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Biomedical subjects

M Perri

Publications and source records attributed to M Perri.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1988

Pharmacy newsletters--the journalistic approach.

Pharmacy newsletters are an important communication tool for the majority of pharmacy operations across the country. They are used by pharmacists for basically two purposes: 1) to disseminate information to physicians, nurses and other hospital staff; and 2) for public relations. An enormous amount of time is spent by pharmacists in preparing newsletters but their effectiveness with respect to the above two purposes may vary from hospital to hospital. It is believed that a journalistic approach to the creation and publication of pharmacy newsletters can increase their effectiveness and acceptance by the hospital staff.

Communication↗
PubMed1988

Impact of computerization on clinical pharmacy services in South Atlantic states.

The impact of computerization on clinical pharmacy services in the South Atlantic region was surveyed. Questionnaires were mailed to 350 hospital pharmacy directors in March 1987. The survey assessed type of computer system, degree of computerization, years computerized, hospital bed capacity, occupancy rate, staffing, presence of a clinical coordinator, and type of clinical services. For analysis of the relationship between clinical services and computerization, only responses indicating an increase in the number of clinical services since 1982 were used. Respondents were asked to rank, in order of importance, factors that they believed enabled clinical services to be increased. The survey response rate was 52.2%, with 179 of 343 usable replies received. The results indicate that there is a link between computerization and clinical services. Computerized pharmacies offered more services on average than did noncomputerized pharmacies. However, the differences in the types of services offered between computerized and noncomputerized pharmacies were not significant. Of the different means of increasing services, pharmacy directors ranked increasing professional staff the most important, followed by increased responsibility of technical staff, computerization, increasing technical staff, hiring a clinical coordinator, and other methods. Pharmacy directors interested in increasing the numbers of clinical services offered at their institutions should consider organizational factors such as departmental structure and number and types of personnel in conjunction with computerization.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1988

Job-related stress experienced by hospital pharmacists and nurses.

Pharmacists' and nurses' perceptions of job-related stress and its relationship to career satisfaction were surveyed. A questionnaire was developed and mailed in 1987 to pharmacists and nurses whose names were randomly selected from national mailing lists. Subjects were asked to rate, on a five-point scale (4 = very often), how often they found 39 situations to be stressful. The first 30 situations composed the Health Professions Stress Inventory (HPSI), which was created for this study; the remaining nine questions were included for validation of the HPSI. Respondents were also asked whether they would choose the same profession again. Usable questionnaires were returned by 107 pharmacists and 263 nurses practicing in hospitals. Of the potentially highest stress score of 120, overall mean scores were significantly higher for nurses (63) than for pharmacists (57). Statistical analysis indicated that the sample size was adequate and the HPSI was valid and reliable. Both pharmacists and nurses found situations that dealt with interruptions, poor opportunities for advancement, inadequate staffing levels, excessive workload, and inadequate pay to be the most stressful. Pharmacists viewed not feeling challenged as a significantly more stressful situation than did nurses. Career satisfaction was significantly related to job stress for both pharmacists and nurses; 45% of the pharmacists and 37% of the nurses said they would not choose the same profession again, and those with the highest scores on the stress scale were least likely to choose the same profession again. These hospital nurses and pharmacists reported moderate job-related stress.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Humans↗
PubMed1987

An exploratory analysis of consumer recognition of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medications.

Consumer knowledge of direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertising was explored by assessing consumer recognition of the direct advertising of Pneumovax by Merck, Sharp and Dohme. Consumer attitudes, medical condition, and demographic characteristics were the central issues of the survey instrument used in the 139 personal interviews conducted. Results indicate 12% of consumers were aware of the Pneumovax promotion. Consumer attitudes were favorable, and the majority of respondents indicated they would ask their physician about advertised prescription medicines.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1987

Estimating demand for health information: pharmacy counseling services.

Consumers want more information about their health care. Before giving more information, health care providers need valid, reliable estimates of the amounts consumers will pay for health information. Using the example of pharmacist counseling services, the authors demonstrate a method for developing, estimates of consumer demand for health information.

Community Participation↗
PubMed1987

Stability of terbutaline sulfate repackaged in disposable plastic syringes.

The stability of terbutaline sulfate injection repackaged in disposable plastic syringes and stored for a 60-day period under one of three conditions, dark at 4 degrees C, dark at 25 degrees C, and light at 25 degrees C, was studied. Terbutaline sulfate from 1-mg/mL ampuls was repackaged into 63 3-mL polypropylene syringes. Twenty-one syringes were protected from light by storage in ultraviolet-light-inhibiting bags in a dark cabinet. Twenty-one syringes were exposed to continuous fluorescent light at room temperature, and the remaining syringes were stored in the dark under refrigeration. Samples were visually inspected and assayed on days 0, 1, 4, 7, 14, 28, and 60 after repackaging. Drug concentrations were determined by a stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatographic method. Terbutaline concentrations ranged from 89.2% to 98.5% of initial concentration. The contents of the light-exposed syringes had yellowed by day 60. Terbutaline sulfate in polypropylene syringes is stable for 60 days under refrigeration and at room temperature when protected from light, but substantial degradation and discoloration of the drug can occur when the syringes are not protected from light.

Drug Packaging↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus carriage among asymptomatic nursing home personnel: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the carriage rate of Staphylococcus aureus (SA), both methicillin sensitive, and methicillin resistant (MRSA), among employees of a nursing home in the absence of an epidemic. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: A 210-bed suburban skilled nursing facility with a low endemic rate of SA infection. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-three asymptomatic employees recruited in two waves. MEASUREMENT: Nasal swabs were cultured for SA; DNA strain typing was performed on MRSA isolates from the first wave of recruits. RESULTS: 21 of 73 (29%) cultures were positive for SA. Ten of these 21 (14% of participating employees) had nasal carriage of MRSA. MRSA carriage was not significantly correlated with age, duration of employment, or job type (clinical vs. non-clinical), and DNA strain typing suggested that employee carriage of MRSA was not the result of a common source. CONCLUSIONS: Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage is common among skilled nursing facility personnel, and MRSA accounts for a substantial proportion of SA carriage among employees, even in the absence of an epidemic. Further research is needed to determine whether the high SA carriage rates among employees reflects work place acquisition, and, if so, whether it poses a hazard to the employees. The low incidence of nosocomial MRSA infections around the time of the study suggests that with usual infection control practices (eg, hand washing), MRSA-colonized caregivers pose little risk to nursing facility residents.

Journal Article↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Pulmonary hemosiderosis induced by cow's milk proteins: a discussion of a clinical case].

Pulmonary hemosiderosis (PH), a rare pathology, usually occurring during infancy and childhood, is characterized by numerous and repeated intra-alveolar bleedings, interstitial iron build-up with consequent progressive fibrosis and severe anemia. PH can be basically divided into 3 different categories: Primitive or idiopathic, involving a primitive deficit of antioxidizing enzymes in the erythrocytes in genetically predisposed subjects; Secondary, subsequent to chronic pneumopathy or cardiopathy; Associated with various pathologies including collagenopathies, glomerulonephritis, myocardiopathies, diabetes, steatorrhea, tireotossicosis. A particular type of Pulmonary Hemosiderosis, associated with allergy to cow's milk, has been described for the first time by Heiner. We present in this paper our personal experience of a young patient suffering from pulmonary hemosiderosis induced by cow's milk protein.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[New therapeutic trends in thalassemia: oral chelating agents].

The future therapeutic strategy for decreasing iron overload in poly-transfused patients will include oral chelation. The product currently undergoing the most intensive experimentation is Ll (1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyrid-4-one). We report here a short-term efficacy study carried out in 10 thalassemic transfusion-dependent pediatric volunteer patients, already closely followed in our Day Hospital, after having provided their informed consent. In our study Ll, when compared to Desferrioxamine, was clearly efficacious and safe.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Iron deficiency in children: which is the correct therapy?].

Iron is essential for human metabolism. Under normal circumstances its homeostasis is strictly kept by absorption and excretion through genitourinary, gastrointestinal tracts and skin losses. In several systemic disorders, dietary iron is insufficient to keep such a dynamic balance: development of iron deficiency may be due to increased requirements, decreased intestinal absorption, inadequate dietary uptake. Low birth weight newborns, children and adolescents are at increased risk for developing iron deficiency. Although clinical aspects may vary, hematochemical findings show a three-step gradual progression. In a first step iron deficiency is diagnosed by serum ferritin level which will be under 10-20/micrograms/ml showing a depletion of total body iron stores. In a second step progressing iron deficiency will be assessed by lowered serum iron and increased unsaturated serum transferrin, serum iron bound to transferrin and erythrocyte protoporphyrin IX. Scanty clinical signs are still available. In a third step while clinical findings show a complete features of iron deficiency anemia (weakness, fatigue, palpitations, etc.), laboratory findings show morphologic alterations in red cells (hypochromia and microcytemia), together with the aforementioned disorders in ferrokinetics. Iron deficiency anemia responds very effectively to treatment due a correct etiological diagnosis, crucial to a through therapy tending to first eliminating the causes of it. Prophylaxis against iron deficiency anemia is required in prematurely born and low birth weight infants because of doubled iron requirements. After the second month of life diet is supplemented with 2-4 mg/kg/die of ferrous iron orally along the first year of life.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Meningococcal sepsis and DIC in childhood: a report of a clinical case].

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a frequent complication of meningococcal sepsis in children. The clinical course variability, the severity of manifestations and the need of an early diagnosis for appropriate treatment, guides us to report a case of meningococcal sepsis and DIC. The patient, male, prematurely born, 11 months years old, presented himself with high fever of sudden onset, malaise, diarrhea, diffuse skin rash with abdominal petechiae, and no clinical evidence of meningitidis. Initial hematochemical findings, peripheral leukocytosis, quantitative and qualitative changes in plasma coagulation factors, liquoral hypocellularity together with the development of signs of meningeal irritation (stiff neck and back) were considered diagnostic clues for meningococcal sepsis associated with DIC. A gram-negative diplococcus was cultured from liquor. Primary goals of the treatment of this life-threatening clinical picture were the elimination of the bacterial component, the correction of clotting disorders and careful control of shock and metabolic acidosis often related with DIC. The patient then received a wide spectrum Cephalosporin, fresh frozen plasma, appropriate electrolyte solutions and eventually heparin, which led to a complete control and resolution of symptomatology.

Acidosis↗