Biomedical subjects

Victoria Fraser

Publications and source records attributed to Victoria Fraser.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Outbreak of Salmonella javiana infection at a children's hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the source of an outbreak of Salmonella javiana infection. DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 101 culture-confirmed cases and 540 epidemiologically linked cases were detected between May 26, 2003, and June 16, 2003, in hospital employees, patients, and visitors. Asymptomatic employees who had eaten in the hospital cafeteria between May 30 and June 4, 2003, and had had no gastroenteritis symptoms after May 1, 2003, were chosen as control subjects. SETTING: A 235-bed academic tertiary care children's hospital. RESULTS: Isolates from 100 of 101 culture-confirmed cases had identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. A foodhandler with symptoms of gastroenteritis was the presumed index subject. In multivariate analysis, case subjects were more likely than control subjects to have consumed items from the salad bar (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.3-12.1) and to have eaten in the cafeteria on May 28 (aOR, 9.4; 95% CI, 1.8-49.5), May 30 (aOR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.0-12.7), and/or June 3 (aOR, 4.0; 95% CI, 1.4-11.3). CONCLUSIONS: Foodhandlers who worked while they had symptoms of gastroenteritis likely contributed to the propagation of the outbreak. This large outbreak was rapidly controlled through the use of an incident command center.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed2006

Brief report: Hospitalized patients' attitudes about and participation in error prevention.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although many patient safety organizations and hospital leaders wish to involve patients in error prevention, it is unknown whether patients will take the recommended actions or whether error prevention involvement affects hospitalization satisfaction. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: Telephone interviews with 2,078 patients discharged from 11 Midwest hospitals. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent agreed that patients could help prevent errors. Patients were very comfortable asking a medication's purpose (91%), general medical questions (89%), and confirming their identity (84%), but were uncomfortable asking medical providers whether they had washed their hands (46% very comfortable). While hospitalized, many asked questions about their care (85%) and a medication's purpose (75%), but fewer confirmed they were the correct patient (38%), helped mark their incision site (17%), or asked about handwashing (5%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that patients who felt very comfortable with error prevention were significantly more likely to take 6 of the 7 error-prevention actions compared with uncomfortable patients. CONCLUSIONS: While patients were generally comfortable with error prevention, their participation varied by specific action. Since patients who were very comfortable were most likely to take action, educational interventions to increase comfort with error prevention may be necessary to help patients become more engaged.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Varying rates of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea at prevention epicenter hospitals.

BACKGROUND: Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) causes substantial healthcare-associated morbidity. Unlike other common healthcare-associated pathogens, little comparative information is available about CDAD rates in hospitalized patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine CDAD rates per 10,000 patient-days and per 1,000 hospital admissions at 7 geographically diverse tertiary-care centers from 2000 to 2003, and to survey participating centers on methods of CDAD surveillance and case definition. METHODS: Each center provided specific information for the study period, including case numbers, patient-days, and hospital characteristics. Case definitions and laboratory diagnoses of healthcare-associated CDAD were determined by each institution. Within institutions, case definitions remained consistent during the study period. RESULTS: Overall, mean annual case rates of CDAD were 12.1 per 10,000 patient-days (range, 3.1 to 25.1) and 7.4 per 1,000 hospital admissions (range, 3.1 to 13.1). No significant increases were observed in CDAD case rates during the 4-year interval, either at individual centers or in the Prevention Epicenter hospitals as a whole. Prevention Epicenter hospitals differed in their CDAD case definitions. Different case definitions used by the hospitals applied to a fixed data set resulted in a 30% difference in rates. No associations were identified between diagnostic test or case definition used and the relative rate of CDAD at a specific medical center. CONCLUSIONS: Rates of CDAD vary widely at tertiary-care centers across the United States. No significant increases in case rates were identified. The varying clinical and laboratory approaches to diagnosis complicated comparisons between hospitals. To facilitate benchmarking and comparisons between institutions, we recommend development of a more standardized case definition.

Clostridioides difficile↗

PubMed2003

The prospective role of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of patients with suspected infective endocarditis.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has a high sensitivity for the diagnosis of infective endocarditis (IE), but the prospective role of TEE when added to a careful clinical examination has not been well-studied. DESIGN: We compared the results of TEE to a clinical evaluation by an infectious disease specialist in 43 consecutive patients in whom TEE was ordered to rule out IE. Prior to TEE, the patients were classified on clinical grounds as to their likelihood of IE using a modification of the von Reyn criteria. Changes in management occurring as a result of TEE also were evaluated. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: TEE was positive in 11 patients, negative in 29, and indeterminate in 3. TEE was positive in 6 (46%) of 13 high probability patients, 2 (67%) of medium probability patients, and 3 (11%) of 27 low probability patients. A change in management based on TEE occurred in 4 (31%) patients with high probability, in no patients with medium probability, and in 1 (4%) patient with low probability. CONCLUSIONS: TEE confirms IE in patients with high probability of IE and often leads to a management change. However, TEE is unlikely to establish the diagnosis or change management in patients with low probability.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2003

Surgical site infections after arthroscopy: Outbreak investigation and case control study.

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to determine the causes of increased post-arthroscopy surgical site infections (SSIs) and to define risk factors for infection. TYPE OF STUDY: Outbreak investigation and case control study at a university-affiliated community hospital from 1994 to 1996, with surveillance through 1999. METHODS: Demographic, clinical, and microbiological data were collected on 27 post-arthroscopy SSIs from 1994 through 1999. Risk factors for SSI were identified by case-control analysis and presented as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Initial investigation revealed an increased annual rate of post-arthroscopy SSIs in 1995 (1.3%). Infection control deficiencies were identified, and feedback was provided to surgeons and staff. Instrument sterilization was standardized, flash sterilization prohibited, and preoperative shaving discouraged. Case-control analysis of 10 cases (from 1994 to 1996) found a statistically significant increase in risk of SSI with intra-articular corticosteroid joint injection (OR, 9.33; 95% CI, 1.6 to 64.9); other risk factors did not reach statistical significance. SSI rates dropped after feedback and education (0.34% in 1996). Continued surveillance revealed 2 smaller outbreaks, in December 1997 (1997 rate, 1.13%) and September 1998 (1998 rate, 1.09%). Case-control analysis of the 17 cases occurring in 1997 through 1999 was also performed. The 1997 outbreak appeared to be related to preoperative razor shaving (P =.003), which was then prohibited by hospital policy. One scrub nurse was also associated with 75% of these cases, which were culture-positive for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. The cases in the 1998 outbreak shared prolonged procedure duration and conversion to arthrotomy. Of 27 cases, 24 required repeat hospitalization and repeat surgery, at an average excess cost of $9,154.84 per case. All received prolonged courses of intravenous or oral antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Post-arthroscopy SSIs are associated with significant morbidity and cost. Although small numbers make finding statistical significance difficult in case-control studies, infection control and CDC-recommended interventions can lower SSI rates. Careful definitions, ongoing surveillance, and long-term follow-up are helpful in reporting results of infection control interventions.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗

PubMed2003

Differences in percutaneous injury patterns in a multi-hospital system.

OBJECTIVE: Determine differences in patterns of percutaneous injuries (PIs) in different types of hospitals. DESIGN: Case series of injuries occurring from 1997 to 2001. SETTING: Large midwestern healthcare system with a consolidated occupational health database from 9 hospitals, including rural and urban, community and teaching (1 pediatric, 1 adult) facilities, ranging from 113 to 1,400 beds. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare workers injured between 1997 and 2001. RESULTS: Annual injury rates for all hospitals decreased during the study period from 21 to 16.5/100 beds (chi-square for trend = 22.7; P = .0001). Average annual injury rates were higher at larger hospitals (22.5 vs 9.5 PIs/100 beds; P = .0001). Among small hospitals, rural hospitals had higher rates than did urban hospitals (14.87 vs 8.02 PIs/100 beds; P = .0143). At small hospitals, an increased proportion of injuries occurred in the emergency department (13.7% vs 8.6%; P = .0004), operating room (32.3% vs 25.4%; P = .0002), and ICU (12.3% vs 9.4%; P = .0225), compared with large hospitals. Rural hospitals had higher injury rates in the radiology department (7.7% vs 2%; P = .0015) versus urban hospitals. Injuries at the teaching hospitals occurred more commonly on the wards (28.8% vs 24%; P = .0021) and in ICUs (11.4% vs 7.8%; P = .0006) than at community hospitals. Injuries involving butterfly needles were more common at pediatric versus adult hospitals (15.8% vs 6.5%; P = .0001). The prevalence of source patients infected with HIV and hepatitis C was higher at large hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences exist in injury rates and patterns among different types of hospitals. These data can be used to target intervention strategies.

Database Management Systems↗

PubMed2003

Ambulatory care-sensitive conditions: clinical outcomes and impact on intensive care unit resource use.

BACKGROUND: We identified risk factors and clinical outcomes associated with ambulatory care-sensitive conditions requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 4,144 patients admitted to the medical ICU of an urban teaching hospital during a 3-year period. RESULTS: A total of 627 patients were classified as having ambulatory care-sensitive conditions (ie, potentially preventable ICU admissions). Black race, decreasing Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, younger age, female sex, and absence of immunodeficiency were independently associated with ambulatory care-sensitive conditions. Patients classified as having ambulatory care-sensitive conditions accounted for 2,006 ventilator days, 2,508 ICU days, and 5,392 hospital days. The hospital mortality rate was statistically lower for patients with ambulatory care-sensitive conditions than for patients without these conditions. Patients classified as having ambulatory care-sensitive conditions were also statistically more likely than other patients to lack health insurance and to sign out of the hospital against medical advice. CONCLUSION: Patients with ambulatory care-sensitive conditions account for a substantial portion of all admissions to the intensive care unit. These data suggest that interventions aimed at preventing such admissions could improve ICU bed use.

APACHE↗

PubMed2001

Postarthroscopy surgical site infections: review of the literature.

The use of arthroscopy for both diagnosis and operative intervention has been increasing steadily since its introduction in the 1970s. It is generally associated with fewer complications and shorter times to mobilization than are open procedures. Overall reported rates of complications are low (0.1%-0.6% of procedures). This review focuses on infectious complications of arthroscopy, which are rare (0.01%-0.48% of procedures) but result in significant morbidity for the patient when they occur. The most commonly reported causative organisms are staphylococci. Several outbreaks have been reported related to breaks in infection control or to contaminated instruments. Suggested risk factors include use of intra-articular corticosteroids, prolonged tourniquet time, patient's age >50 years, failure to prepare the surgical site again before conversion to arthrotomy, procedure complexity, and a history of previous procedures. However, most reports use variable and unclear definitions of infection, which makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions.

Arthroscopy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Early versus late enteral feeding of mechanically ventilated patients: results of a clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study sought to compare 2 strategies for the administration of enteral feeding to mechanically ventilated medical patients. METHODS: The prospective, controlled, clinical trial was carried out in a medical intensive care unit (19 beds) in a university-affiliated, urban teaching hospital. Between May 1999 and December 2000, 150 patients were enrolled. Patients were scheduled to receive their estimated total daily enteral nutritional requirements on either day 1 (early-feeding group) or day 5 (late-feeding group) of mechanical ventilation. Patients in the late-feeding group were also scheduled to receive 20% of their estimated daily enteral nutritional requirements during the first 4 days of mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Seventy-five (50%) consecutive eligible patients were entered into the early-feeding group and 75 (50%) patients were enrolled in the late-feeding group. During the 5 five days of mechanical ventilation, the total intake of calories (2370 +/- 2000 kcal versus 629 +/- 575 kcal; p < .001) and protein (93.6 +/- 77.2 g versus 26.7 +/- 26.6 g; p < .001) were statistically greater for patients in the early-feeding group. Patients in the early-feeding group had statistically greater incidences of ventilator-associated pneumonia (49.3% versus 30.7%; p = .020) and diarrhea associated with Clostridium difficile infection (13.3% versus 4.0%; p = .042). The early-feeding group also had statistically longer intensive care unit (13.6 +/- 14.2 days versus 9.8 +/- 7.4 days; p = .043) and hospital lengths of stay (22.9 +/- 19.7 days versus 16.7 +/- 12.5 days; p = .023) compared with patients in the late-feeding group. No statistical difference in hospital mortality was observed between patients in the early-feeding and late-feeding groups (20.0% versus 26.7%; p = .334). CONCLUSIONS: The administration of more aggressive early enteral nutrition to mechanically ventilated medical patients is associated with greater infectious complications and prolonged lengths of stay in the hospital. Clinicians must balance the potential for complications resulting from early enteral feeding with the expected benefits of such therapy.

APACHE↗