Biomedical subjects

L Florio

Publications and source records attributed to L Florio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Outcomes of a pharmacoepidemiological survey on the antibiotic treatment of uncomplicated acute cystitis in community.

We carried out a community-based survey in order to emphasize the importance of therapeutic appropriateness of antibiotic prescription by local physicians and the close connection between pharmacotherapy and pharmacoeconomics. Twenty general practitioners belonging to the local sanitary firm of Paola (CS, Italy) provided information, including their prescription, regarding 64 patients, both male and female, presenting clinical symptoms of uncomplicated acute cystitis. The data collected were compared with those of a previous trial performed in the same setting and documenting the effectiveness and advantages associated with the use of amoxicillin against community-acquired uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI). By comparing the prescriptive behaviour of physicians between the first and the present survey, we detected a significant increase in the use of amoxicillin (from 0 to 26.56%), paralleled by a decrease in prescribing aminoglycosides (from 18.18 to 1.56%). In addition, this resulted in a significant reduction in the costs of treatment (from 23.06 to 12.75 euros). Therefore, given the vast consensus concerning the adoption of empirical treatment for the eradication of UTI, the present survey underlines the crucial role of local antibiotic resistance monitoring in order to optimize the use of these drugs. Moreover, we have also observed a significant reduction in treatment costs associated with an appropriate and effective treatment of UTI.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2005

Rational use of antibiotics in acute uncomplicated cystitis: a pharmaco-epidemiological study.

Uncomplicated community-acquired urinary tract infections are among those most commonly found in clinical practice, resulting in significant morbidity and health care costs. Current management is usually empirical because of the narrow and predictable spectrum of etiologic agents that cause acute cystitis and their susceptibility patterns. However, since antimicrobial resistance is increasing, the use narrow-spectrum, inexpensive antimicrobial agents becomes less feasible. In our study we have evaluated the effectiveness of amoxicillin, a narrow-spectrum, inexpensive and non toxic drug, against non-complicated acute cystitis in 34 patients, and compared the results with the antibiotic therapy previously employed by the physicians of the Health Care Unit of Paola (CS), Italy. Amoxicillin was found to be effective for the treatment of community-acquired cystitis, thus suggesting that the development of bacterial resistance does not represent a limit to its use. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that besides providing an effective alternative to broad-spectrum antibiotics, the use of amoxicillin significantly reduced health care costs.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1995

Assessing the value of a short-term residential drug treatment program for homeless men.

Cocaine and other substance abuse has been found to be a contributing or primary cause of homelessness in urban men. This project evaluated the effectiveness of the Grant Street Partnership (GSP), a shelter-based treatment program for homeless, cocaine-abusing men, consisting of 90 days of residential treatment and 6 months of aftercare. We tested the hypothesis that the 182 men randomized to the GSP group, as compared to the 112 men randomized to a "usual services" group, would show significantly greater improvement over time in the areas of drug use and residential and economic stability. An 80% response rate was achieved overall for the five follow-up points. Cocaine use, defined as use of cocaine at least once in the prior 30 days, declined from about 90% at baseline for both groups to 11% in the GSP group and 55% in the control group at 21 months. The GSP group was also more likely than the usual services group to have achieved residential stability by the time of the 9 month follow-up. Neither group experienced an improvement over time in employment status.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Psychiatric status and 9-year mortality data in the New Haven Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of nine axis I psychiatric disorders, as assessed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, on the risk of mortality over a 9-year period among a community sample of 3,560 men and women aged 40 and older. METHOD: The study identified the vital status as of Oct. 1, 1989, of respondents who were first interviewed in 1980 by the New Haven Epidemiologic Catchment Area study. Mortality risk by psychiatric status was estimated by using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Nine years after the baseline interview, it was confirmed that 1,194 (33.5%) of the respondents were deceased and 2,344 (65.8%) survived; the vital status of 22 (0.6%) remained unknown. When the relative risk of mortality was adjusted for age, several disorders--major depression, alcohol abuse or dependence, and schizophrenia--increased the likelihood of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: These data are further evidence of the negative outcome of some psychiatric problems even when assessed in community samples. The relatively high prevalence of depression and alcohol disorders indicates the far-reaching impact that these problems have on community health in general.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

The epidemiology of dysthymia in five communities: rates, risks, comorbidity, and treatment.

Data from a survey of five U.S. communities showed that dysthymia affected approximately 3% of the adult population. It was more common in women under age 65, unmarried persons, and young persons with low income and was associated with greater use of general health and psychiatric services and psychotropic drugs. Dysthymia had a high comorbidity with other psychiatric disorders, particularly major depression; only about 25%-30% of cases occur over a lifetime in the absence of other psychiatric disorders. The findings suggest that although the onset and highest risk periods of major depression and bipolar disorder are in young adulthood, a residual state of dysthymia occurs in middle and old age.

Adult↗

PubMed1986