicles would affect FFR fit in a real-world setting before the upper limit can be established. Although immersion in liquid H2O2 does not appear to adversely affect FFR function, there is no available data on its ability to remove infectious pathogens from FFRs or its impact on FFR fit. Sodium hypochlorite, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and ethylene oxide are not recommended due to safety concerns or negative effects on FFR function.

    In 2017, the Dutch cervical cancer screening program had replaced the primary cytology-based screening with primary high-risk human papillomavirus-based screening, including the opportunity to participate through self-sampling. Evaluation and balancing benefit (detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia) and burden of screening (unnecessary referrals, invasive diagnostics, and overtreatment) is needed.

    This study aimed to compare the referral rates, detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, overdiagnosis, and overtreatment in the new high-risk human papillomavirus-based screening program, including physician-sampled and self-sampled material, with the previous cytology-based screening program in the Netherlands.

    A retrospective cohort study was conducted within the Dutch population-based cervical cancer screening program. Screenees with referrals for colposcopy between 2014 and 2015 (cytology-based screening) and 2017 and 2018 (high-risk human papillomavirus-based screescreening increases detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, with 462 more cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or worse cases per 100,000 women but at the expense of 850 more cases per 100,000 women with invasive diagnostics indicating cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 or less.

    Follow-up clinics after ICU admission have demonstrated limited benefit. However, existing trials have evaluated heterogeneous cohorts and used physicians who had limited training in outpatient care.

    What are the effects of a “shared-care” intensivist-endocrinologist clinic for ICU survivors with type 2 diabetes on process measures and clinical outcomes 6months after hospital discharge, and is it feasible to conduct a larger trial?

    This was a prospective, randomized, single-center pilot study with blinded outcome assessment. Patients with type 2 diabetes, who required≥ 5days of ICU care (mixed medical-surgical ICU) and survived to ICU discharge, were eligible. Participants were randomized to attendance at the shared-care clinic 1month after hospital discharge or usual care. Six months after hospital discharge, participants were assessed for outcomes including glycated hemoglobin, neuropathy, nephropathy, quality of life, return to employment, frailty, and health-care use. The primary outcome was participant recruitment and retention.

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