Molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in intensive care units over a 10-year period (1998-2007).

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the leading nosocomial pathogens in intensive care units (ICUs). The source of this microorganism can be either endogenous or exogenous. The proportion of cases as a result of transmission is still debated, and its elucidation is important for implementing appropriate control measures. To understand the relative importance of exogenous vs. endogenous sources of P. aeruginosa, molecular typing was performed on all available P. aeruginosa isolated from ICU clinical and environmental specimens in 1998, 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2007. Patient samples were classified according to their P. aeruginosa genotypes into three categories: (A) identical to isolate from faucet; (B) identical to at least one other patient sample and not found in faucet; and (C) unique genotype. Cases in categories A and B were considered as possibly exogenous, and cases in category C as possibly endogenous. A mean of 34 cases per 1000 admissions per year were found to be colonized or infected by P. aeruginosa. Higher levels of faucet contamination were correlated with a higher number of cases in category A. The number of cases in category B varied from 1.9 to 20 cases per 1000 admissions. This number exceeded 10/1000 admissions on three occasions and was correlated with an outbreak on one occasion. The number of cases considered as endogenous (category C) was stable and independent of the number of cases in categories A and B. The present study shows that repeated molecular typing can help identify variations in the epidemiology of P. aeruginosa in ICU patients and guide infection control measures.

Significant decrease in in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events in Swiss STEMI patients between 2000 and December 2007.

To evaluate the in-hospital outcome of STEMI (ST elevation myocardial infarction) patients admitted to Swiss hospitals between 2000 and December 2007, and to identify the predictors of in-hospital mortality and major cardiac events. Data from the Swiss national registry AMIS Plus (Acute Myocardial Infarction and Unstable Angina in Switzerland) were used. All patients admitted between January 2000 and December 2007 with STEMI or a new LBBB (left bundle branch block) were included in the registry. We studied 12 026 STEMI patients admitted to 68 hospitals. The mean age was 64 +/- 13 years and 73% of the patients were male. Incidence of in-hospital death was 7.6% in 2000 and 6% in 2007. Reinfarction fell from 3.7% in 2000 to 0.9% in 2007. Thrombolysis decreased from 40.2% in 2000 to 2% in 2007. Clinical predictors of mortality were: age >65 years, Killips class III or IV, diabetes, Q wave myocardial infarction (at presentation). Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) had lower mortality and reinfarction rates (3.9% versus 11.2% and 1.1% versus 3.1% respectively, p <0.001) over time, although their numbers increased from 43% in 2000 to 85% in 2007. Patients admitted to hospitals with PCI facilities had lower mortality than patients hospitalised in hospitals without it, but the demographic characteristics differ widely between the two groups. Both in-hospital mortality and reinfarction decreased significantly over the time, parallel to an increased number of PCI. PCI was also the strongest predictor of survival. In-hospital mortality and reinfarction rate have decreased significantly in Swiss STEMI patients in the last seven years, parallel to a significant increase in the number of percutaneous coronary interventions in addition to medical therapy. Outcome is not related to the site of admission but to PCI access.

Transparency and trust in government (2007-2014): a comparative study

In a 2000 report entitled "Trust in government. Ethics measures in OECD countries," OECD Secretary-General Donald J. Johnston emphasized the fact that public ethics are considered as a keystone of good governance. Moreover, public ethics are a prerequisite to public trust, which is in turn vital not only to any public service, but also to any society in general. At the same time, transparency reforms have flourished over the last few years and have several times been designed as a response to public distrust. Therefore, ethics, transparency and trust are closely linked together in a supposed virtuous circle where transparency works as a factor of better public ethics and leads to more trust in government on the citizens' side. This article explores the links between transparency and levels of trust in 10 countries between 2007 and 2014, using open data indexes and access to information requests as proxies for transparency. A national ranking of transparency, based on requests submitted by citizens to the administration and open data indexes, is then proposed. Key findings show that there is no sharp decline of trust in government in all countries considered in this article, and that transparency and trust in government are not systematically positively associated. Therefore, this article challenges the common assumption, mostly found in the normative literature, about a positive interrelation between the two, where trust in government is conceived as a beneficial effect of administrative transparency.

Observatorio de competitividad : Clima de los negocios Bogotá 2007 : Estudio de opinión de los empresarios de Bogotá. N. 9. Mayo de 2008

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de competitividad : Mejores ciudades para hacer negocios en América Latina 2007. N. 8. Mayo de 2007

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de la seguridad en Bogotá : balance del primer semestre de 2007. No. 33 agosto de 2007

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de seguridad en cundinamarca : Balance enero - agosto de 2007. No. 11 octubre de 2007

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de las exportaciones: Bogotá y Cundinamarca, comportamiento de las exportaciones 2000-2006. N. 13. Mayo de 2007

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de seguridad en Cundinamarca : Balance 2006. No. 10 junio de 2007

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de las exportaciones : Bogotá y Cundinamarca, comportamiento de las exportaciones 2000 - 2006. No. 13 mayo 2007

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de las exportaciones: Bogotá-Cundinamarca, productos con oportunidad para exportar al mercado de Estados Unidos. N. 14. Noviembre de 2007

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de las exportaciones: percepción de los industriales de Bogotá sobre su actividad exportadora, 2005- 2007. No.15 Abril de 2008

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de las exportaciones: Bogotá y Cundinamarca, comportamiento de las exportaciones 2000 - 2007. No.16 Mayo de 2008

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de las finanzas públicas de Bogotá : Balance de las finanzas públicas de Bogotá en el 2006. N. 8. Mayo de 2007

Gestión del conocimiento

Observatorio de las finanzas públicas de Bogotá: Balance de ingresos y gastos y tendencia en la inversión en Bogotá 1998-2007. N. 9. Noviembre de 2007

Gestión del conocimiento