Use of Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles to decrease incidence of neonatal hypothermia in the labor room

Background

Body temperature of a neonate continues to be under-documented, under-recognized, and under-managed, even though studies have shown that neonatal hypothermia increases mortality and morbidity. We aimed to reduce neonatal hypothermia (body temperature <36.5 °C) at 1 h following normal vaginal delivery in term and late preterm neonates in delivery room from 50% at baseline to less than 10% by 6 weeks.

纯母乳喂养对预防低出生体重早产儿坏死性肠炎和改善喂养不耐受护理效果分析

目的研究纯母乳喂养对预防低出生体重早产儿坏死性肠炎和改善喂养不耐受护理效果。方法选取我院于2017年1月～2018年3月期间收治的低出生体重早产儿180例,根据喂养方式分为对照组(n=90)和观察组(n=90),对照组应用母乳混合早产儿配方奶粉调制喂养,观察组应用纯母乳喂养方式,对比分析两组早产儿坏死性肠炎与喂养不耐受发生情况、肠内完全营养时间、腹胀消失时间、住院时间以及生长发育情况。结果观察组的坏死性肠炎发生率、喂养不耐受发生率均低于对照组(P0.05);观察组的肠内完全营养时间、住院时间及腹胀消失时间均短于对照组(P0.05);观察组出生1个月后的头围、体重及身长增长速率均高于对照组(P0.05)。结论采用纯母乳喂养可有效预防低出生体重早产儿坏死性肠炎,并且能够降低发生喂养不耐受的情况,缩短监护与住院时间,进而促进早产儿健康生长发育,在临床上具有应用价值。     

A study of assessment of patient safety climate in tertiary care hospitals

Background

Medical errors are being detected with increasing frequency in healthcare environment, in many cases leading to patient harm. Measurement and improvement of patient safety climate has been identified as a strategic effort towards addressing this vital issue.

Method

Safety Attitude Questionnaire (SAQ), validated by previous research was administered to 300 respondents in three tertiary care hospitals of India, the respondents representing various categories of healthcare workers and variations in safety scale score was analyzed by various statistical tools.

Results

No variation was observed in the Patient Safety Index score among the study hospitals. However, significant variations were observed among different categories of healthcare workers across dimensions of Teamwork, Perception of Management and Stress Recognition. Multiple Regression models identified Teamwork and Perception of Management to have significant correlation with Patient Safety Index Score.

Conclusion

Patient Safety Climate can be effectively assessed and such assessment utilized for focused improvement efforts towards safety in healthcare organizations.     

Effectiveness of baby friendly hospital initiative on the promotion of exclusive breast feeding among the Dhaka city dwellers in Bangladesh

To assess the effectiveness of baby friendly hospital initiative on exclusive breast feeding status; this longitudinal study designed to compare the incidence of exclusive breast feeding at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days post partum for mothers who delivered at baby friendly hospital and mothers who delivered at a nearby non-baby friendly hospital. 105 mothers from baby friendly hospital and 104 mothers from non-baby friendly hospital were recruited and followed up for determining duration of exclusive breast-feeding. The median survival time of exclusive breast-feeding was 73.85 days among mothers of baby friendly hospital and 30 days among mothers of non-baby friendly hospital, with a difference of 43.85 days. Life table cumulative surviving proportion for exclusive breast-feeding shows that 82 percent mothers of baby friendly hospital continue at 30 days, compared with 50 percent mothers off non-baby friendly hospital. At 150 days, 16 percent mothers of baby friendly hospital continue exclusive breast-feeding compared with 6 percent mothers of non-baby friendly hospital. Finally 8 percent mothers of baby friendly hospital continue exclusive breast feeding between two hospital was found highly significant (P < 0.001). Duration of exclusive breast-feeding is longer among the mothers who have been delivered in a baby friendly hospital than those mothers who have been delivered in a non-baby friendly hospital.     

Adenocarcinoma of the stomach in a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka

OBJECTIVES: Adenocarcinoma of the stomach carries a dismal prognosis when it presents late. Our objective was to describe the location of the tumour, stage at presentation, resectability and survival in a cohort of patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach, presenting to a tertiary referral centre. DESIGN AND SETTING: Data were collected retrospectively from all patients with gastric neoplasms who presented to the University Surgical Unit, Colombo South Teaching Hospital from May 2000 to October 2006. RESULTS: Ninety three patients presented with malignant gastric neoplasms during this period. Majority (86/93) were adenocarcinomas. Mean age at presentation was 58.3 (range 33-83) years. Male to female ratio was 3.15:1. 52.6% of tumours were in the proximal stomach involving the cardia. Thirty per cent involved the body, and 17.5% the distal stomach. 93% had Stage III or IV disease at presentation. Twenty seven patients (32.5%) had resectable tumours with a mean survival of 25.3 months. Five year survival was less than 5%, in patients who were not offered surgical resection. There were no patients in our series with early gastric cancer. CONCLUSION: All our patients presented with advanced gastric cancer and the majority had unresectable disease. The high proportion of patients having proximal gastric carcinoma is similar to the recent changes seen in the west.     

Outbreak control of hospital acquired varicella infection amongst health care workers in a tertiary care hospital

BackgroundAdult and immunocompromised patients suffering from varicella (chicken pox) are potential source of infection to healthcare workers. An outbreak of varicella among healthcare workers in a tertiary care centre was investigated, and preventive measures were implemented.MethodsCases of chicken pox between 05 Feb 2017 and 11 Feb 2017 in a tertiary healthcare establishment were investigated. An epidemiological investigation by developing case definitions, spot map and contact tracing was conducted. Eight cases were identified among healthcare workers. Suitable preventive measures including identification of susceptible contacts and vaccination of susceptible ones with two doses of varicella vaccine was undertaken.ResultsIndex case was a 21-year-old nurse who was exposed to a 34-year-old male patient transferred from a secondary care hospital on 24 Jan 2017 as a case of acute liver failure and coagulopathy. Primary case was later diagnosed as case of varicella based on serological and clinical evidence. Among a total of 8 cases identified in the outbreak, the cases occurred among healthcare workers of secondary care centre, healthcare workers managing the primary case in the intensive care unit and who conducted the autopsy. A total of 181 contacts were identified in the epidemiological investigation, and 54 were susceptible to chicken pox. Two-dose immunization with varicella vaccination of susceptible ones was found to be effective in preventing further cases.ConclusionTwo-dose vaccination of healthcare workers with varicella vaccine is an effective strategy to prevent nosocomial varicella among healthcare workers.     

Spectrum of haemoglobinopathies in a tertiary care hospital of armed forces

Background: Thalassaemia and other structural haemoglobinopathies are the major genetic disorders prevalent in certain parts of the world including India. This study presents the pattern of haemoglobinopathies amongst the referred patients of anaemia in a two-year period.     

Childhood autoimmune hepatitis in a paediatric unit of a tertiary care hospital

INTRODUCTION

Although childhood autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has been extensively investigated in the West, data on AIH in the East is lacking. We aimed to investigate AIH’s clinical, biochemical and histological features, as well as its outcomes, in one of Singapore’s two major paediatric units.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of children diagnosed with AIH in the paediatric unit of National University Hospital, Singapore, over the last 12 years. Children with de novo AIH after liver transplantation were excluded. The demographic and clinical features of the patients, and their laboratory, treatment and clinical outcomes were reviewed.

RESULTS

This study comprised ten patients (six females, four males), with a median age of 5.1 (range 2.1–13.8) years at diagnosis. Five patients had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Seven patients had type 1 AIH, and three had autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (ASC) and IBD; none had type 2 AIH. The median level of aspartate aminotransferase at diagnosis was 183 (range 45–2,649) U/L. Prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day was prescribed at diagnosis for eight patients. Two patients were lost to follow-up and were treated symptomatically when they re-presented with end-stage liver disease. Azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil was prescribed after 3–7 months of treatment. Normalisation of aminotransferase levels took an average of 5.3 (range 1–39) months.

CONCLUSION

AIH is a rare but important cause of liver pathology. Children in this region with elevated aminotransferases or unexplained hepatomegaly should be screened for AIH.     

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus infection in a tertiary care hospital

BackgroundThere are epidemiological lacunae in literature of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We report a prospective observational study of asymptomatic HCV infected patients from a tertiary care Government Hospital.MethodsAll consecutive asymptomatic antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) positive patients were studied from July 2011 to April 2016. Patients were reviewed for demographic factors including symptom profile, risk factors, family screening, and point prevalence in relation to various districts of Punjab and Haryana.ResultsOne thousand twelve patients were studied with median age of 52 years (range:13–85) with a male to female ratio of 0.87. Eight hundred (79.25%) patients were from Punjab and 110 (10.67%) from Haryana. Forty percent patients were in 40–60 age group. Six hundred seventy patients (66.21%) did not have any apparent risk factor, 274 (27.08%) had one risk factor, and 68 patients (6.72%) had > 2 risk factors. Commonest risk factor was h/o surgery in 243 patients (24.01%), 32 patients had h/o IV drug abuse and 29 among them were < 30 years. Three hundred and sixty-seven families and children were screened, and 27 spouses and 16 children were found to be anti-HCV positive. The risk factor of IV drug abuse was more common in the younger adults with age ≤ 30 years as compared with age > 30 years (p = 0.001).ConclusionHCV infection was common in certain districts of Punjab and common in adults of 40–60 years. This finding needs to be confirmed in larger population-based study. The IV drug abuse is the risk factor of concern among young adults.     

Bacteriophage types of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a tertiary care hospital

Background

Phage typing had been utilised extensively to characterise methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outbreak strains in the past. It is an invaluable tool even today to monitor emergence and dissemination of MRSA strains.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalent phage types of MRSA in south India and the association between phage types, antibiotic resistance pattern and risk factors.

Method

A total of 48 non-duplicate MRSA strains recovered from various clinical samples during January to December, 2010 were tested against a panel of anti-staphylococcal antibiotics. Phage typing was carried out at the National Staphylococcal Phage Typing Centre, New Delhi. Out of 48, 32 hospitalised patients were followed up for risk factors and response to empirical and post sensitivity antibiotic therapy. The risk factors were compared with a control group of 30 patients with methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infection.

Results

Amongst the five prevalent phage types, 42E was most common (52%), followed by a non-typable variant (22.9%), 42E/47/54/75 (16.6%), 42E/47 (6.2%) and 47 (2%). Phage type 42E was the predominant strain in all wards and OPDs except in the ICU where 42E/47/54/75 was most common. Although not statistically significant, strain 42E/47/54/75 (n=8) showed higher resistance to all drugs, except ciprofloxacin and amikacin, and were mostly D-test positive (87.5%) compared to the 42E strain (32%). Duration of hospital stay, intravenous catheterisation and breach in skin were the most significant risk factors for MRSA infection.

Conclusion

We found MRSA strain diversity in hospital wards with differences in their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. The findings may impact infection control and antibiotic policy significantly.     

Profile of catering staff at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai

Background

Food borne illnesses, even today, continue to be a major public health problem in both developing and developed nations. Food handlers play an important role in ensuring food safety throughout the chain of production, processing, storage and preparation.Health of food handlers is of great importance for maintaining hygienic quality of food prepared and served by them. Thus, the present study was conducted to study socio-demographic characteristics, morbidity pattern and immunization status of catering staff at a tertiary care hospital in Mumbai

Method

A cross sectional study was conducted from August 2010 to November 2010. Out of the total of 162 food handlers working in 11 food service establishments, 137 were interviewed face to face using a semi-structured questionnaire, while remaining 25 food handlers were excluded because of either their absence or not giving consent. The food handlers were assessed clinically for personal hygiene and investigated for hemoglobin, stool routine and sputum AFB examination.

Results

82 (59.8%) food handlers were from the age group 10 - 29 years, 113 (82.5%) male, 95 (69%) married, 59 (43.1%) educated up to primary level. Only 7 (5.1%) had ever received a dose of typhoid vaccine. 103 (75.2%) had an addiction, majority consuming gutkha 59 (57.3%). Dental caries 32 (23.4%) was the most common morbidity identified. Entamoeba histolytica was isolated in 13 (9.5%) subjects.

Conclusion

This study has confirmed an association between educational status and personal hygiene suggesting the need for greater personal hygiene in this group. Preemployment and periodical medical examination should be encouraged.     

Analysis of blood tests in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital

There is ample evidence that many investigations sent from the accident and emergency department are inappropriate, thus affecting the quality of patient care. A study was designed to address this issue in the emergency department of a tertiary care hospital of a large city. A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out during the 3-month period 1 December 1996 to 28 February 1997. A set of guidelines was used to assess the appropriateness of different blood tests for the initial assessment of the patients presenting with common clinical conditions, although any investigation could be done if considered important for patient management. All other blood tests were considered inappropriate. A total of 6401 patients were seen in the emergency department and 14,300 blood tests were done on 3529 patients with diagnoses covered by the guidelines. Of these 62.2% were found to be inappropriate. Of the total 22,655 investigations done on all the 6401 patients seen, only 3.8% influenced the diagnosis, 3.0% influenced patient care in the emergency department, and 4.0% influenced the decision to admit or not. Amylase and arterial blood gases were found to be the most appropriate investigations. Analysis of reasons for unnecessary use of emergency tests suggested that improving supervision, decreasing the utilization of the emergency department as a phlebotomy service for the hospital, and abolition of routine blood tests would help to improve patient care.     

延续护理模式对乳腺癌患者生命质量影响的Meta分析

目的 系统评价延续护理模式对我国乳腺癌患者生命质量的影响.方法 计算机检索中国知网(CNKI)、中文科技期刊全文数据库(VIP)、万方数据库、MEDLINE、PubMed、Embase、Google Scholar、OVID数据库,检索时间截至2015年4月.对其中运用延续护理模式对乳腺癌患者进行护理的随机对照试验(RCT)进行质量评价后采用RevMan5.3软件进行Meta分析.结果 共纳入13个RCT,1355例患者.Meta分析显示延续护理组能改善乳腺癌患者焦虑、抑郁水平(随机效应模型,WMD=-7.25,95%CI=-8.46~-6.04,P<0.01),降低患肢水肿发生率(固定效应模型,RR=0.3,95%CI=0.16~0.55,P<0.01),提高乳腺癌患者生命质量(随机效应模型,WMD=11.54,95%CI=6.93~16.15,P<0.01).结论 延续护理可有效降低术后并发症,改善患者不良情绪,提高生命质量.     

Pandemic influenza: Experience in a flu OPD of a tertiary care hospital

Background

In April 2009, Mexican health authorities announced an outbreak of a novel H1N1 influenza virus, which subsequently caused a pandemic. The world is now moving into the post-pandemic period. The experience gained in handling this pandemic at various levels under different settings has provided us many lessons for the future.

Objective

To study the profile of various activities undertaken at flu screening centre as a response to pandemic influenza in a tertiary care hospital.

Methods

Record-based study conducted in a tertiary care hospital of Pune. Required data was collected from records of flu OPD, ward and local health authority and interviewing related staff. Study included data from October 2009 to October 2010.

Results

A total of 8020 people presenting with influenza like illness (ILI) were screened in the flu OPD under study. Out of these, only 388 (4.84%) met clinical criteria where throat samples were collected, out of which only 81 were found to be positive (20.88%). Total three fatalities (3.7%) occurred out of 81 who had tested positive. Most cases of flu were managed at home (76.54%) while only 19 (23.4%) lab confirmed cases of H1N1 required hospitalisation.

Conclusion

Majority of cases of H1N1 (2009) were managed at home. Early diagnosis, quick initiation of treatment, infection control measures, and good care at the hospital can effectively reduce morbidity and mortality in H1N1 pandemic.     

Determinants of prelacteal feeding practice in Uganda; a population based cross-sectional study using Uganda demographic and health survey data

BackgroundBreastfeeding has well-established short-term and long-term health benefits for both the mother and infant. Initiating breastfeeding immediately after birth stimulates breast milk production. Prelacteal feeding (PLF) may result in late initiation of breastfeeding, and thus insufficient production of breast milk. This study aimed to identify the determinants of PLF among children under five years in Uganda.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted using the data from the database of Uganda Demographic and Health Survey 2011. The data of 4,774 children/mothers were evaluated in this study.ResultsThe prevalence of PLF was 40.3%. The rate of PLF practice was found to be 2.15 times higher in women with moderate economic status and 2.02 times higher in women with high economic status compared to those who have low economic status. The rate of PLF practice was found to be 1.73 times higher in newborns delivered by an unskilled birth attendant and 4.35 times higher in newborns delivered with no birth attendant compared to those infants delivered by a skilled birth attendant. The ratio of PLF practice was found to be 2.49 times higher in multiple births. Mothers who initiated breastfeeding in the first 24 hours after birth had higher odds of PLF. No relationship was found between PLF practice with some sociodemographic characteristics of mother''s (age, marital status, educational status, religion, residential location), maternal factors (number of children, antenatal and postnatal care attendance, place of delivery), and characteristics of the newborn infants (sex, type of delivery, birth order number) in the multivariate logistic regression analysis.ConclusionsAll mothers should be informed about the importance of initiation of breastfeeding immediately after delivery, the risks associated with PLF, the optimal practices for breastfeeding, and the presence of a skilled birth attendant at delivery.     

Incidence of healthcare associated infection in the surgical ICU of a tertiary care hospital

Background

Healthcare associated infections (HAI) have taken on a new dimension with outbreaks of increasingly resistant organisms becoming common. Protocol-based infection control practices in the intensive care unit (ICU) are extremely important. Moreover, baseline information of the incidence of HAI helps in planning-specific interventions at infection control.

Methods

This hospital-based observational study was carried out from Dec 2009 to May 2010 in the 10-bedded surgical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. CDC HAI definitions were used to diagnose HAI.

Results

A total of 293 patients were admitted in the ICU. 204 of these were included in the study. 36 of these patients developed HAI with a frequency of 17.6%. The incidence rate (IR) of catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI) was 16/1000 Central Venous Catheter (CVC) days [95% C.I. 9–26]. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) 9/1000 urinary catheter days [95% C.I. 4–18] and ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP) 32/1000 ventilator days [95% confidence interval 22–45].

Conclusion

The HAI rates in our ICU are less than other hospitals in developing countries. The incidence of VAP is comparable to other studies. Institution of an independent formal infection control monitoring and surveillance team to monitor & undertake infection control practices is an inescapable need in service hospitals.     

Incidence of healthcare associated infection in the surgical ICU of a tertiary care hospital

Background

Healthcare associated infections (HAI) have taken on a new dimension with outbreaks of increasingly resistant organisms becoming common. Protocol-based infection control practices in the intensive care unit (ICU) are extremely important. Moreover, baseline information of the incidence of HAI helps in planning-specific interventions at infection control.

Methods

This hospital-based observational study was carried out from Dec 2009 to May 2010 in the 10-bedded surgical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. CDC HAI definitions were used to diagnose HAI.

Results

A total of 293 patients were admitted in the ICU. 204 of these were included in the study. 36 of these patients developed HAI with a frequency of 17.6%. The incidence rate (IR) of catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI) was 16/1000 Central Venous Catheter (CVC) days [95% C.I. 9–26]. Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) 9/1000 urinary catheter days [95% C.I. 4–18] and ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP) 32/1000 ventilator days [95% confidence interval 22–45].

Conclusion

The HAI rates in our ICU are less than other hospitals in developing countries. The incidence of VAP is comparable to other studies. Institution of an independent formal infection control monitoring and surveillance team to monitor & undertake infection control practices is an inescapable need in service hospitals.     

Seroprevalence of syphilis in patients attending a tertiary care hospital in Southern India

ObjectiveTo report our experience with two tests, anti-cardiolipin antibody test [venereal disease reasearch laboratory (VDRL) test] and specific treponemal test (Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay), used for screening antenatal, high risk cases and cases from sexually transmitted infection in a tertiary care hospital from January 2006 till December 2008.MethodsA total of 14 639 samples received from various patient groups including antenatal cases, patients attending sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic, blood donors and HIV positive patients were screened.ResultsAmong the 14 639 samples collected, 103 were positive by VDRL test. Of these 89 cases were confirmed by quantitative VDRL test and Treponema pallidum hemagglutination assay. The cumulative seroprevalence over two years was found to be 0.61% in this study. The syphilis seroprevalence reduced from 0.88% in 2006 to 0.40% in 2008. Among the various sub-populations studied, patients attending the sexually transmitted infection clinic showed a seroprevalence of 2.62%. The seroprevalence decreased significantly from 4.00% in 2006 to 1.39% in 2008.ConclusionsOur study showed a statistically significant declining rate of syphilis in STD clinics as well as the overall seroprevalence. These findings could be interpreted as indicators of improved programmes for prevention and management of STDs.