scholarly journals Azithromycin versus Cephalexin for Simple Traumatic Wounds in the Emergency Department: A Randomised Trial

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Hamed Basir Ghafouri ◽  
Morteza Zare ◽  
Azam Bazrafshan ◽  
Abbas Edalatkhah ◽  
Niloofar Abazarian

<p><strong>Objective:</strong> The aim of this study was to investigate efficacy of azithromycin versus cephalexin for infection prophylaxisis in patients with simple traumatic wounds managed at emergency department.</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> This randomized controlled trial compared short-course therapy of once-daily azithromycin (500 mg before the wound repair followed by 250 mg/day for 5 days) with cephalexin (1000 mg before wound repair followed by 250 mg every 6 hours for 5 days) in the treatment of patients with simple traumatic wounds. A total of 366 patients were randomly selected for the study and 303 were evaluated for the final analysis.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> On completion of therapy, the rate of observed infection was 9.6% in the cephalexin group (15 patients, odds ratio=0.77, 95% confidence interval, 0.56 to 1.06) and 5.4% in the azithromycin group (8 patients, odds ratio 1.42, 95% confidence interval, 0.80 to 2.52). Both treatment indicated similar prophylactic efficacy during the study (P=0.197).</p><p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Our study showed that Azithromycin as infection prophylaxis in simple traumatic wounds had the same effect as cephalexin but azithromycin is easier to use and more cost-effective compared to cephalexin.</p>

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marouf Alhalabi ◽  
Mohammed Waleed Alassi ◽  
Kamal Alaa Eddin ◽  
Khaled Cheha

Abstract Background Antibiotic-resistance reduces the efficacy of conventional triple therapy for Helicobacter Pylori infections worldwide, which necessitates using various treatment protocols. We used two protocols, doxycycline-based quadruple regimen and concomitant levofloxacin regimen. The aim was to assess the effectiveness of doxycycline-based quadruple regimen for treating Helicobacter Pylori infections compared with levofloxacin concomitant regimen as empirical first-line therapy based on intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol analyses (PPA) in Syrian population. Settings and design An open-label, randomised, parallel, superiority clinical trial. Methods We randomly assigned 78 naïve patients who tested positive for Helicobacter Pylori gastric infection, with a 1:1 ratio to (D-group) which received (bismuth subsalicylate 524 mg four times daily, doxycycline 100 mg, tinidazole 500 mg, and esomeprazole 20 mg, each twice per day for 2 weeks), or (L-group) which received (levofloxacin 500 mg daily, tinidazole 500 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and esomeprazole 20 mg each twice per day for two weeks). We confirmed Helicobacter Pylori eradication by stool antigen test 8 weeks after completing the treatment. Results Thirty-nine patients were allocated in each group. In the D-group, 38 patients completed the follow-up, 30 patients were cured. While in the L-group, 39 completed the follow-up, 32patients were cured. According to ITT, the eradication rates were 76.92%, and 82.05%, for the D-group and L-group respectively. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was 1.371 [0.454–4.146]. According to PPA, the eradication rates were 78.9%, and 82.05% for the D-group and L-group respectively. The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was 1.219 [0.394–3.774]. We didn’t report serious adverse effects. Conclusions Levofloxacin concomitant therapy wasn’t superior to doxycycline based quadruple therapy. Further researches are required to identify the optimal first-line treatment for Helicobacter-Pylori Infection in the Syrian population. Trial registration We registered this study as a standard randomized clinical trial (Clinicaltrial.gov, identifier-NCT04348786, date:29-January-2020).


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212198949
Author(s):  
Cylia Nkechi Iweama ◽  
Olaoluwa Samson Agbaje ◽  
Prince Christian Ifeanachor Umoke ◽  
Chima Charles Igbokwe ◽  
Eyuche Lawretta Ozoemena ◽  
...  

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a public health problem in Nigeria. One of the most effective ways of controlling tuberculosis is the directly observed treatment short-course. However, some factors influence tuberculosis patients’ treatment nonadherence via directly observed treatment short-course. The study objective was to assess medication nonadherence and associated factors among tuberculosis patients in north-west Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolled tuberculosis patients using directly observed treatment short-course in public health facilities in Kano and Kaduna States from January 2015 to June 2016. The sample selection was conducted via a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using tuberculosis patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics forms, well-validated structured instruments, and medical records. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Logistic and multivariable logistic regression analyses to determine factors of medication nonadherence ( P < 0.05) Results: Complete responses from 390 patients out of the 460 patients recruited for the study were used for data analyses. The mean age was 51.5 (standard deviation = ±13.8) years. The mean tuberculosis medication adherence questionnaire score was 4.35 ± 1.12. The prevalence of nonadherence to tuberculosis medication was 30.5%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that having a monthly income between #100,000 and #199, 000 (adjusted odds ratio = 0.01; 95% confidence interval: 0.00–0.13), being widowed (adjusted odds ratio = 26.74, 95% confidence interval: 2.92–232.9), being married (adjusted odds ratio = 120.49, 95% confidence interval: 5.38–271.1), having a distance <5 km to directly observed treatment short-course center from home (adjusted odds ratio = 0.06, 95% confidence interval: 0.00–0.01), having a tuberculosis/HIV co-infection (adjusted odds ratio = 0.01, 95% confidence interval: 0.12–0.35), use of antiretroviral treatment and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis therapy medications (adjusted odds ratio = 24.9, 95% confidence interval: 19.6–304.3) were associated with tuberculosis medication nonadherence. Conclusion: Tuberculosis medication nonadherence was high among the patients. Thus, patient-specific adherence education, attenuation of potential factors for tuberculosis medication nonadherence, and continual resource support for tuberculosis patients are needed to improve treatment outcomes.


2021 ◽  
pp. 088506662110241
Author(s):  
Sang-Min Kim ◽  
Sang-Il Kim ◽  
Gina Yu ◽  
June-Sung Kim ◽  
Seok In Hong ◽  
...  

Background: Despite thrombocytopenia, patients with sepsis often experience hypercoagulability. However, limited information is available on the prevalence and effect of hypercoagulability in patients with sepsis-induced thrombocytopenia. Hence, we evaluated the prevalence of hypercoagulability and the association between hypercoagulability and clinical outcomes in septic shock patients with thrombocytopenia. Methods: Thromboelastography (TEG) was performed prospectively in 1294 patients with septic shock at the emergency department (ED) between January 2016 and December 2019. After excluding 405 patients who did not require resuscitation, refused enrollment, or developed septic shock after ED presentation, 889 patients were included. We defined thrombocytopenia as an admission platelet count lower than 150,000/µl according to SOFA score. We defined hypocoagulability and hypercoagulability as coagulation index (CI)< −3 and >3 on TEG, respectively. Results: Of the 889 septic shock patients (mean age 65.6 ± 12.7 years, 58.6% male), 473 (53.2%) had thrombocytopenia. Eighty-five (18.0%) patients showed hypercoagulable TEG and73 (15.4%) patients showed hypocoagulable TEG. The hypercoagulable TEG group had a significantly higher fibrinogen level and a lower 28-day mortality rate than the normal and hypocoagulable TEG groups (518 vs. 347 and 315 mg/dL; 7.1% vs. 21.1% and 36.8%, P < 0.01, respectively). In multivariate analysis, hypercoagulable TEG was associated with a decreased mortality rate (odds ratio: 0.395; 95% confidence interval, 0.162-0.965). Conclusions: In septic shock patients with thrombocytopenia, hypercoagulability was not uncommon. TEG can quickly distinguish the hypercoagulability and hypocoagulability states and serve as a valuable tool for evaluating the degree and risk in septic shock patients with thrombocytopenia.


2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordana K Bayer ◽  
Ruth Beatson ◽  
Lesley Bretherton ◽  
Harriet Hiscock ◽  
Melissa Wake ◽  
...  

Objective: To determine whether a population-delivered parenting programme assists in preventing internalising problems at school entry for preschool children at-risk with temperamental inhibition. Methods: Design: a randomised controlled trial was used. Setting: the setting was 307 preschool services across eight socioeconomically diverse government areas in Melbourne, Australia. Participants: a total of 545 parents of inhibited 4-year-old children: 498 retained at 1-year follow up. Early intervention: Cool Little Kids parenting group programme was implemented. Primary outcomes: the primary outcomes were child DSM-IV anxiety disorders (assessor blind) and internalising problems. Secondary outcomes: the secondary outcomes were parenting practices and parent mental health. Results: At 1-year follow up (mean (standard deviation) age = 5.8 (0.4) years), there was little difference in anxiety disorders between the intervention and control arms (44.2% vs 50.2%; adjusted odds ratio = 0.86, 95% confidence interval = [0.60, 1.25], p = 0.427). Internalising problems were reduced in the intervention arm (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire: abnormal – 24.2% vs 33.0%; adjusted odds ratio = 0.56, 95% confidence interval = [0.35, 0.89], p = 0.014; symptoms – mean (standard deviation) = 2.5 (2.0) vs 2.9 (2.2); adjusted mean difference = –0.47, 95% confidence interval = [–0.81, –0.13], p = 0.006). Parents’ participation in the intervention was modest (29.4% attended most groups, 20.5% used skills most of the time during the year). A priori interaction tests suggested that for children with anxious parents, the intervention reduced anxiety disorders and internalising symptoms after 1 year. Conclusion: Offering Cool Little Kids across the population for inhibited preschoolers does not impact population outcomes after 1 year. Effects may be emerging for inhibited children at highest risk with parent anxiety. Trial outcomes will continue into mid-childhood.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-145
Author(s):  
Marina Lee ◽  
David McD Taylor ◽  
Antony Ugoni

Introduction: To determine the association between both abnormal individual vital signs and abnormal vital sign groups in the emergency department, and undesirable patient outcomes: hospital admission, medical emergency team calls and death. Method: We undertook a prospective cohort study in a tertiary referral emergency department (February–May 2015). Vital signs were collected prospectively in the emergency department and undesirable outcomes from the medical records. The primary outcomes were undesirable outcomes for individual vital signs (multivariate logistic regression) and vital sign groups (univariate analyses). Results: Data from 1438 patients were analysed. Admission was associated with tachycardia, tachypnoea, fever, ≥1 abnormal vital sign on admission to the emergency department, ≥1 abnormal vital sign at any time in the emergency department, a persistently abnormal vital sign, and vital signs consistent with both sepsis (tachycardia/hypotension/abnormal temperature) and pneumonia (tachypnoea/fever) (p < 0.05). Medical emergency team calls were associated with tachycardia, tachypnoea, ≥1 abnormal vital sign on admission (odds ratio: 2.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–3.8), ≥2 abnormal vital signs at any time (odds ratio: 2.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.2–4.7), and a persistently abnormal vital sign (odds ratio: 2.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.6–4.6). Death was associated with Glasgow Coma Score ≤13 (odds ratio: 6.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.5–16.0), ≥1 abnormal vital sign on admission (odds ratio: 2.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.2–5.6), ≥2 abnormal vital signs at any time (odds ratio: 6.4, 95% confidence interval: 1.4–29.5), a persistently abnormal vital sign (odds ratio: 4.3, 95% confidence interval: 2.0–9.0), and vital signs consistent with pneumonia (odds ratio: 5.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.9–14.8). Conclusion: Abnormal vital sign groups are generally superior to individual vital signs in predicting undesirable outcomes. They could inform best practice management, emergency department disposition, and communication with the patient and family.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Heo ◽  
Won-Jun Choi ◽  
Seunghon Ham ◽  
Seong-Kyu Kang ◽  
Wanhyung Lee

Abstract Background The association between breakfast skipping and abnormal metabolic outcome remains controversial. Large study with stratified data is needed. Objective The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between abnormal metabolic outcomes and breakfast skipping with sex, age, and work status stratification. Methods We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys from 2013–2018. A total of 21,193 (9,022 men and 12,171 women) participants were included in the final analysis. The risk of the increased total number of metabolic outcomes linked to breakfast skipping was estimated using the Poisson regression analysis with sex, work status, and age stratification. Results A total of 11,952 (56.4%) participants consumed breakfast regularly. The prevalence of abnormal metabolic outcomes was higher among those with irregular breakfast consumption habits. In the irregular breakfast eating group, young men in the working population demonstrated a higher risk of metabolic syndrome after adjustment (odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.25). We found a similar association among middle-aged men in the working population (odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.19). Conclusions The risk of abnormal metabolic outcomes was significant in young men in the working population. Further studies are required to understand the association between specific working conditions (working hours or shift working) and breakfast intake status and the risk of metabolic outcomes


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy J Morgan ◽  
Ronald M Rapee ◽  
Jordana K Bayer

Background/aims Achieving a high response rate to follow-up questionnaires in randomized controlled trials of interventions is important for study validity. Few studies have tested the value of incentives in increasing response rates to online questionnaires in clinical trials of health interventions. This study evaluated the effect of a gift card prize-draw incentive on response rates to follow-up questionnaires within a trial of an online health intervention. Method The study was embedded in a host randomized controlled trial of an online parenting program for child anxiety. A total of 433 participants were randomly allocated to one of two groups: (1) being informed that they would enter a gift card prize-draw if they completed the final study questionnaire (24-week follow-up) and (2) not informed about the prize-draw. All participants had a 1 in 20 chance of winning an AUD50 gift card after they completed the online questionnaire. Results The odds of the informed group completing the follow-up questionnaire were significantly higher than the uninformed group, (79.6% vs 68.5%, odds ratio = 1.79, 95% confidence interval = 1.15–2.79). This response rate increase of 11.1% (95% confidence interval = 2.8–19.1) occurred in both intervention and control groups in the host randomized controlled trial. The incentive was also effective in increasing questionnaire commencement (84.6% vs 75.9%, odds ratio = 1.74, 95% confidence interval = 1.07–2.84) and reducing the delay in completing the questionnaire (19.9 vs 22.6 days, hazard ratio = 1.34, 95% confidence interval = 1.07–1.67). Conclusion This study adds to evidence for the effectiveness of incentives to increase response rates to follow-up questionnaires in health intervention trials.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1357633X2110349
Author(s):  
Peter Yao ◽  
Kriti Gogia ◽  
Sunday Clark ◽  
Hanson Hsu ◽  
Rahul Sharma ◽  
...  

Background Telemedicine, which allows physicians to assess and treat patients via real-time audiovisual conferencing, is a rapidly growing modality for providing medical care. Antibiotic stewardship is one important measure of care quality, and research on antibiotic prescribing for acute respiratory infections in direct-to-consumer telemedicine has yielded mixed results. We compared antibiotic prescription rates for acute respiratory infections in two groups treated by telemedicine: (1) patients treated via a direct-to-consumer telemedicine application and (2) patients treated via telemedicine while physically inside the emergency department. Methods We included direct-to-consumer telemedicine and emergency department telemedicine visits for patients 18 years and older with physician-coded International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision acute respiratory infection diagnoses between November 2016 and December 2018. Patients in both groups were seen by the same emergency department faculty working dedicated telemedicine shifts. We compared antibiotic prescribing rates for direct-to-consumer telemedicine and emergency department telemedicine visits before and after adjustment for age, sex, and diagnosis. Results We identified a total of 468 acute respiratory infection visits: 191 direct-to-consumer telemedicine visits and 277 emergency department telemedicine visits. Overall, antibiotics were prescribed for 47% of visits (59% of direct-to-consumer telemedicine visits vs 39% of emergency department telemedicine visits; odds ratio 2.23; 95% confidence interval 1.53–3.25; P < 0.001). The difference in antibiotic prescribing rates remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, and diagnosis (odds ratio 2.49; 95% confidence interval 1.65–3.77; P < 0.001). Conclusion Patients seen by the same group of physicians for acute respiratory infection were significantly more likely to be prescribed antibiotics by direct-to-consumer telemedicine care compared with telemedicine care in the emergency department. This work suggests that contextual factors rather than evaluation over video may contribute to differences in antibiotic stewardship for direct-to-consumer telemedicine encounters.


2021 ◽  

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics associated with alcohol co-ingestion by measuring blood alcohol concentration in patients visited to the emergency department with deliberate self-poisoning. Also, it was to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported alcohol ingestion. Methods: The initial assessment forms, medical records and laboratory tests of patients visited to the ED after DSP between March 2017 and June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the patients’ BAC, two groups were formed: the non-alcohol group and the alcohol group. Results: This study included 286 patients (56.6%, n = 162) in the non-alcohol group and 43.4% (n = 124) in the alcohol group. In multivariate logistic analysis, alcohol co-ingestion was independently associated with no history of psychiatric admission (Odds Ratio = 6.222, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.148-33.716, P = 0.034), lactate (mg/dL)(Odds Ratio = 1.961, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.274-3.019, P = 0.002), and C-reactive protein level (mg/dL) (Odds Ratio = 0.003, 95% Confidence Interval = 0.000-0.897, P = 0.046). The receiver operating characteristics analysis of lactate value for the association with alcohol co-ingestion showed a cutoff value of 1.45, with 88.1% sensitivity, 71.6%specificity, and an area under the curve of 0.845. There was no statistically significant difference in emergency department disposition between the two groups. Using the 261 subjects who completed the self-report of alcohol co-ingestion, self-report resulted in 77.6% sensitivity and 76.6% specificity for the assessment of alcohol co-ingestion. The positive and negative predictive values for self-reporting were 72.6% and 81.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Alcohol co-ingestion was associated with no history of psychiatric ward admission, high lactate levels, and low C-reactive protein values in patients who visited the emergency department with deliberate self-poisoning. This study showed that self-reported alcohol co-ingestion was not a substitute for the blood alcohol concentration test.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Faruk Gungor ◽  
Kamil Can Akyol ◽  
Mustafa Kesapli ◽  
Ahmet Celik ◽  
Adeviye Karaca ◽  
...  

Objective Migraine is a leading headache etiology that frequently presents to the emergency department (ED). In the present study, we aimed to determine the efficacy of dexketoprofen in aborting migraine headaches in the ED. Methods This prospective, randomized, double-blind study was conducted in an ED of a tertiary care hospital using allocation concealment. Patients were allocated into two arms to receive the study drug; 50 mg dexketoprofen in 50 ml saline and 50 ml saline as placebo. Change in pain intensity was measured by the visual analog scale at baseline, both at 30 and 45 minutes after the study medication was administered. Rescue medication requirement and pain relapse were also recorded by a telephone follow-up at 48 hours. Results A total of 224 patients (112 in each group) were included into the final analysis. Mean age of the study participants was 37 ± 11 (SD) and 25% ( n = 56) of them were male. The median pain improvement at 45 minutes for patients receiving dexketoprofen was 55 (IQR: 49 to 60) and 30 (IQR: 25 to 35) for those receiving placebo. The mean difference between the two groups at 45 minutes was 21.4 (95% CI: 14.4. to 28.5). Rescue drugs were needed in 22.3% of patients who received dexketoprofen compared to 55.4% in patients who received placebo (dif: 33.1%; 95% CI: 20% to 45%). There were no adverse events reported in either group during the study period. Conclusion Intravenous dexketoprofen is superior to placebo in relieving migraine headaches in the ED. It may be a suitable therapy with minimum side effects in patients presenting with a migraine headache to the ED.


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