Updating and validating the Charlson comorbidity index and score for risk adjustment in hospital discharge abstracts using data from 6 countries.

With advances in the effectiveness of treatment and disease management, the contribution of chronic comorbid diseases (comorbidities) found within the Charlson comorbidity index to mortality is likely to have changed since development of the index in 1984. The authors reevaluated the Charlson index and reassigned weights to each condition by identifying and following patients to observe mortality within 1 year after hospital discharge. They applied the updated index and weights to hospital discharge data from 6 countries and tested for their ability to predict in-hospital mortality. Compared with the original Charlson weights, weights generated from the Calgary, Alberta, Canada, data (2004) were 0 for 5 comorbidities, decreased for 3 comorbidities, increased for 4 comorbidities, and did not change for 5 comorbidities. The C statistics for discriminating in-hospital mortality between the new score generated from the 12 comorbidities and the Charlson score were 0.825 (new) and 0.808 (old), respectively, in Australian data (2008), 0.828 and 0.825 in Canadian data (2008), 0.878 and 0.882 in French data (2004), 0.727 and 0.723 in Japanese data (2008), 0.831 and 0.836 in New Zealand data (2008), and 0.869 and 0.876 in Swiss data (2008). The updated index of 12 comorbidities showed good-to-excellent discrimination in predicting in-hospital mortality in data from 6 countries and may be more appropriate for use with more recent administrative data.

To Monty Kier, a friendly tribute.

In 2008 we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, research on this topic has continued to accelerate, and many new scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Accordingly, it is important to update these guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Various reviews have described the range of assays that have been used for this purpose. Nevertheless, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to measure autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. A key point that needs to be emphasized is that there is a difference between measurements that monitor the numbers or volume of autophagic elements (e.g., autophagosomes or autolysosomes) at any stage of the autophagic process vs. those that measure flux through the autophagy pathway (i.e., the complete process); thus, a block in macroautophagy that results in autophagosome accumulation needs to be differentiated from stimuli that result in increased autophagic activity, defined as increased autophagy induction coupled with increased delivery to, and degradation within, lysosomes (in most higher eukaryotes and some protists such as Dictyostelium) or the vacuole (in plants and fungi). In other words, it is especially important that investigators new to the field understand that the appearance of more autophagosomes does not necessarily equate with more autophagy. In fact, in many cases, autophagosomes accumulate because of a block in trafficking to lysosomes without a concomitant change in autophagosome biogenesis, whereas an increase in autolysosomes may reflect a reduction in degradative activity. Here, we present a set of guidelines for the selection and interpretation of methods for use by investigators who aim to examine macroautophagy and related processes, as well as for reviewers who need to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of papers that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a formulaic set of rules, because the appropriate assays depend in part on the question being asked and the system being used. In addition, we emphasize that no individual assay is guaranteed to be the most appropriate one in every situation, and we strongly recommend the use of multiple assays to monitor autophagy. In these guidelines, we consider these various methods of assessing autophagy and what information can, or cannot, be obtained from them. Finally, by discussing the merits and limits of particular autophagy assays, we hope to encourage technical innovation in the field.

Exposition au VIH, à l'hépatite B et C au cabinet médical et à l'hôpital. Prévention et prophylaxie postexpositionnelle [Exposure to HIV, hepatitis B and C in office practice and hospital. Prevention and post-exposure prophylaxis]

Suite à un accident exposant à du sang (piqûre; coupure), provenant d'un patient infecté, le risque d'infection par VIH est d'environ 0,3% et par le virus de l'hépatite C (VHC) d'environ 0,5%. Chez les personnes vaccinées avec une réponse immunitaire adéquate (titre d'anticorps HBs >100 mUI/ml), aucune infection professionnelle par hépatite B n'a été reconnue en Suisse. La plupart des infections par VIH et VHB peuvent être prévenues par un traitement d'urgence et une prophylaxie postexpositionnelle (PEP). Il n'y a actuellement aucune prophylaxie postexpositionnelle pour le VHC. En cas de transmission de VHC, un traitement rapide par peginterféron et ribavirine est à envisager. Chaque hôpital et cabinet médical doivent mettre sur pied un système pour assurer une prise en charge optimale et en urgence des blessures par piqûres ou coupures. Lors de blessures accidentelles avec du sang de patients séropositifs pour le VIH et dans des situations complexes, il est recommandé de consulter un médecin du personnel ou un infectiologue expérimenté. The risk of infection after an occupational needle stick injury with blood from an infected source patient is approximately 0.3% for HIV and 0.5% for hepatitis C virus (HCV). In Switzerland no cases of occupational HBV infection have been recorded in fully vaccinated persons with a documented adequate vaccine response (HBsantibody titer >100 mIU/mL). Most occupational HIV und HBV infections can be prevented by appropriate emergency measures and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). No HCV-PEP is currently available. Early therapy with peginterferon and ribavirin should be considered in cases of occupational HCV seroconversion. Every hospital and office practice should establish a system for 24 h/24 h emergency management of occupational needle stick injuries. In the setting of an HIV-seropositive source patient and in complex situations, early consultation with a specialist in occupational medicine or infectious diseases should be considered.

A opinião de enfermeiros recém-admitidos sobre o programa de treinamento para a sua integração em um hospital de ensino

As autoras propuseram-se a conhecer a opinião dos enfermeiros recém-admitidos em um hospital de ensino, sobre o treinamento realizado para a sua integração, à fim de obter subsídios para a avaliação e reformulação do mesmo.

Characteristics and determinants of outcome of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in intensive care units: the EUROBACT International Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: The recent increase in drug-resistant micro-organisms complicates the management of hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (HA-BSIs). We investigated the epidemiology of HA-BSI and evaluated the impact of drug resistance on outcomes of critically ill patients, controlling for patient characteristics and infection management. METHODS: A prospective, multicentre non-representative cohort study was conducted in 162 intensive care units (ICUs) in 24 countries. RESULTS: We included 1,156 patients [mean ± standard deviation (SD) age, 59.5 ± 17.7 years; 65 % males; mean ± SD Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS) II score, 50 ± 17] with HA-BSIs, of which 76 % were ICU-acquired. Median time to diagnosis was 14 [interquartile range (IQR), 7-26] days after hospital admission. Polymicrobial infections accounted for 12 % of cases. Among monomicrobial infections, 58.3 % were gram-negative, 32.8 % gram-positive, 7.8 % fungal and 1.2 % due to strict anaerobes. Overall, 629 (47.8 %) isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR), including 270 (20.5 %) extensively resistant (XDR), and 5 (0.4 %) pan-drug-resistant (PDR). Micro-organism distribution and MDR occurrence varied significantly (p < 0.001) by country. The 28-day all-cause fatality rate was 36 %. In the multivariable model including micro-organism, patient and centre variables, independent predictors of 28-day mortality included MDR isolate [odds ratio (OR), 1.49; 95 % confidence interval (95 %CI), 1.07-2.06], uncontrolled infection source (OR, 5.86; 95 %CI, 2.5-13.9) and timing to adequate treatment (before day 6 since blood culture collection versus never, OR, 0.38; 95 %CI, 0.23-0.63; since day 6 versus never, OR, 0.20; 95 %CI, 0.08-0.47). CONCLUSIONS: MDR and XDR bacteria (especially gram-negative) are common in HA-BSIs in critically ill patients and are associated with increased 28-day mortality. Intensified efforts to prevent HA-BSIs and to optimize their management through adequate source control and antibiotic therapy are needed to improve outcomes.

Personnes âgées aux urgences: défis actuels et futurs [Older patients at the emergency department: current and future challenges].

Emergency departments are and will be at the front line to face the forthcoming increased use of the health care system by the aging baby boomers cohort. Emergency department services will need to adjust on a quantitative as well as on a qualitative basis to manage the impact of these demographic changes. Various models of care have been developed to improve the care of older geriatric patients in the Emergency department that resulted in favorable results on functional, health, as well as health services utilization outcomes. Key components of these successful models have been identified that require a high level of integration between geriatric and emergency teams.

Creació d'un quadre de comandament per a l'anàlisi de resultats d'un hospital

En aquest projecte es realitzarà un quadre de comandament amb l'eina Oracle BI, amb la construcció del data warehouse i procés ETL.

Ocorrência de acidente do trabalho por material perfurocortante entre trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital universitário da cidade de Campinas, estado de São Paulo

Com o objetivo de estudar aspectos da ocorrência de acidente do trabalho por material perfurocortante entre trabalhadores de enfermagem de um hospital universitário, foram entrevistados 46 trabalhadores que se acidentaram no período de junho a dezembro de 1994. Os resultados forneceram dados importantes que poderão subsidiar programas de prevenção.

Processo de planejamento na prática da enfermagem em um hospital de ensino

Esta pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar os referenciais teórico-metodológicos que tem norteado o desenvolvimento da função genencial-planejantento, tina prática da enfermagem, em um hospital de ensino vinculado à Universidade de São Paulo. Para tanto, realizou-se uma pesquisa do tipo exploratória-descritiva, sendo que participaram da mesma, 13 enfermeiras chefes de seção, compreendendo a totalidade das chefias do Departamento de Enfermagem. A coleta de dados foi realizada pelas pesquisadoras, por meio de um formulário. Os dados foram analisados e frente aos resultados enfatizamos a importância da incorporação do referencial do planejamento estratégico na pratica da enfermagem, no sentido de favorecer a introdução de mudanças.

Sofrimento e prazer no trabalho vivenciado pelas enfermeiras que trabalham em unidades de terapia intensiva em um hospital escola

O presente estudo teve por objetivo explicitar e compreender as Representações Sociais das enfermeiras acerca do trabalho em Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) e os modos de expressão do sofrimento e do prazer ligados a esse trabalho. Foram realizadas entrevistas com seis enfermeiras das UTIs de Clínicas Médica, Cirúrgica e Pediátrica de uma instituição de ensino. A análise dessas representações possibili tou a apreensão da dimensão simbólica do trabalho, nos âmbitos: psicossocial (individual), sociodinâmico (grupo) e institucional (instituição).Constatamos também que o trabalho na UTI proporciona prazer às enfermeiras, apesar do desgaste emocional ser intenso. Este estudo permitiu ampla reflexão sobre a problemática e evidenciou a necessidade de aprofundar o estudo na dimensão subjetiva e simbólica que este trabalho compreende, como um ponto importante na administração de recursos humanos em enfermagem.

Expectativas dos alunos de enfermagem frente ao primeiro estágio em hospital

A primeira vivência em estágio hospitalar pode gerar tensões e ansiedades. Esses sentimentos interferem negativamente no processo ensino - aprendizagem. O objetivo deste trabalho foi conhecer as expectativas dos alunos de Fundamentos de Enfermagens II acerca do primeiro estágio hospitalar. Foram sujeitos desta pesquisa alunos do 2º ano do Curso de Enfermagem da Universidade Estadual de Maringá - PR. Os alunos revelaram, atitudes de ansiedade quanto a procedimentos técnicos, relacionamento com o paciente e avaliação. Ao refletir sobre esses aspectos, o docente pode favorecer a eficácia do ensino e a humanização na formação.

Cirugía micrográfica de Mohs: Estudio retrospectivo de los últimos trece años (1999-2011) en el Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

El objetivo de este trabajo fue describir las características de los pacientes tratados con cirugía micrográfica de Mohs entre 1999-2011 y evaluar la eficacia de esta cirugía para el tratamiento de los carcinomas basocelulares. Durante este periodo se realizaron 560 cirugías de Mohs, el 95.36% de las cuales fueron de carcinomas basocelulares. Se observó una tasa de recidiva del 1.40% para los carcinomas basocelulares primarios y del 13.62% para los recurrentes, siendo la diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p <0.0001).

Motivo de consulta más frecuente del paciente oncológico hospitalizado en el Consorcio Hospital Provincial de Castellón. Estudio descriptivo.

Estudio descriptivo de los principales motivos de ingreso y síntomas más frecuentes del paciente oncológico. Se obtienen datos demográficos, clínicos y patológicos del paciente; así como el principal motivo de ingreso y la sintomatología que asocia. Resultados: El principal motivo de ingreso han sido las complicaciones derivadas de la neoplasia (56%), siendo el dolor mal controlado la principal causa. La sintomatología más prevalente ha sido la sequedad bucal (63%), dolor (60%) y la anorexia (55%). El dolor fue considerado el síntoma principal, sin embargo, el 63% de los pacientes que presentaban dolor, estaba mal o muy mal controlado (EVA>4).

Motivo de consulta más frecuente del paciente oncológico hospitalizado en el Hospital de Sagunto. Estudio descriptivo.

Estudi descriptiu dels principals motius d´ingrés i símptomes més freqüents del pacient oncològic. S´obtenen dades demogràfiques, clíniques i patològiques del pacient; així com el principal motiu d´ingrés i la simptomatologia que associa. Resultats: El principal motiu d´ingrés han estat les complicacions derivades de la neoplàsia (84 %), sent el dolor mal controlat la principal causa. La simptomatologia més prevalent ha estat l´anorèxia (69 %), dolor (60 %) i la perduda de pes (40 %). El dolor va ser considerat el símptoma principal, no obstant això, el 60 % dels pacients que presentaven dolor, estava mal o molt mal controlat (EVA>4).