Sterile surgical technique for shunt placement reduces the shunt infection rate in children: preliminary analysis of a prospective protocol in 115 consecutive procedures

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the rigid application of a sterile protocol for shunt placement was applicable on a routine basis and allowed the reduction of shunt infections (SI) in children. Materials and methods Since 2001, a rigid sterile protocol for shunt placement in children using neither antibiotic-impregnated catheters nor laminar airflow was prospectively applied at Erasme Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. For assessing the protocol efficacy before continuation, we preliminarily analyzed the results of the first 100 operated children (43 females, 57 males, 49 aged <12 months; 115 consecutive shunt placement/revision procedures). All procedures were performed by the same senior surgeon, one assistant, one circulating nurse, one anesthesiologist. The sterile protocol was rigidly imposed to these four staff members: uniformed surgical technique; limited implant and skin edge manipulation; minimized human circulation in the room; scheduling surgery as first morning operation; avoiding postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak; double gloving; procedures of less than 30-min duration; systemic antibiotics prophylaxis. We analyzed separately: (1) children carrying an increased risk of SI (n = 38) due to preoperative external ventricular drainage, CSF leak, meningitis, glucocorticoids, chemotherapy; (2) children aged <12 months; (3) procedures for shunt revision. Results Errors in protocol application were recorded in 71/115 procedures. They were mainly done by non-surgical staff, decreased with time and were medically justified in some young children. Surprisingly, no SI occurred (follow-up, 4 to 70 months). One child developed an appendicitis with peritonitis (Streptococcus faecalis) after 6 months. No SI was found. After peritonitis was cured, shunt reinsertion was uneventful. Conclusion These preliminary results suggest that a uniform and drastic sterile surgical technique for shunt placement: (1) can be rigidly applied on a routine basis; (2) can lower the early SI rate below 1%; (3) might have a stronger impact to reduce SI than using antibiotic-impregnated catheters and optimizing the operative environment such as using laminar airflow and reducing the non-surgical staff. This last issue will be evaluated further in the present ongoing protocol.     

重型颅脑损伤后应激性溃疡防治与胃肠道感染的相关性及对策

目的探讨重型颅脑损伤患者应用洛赛克对应激性溃疡进行防治与胃肠道感染几率增加之间的关系及治疗对策。方法回顾近3年来我院收治的重型颅脑损伤并存活30 d以上病人176例,测定不同时间胃液pH值并分析防治应激性溃疡与发生胃肠道感染的相关性以及相应对策。结果在126例持续应用洛赛克的患者中,持续应用＞7 d的患者胃肠道感染发生率明显高于持续应用≤7 d的病人。其余50例间隔应用洛赛克患者与126例持续应用洛赛克患者相比,应激性溃疡发生率无明显差别,但间隔应用洛赛克患者胃肠道感染发生率较持续应用洛赛克＞7 d的患者明显下降。结论重型颅脑损伤患者应激性溃疡防治＞7 d者,由于胃酸分泌严重抑制,增加胃肠道感染发生率。间隔性应用洛赛克治疗在抑制胃酸分泌,减少应激性溃疡发生的同时,可明显减少胃肠道感染的发生。     

64层螺旋CT三联检查在急性胸痛诊断中的应用

目的探讨64层螺旋CT（MSCT）三联检查显示急性胸痛患者肺动脉、胸主动脉和冠状动脉病变的能力及其临床应用价值。方法70例患者进行64层MSCT回顾性心电门控肺动脉、胸主动脉和冠状动脉联合检查。采用多平面重组（MPR）、最大密度投影（MIP）、曲面重组（CPR）及容积再现（VR）多种重组技术显示肺动脉、胸主动脉和冠状动脉，评价成像质量能否满足临床诊断需要。结果平均扫描时间（8．5±1．0）s，总对比剂用量100ml。肺动脉和主动脉增强后CT值均≥200HU者占95．7％（67／70）；冠状动脉显影图像质量优的节段占85．8％（720／839），图像质量良的节段占8．6％（72／839），图像质量差的节段占5．6％（47／839）。共检出冠状动脉狭窄≥50％者20例，肺动脉栓塞2例，主动脉夹层2例。结论64层MSCT三联检查能够在8s左右1次扫描完成肺动脉、胸主动脉和冠状动脉检查，图像质量可以满足临床诊断需要，在急性胸痛病因诊断中具有很高的临床应用价值。     

呼吸道感染患者痰内发现蠊缨滴虫1例

本文报道了呼吸道感染患者痰内检到蠊缨滴虫。患者主要临床表现为发热、喘憋和咳嗽。CT确诊为右下肺炎。用抗生素头孢哌酮2 g和左旋氧氟沙星0.2 g静脉滴注bid治疗无效,止咳化痰中药汤剂也不起作用。实验室检查,发现患者血液中嗜酸粒细胞和中性粒细胞增高,并在患者咯出的痰内检到蠊缨滴虫。停用抗生素和中药,改用甲硝唑500 mg静脉滴注bid,5 d后患者治愈。     

Respiratory tract infections due to different rhinovirus serotypes and the influence of maternal antibodies on the clinical expression of the disease in infants.

Rhinoviruses were isolated from nasopharyngeal secretions of 49 children hospitalized because of severe respiratory tract infection. The isolates were typed using 90 type-specific antisera. No obvious relation between certain serotypes and the severity of illness was found. Serum samples were drawn from all children simultaneously with the nasopharyngeal secretions and screened for the presence of type-specific neutralizing antibodies. Children aged 1 week to 6 months had higher neutralizing antibody titers and revealed a lower degree of morbidity than older children. The decline of neutralizing serum antibodies with increasing age was correlated with a higher incidence of severe disease in those aged 7-12 months. Nevertheless, also in this age group children with mild clinical courses of disease were observed despite a low concentration or an absence of neutralizing serum antibodies. This indicates that not only neutralizing serum antibodies, but other factors also influence the clinical expression of RHV-induced disease.     

Is it time to reconsider initial antibiotic treatment strategies for severe urinary tract infections in Europe?

Until recently, most reported cases of bacteraemia caused by multidrug-resistant strains of Enterobacteriacae producing an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) in Europe have been nosocomial in origin. However, increasing numbers of reports of community-acquired bacteraemia and urinary tract infection caused by ESBL-producing microorganisms suggest that the geographical origin of patients should be taken into account as a risk-factor for possible ESBL production. Early identification of patients at high-risk of infection with ESBL-producing microorganisms, based on their geographical origin and travel history, should help to optimise initial antibiotic treatment strategies for severe urinary tract infections in Europe.     

Disseminated histoplasmosis with oral manifestation

Histoplasmosis is a fungal disease that affects humans and is caused by Histoplasma capsulatum. The presentation of the infection may be acute, chronic, or disseminated. The disseminated form has extrapulmonary manifestations which may include oral manifestation a. A patient with AIDS sought treatment and he had disseminated histoplasmosis with oral manifestations. The purpose of this case report and literature review is to emphasize the role the dental team has in the diagnosis of disseminated disease when a patient presents with oral manifestations associated with the disease. This case report is clinically relevant because it is not uncommon for oral manifestations to be one of the first signs of systemic disease.     

过程管理在医院消毒灭菌中的应用

目的将过程管理应用于医院消毒灭菌中，规范医院消毒灭菌工作。方法以医院感染管理相关法规为依据，对消毒灭菌流程进行调查诊断，找出流程中的关键环节，以关键环节为质控点，对工作流程进行改造并实施过程管理。结果改善了硬件设施，工作流程更为科学，提高了技术水平和工作效率，消毒灭菌合格率明显提高。结论以医院感染管理相关法规为依据，以流程中的关键环节为质控点的过程管理，有利于规范医院消毒灭菌工作，实现由经验管理、终末管理向依法管理、过程管理转变。     

实质器官移植术后血浆IL-18、IL-10、IL-4检测在人巨细胞病毒感染中的意义

目的 探讨实质器官移植术后血浆中白介素18（IL－18）、白介素10（IL－10）、白介素4（IL－4）水平的检测在人巨细胞病毒（HCMV）感染中的意义。方法 对24例实质器官移植受者，用免疫组化法监测HCMV抗原血症。然后采用ELISA法测定血浆中IL－18、IL－10及IL－4的水平。结果 HCMV抗原阳性组IL－18的水平高于阴性组（P＜0.01），IL－10及IL－4的水平低于阴性组（均P＜0.05）。结论 血浆IL－18的水平可作为预测移植患者HCMV感染的一个有效指标，IL－10及IL－4的水平则可作为患者HCMV感染后体内免疫抑制程度的监测指标之一。     

门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染关系的临床研究

目的 :探讨门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染的关系。方法 :对 68例门静脉高压症胃病患者的上消化道粘膜病理改变、出血状况及与幽门螺杆菌感染之间的关系进行分析。结果 :肝功能受损越重 ,门静脉高压症胃病患者的病理改变越明显。在重度门静脉高压症胃病患者中 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率为 69.44% ,而在轻度患者中 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率为 43.75% ,两者比较有显著性差异 (χ2 =4.57,P<0 .0 5)。结论 :门静脉高压症胃病与幽门螺杆菌感染有一定的关系 ,病症越重 ,幽门螺杆菌的检出率越高