Medical masks’ and respirators’ pattern of use,adverse effects and errors among Portuguese health care professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundDuring COVID-19 pandemic, a shortage of surgical masks (Mask) and respirators (Resp) was experienced worldwide. We aimed to assess its pattern of use, adverse effects and user errors by Portuguese health care professionals (HCP).MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted through snowball convenience sample, collected by email/ social media to health care organizations. Participants answered an online anonymous survey in March 2021.ResultsMean age of 3052 respondents was 42.1 years old, 83.6% were female and 77.8% provided direct health care to COVID-19 patients. Mean time of use per shift was 6-8 hours in 40.8% of the participants. 28.0% reported never changing it during their shift. Resp use (vs Mask) was more associated with discomfort (58.2% vs 26.8%), affecting task performance (41.5 vs 18.9%) and communication (55.0 vs 40.9%), dyspnea (36.0 vs 14.4%), skin rash (37.5 vs 19.4%) and headache (37.5 vs 19.4%). Frequent user errors included touching the front while in use (70.1% Mask vs 66.3% Resp) and omitting hand hygiene before (61.8% Mask vs 55.0% Resp) or after use (61.3% Mask vs 57.0% Resp). Average number of errors was higher for Mask (4.3), than for Resp (3.2) (all: P < .001).ConclusionsMost HCP admitted an extended use of Mask/ Resp. Resp were more prone to adverse effects and Mask more prone to errors. Strategies to reinforce good practices should be considered.     

Disorders of sex development

Disorders of sex development (DSD) occur in 1–2/10,000 live births, with a specific molecular diagnosis only possible in 20% of cases. Presentation is usually at birth, and gender assignment must be avoided before review by an expert multidisciplinary team. Initial investigations allow a working diagnosis to be made within 48 hr. In 46,XY DSD, surgery may be necessary to correct hypospadias, reposition or remove undescended testes, and remove symptomatic Müllerian remnants. In 46,XX DSD, feminizing surgery is performed less frequently than in the past, but genitoplasty may still be indicated. Psychosocial support is required to promote positive adaptation as gender dissatisfaction can occur in certain conditions. Long-term outcome data are sparse.     

Deep Brain Stimulation Compared With Contingency Management for the Treatment of Cocaine Use Disorders: A Threshold and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

ObjectivesCocaine is the second most frequently used illicit drug worldwide (after cannabis), and cocaine use disorder (CUD)-related deaths increased globally by 80% from 1990 to 2013. There is yet to be a regulatory-approved treatment. Emerging preclinical evidence indicates that deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the nucleus accumbens may be a therapeutic option. Prior to expanding the costly investigation of DBS for treatment of CUD, it is important to ensure societal cost-effectiveness.AimsWe conducted a threshold and cost-effectiveness analysis to determine the success rate at which DBS would be equivalent to contingency management (CM), recently identified as the most efficacious therapy for treatments of CUDs.Materials and MethodsQuality of life, efficacy, and safety parameters for CM were obtained from previous literature. Costs were calculated from a societal perspective. Our model predicted the utility benefit based on quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and incremental-cost-effectiveness ratio resulting from two treatments on a one-, two-, and five-year timeline.ResultsOn a one-year timeline, DBS would need to impart a success rate (ie, cocaine free) of 70% for it to yield the same utility benefit (0.492 QALYs per year) as CM. At no success rate would DBS be more cost-effective (incremental-cost-effectiveness ratio <$50,000) than CM during the first year. Nevertheless, as DBS costs are front loaded, DBS would need to achieve success rates of 74% and 51% for its cost-effectiveness to exceed that of CM over a two- and five-year period, respectively.ConclusionsWe find DBS would not be cost-effective in the short term (one year) but may be cost-effective in longer timelines. Since DBS holds promise to potentially be a cost-effective treatment for CUDs, future randomized controlled trials should be performed to assess its efficacy.     

‘Ammonia,lactate and blood gases – A user's guide’

Basic biochemical tests are frequently obtained in acutely unwell neonates and children, as well as in some elective situations. Correct interpretation can be invaluable in identifying rare inherited primary metabolic disorders, but secondary causes of hyperammonaemia, elevated blood lactate or blood gas derangement are more common and require appropriate treatment of the underlying cause. This Personal Practice guide provides an overview of these tests and their interpretation.     

Cefoperazone-sulbactam and risk of coagulation disorders or bleeding: a retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT

Objectives: Limited evidence has suggested that cefoperazone-sulbactam causes coagulation disorders and bleeding.

Methods: The authors conducted a retrospective study to compare patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam versus those treated with cefoperazone-tazobactam or ceftazidime. Propensity-score matching was used to explore whether treatment with cefoperazone-sulbactam increased the risk of prothrombin time (PT) prolongation, coagulation disorders, and bleeding, or decreased platelets (PLT).

Results: The cohort included 23,242 patients. Among patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam, the risk of PT prolongation, coagulation disorders, decreased PLT, and bleeding was 5.3%, 9.2%, 15.7%, and 4.2%, respectively. Propensity-score matching analyses suggested that cefoperazone-sulbactam increased the risk of PT prolongation (aOR 2.26, 95% CI 1.61–3.18), coagulation disorders (aOR 1.81, 95% CI 1.43–2.30), and decreased PLT (aOR 1.46, 95% CI 1.25–1.72), but not increase bleeding (aOR 1.05, 95% CI 0.79–1.40) compared with ceftazidime. Patients receiving cefoperazone-sulbactam had higher risk of PT prolongation (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.11–2.10), coagulation disorders (aOR 1.53, 95% CI 1.21–1.95), but not decreased PLT (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.81–1.07) or bleeding (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 0.87–1.42), compared with those receiving cefoperazone-tazobactam.

Conclusion: Cefoperazone-sulbactam may be associated with a higher risk of PT prolongation and coagulation disorders compared with cefoperazone-tazobactam and ceftazidime.