Risk factors for death due to nosocomial infection in intensive care unit patients: findings from the Krankenhaus Infektions Surveillance System.

OBJECTIVE: To determine risk factors for death among patients with nosocomial pneumonia and patients with primary bloodstream infections (BSI) in intensive care units (ICUs). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Data collected from January 1997 through June 2003 from ICUs registered with the Krankenhaus Infektions Surveillance System in Germany. PATIENTS: A total of 8,432 patients with nosocomial pneumonia from 202 ICUs and 2,759 patients with nosocomial primary BSI from 190 ICUs. METHODS: The following risk factors were considered in the analysis: age, sex, time in the ICU before onset of infection, type of ICU, type and size of hospital, intubation, central venous catheter use, total parenteral nutrition, and type of pathogen. RESULTS: A total of 750 patients (8.9%) with nosocomial pneumonia and 302 patients (10.9%) with nosocomial primary BSI died. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified treatment in a medical or surgical ICU (odds ratio [OR], 1.55 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.32-1.82]) or a hospital with more than 1,000 beds (OR, 2.14 [95% CI, 1.81-2.56]), age older than 65 years (OR, 1.54 [95% CI, 1.31-1.81]), and infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (OR, 2.39 [95% CI, 1.81-3.12]) or multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (OR, 3.00 [95% CI, 1.90-4.63]) as independent determinants of death from nosocomial pneumonia. Age older than the median of 63 years (OR, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.12-1.86]) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus as the causative agent (OR, 2.98 [95% CI, 1.81-5.82]) were both associated with increased mortality from primary BSI. The types of infecting pathogens, particularly those resistant to multiple drugs, were also strong outcome predictors among ICU patients. CONCLUSIONS: The study results underline the need for further investigations of the role of antimicrobial resistance in the outcome of patients with nosocomial pneumonia and patients with primary BSI.     

重症监护室患者下呼吸道医院感染危险因素分析

目的探讨某院重症监护室(ICU)患者发生下呼吸道医院感染（LRTI）的危险因素,为制定控制医院感染的有效措施提供依据。方法收集2008年12月-2010年12月入住该院ICU且时间＞48 h、年龄≥18岁的1 062例患者病历资料,将其中确诊为LRTI的68 例患者作为实验组;按同性别、同年龄组、入院时间相近,以1︰2 配对形式,选择其中未发生医院感染的136例患者作为对照组,对发生LRTI的危险因素进行分析。结果单因素分析结果显示,ICU住院时间≥15 d、气管切开、气管插管/气管切开机械通气、使用抗菌药物>2种和抗菌药物使用时间>2周、雾化吸入等是引起ICU患者发生LRTI的危险因素;对筛选的9种危险因素进行条件Logistic分析,结果ICU住院时间≥15 d (OR 95% CI：1.153～4.912)、单纯气管切开(OR 95% CI：1.836～9.967)、气管插管/气管切开机械通气(OR 95% CI：1.163～5.774)、使用抗菌药物＞2种和抗菌药物使用时间＞2周(OR 95% CI：1.016～5.813)是ICU患者发生LRTI的独立危险因素。结论ICU患者发生LRTI是多种因素共同作用的结果,针对其危险因素制定综合的防控对策,有助于减少医院感染的发生。     

Chest pain in general practice: incidence, comorbidity and mortality

BACKGROUND: Chest pain is a common symptom that presents the primary care physician with a complex diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. AIMS: To evaluate the natural history and management of patients diagnosed with chest pain of unspecified type or origin in primary care. DESIGN: Population-based case-control study. METHODS: The study included 13,740 patients with a first diagnosis of unspecified chest pain and 20,000 age- and sex-matched controls identified from the UK General Practice Research Database. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using unconditional logistic regression. Risk estimates were adjusted for age, sex and number of physician visits. RESULTS: The incidence of a new diagnosis of chest pain was 15.5 per 1000 person-years and increased with age, particularly in men. The risk of a chest pain diagnosis was greatest in patients with prior diagnoses of coronary heart disease (OR: 7.1; 95% CI: 6.1-8.2) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.7-2.3). In the year after diagnosis, chest pain patients were more likely than controls to be newly diagnosed with coronary heart disease (OR: 14.9; 95% CI: 12.7-17.4) and heart failure (OR: 4.7; 95% CI: 3.6-6.1). A new diagnosis of chest pain was associated with an increased risk of death in the following year (RR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.9-2.8). CONCLUSIONS: Some causes of chest pain are underdiagnosed in primary care. This is of particular consequence for the minority of chest pain patients with cardiac disease.     

Is co-morbidity taken into account in the antibiotic management of elderly patients with acute bronchitis and COPD exacerbations?

BACKGROUND: Guidelines on acute lower respiratory tract infections recommend restrictive use of antibiotics, however, in patients with relevant co-morbid conditions treatment with antibiotics should be considered. Presently, it is unknown whether GPs adhere to these guidelines and target antibiotic treatment more often at patients with risk-elevating conditions. OBJECTIVES: We assessed whether in elderly primary care patients with acute bronchitis or exacerbations of chronic pulmonary disease (COPD), antibiotics are more often prescribed to patients with risk-elevating co-morbid conditions. METHODS: Using the Utrecht GP research database, we analysed 2643 episodes in patients of 65 years of age or older with a GP-diagnosed acute bronchitis or exacerbation of COPD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to determine independent determinants of antibiotic use. RESULTS: Antibiotic prescribing rates were high in both acute bronchitis (84%) and in exacerbations of COPD (53%). In acute bronchitis, only age was an independent determinant of antibiotic use [odds ratio (OR) 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.003-1.048], whereas in exacerbations of COPD antibiotics were more often prescribed to male patients (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.5), patients with diabetes (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.4) and heart failure (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.0-1.7). CONCLUSION: Dutch GPs prescribe antibiotics in the majority of elderly patients with acute bronchitis and in half of the episodes of exacerbations of COPD. Tailoring their antibiotic treatment according to the presence or absence of high-risk co-morbid conditions could help GPs in improving antibiotic use in patients with respiratory tract infections in primary care.     

Relation between the socioeconomic status of the family and primary allergy prevention in infant feeding in Hajdu-Bihar County, Hungary

BACKGROUND: The relationship between socioeconomic status and preventive care is an important issue in public health practice in Hungary. Our aim was to investigate the association between the socioeconomic status and the present practice of primary allergy prevention in infant feeding in Hajdú-Bihar County, Hungary. METHODS: A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey was performed among 3076 infants aged 0-6 months. We studied how socioeconomic status, type of settlement, allergic background of the family and skin symptoms indicative for allergy were related to primary allergy prevention in infant feeding. Prevalence odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Independent determinants of breast feeding were age [OR corresponding to one month change 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.70-0.77], the female gender (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.06-1.46), the socioeconomic status of the family (OR comparing the worst with the best category 0.63; 95% CI 0.43-0.93), and birth weight (OR comparing <1500 g to >2500 g category 0.17; 95% CI 0.07-0.41). Among supplementary nutrient users independent determinants of the use of hydrolysed infant formulae were the socioeconomic status (OR comparing the worst with the best category 0.06; 95% CI 0.01-0.27), the type of settlement (OR comparing village with town 0.48; 95% CI 0.28-0.80), history of allergy in the family (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.28-4.11), and skin symptoms indicative of allergy (OR 3.46; 95% CI 1.96-6.14). CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic status is related to the implementation of primary allergy prevention in infant feeding.     

Prognostic factors for nosocomial bacteraemia outcome: a prospective study in a Greek teaching hospital

Epidemiological and clinical features were studied as potential prognostic factors for outcomes of bacteraemic patients in a tertiary care teaching hospital in Greece. The prospective study was conducted over 12 months and enrolled 153 consecutive hospital-acquired bacteraemic episodes in 137 patients. The crude in-hospital mortality rate was 27% (37/137). The mean lengths of stay and of antimicrobial treatment were significantly longer for patients with a fatal outcome than for survivors (P<0.0001 and P=0.001, respectively). Needs for mechanical ventilation, urinary catheters and parenteral nutrition before or during the onset of episodes were significantly associated with fatalities [odds ratio (OR)=5.54, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.22-14.0, P<0.0001; OR=0.70, 95% CI 0.63-0.79, P=0.021; OR=5.03, 95% CI 1.88-13.95, P<0.0001, respectively]. Also, in logistic regression analysis, mechanical ventilation (OR=5.5, 95% CI 1.2-7.9, P=0.02) and parenteral nutrition (OR=8.8, 95% CI 3.8-11.4, P=0.003) were independent predictors of mortality. No differences between fatalities and survivors were found in sex, age, smoking habit, intensive care unit hospitalization, need for a nasogastric catheter and previous surgery. Neutropenia was associated with a fatal outcome (OR=3.65, 95% CI 1.24-10.91, P=0.006). None of the bacterial pathogens were significantly associated with an adverse outcome, whereas Staphylococcus aureus was recovered more frequently from survivors (P=0.02). Fatalities were more often associated with an intravascular catheter origin (P=0.002), whereas bacteraemias in survivors were associated with a skin/soft tissue origin (P=0.02). Various prognostic factors were associated with outcome in our bacteraemic population, and can be employed to identify bacteraemic patients at risk of death and to develop local strategies for its prevention.     

Disparity of risk-adjusted inpatient outcomes among African American and white patients hospitalized with community-acquired pneumonia

The objectives of this study were to examine the associations between inpatient pneumonia outcomes, health care factors, and sociodemographics with an emphasis on race. African American and white patients from the 2008 National Hospital Discharge Survey who were admitted to nonprofit and for-profit hospitals with a principal diagnosis of pneumonia were sampled (n=1924). Three outcomes were measured: length of hospital stay, discharge to home, and deceased at discharge. Length of hospital stay was measured with negative binomial regression including incidence rate ratios (IRRs), while the remaining 2 outcomes were measured with logistic regression including odds ratios (ORs). Patients with longer hospital stays relative to peers were likely older (IRR=1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.01-1.01, P<0.001) and African American (IRR=1.19, 95% CI=1.10-1.30, P<0.001), but had fewer comorbidities (IRR=0.97, 95% CI=0.94-0.99, P=0.016). Patients were less likely to be discharged to home if they were older (OR=0.96, 95% CI=0.95-0.96, P<0.001), African American (OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.52-0.90, P=0.006), and had government insurance (OR=0.59, 95% CI=0.44-0.79, P<0.001). Patients deceased at discharge were more likely to be older (OR=1.03, 95% CI=1.01-1.05, P=0.001), African American (OR=1.97, 95% CI=1.10-3.53, P=0.023), and to have fewer comorbidities (OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.57-0.88, P=0.002). African Americans with pneumonia experience inequitable inpatient pneumonia-related outcomes relative to whites. Hospital interventions addressing equity are needed.     

Infant mortality due to acute respiratory infections: the influence of primary care processes

A population-based case control study was conducted to ascertain whether the process of primary care can be a determinant of infant mortality due to Acute Respiratory Infection (ARI). Cases were 118 infants who died from ARI, individually matched with 118 infants who suffered an ARI episode and recovered. Information was gathered through interviewing mothers. Study variables were assembled into five subsets: children's characteristics; mothers' characteristics; access to medical services; process of primary care, and; sociodemographic variables. An index per subset was built to analyze the independent influence of each on ARI death risk. The index was constructed upon the weighted sum of the adjusted odds ratios (OR) within each subset. Then, the values of each index were collapsed into high/low values with the 50 percentile as a cut-off value. Next, by means of a conditional logistic regression procedure, an explanatory model of ARI mortality was obtained. The final multivariate model included the indexes that showed an independent effect: I) Process of care (OR 9.68, CI 95% 3.59-26.1): inadequate referral, attention provided by more than one physician and being attended by a private physician; II) children's characteristics (OR 7.22, CI 95% 2.35-22.2): perinatal history, lack of breast-feeding and incomplete immunization scheme; III) access to medical services (OR 5.27, CI 95% 2.02-13.7): geographic and economic barriers, lack of confidence in public health services, and; IV) mothers' characteristics (OR 4.03, CI 95% 1.18-13.8), mainly represented by untimely care seeking. We conclude that the management of the disease is a key determinant in which factors relating to the mother and the health services are strongly related. Our study reveals untimely care seeking, difficult access and inadequate disease treatment as important factors which deserve careful attention in the future. We also confirm the importance of biological determinants previously described. A main strategy to reduce infant mortality due to ARI should be to encourage training of primary care physicians, including private practitioners, focused on providing effective case management and emphasizing the education to mothers.     

Predictors of institutionalization in demented patients discharged from a rehabilitation unit

BACKGROUND: The decision to place a patient with dementia in long-term care is complex and based on the patient's and the caregiver's characteristics, and on the sociocultural context. Most studies assessing predictors of nursing home placement focused primarily on the characteristics of either the patient, such as dementia severity and difficult behaviors, or the caregiver, such as subjective burden and health status. However, only a few studies comprehensively investigated how both a caregiver's and a patient's characteristics influence nursing home placement. OBJECTIVE: To identify the patient's and the caregiver's characteristics that influence discharge to a nursing home in demented patients consecutively admitted to an intermediate care setting. METHODS: Observational study of 214 patients with dementia consecutively admitted to a Rehabilitation Unit for Dementia in Northern Italy (length of stay 35.1 +/- 14.9 days). The main evaluated outcome was the final destination (home vs nursing home). RESULTS: In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, adjusted for age, gender, cognitive status, and behavioral disturbances, 4 predictors were associated with nursing home placement: living alone (OR 8.79, 95% CI 2.33-33.16; P = .001), degree of dementia severity (CDR, OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.02-2.83; P = .04), compromised functional status (Barthel index admission, OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.05-9.48; P = .04), and caregiver's burden (CBI, OR 2.89, 95% CI 1.15-7.29; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Data suggest that living alone, patient's functional impairment, severity of dementia, and caregiver's burden were independent predictors of institutionalization. The interaction between a patient's and a caregiver's characteristics has an important effect on the rate of nursing home placement in demented patients.     

Physician practice patterns: chest x-ray ordering for the evaluation of acute cough illness in adults.

OBJECTIVES: The authors examine which clinical factors contribute to the clinician suspicion of pneumonia, as well as the relationship between clinical factors, clinician suspicion of pneumonia, and ordering chest X-rays (CXR). METHODS: Three hundred consecutive adults presenting to the clinic with acute cough in the winter of 2003 were studied. Using standardized encounter forms, data were collected on sociodemographics, illness impact, symptoms, tobacco use, past medical history, vital signs, physical examination findings, chest X-ray result, and clinician diagnoses. Clinicians rated their suspicion of pneumonia on a 5-point Likert scale. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine independent predictors of clinician suspicion of pneumonia and of ordering of CXRs. RESULTS: Clinician suspicion of pneumonia was low in the majority of patients presenting for evaluation of cough (63%). Higher clinician suspicion of pneumonia was predicted by advanced patient age (odds ratio [OR]: 4.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.2-18.1]), shortness of breath (2.4; [1.0-6.0]), fever (5.5; [1.8-17.5]), tachycardia (3.8; [1.1-13.1]), rales (23.8; [5.7-98.7]), and rhonchi (14.6; [5.2-40.5]). CXRs were ordered in 19% of patients presenting with acute cough. Intermediate clinician suspicion of pneumonia (OR: 7.9; 95% CI: [2.8, 22.5]) (v. low suspicion), advanced patient age ([.greaterequal] 65 years) (9.2; [2.7, 31.6]) (v. ages 18-44 years), and decreased breath sounds on examination (5.1; [1.8, 14.3]) are independent predictors of ordering a CXR. Among patients with a clinical diagnosis of pneumonia (n = 31), CXRs were ordered in only 61%. CONCLUSIONS: Advanced patient age and physical findings on chest examination influence clinician practice in obtaining CXRs, beyond their contribution to clinician suspicion of pneumonia. Physicians do not appear to endorse recommendations that the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia be based on or confirmed by CXR.     

乌鲁木齐市500例2型糖尿病患者抑郁症患病状况及其影响因素研究

目的 探讨乌鲁木齐市2型糖尿病患者合并抑郁症状况及其影响因素。方法 采用横断面调查,对2016年12月1日~2017年4月30日在新疆医科大学第五附属医院内分泌科门诊就诊及住院部确诊的糖尿病患者开展问卷调查。采用Zung氏抑郁自评量表评价患者抑郁症患病情况。采用Logistic回归模型分析糖尿病发生抑郁症的影响因素。结果 500例糖尿病患者,其抑郁症患病率为20.00%,多元Logistic回归分析后结果显示:女性（与男性比较,OR=2.18,95%CI:1.49~3.19）,维吾尔族（与汉族比较,OR=2.56,95%CI:1.17~5.57）,离异/丧偶（与已婚比较,OR=1.74,95%CI:1.04~3.07）是糖尿病合并抑郁症的独立危险因素;大学文化程度及以上（与小学文化程度及以下比较,OR=0.38,95%CI:0.19~0.76）,有家庭支持（与无家庭支持比较,OR=0.50,95%CI:0.28~0.91）是糖尿病合并抑郁症的保护因素。结论 乌鲁木齐市糖尿病患者中抑郁症患病率较高,且与多种因素相关,诊疗时应及早筛查,及时干预,改善患者生活质量。     

Predictors of work-related repetitive strain injuries in a population cohort

OBJECTIVES: We assessed predictors of work-related repetitive strain injuries using data from 4 waves of the Canadian National Population Health Survey. METHODS: Participants were 2806 working adults who completed an abbreviated version of the Job Content Questionnaire in 1994-1995 and did not experience repetitive strain injuries prior to 2000-2001. Potential previous wave predictors of work-related repetitive strain injuries were modeled via multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Female gender (odds ratio [OR] = 1.98; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.24, 3.18), some college or university education (OR=1.98; 95% CI=1.06, 3.70), job insecurity (OR=1.76; 95% CI=1.07, 2.91), high physical exertion levels (OR = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.29, 3.12), and high levels of psychological demands (OR = 1.61; 95% CI = 1.02, 2.52) were all positively associated with work-related repetitive strain injuries, whereas working less than 30 hours per week exhibited a negative association with such injuries (OR=0.2; 95% CI=0.1, 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Modifiable job characteristics are important predictors of work-related repetitive strain injuries.     

上海市长宁区糖尿病高危人群筛查结果分析

目的 利用长宁区糖尿病高危人群的血糖筛查结果数据,分析长宁区糖尿病高危人群中糖尿病和糖调节受损的检出率,分析影响高危人群中糖尿病和糖调节受损的危险因素,为加强社区糖尿病防治力度提供参考依据。方法 收集糖尿病高危人群的基本信息、糖尿病危险因素及相关症状、体格检查数据及血糖数据进行统计分析。结果 2016 - 2017年,12 567名糖尿病高危人群中共检出糖尿病1 171人,糖调节受损者1 547人,检出率分别为9.3%、12.3%。多因素logistic回归分析发现,高龄（OR:1.032,95%CI:1.026～1.038）、男性（OR:1.161,95%CI:1.036～1.301）、低学历（P＜0.05）、糖调节受损史（OR: 6.257,95% CI:4.756～8.232）、亲属患2型糖尿病（OR: 1.388,95% CI:1.169～1.649）、高血压（OR: 1.463,95% CI:1.268～1.688）和体型超重/肥胖（OR: 2.228,95% CI: 1.940～2.559）是血糖代谢障碍的独立预测因素;高龄（OR:1.040,95% CI:1.035～1.045）、男性（OR:1.361,95% CI:1.224～1.581）、低学历（P＜0.05）、糖调节受损史（OR: 2.644,95% CI:1.949 ～3.586）、亲属患2型糖尿病（OR: 1.417,95% CI:1.217～1.650）、高血压（OR: 1.360,95% CI:1.199 ～1.543）、血脂异常（OR = 1.208,95% CI:1.019～1.432）、一过性类固醇糖尿病史（OR = 2.397, 95% CI:1.195～4.807)、长期静坐生活方式（OR = 2.542,95% CI:1.376～4.699）以及体型超重/肥胖（OR: 1.975,95% CI:1.754～2.224）是检出糖尿病的独立预测因素。结论 长宁区糖尿病高危人群的糖尿病和糖调节受损检出率较高。在高危人群中筛查,能使超过五分之一的血糖异常者得到早期诊断,应持续开展此项工作。     

Clinical effectiveness of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine against pneumonia in middle-aged and older adults: A matched case–control study

The 23-valent polysaccharide pneumococcal vaccine is currently recommended in elderly and high-risk adults. Its efficacy against invasive pneumococcal disease has been demonstrated, but its effectiveness in preventing pneumonia remains uncertain. This study assessed the clinical effectiveness of vaccination against pneumonia among middle-aged and older adults. We conducted a population-based case–control study including 304 case patients over 50 years old with radiographically confirmed pneumococcal pneumonia (94 bacteremic and 210 nonbacteremic cases) and 608 outpatient control subjects (matched by primary care centre, age, sex and risk stratum). Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for vaccination were calculated using conditional logistic regression, controlling for underlying conditions. Vaccine effectiveness against all pneumococcal pneumonia was 48% (OR: 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.37–0.73). Vaccination was effective against bacteremic cases (OR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.27–0.66) as well as nonbacteremic cases (OR: 0.58; 95% CI: 0.39–0.86). Vaccine effectiveness was highest against bacteremic infections caused by vaccine types (OR: 0.24; 95% CI: 0.09–0.66). These findings confirm the effectiveness of the vaccine against invasive disease, but they also support the benefit of vaccination in preventing nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia.     

Prediction of complicated urinary tract infections in patients with type 2 diabetes: a questionnaire study in primary care

Background Relatively few data are available to predict a complicated course of community-acquired complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) in patients with diabetes type 2 (DM2). The aim of this study was to assess predictors for a complicated course of UTIs in DM2 patients in primary care. Method We conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire study among DM2 patients aged over 45 years as part of an educational trial. The combined outcome measure was a complicated course of UTI, defined as a self-reported episode of acute pyelonephritis, prostatitis or recurrent cystitis in the 12 months before the trial. Patients with an outcome were all verified by review of medical records. A prediction model was derived with multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results Of the 1151 trial participants, 94 (8%) had a self-reported community-acquired complicated course of UTIs and 62 (66%) of these were medically-attended. Independent predictors for a complicated course were age above 60 years (adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.74; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.99–3.03), chronic use of antibiotics (adjusted OR: 5.50; 95% CI: 2.31–13.08), more than 6 physician contacts in previous year (adjusted OR: 3.60; 95% CI: 2.00–6.49), hospitalization in previous year (adjusted OR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.00–1.85), renal disease (adjusted OR: 4.92; 95% CI: 1.59–15.18) and incontinence of urine (adjusted OR: 3.78; 95% CI: 1.93–7.38). Area under the receiver-operating curve was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.66–0.78). Analysis according to medically attended complicated UTIs did not change our findings. Conclusion Easily obtainable predictors from medical history can be used to accurately predict a complicated course of UTIs in DM2 patients.     

Assessment of tuberculosis treatment completion in an ethnically diverse population using two data sources. Implications for treatment interventions

Many adolescents who are prescribed therapy for tuberculosis (TB) infection fail to complete it. This article presents the results of a demographic and epidemiological assessment of TB treatment completion in adolescent populations using (a) surveillance data from the Los Angeles Health County Department and (b) a prospective/retrospective medical chart review from targeted clinics. Patients who did not complete the 6-month recommended medical treatment for latent tuberculosis therapy (LTBI) averaged 13 weeks in care. Younger age (OR = 1.15; 95% CI 1.03-1.29), birth in the United States (OR = 1.92; 95% CI 1.14-3.22, compared to Mexico), and Asian ethnicity were associated with completion of care. In multiple logistic regression analysis, age (OR = .88; 95% CI .78-.98) and Latino ethnicity (OR = .53; 95% CI .29-.95) remained significant predictors of completion of treatment. These findings indicate the need for age-specific educational reinforcement and cultural differentials in completing care for LTBI.     

Associations of depressive symptoms with gender, body mass index and dyspnea in primary care COPD patients

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that severe COPD is associated with depressive symptoms, possibly linked to exacerbations, dyspnea and hospitalisation. However, scarce data are available in primary care where most patients suffer from mild or moderate disease. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to reveal associations of depressive symptoms with demographic and clinical characteristics in mild to moderate COPD. METHODS: Cross-sectional data on lung function measurements, exacerbation frequency, dyspnea, comorbidity, smoking behaviour, body mass index (BMI), age, gender and depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory) of 147 primary care patients were assessed in multiple logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: Patients suffered from mild to moderate obstruction (FEV1 63.6% pred, range 45.1% to 82.1%). Female gender (OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.1 to 10.8), BMI > 25 (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.2 to 0.8) and current smoking (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.01 to 5.3) were univariately associated with depressive symptoms, while in a multivariate logistic model only female gender (OR 4.0, 95% CI 1.6 to 9.9), BMI > 25 (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.7) and dyspnea (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.9) were independently associated with depressive symptoms. Conclusion. These data suggest that in primary care depressive symptoms in COPD seem to be related with female gender, BMI and dyspnea. In this study, lung function, exacerbation rate, smoking behaviour, age and comorbidity are not independently associated with depressive symptoms in COPD of mild to moderate severity.     

耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌致医院感染危险因素的病例对照研究

目的 探讨耐亚胺培南铜绿假单胞菌(IRPA)导致医院感染的危险因素。方法 选取2002年1月至2003年12月收治的67例IRPA医院感染病例、150例亚胺培南敏感铜绿假单胞菌(ISPA)医院感染者为病例组，同时选取同一病区，接受相似治疗措施的非铜绿假单胞菌感染的住院患者为对照组，其中敏感对照组159例，耐药对照组200例。分别对两组患者的危险因素进行病例对照研究，采用非条件logistic回归分析法进行分析。结果 多因素非条件logistic回归分析表明，IRPA医院感染的发生与住院时间长短(OR=1．03，95％CI：1．01～1．04)、亚胺培南(OR=4．65，95％CI：1．35～11．52)、哌拉西林／他唑巴坦(OR=3．37，95％CI：1．85～9．43)及喹诺酮类抗菌药物(OR=1．85，95％CI：1．25～5．34)的使用有关；而ISPA医院感染与三代头孢(OR=2．54，95％CI：1．26～5．23)及氨基糖苷类抗生素(OR=1．86，95％CI：1．42～3．26)的使用、住院时间长短(OR=1．05，95％CI：1．03～1．05)有关。结论 为减少IRPA医院感染的发生，在限制使用亚胺培南的同时，应尽可能根据药物敏感试验的结果，合理使用其他抗菌药物。     

Food Insecurity and Low Self-efficacy are Associated with Health Care Access Barriers Among Puerto-Ricans with Type 2 Diabetes

Racial/ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by barriers to health care access and utilization. The primary objective was to test for an independent association between household food insecurity and health care access/utilization. In this cross-sectional survey, 211 Latinos (predominantly, Puerto-Ricans) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) were interviewed at their homes. Factor analyses identified four barriers for health care access/utilization: enabling factor, doctor access, medication access and forgetfulness. Multivariate logistic regression models examined the association between each of the barrier factors and food insecurity controlling for sociodemographic, cultural, psychosocial, and diabetes self-care variables. Higher food insecurity score was a risk factor for experiencing enabling factor (OR?=?1.46; 95% CI?=?1.17-1.82), medication access (OR?=?1.26; 95 CI%?=?1.06-1.50), and forgetfulness (OR?=?1.22; 95 CI%?=?1.04-1.43) barriers. Higher diabetes management self-efficacy was protective against all four barriers. Other variables associated with one or more barriers were health insurance, perceived health, depression, blood glucose, age and education. Findings suggest that addressing barriers such as food insecurity, low self-efficacy, lack of health insurance, and depression could potentially result in better health care access and utilization among low income Puerto-Ricans with T2D.     

Socio-demographic factors, health behavior and late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer in Germany: a population-based study.

Late-stage diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with poor survival. Identification of individuals at high risk of late-stage diagnosis could be an effective step to reduce breast cancer mortality. We examined the association of socio-demographic factors and health behavior with breast cancer stage in a population-based sample of 380 female breast cancer patients in Saarland, Germany. Overall, 182 women (47.9%) were diagnosed with late-stage (regional or distant) breast cancer. After control for potential confounding by multivariate logistic regression, an increased risk of late-stage diagnosis was observed for older age (OR = 1.8; 95% CI 1.0-3.2), foreign nationality (OR = 3.9; 95% CI 0.7-20.8), living in large households (OR = 1.7; 95% CI 1.0-2.9), non-participation in general health check-up (OR = 1.5; 95% CI 0.9-2.4) and low interest in health care (OR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.0-2.7). The proportion of late-stage cancer was clearly decreased when tumors were detected by screening (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.8). Certain socio-demographic factors and characteristics of health behavior seem to represent independent risk indicators of late-stage diagnosis.