Clostridium botulinum and the Clinical Laboratorian: A Detailed Review of Botulism, Including Biological Warfare Ramifications of Botulinum Toxin

2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 653-662 ◽  
Author(s):  
James G. Caya ◽  
Rashmi Agni ◽  
Joan E. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
Data Synthesis ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
Pertinent Data ◽  
Prompt Diagnosis ◽  
Timely Treatment

Abstract Objective.—This review article is designed to thoroughly familiarize all health care professionals with the history, classification, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, differential diagnosis, diagnostic evaluation (including laboratory-based testing), treatment, and prognosis of botulism. It is especially targeted toward clinical laboratorians and includes a detailed enumeration of the important clinical laboratory contributions to the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients with botulism. Finally, the bioterrorism potential for botulism is discussed, with an emphasis on the clinical laboratory ramifications of this possibility. Data Sources.—Included medical periodicals and textbooks accessioned from computerized and manual medical literature searches. More than 1000 medical works published from the 1800s through 2003 were retrieved and reviewed in this process. Data Synthesis.—Pertinent data are presented in textual and tabular formats, the latter including 6 tables presenting detailed information regarding the clinical parameters, differential diagnosis, diagnostic studies, laboratory testing, and therapeutic approaches to botulism. Conclusions.—Because botulism is such a rare disease, a keen awareness of its manifestations and prompt diagnosis are absolutely crucial for its successful treatment. The bioterrorism potential of botulism adds further urgency to the need for all health care professionals to be familiar with this disease, its proper evaluation, and timely treatment; the need for such urgency clearly includes the clinical laboratory.

The Preschool Stuttering Screen for Health Care Professionals

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-62
Author(s):  
Joseph Donaher ◽  
Christina Deery ◽  
Sarah Vogel
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Preschool Children ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Developmental Profile

Healthcare professionals require a thorough understanding of stuttering since they frequently play an important role in the identification and differential diagnosis of stuttering for preschool children. This paper introduces The Preschool Stuttering Screen for Healthcare Professionals (PSSHP) which highlights risk factors identified in the literature as being associated with persistent stuttering. By integrating the results of the checklist with a child’s developmental profile, healthcare professionals can make better-informed, evidence-based decisions for their patients.

scholarly journals A best-fit solution: transforming an NHS Library and Knowledge Service in readiness for a new hospital building without a traditional library space

2021 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Jean Scott
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Clinical Decision Making ◽  
Clinical Decision ◽  
Development Framework ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
The Hill ◽  
Best Fit ◽  
Knowledge Services

Background: Over a decade ago, the Hill report argued that a shift in vision was required to change the perception of National Health Service (NHS) Library and Knowledge Services (LKS) in England from “book repositories” to essential services that underpin clinical decision-making by patients, carers, and health care professionals. Health Education England’s Knowledge for Healthcare: A Development Framework for Library and Knowledge Services in England 2015–2020 advocates embedding librarians within clinical and management teams in order to provide access to high-quality evidence at the point of need.Case presentation: In April 2019, Royal Papworth Hospital relocated twelve miles from its historic village location in Papworth Everard to its new state-of-the-art hospital on the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. The design for this new hospital did not accommodate a traditional library space and therefore necessitated a transformation of the LKS. The organization opted to embed the LKS staff into the clinical setting and relegate 80% of the print collection to off-site storage. This project and its associated steps are presented as an example of health care library transformation.Conclusion: Embedding the LKS team in the clinical setting, engaging in proactive outreach activity, and improving our marketing led to a 44% increase in literature searches requested compared to the same eleven-month period in the previous year. A 40% decrease in our print book loans indicates additional barriers to using a click-and-collect service and the need for greater investment in our e-book provision. However, early outcomes for our best-fit service transformation are positive. Having an open, dual mindset has enabled the service to embrace change and maximize emerging opportunities to collaborate with clinical staff on new projects.

Critical-care resource allocation during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Singapore: A brief narrative review

2020 ◽  
pp. 201010582094743
Author(s):  
Elisha Wan Ying Chia ◽  
Kuang Teck Tay
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Narrative Review ◽  
Conduct Literature ◽  
Ethical Guidelines ◽  
Scarce Resources ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
Critical Care Resource

In the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, where cases continue to increase exponentially every day, it is important to consider the future implications that this may have on the health-care system, the most feared situation being a shortage of critical-care resources, where difficult decisions have to be made about the allocation of scarce resources. In this brief narrative review, we conduct literature searches for COVID-19 ethical guidelines on critical-care resource allocation. Synthesising this information, we evaluate the relevant ethical principles and thereafter provide recommendations contextualised to Singapore. This brief narrative review aims to serve as a useful set of guiding principles for health-care professionals in Singapore, should the need for allocation of scarce resources arise.

scholarly journals Knowledge on Sepsis among Health Care Providers of Birat Medical College and Teaching Hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 964-969
Author(s):  
Akriti Bajracharya ◽  
Lalit Kumar Rajbanshi ◽  
Batsalya Arjyal
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Teaching Hospital ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Knowledge Level ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Poor Knowledge ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Initial Resuscitation ◽  
Prompt Diagnosis

Introduction: Knowledge and awareness of sepsis among various health care professionals is essential for prompt diagnosis and appropriate initial resuscitation and management of patient with sepsis. Objective: To assess and compare the knowledge and awareness of sepsis among health care professionals working at Birat Medical College and Teaching Hospital. Methodology This was a questionnaire-based survey with comparative study in 200 health care professionals conducted at Birat Medical College and Teaching Hospital from July– September, 2019. Questions were designed to assess the knowledge on diagnosis, initial resuscitation and management of sepsis. The knowledge level of the participants was assessed with scoring system as good, average and poor which was finally compared between the various health care professionals. Result Out of 200, only 180 health care professionals were included for statistical analysis. While assessing the knowledge on diagnosis of sepsis, 55.6% consultant doctors, 42.8% medical officers and 21.5% nursing/paramedics answered correctly on an average. Similarly, 51.7 % consultant doctors, 33.7% medical officers and 26.6% nursing/ paramedics gave correct answers while assessing knowledge on initial resuscitation and management. The nursing/paramedics had comparatively lower knowledge level on sepsis than the doctors. Around 31.7%, 51.2% and 17% of health care professionals working in Emergency, ICU and Anesthesiology departments had good, average and poor knowledge on sepsis respectively as compared to 14.2%, 28.5% and 57.1% of participants working in other departments. Conclusion: The nursing/paramedics had lower knowledge level on sepsis as compared to the doctors while health care professionals working in Emergency,ICU and Anesthesiology departments had better knowledge on sepsis as compared to staffs working in other departments.

Comparing retrieval of systematic review searches in health sciences areas using two major databases

2016 ◽  
Vol 30 (8) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arian Abdulla ◽  
Mangala Krishnamurthy
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Systematic Reviews ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Cochrane Library ◽  
Content Type ◽  
English Only ◽  
Literature Searches ◽  
Clinical Topic ◽  
Key Terms

Purpose Effective literature searches are critical to researchers and health care professionals. To conduct literature searches, clinicians, researchers and nurses rely primarily on a few major databases (PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL, etc.) to retrieve information. However, there is a lack of literature on the comparative efficiencies of major databases for systematic review results on a clinically related topic. This paper aims to fill that gap in the literature. Design/methodology/approach Cochrane Handbook (2011) defines systematic review as a review of a clearly formulated question that uses systematic and explicit methods to identify, select and critically appraise relevant research and to collect and analyze data from the studies that are included in the review. In this paper, search results of systematic reviews on a clinical topic between two major databases – PubMed and Cochrane Library – are compared. Findings Searching within PubMed for key terms in the titles and abstracts of articles is important to include in any systematic review, in addition to searching Medical Subject Heading terms. After applying filters, PubMed retrieved 130 systematic reviews that matched the criteria. In Cochrane Library, the searches were performed on the chosen topic using Boolean and phrase searching: text field searches resulted in 251 reviews. The search was further narrowed by subject, which yielded 20 reviews. It is strongly recommended to use multiple health-care specialty databases, check for duplicate reviews in the results and not limit results to English-only publications. Practical implications This paper can be used to introduce new researchers and/or students to methods for conducting systematic reviews using two or more databases on a chosen topic. Originality/value This paper fills a gap in the literature regarding comparative efficiencies of major databases for systematic review results on clinically related topics.

Exploring family members’ and health care professionals’ perceptions on ICU diaries: a systematic review and qualitative data synthesis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruna Brandao Barreto ◽  
Mariana Luz ◽  
Selma Alves Valente do Amaral Lopes ◽  
Regis Goulart Rosa ◽  
Dimitri Gusmao-Flores
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Data Synthesis

scholarly journals A Case of Childhood Upper GIT Obstruction: An Unusual Cause

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-100
Author(s):  
Sheikh Sayidul Haque ◽  
Amar Kumar Saha ◽  
Sahadeb Kumar Das ◽  
Monwar Hossain
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Duodenal Obstruction ◽  
Stable Condition ◽  
Radiological Evaluation ◽  
Foreign Material ◽  
The Third ◽  
Different Types

Bezoars are retained concretions of undigested foreign material that accumulate and coalesce within the gastrointestinal tract, commonly in the stomach .The occurrence of bezoars formation is well documented in human, but the diagnosis, management and treatment remains a difficult task for the patient and health care professionals. The differential diagnosis of upper GIT obstruction in children includes both common and rare pathologies. Within these lists different types of bezoars causing upper GIT obstruction have been reported in. literature and different methods of management have been described. In this article we ltave reported that a 6 years old boy presented to us with features of duodenal obstruction .The clinical and radiological evaluation was suggestive of duodenal obstruction. Finally, laparotomy was done and a phytobezoar found in the third part of duodenum which was disimpacted and removed by gastrotomy. The child had an uneventful post o.perative course and discharged on the seventh post operative day in a stable condition. Journal of Surgical Sciences (2012) Vol. 16 (2) : 98-100

Venous Aneurysm of the Dorsal Venous Arch

2010 ◽  
Vol 100 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amir H. Sadr ◽  
Trevor R. F. Paes
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Clinical Condition ◽  
Venous Aneurysm ◽  
Allied Health Care ◽  
Pressure Area ◽  
Medical Interest

Isolated venous aneurysms of the foot are rare. We report a case of venous aneurysm of the dorsal venous arch of the foot with an unusual traumatic etiology. This is a case report of a female patient with a gradually enlarging swelling on the dorsum of her foot located over the pressure area of her sandal straps. A clinical diagnosis of venous aneurysm was made, and she was treated with surgery. Most cases of superficial venous aneurysms only arouse medical interest, with few cosmetic complaints and no complications. This case is unique because it describes a traumatic venous aneurysm associated with repeated trauma caused by inappropriate footwear. All clinicians and allied health-care professionals involved in podiatric medicine should be aware of this clinical condition in the differential diagnosis of soft-tissue swellings in the feet. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 100(2): 143–145, 2010)

HELLP SYNDROME: FEATURES OF THE CURRENT

2021 ◽  
pp. 131-135
Author(s):  
L.F. Mozheiko ◽  
◽  
К.L. Sushch ◽  
Е.V. Fedotova ◽  
S.М. Stasevich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Differential Diagnosis ◽  
Hellp Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Case ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Clinical Course ◽  
Pregnancy Complication ◽  
Early Postpartum Period ◽  
Early Postpartum ◽  
Pathogenetic Therapy

The article describes a clinical case of HELLP-syndrome in the early postpartum period. The relevance of the presented case determines by the complexity of differential diagnosis and the high risk of complications. HELLP-syndrome establishes on the basis of the results of clinical, laboratory and instrumental studies after surgical delivery in an emergency. The article describes the features of the clinical course, the results of laboratory and instrumental studies against the background of therapy in the conditions of the resuscitation-anesthesiology and observation departments of the health care institution "Minsk City Clinical Hospital № 1". The importance of timely diagnosis of the presented pregnancy complication with early pathogenetic therapy, rapid and careful delivery of such women is noted.

scholarly journals Setting Up a Point-of-Care Testing Service in a Greenfield, Quaternary Hospital: An Implementation Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 142 (10) ◽  
pp. 1223-1232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Harris ◽  
Laila O. AbdelWareth ◽  
Sara Lari ◽  
Kate O. Callaghan ◽  
Peter Anderson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Information Exchange ◽  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Cleveland Clinic ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Point Of Care Testing ◽  
Laboratory Services ◽  
Viable Solution

Context.—The health care industry is growing rapidly and is continually seeking more-innovative ways to deliver patient care. The growing demands of clinicians seeking faster and more-efficient ways of providing care to their patients presents challenges to clinical laboratory services. Point-of-care testing (POCT) is frequently seen as a viable solution to address this dilemma. The role of POCT is widely established and accepted in many circumstances provided certain criteria are met.Objectives.—To discuss the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi experience—the challenges faced and the solutions found—during the process of establishing a POCT service in a greenfield hospital, and to share this experience to support health care professionals wishing to establish or expand POCT services.Data Source.—First-hand expert opinion relating to setting up a POCT service, which was guided and informed by national and international standards and regulatory bodies, provide the basis for this review.Conclusions.—Point-of-care testing is a fast growing and unique discipline of pathology. The establishment of a new POCT service creates distinctive and unique challenges compared with traditional laboratory services. The difficulties experienced are compounded in a greenfield hospital but the process of multidisciplinary collaboration and information exchange among peer groups allows the efficient development of a highly effective POCT department.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document