Impact of prior vaccination on antibody response and influenza-like illness among Australian healthcare workers after influenza vaccination in 2016

BackgroundEpidemiological studies suggest that influenza vaccine effectiveness decreases with repeated administration. We examined antibody responses to influenza vaccination among healthcare workers (HCWs) by prior vaccination history and determined the incidence of influenza infection.MethodsHCWs were vaccinated with the 2016 Southern Hemisphere quadrivalent influenza vaccine. Serum samples were collected pre-vaccination, 21–28 days and 7 months post-vaccination. Influenza antibody titres were measured at each time-point using the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. Immunogenicity was compared by prior vaccination history.ResultsA total of 157 HCWs completed the study. The majority were frequently vaccinated, with only 5 reporting no prior vaccinations since 2011. Rises in titres for all vaccine strains among vaccine-naïve HCWs were significantly greater than rises observed for HCWs who received between 1 and 5 prior vaccinations (p < 0.001, respectively). Post-vaccination GMTs against influenza A but not B strains decreased as the number of prior vaccinations increased from 1 to 5. There was a significant decline in GMTs post-season for both B lineages. Sixty five (41%) HCWs reported at least one influenza-like illness episode, with 6 (4%) identified as influenza positive.ConclusionsVarying serological responses to influenza vaccination were observed among HCWs by prior vaccination history, with vaccine-naïve HCWs demonstrating greater post-vaccination responses against A(H3N2).     

Evolución del gasto en servicios sanitarios antes y después del ictus isquémico: análisis de base poblacional

IntroductionDespite improved survival rates, stroke represents an increasing healthcare and socioeconomic burden. We describe the main characteristics of patients with ischaemic stroke and resource use and associated expenditure one year before and 3 years after stroke, using a population-based dataset.MethodsThe information technology systems of the Catalan Health Service were used to identify patients with ischaemic strokes occurring between January 2012 and December 2016. For each patient, information from one year before the stroke and up to 3 years thereafter was linked across databases. We describe annual and monthly resource use and healthcare expenditure per patient.ResultsWe identified 36,044 patients with ischaemic stroke (mean age, 74.7 ± 13.3 years). The survival rate at 3 years was 63%. Average expenditure per patient was €3,230 the year before stroke, €11,060 for year one after stroke, €4,104 for year 2, and €3,878 for year 3. The greatest determinants of cost in year one were hospitalisation (including initial hospitalisation), representing 45% of the difference in expenditure compared to the previous year, and convalescence and rehabilitation services, representing 33% of this difference. After year one, the increase in expenditure was mainly determined by additional hospital admissions and drug treatment.ConclusionAfter ischaemic stroke, healthcare expenditure increases primarily because of initial hospitalisation. After year one, the expenditure decreases but remains above baseline values. Information from population-based datasets is useful for improving the planning of stroke services.     

人工智能在医学领域应用浅析

医疗与人工智能相结合,是医学发展的重要方向。作者综述了人工智能在诊断、治疗、预防、科研、教学等医学领域的应用情况,分析了人工智能发展面临的问题和挑战,对人工智能的应用前景进行了展望。     

Indicadores de calidad en la atención dermatológica a pacientes con dermatitis atópica. Documento de consenso de la Academia Española de Dermatología y Venereología

No information is currently available on whether the available clinical practice guidelines on the management of atopic dermatitis are known or being applied in Spain. The aim of this study was to improve the care of patients with atopic dermatitis by developing a set of quality indicators based on existing clinical practice guidelines. Relevant clinical practice guidelines identified through a literature search were submitted to a panel of 11 specialists, who selected the highest quality guidelines using the AGREE (Appraisal of Guidelines for Research & Evaluation) II instrument. The panel then defined a subset of the recommendations supported by a high level of evidence and proposed a health care quality indicator for each one together with a standard for measuring degree of adherence. Consensus was achieved on 21 of the 150 proposed indicators using the modified Delphi method. The aim of implementing the indicators that achieved consensus in this study is to standardize the actions of health professionals providing care for patients with atopic dermatitis and ultimately to improve the quality of the care delivered.     

Exploring healthcare professionals’ perceptions of medication errors in an adult oncology department in Saudi Arabia: A qualitative study

Objective

Adverse events which result from medication errors are considered to be one of the most frequently encountered patient safety issues in clinical settings. We undertook a qualitative investigation to identify and explore factors relating to medication error in an adult oncology department in Saudi Arabia from the perspective of healthcare professionals.

从认知到行动——浅谈中国医疗健康机构应对气候变化和减少碳排放的措施

介绍了医疗健康机构应对气候变化的必要性,梳理了影响医疗机构碳排放的主要因素,列举了一些国家案例来阐释减少医疗服务碳排放的可能性,最后指出了医疗健康机构在实施温室气体核算和报告过程中须要注意的问题。     

Impact of a decision-aid tool on influenza vaccine coverage among HCW in two French hospitals: A cluster-randomized trial

IntroductionNosocomial outbreaks of seasonal influenza are frequent, and vaccination is largely recommended for healthcare workers (HCWs). Vaccine coverage in French HCWs does not exceed 20%. Decision-aids (DA) are potential useful interventions to increase vaccine coverage (VC). Our aim was to evaluate the impact of a DA on HCWs influenza vaccine coverage.Material and methodsProspective cluster-randomized trial conducted in 83 departments in two public hospitals (a teaching and a non-teaching hospital) during the 2018–2019 flu season.Distribution of the DA and of questionnaire about decisional conflict and knowledge in the departments randomized in the intervention group.ResultsA total number of 3 547 HCWs were concerned by the study (1 953 in the intervention group, 1 594 in the control group). Global VC was 35.6% during the 2018–2019 season, instead of 23.6% in the 2017–2018 season (p < 0.005). During the 2018–2019 season, VC was 31% (95% CI 28.7–33.3) in the control group and 38.7% (95% CI 36.5–40.9) in the intervention group (p < 0.005). Among the 158 HCWs exposed to the DA who answered the survey, 51.3% had no decisional conflict. HCWs without decisional conflict were more prone to get vaccinated before flu season.ConclusionThe use of the DA was associated with a 25% relative increase in VC among HCWs against seasonal influenza. This modest increase remained far from the WHO 75% target, but may have reduced the number of nosocomial. Multi-component interventions are needed to increase VC in HCWs.