Bacterial contamination of stethoscopes in university hospitals: Multicenter study

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the efficacy of 2 types of antimicrobial privacy curtains in clinical settings and the costs involved in replacing standard curtains with antimicrobial curtains.DesignA prospective, open-labeled, multicenter study with a follow-up duration of 6 months.SettingThis study included 12 rooms of patients with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) (668 patient bed days) and 10 cubicles (8,839 patient bed days) in the medical, surgical, neurosurgical, orthopedics, and rehabilitation units of 10 hospitals.MethodCulture samples were collected from curtain surfaces twice a week for 2 weeks, followed by weekly intervals.ResultsWith a median hanging time of 173 days, antimicrobial curtain B (quaternary ammonium chlorides [QAC] plus polyorganosiloxane) was highly effective in reducing the bioburden (colony-forming units/100 cm2, 1 vs 57; P < .001) compared with the standard curtain. The percentages of MDRO contamination were also significantly lower on antimicrobial curtain B than the standard curtain: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 0.5% vs 24% (P < .001); carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp, 0.2% vs 22.1% (P < .001); multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter spp, 0% vs 13.2% (P < .001). Notably, the median time to first contamination by MDROs was 27.6 times longer for antimicrobial curtain B than for the standard curtain (138 days vs 5 days; P = .001).ConclusionsAntimicrobial curtain B (QAC plus polyorganosiloxane) but not antimicrobial curtain A (built-in silver) effectively reduced the microbial burden and MDRO contamination compared with the standard curtain, even after extended use in an active clinical setting. The antimicrobial curtain provided an opportunity to avert indirect costs related to curtain changing and laundering in addition to improving patient safety.

Download Full-text

Bacterial contamination of platelet concentrates: results of a prospective multicenter study comparing pooled whole blood?derived platelets and apheresis platelets

Transfusion ◽

10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01166.x ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 644-652 ◽

Cited By ~ 130

Author(s):

Hubert Schrezenmeier ◽

Gabriele Walther-Wenke ◽

Thomas H. Müller ◽

Franz Weinauer ◽

Adelheid Younis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multicenter Study ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Platelet Concentrates ◽

Prospective Multicenter Study ◽

Apheresis Platelets

Download Full-text

Measurement properties of the questionnaire “Mosaic of opinions on induced abortion”: a multicenter study in seven Brazilian hospitals

Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira ◽

10.1590/1806-9282.64.12.1091 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 64 (12) ◽

pp. 1091-1102

Author(s):

Denis Barbosa Cacique ◽

Renato Passini Junior ◽

Maria José Martins Duarte Osis ◽

Henrique Ceretta Oliveira ◽

Kátia Melissa Padilha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Maternal Death ◽

Multicenter Study ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Induced Abortion ◽

Factorial Analysis ◽

Measurement Properties ◽

University Hospitals ◽

Multicenter Phase ◽

Multi Center Study ◽

Center Study

SUMMARY In Brasil, abortion is legal in cases of rape, when there is a risk of maternal death, and in cases of fetal anencephaly. However, the literature reports that some doctors refuse to care for women with such demands or come to perform it in a discriminatory manner. OBJECTIVE: Pretest, test and evaluate the measurement properties of the “Mosaic of Opinions on Induced Abortion,” a questionnaire developed to investigate the perspectives of Brazilian healthcare professionals about the morality of abortion. METHODS: Firstly, the questionnaire was pretested in an intentional sample of specialists. Secondly, it was tested in a randomized sample of 32 healthcare professionals. Finally, we conducted a multi-center study in seven university hospitals to evaluate the measurement properties of the questionnaire. RESULTS: Combined samples of the three phases totalized 430 individuals. In pretest and test, all the evaluated aspects obtained satisfactory results. In the multicenter phase, confirmatory factorial analysis led to an important reduction of the questionnaire, which also obtained good indicators of reliability, beyond the validation of construct and criteria. CONCLUSION: Questionnaire has been validated and is suitable for use in other surveys in Brasil.

Download Full-text

Bacterial Contamination of Needles Used for Intravitreal Injections: A Prospective, Multicenter Study

Ocular Immunology and Inflammation ◽

10.3109/09273948.2010.520405 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 32-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jay M. Stewart ◽

Sunil K. Srivastava ◽

Anne E. Fung ◽

Tamer H. Mahmoud ◽

David G. Telander ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multicenter Study ◽

Bacterial Contamination ◽

Intravitreal Injections ◽

Prospective Multicenter Study

Download Full-text

Cabergoline for Cushing’s disease: a large retrospective multicenter study

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje-16-0662 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 176 (3) ◽

pp. 305-314 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

A Ferriere ◽

C Cortet ◽

P Chanson ◽

B Delemer ◽

P Caron ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multicenter Study ◽

Cushing’S Disease ◽

Urinary Free Cortisol ◽

Cushing's Disease ◽

Plasma Prolactin ◽

University Hospitals ◽

Free Cortisol ◽

Long Term Treatment ◽

Retrospective Multicenter Study

Objective The efficacy of cabergoline in Cushing’s disease (CD) is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of cabergoline in a large contemporary cohort of patients with CD. Design We conducted a retrospective multicenter study from thirteen French and Belgian university hospitals. Methods Sixty-two patients with CD received cabergoline monotherapy or add-on therapy. Symptom score, biological markers of hypercortisolism and adverse effects were recorded. Results Twenty-one (40%) of 53 patients who received cabergoline monotherapy had normal urinary free cortisol (UFC) values within 12 months (complete responders), and five of these patients developed corticotropic insufficiency. The fall in UFC was associated with significant reductions in midnight cortisol and plasma ACTH, and with clinical improvement. Compared to other patients, complete responders had similar median baseline UFC (2.0 vs 2.5xULN) and plasma prolactin concentrations but received lower doses of cabergoline (1.5 vs 3.5 mg/week, P < 0.05). During long-term treatment (>12 months), cabergoline was withdrawn in 28% of complete responders because of treatment escape or intolerance. Overall, sustained control of hypercortisolism was obtained in 23% of patients for 32.5 months (19–105). Nine patients on steroidogenesis inhibitors received cabergoline add-on therapy for 19 months (1–240). Hypercortisolism was controlled in 56% of these patients during the first year of treatment with cabergoline at 1.0 mg/week (0.5–3.5). Conclusions About 20–25% of CD patients are good responders to cabergoline therapy allowing long-term control of hypercortisolism at relatively low dosages and with acceptable tolerability. No single parameter, including the baseline UFC and prolactin levels, predicted the response to cabergoline.

Download Full-text

Time Tracking of Standard Ultrasound Examinations in Pediatric Hospitals and Pediatric Medical Practices – A Multicenter Study by the Pediatric Section of the German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM)

Ultraschall in der Medizin - European Journal of Ultrasound ◽

10.1055/a-1023-4024 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Adrian P. Regensburger ◽

Ferdinand Knieling ◽

Axel Feldkamp ◽

Wolfgang Rascher ◽

Katharina Diesch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multicenter Study ◽

Ultrasound Examination ◽

Imaging Modality ◽

Total Duration ◽

National Data ◽

University Hospitals ◽

Total N ◽

Medical Practices ◽

Pediatric Section ◽

Organ Systems

Abstract Purpose Ultrasonography is the primary imaging modality in pediatrics but still lacks sufficient reimbursement in Germany. In this multicenter study, national data for the duration of standard ultrasound in pediatrics were systematically documented in order to specify the actual time required. Materials and Methods N = 10 hospitals (N = 5 university hospitals, N = 5 non-university hospitals) and N = 3 medical practices in Germany recorded the entire process of an ultrasound examination in a special protocol developed by the Pediatric Section of the DEGUM. The duration of each of seven single steps during ultrasonography (from data input to final discussion of the results) of different organ systems was logged. Results In total, N = 2118 examinations from different organ systems were recorded. N = 10 organ systems were examined frequently (> 30 times). The total duration of an ultrasound examination was statistically significantly longer in hospitals compared to medical practices (median (IQR) 27 min. (18–38) vs. 12 min. (9–17), p < 0.001). The “hands-on” patient time was approximately one half of the total required time in both settings (49.9 % vs. 48.9 %). Ultrasonography of the abdomen and brain lasted longer in university hospitals than in non-university hospitals (p < 0.001, and p = 0.04, respectively). Cooperation and age did not uniformly correlate with the total duration. Conclusion This study provides novel comprehensive national data for the duration of standardized ultrasound examinations of children and adolescents in Germany. These data are essential for a further evaluation of the economic costs and should support better remuneration in the future.

Download Full-text