Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and factors associated with colonization among residents in community long-term-care facilities in Spain

Hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are no longer limited to acute-care hospitals but have now spread to other healthcare settings such as long-term-care facilities (LTCFs), in most of which they are endemic. In Europe, few studies have addressed the MRSA situation in LTCFs. A cross-sectional study to determine MRSA prevalence and factors associated with S. aureus carriage in community LTCF residents is reported here. Nasal and decubitus ulcer cultures were performed for residents of nine community LTCFs. Residents were classified as MRSA carriers, methicillin-susceptible S. aureus carriers and non-carriers. Overall, 1377 nasal swabs and 82 decubitus ulcer cultures were performed. MRSA was isolated from 15.5% and 59.0% of the former and latter, respectively. The prevalence of MRSA colonization was 16.8% (95% CI  14.9–18.8), varying from 6.7% to 35.8% (p <0.001) among LTCFs. Several independent variables were related to MRSA colonization. It is noteworthy that residents in an LTCF with fewer than 150 beds had at least a two-fold higher probability of being MRSA carriers. Modifiable factors were medical devices, decubitus ulcers and previous antibiotic treatment. An age of 85 years or older, a Charlson index ≥2 and transfer from an acute-care facility were non-modifiable factors also related to MRSA colonization. A high MRSA prevalence among residents in community LTCFs in Spain, with great variability among facilities, was found. The factors identified as being associated with MRSA colonization could be prevented by the implementation of several measures. Control strategies need to be coordinated between LTCFs and acute-care hospitals.     

Which stop test is best? Measuring detrusor contractility in older females

PURPOSE: Impaired detrusor contractility has an important role in geriatric voiding dysfunction but there are many competing methods of measurement. We compared the performance of 3 methods of measuring detrusor contraction strength to identify the best one. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed urodynamics data on 84 females 53 years old or older. All had urge incontinence and were enrolled in a placebo controlled oxybutynin trial. Stop tests (voluntary interruption, mechanical interruption and continuous mechanical occlusion of flow) were performed on each subject. RESULTS: At baseline the voluntary stop test measured lower mean isovolumetric detrusor pressure +/- SD than the mechanical and continuous methods (31.2 +/- 16.0 versus 47.2 +/- 26.5 and 48.7 +/- 24.4 cm. water, respectively). The latter 2 values also correlated highly (r = 0.87). Followup data on 76 women confirmed these results. Based on baseline and followup values in the 20 women who received placebo the continuous occlusion test showed highest test-retest reliability (r = 0.9, p <0.01), followed by the mechanical (r = 0.69, p = 0.01) and voluntary (r = 0.67, p <0.01) stop tests. Treatment with oxybutynin decreased isovolumetric detrusor pressure in all 3 stop tests by up to 6 cm. water. However, the decrease was statistically significant only for the continuous occlusion test. CONCLUSIONS: To assess detrusor contraction strength in elderly females with urge incontinence the mechanical stop and continuous occlusion tests are acceptable but the continuous occlusion test has better reliability and better detects slight drug induced changes. Voluntary stop tests greatly underestimate detrusor isovolumetric pressure and should no longer be used.     

老年医学发展现状及展望

目的根据国内外老年医学研究现状和发展动态,提出老年医学发展方向。方法采用文献检索方法,复习近10年来国内外该领域的主要文献,明确该学科的现状和发展趋势。结果近10年来,老年医学在基础研究和临床诊治方面均有长足发展。深入研究衰老和抗衰老基因将为揭示人类寿命秘密、探讨延缓衰老对策提供理论依据。对于老年多器官疾病、高血压、冠心病、多病因心衰、退行性心脏瓣膜病、痴呆、呼吸疾病及骨质疏松等老年人常见疾病的研究进展,有助于揭示老年疾病发病特征和规律,提高诊断的准确率,并加强防治。老年循证医学和社区医学的兴起及完善,将不断提高老年人生活质量,促进老年人身心健康。结论未来老年医学研究,应对衰老的起因、老年疾病的特征作进一步探讨,以最新的研究成果指导实践;研制针对老年常见慢性疾病的新药和防治措施,提高防治水平;重视老年社会医学研究;加强老年疾病预防及老年保健。     

老年双原发癌48例病人的长期随访结果分析

分析影响老年多原发癌病人预后的因素及再发恶性肿瘤的可能性。随访从病人首癌确诊开始 ,自 1980年 1月～2 0 0 2年 12月诊治的双原发癌共 4 8例 ,分析其影响生存的非肿瘤死亡比例、化疗放疗后再发生原发癌的间隔时间。结果随访至 2 0 0 2年 12月 ,已死亡 37例 ,其 5年生存率为 76 % ,中位生存时间 86个月 ;12例死于非肿瘤事件 ,占死亡病例的 32 4 %。双早期癌与进展期癌生存时间无显著差异 (P >0 0 5 ) ;2 4例接受放疗、化疗的病人中 12例发生第三恶性肿瘤 ,中位间隔时间 72个月。表明双原癌的早期诊断、治疗是多原发癌老年病人得以长期生存的一个重要因素 ;突发心脑血管事件、呼吸衰竭、消化道出血是老年无癌病人死亡的重要原因     

Opinions on the provision of dental care in Iowa nursing homes

Using a stratified random sample, a questionnaire was mailed to 400 practicing dentists and 200 directors of nursing (DONs). Response rates were 58.3% for dentists and 50% for DONs. Dentists were representative of Iowa dentists, with 85% male, mean age 49.1 years, and 22.4 years in practice. All DONs were female, with mean age of 44.9 years. Of the participating dentists, 86% had provided dental care for nursing home residents, but the majority of care was completed in dental offices. Three‐quarters of dentists were somewhat/not interested in nursing home dentistry. Dentists and DONs held common perceptions of the most frequent problems related to care provision at nursing homes: low financial reimbursement, especially for Medicaid patients; no portable dental equipment; no suitable area for dentistry; dentist's preference to treat patients at their dental practice; and transportation of residents to a dental practice. Dentists and DONs had some differing perceptions about oral health care (p < .01). Minimal dental care was provided on‐site at Iowa nursing homes.     

Safety of total dose iron dextran infusion in geriatric patients with chronic kidney disease and iron deficiency anemia

There are limited data on total dose infusion (TDI) using iron dextran in geriatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with iron-deficiency anemia (IDA). Our goal was to evaluate the safety of TDI in this setting. We conducted a retrospective chart review spanning a 5 year period (2002–2007), including all patients with CKD and IDA who were treated with iron dextran TDI. Patient demographics were noted, and laboratory values for creatinine, hemoglobin and iron stores were recorded pre- and post-dose. TDI diluted in normal saline was administered intravenously over 4-6 hours after an initial test dose. One hundred fifty-three patients received a total of 250 doses of TDI (mean?±?SD?=?971?±?175?mg); age was 69?±?12 years and creatinine 3.3?±?1.9?mg/dL. All stages of CKD were represented (stage 4 commonest). Hemoglobin and iron stores improved post-TDI (P?P?=?0.1433 by Fishers Exact Test). Iron dextran TDI is relatively safe and effective in correcting IDA in geriatric CKD patients. Fewer AEs were noted with the LMW compared to the HMW product. LMW iron dextran given as TDI can save both cost and time, helping to alleviate issues of non-compliance and patient scheduling.     

Comorbid Profile Rather than Age Determines Hip Fracture Mortality in a Nonagenarian Population

Background

In light of poor outcomes with nonoperative management of hip fractures, orthopedic surgeons are faced with difficult decisions about which patients are too ill or too old for surgical treatment.

Questions/Purposes

This study sought to investigate if patients over 90 years had different preoperative laboratory, clinical, and injury characteristics than younger patients with the same injury. We compared our cohort with previously published data. We wished to identify if there were pre-injury risk factors associated with 30-day mortality, which could be modified to enhance postoperative outcomes.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of 198 operatively managed hip fractures in patients 75 years or older. We collected data on demographics, select preoperative laboratory values, injury type, comorbidities, and 30-day mortality.

Results

Eleven (5.6%) of the cohort died within 30 days of surgery, 6.3% in the younger group, and 3.7% in the older group; the difference was not statistically significant. For baseline characteristics, there was no difference between the age groups for pre-injury comorbidities, hemoglobin, serum albumin, BUN, prevalence of UTI, or fracture type. A total of 67 (35.8%) patients had evidence of UTI on admission.

Conclusions

These findings reveal that in our dichotomized cohort, pre-injury characteristics were similar and age alone was not an independent predictor of mortality. These data may inform decision-making for orthopedic surgeons and the medical providers who consult to optimize these patients for surgery. We identified high rates of UTI in both age groups, a potentially remediable factor to optimize outcomes in hip fracture surgery in elderly patients.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11420-015-9435-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Advance Directives in the Emergency Department: Too Few, Too Late

Objective: To determine: 1) the number of patients arriving at the ED who had executed an advance directive (AD), 2) how many of the patients who had an AD brought the AD with them, and 3) whether those patients who did not have an AD had ever discussed ADs with their primary care providers (PCPs) or had ever heard of an AD.
Methods: A cross-sectional, observational survey of a convenience sample of high-risk patients presenting to the ED of a university hospital was performed. Patients presenting to the ED for acute complaints who were elderly or had an underlying disease that suggested a risk of death in the near future were considered high risk.
Results: Of the 238 patients surveyed, 90% had PCPs. However, only 22% had ADs. Of these, only 23% brought the AD to the ED. Of the patients who did not have ADs, 95% had never discussed ADs with their PCPs, and 42% did not know what an AD was. Blacks were less likely than whites to have ADs (p < 0.0002) or to know about them (p < 0.004).
Conclusion: The majority of high-risk patients presenting to this ED do not have ADs. Among those high-risk patients who did have ADs, fewer than 25% brought the ADs with them. The development of ADs for high-risk patients and the availability of ADs in the ED are woefully inadequate. Emergency physicians need to collaborate with PCPs to remedy these deficiencies.     

Determining the professional attributes of a hospitalist: experience in one Australian metropolitan hospital

Data were prospectively recorded on 1294 consecutive patients admitted to a General Medical Unit at the Gold Coast Hospital to review the caseload and pre-requisite professional skills of a general physician working as a full-time hospitalist. Based on this review, the general physician hospitalist must possess expertise in the management of common medical conditions and comorbidities, uncommon medical conditions, elderly patients, the seriously ill, the terminally ill, psychiatric patients, surgical patients and patients with dermatologic, ophthalmic and gynaecological problems. The hospitalist must also be proficient in medical education and organization governance. The demonstration of such skills ensures the 'hospitalist' model is efficient and effective for hospital-based care.