Advancing infection control in dental care settings: Factors associated with dentists' implementation of guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Background and OverviewThe authors set out to identify factors associated with implementation by U.S. dentists of four practices first recommended in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings—2003.MethodsIn 2008, the authors surveyed a stratified random sample of 6,825 U.S. dentists. The response rate was 49 percent. The authors gathered data regarding dentists' demographic and practice characteristics, attitudes toward infection control, sources of instruction regarding the guidelines and knowledge about the need to use sterile water for surgical procedures. Then they assessed the impact of those factors on the implementation of four recommendations: having an infection control coordinator, maintaining dental unit water quality, documenting percutaneous injuries and using safer medical devices, such as safer syringes and scalpels. The authors conducted bivariate analyses and proportional odds modeling.ResultsResponding dentists in 34 percent of practices had implemented none or one of the four recommendations, 40 percent had implemented two of the recommendations and 26 percent had implemented three or four of the recommendations. The likelihood of implementation was higher among dentists who acknowledged the importance of infection control, had practiced dentistry for less than 30 years, had received more continuing dental education credits in infection control, correctly identified more surgical procedures that require the use of sterile water, worked in larger practices and had at least three sources of instruction regarding the guidelines. Dentists with practices in the South Atlantic, Middle Atlantic or East South Central U.S. Census divisions were less likely to have complied.ConclusionsImplementation of the four recommendations varied among U.S. dentists. Strategies targeted at raising awareness of the importance of infection control, increasing continuing education requirements and developing multiple modes of instruction may increase implementation of current and future Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta.The authors thank Jon Ruesch, who when this study was conducted was the director, Survey Center, American Dental Association, Chicago, for his effort in the collection of the data for this research project. Mr. Ruesch is now retired.     

The effect of rater training on scoring performance and scale-specific expertise amongst occupational therapists participating in a multicentre study: a single-group pre–post-test study

Purpose: In order to enhance the quality of the data collected in a multicentre validation study of a revised Danish version of the McGill Ingestive Skills Assessment (MISA), the authors developed a rater training programme. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the training on scoring performance and scale-specific expertise amongst raters. Method: During 2 days of rater training, 81 occupational therapists (OTs) were qualified to observe and score dysphagic clients’ mealtime performance according to the criteria of 36 MISA-items. The training effects were evaluated pre- to post-training using percentage exact agreement (PA) of scored MISA items of a case-vignette and a Likert scale self-report of scale-specific expertise. Results: PA increased significantly from pre- to post-training (Z = ?4.404, p < 0.001), although items for which the case-vignette reflected deficient mealtime performance appeared most difficult to score. The OTs scale-specific expertise improved significantly (knowledge: Z = ?7.857, p < 0.001 and confidence: Z = ?7.838, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Rater training improved OTs scoring performance when using the Danish MISA as well as their perceived scale-specific expertise. Future rater training should emphasis the items identified as those most difficult to score. Additionally, further studies addressing different training approaches and durations are warranted.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• When occupational therapists (OTs) use the McGill Ingestive Skills Assessment (MISA) they observe, interpret and record occupational performance of dysphagic clients participating in a meal. This is a highly complex task, which might introduce unwanted variability in measurement scores.

• A 2-day rater training programme was developed and this builds on the findings of several studies. These suggest that combinations of different training methods tend to yield the most effective results.

• Participation in the newly developed training programme on how to administer the MISA significantly reduces unwanted variability in measurement scores and improves OTs’ competency.

• The training programme could be used in undergraduate and postgraduate dysphagia education initiatives to help OTs understanding of the content and the scoring criteria for each aspect of occupational performance during a meal, thus developing observation skills as well as recognizing and avoiding the most common errors in measurement scores.

     

Combination therapy vs. monotherapy for Gram-negative bloodstream infection: matching by predicted prognosis

The utility of empirical combination antimicrobial therapy for Gram-negative bloodstream infection (BSI) remains unclear. This retrospective, quasi-experimental matched cohort study examined the impact of empirical combination therapy on mortality in patients with Gram-negative BSI. Hospitalized adults with Gram-negative BSI from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2013 at Palmetto Health Hospitals in Columbia, SC, USA were identified. Patients receiving combination therapy or beta-lactam monotherapy were matched 1:1 based on age, sex and Bloodstream Infection Mortality Risk Score (BSIMRS). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression with propensity score adjustment was used to examine overall 28–day mortality and within predefined BSIMRS categories (<5 and ≥5). A total of 380 patients receiving combination therapy or monotherapy for Gram-negative BSI were included in the study. Median age was 66 years and 204 (54%) were female. Overall, 28-day mortality in patients who received combination therapy and monotherapy was 13% and 15%, respectively (P?=?0.51). After stratification by BSIMRS, mortality in both combination therapy and monotherapy groups was 1.1% in patients with BSIMRS <5 (P?=?0.98) and 27% and 32%, respectively, in patients with BSIMRS ≥5 (P?=?0.47). After adjusting for propensity to receive combination therapy, risk of mortality was not significantly different for combination therapy compared to monotherapy (hazard ratio [HR] 0.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.51–1.60). This finding persisted for both subgroups of BSIMRS <5 (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.04–24.28) and BSIMRS ≥5 (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.46–1.48). There is no survival benefit from empirical combination therapy over monotherapy in patients with Gram-negative BSI, regardless of predicted prognosis at initial presentation.     

Does hot weather affect work-related injury? A case-crossover study in Guangzhou,China

Background

Despite increasing concerns about the health effects of climate change, the extent to which workers are affected by hot weather is not well documented. This study aims to investigate the association between high temperatures and work-related injuries using data from a large subtropical city in China.

某省1996至2015年职业病防治机构人员状况

目的通过了解湖南省20年职防机构人员状况,对未来几年人力资源情况进行预测,为全省及其他地区优化职业病防治人力资源的规划,提升其服务能力提供科学依据与参考。方法在已建立的湖南省职防机构基本信息管理系统中抽取有关人员资料,对1996至2015年人员数量和构成的动态变化进行描述分析,采用灰色模型GM（1,1）进行人员情况预测。结果湖南省1996年职防机构人员为1 591人,至2015年为1 429人。20年间,人员构成从＂中专与无专业学历＂为主转变至以＂本科及以上与专科学历＂为主,以＂其他专业＂为主至以＂公共卫生与临床医学＂为中坚力量,由无职称人员占比超三分之一至仅占5%左右且高级、中级、初级职称均稳步上升的状况。预测显示,2018年和2020年职防机构高学历人员构成比将分别达41.00%和45.61%,公卫人员构成比将分别达44.15%和46.60%。结论湖南省20年职防机构人员数量变化不大,人员质量有了很大的提升,有利于职防事业的可持续发展;未来5年人员学历及专业构成将进一步得到优化。     

某采油厂修井作业职业病危害调查与评价

目的 了解某采油厂在修井作业过程产生的职业病危害状况,提出相应的职业病防控措施建议。方法 依据国家相关标准,采用职业卫生调查、职业卫生检测、综合分析等方法进行综合评价。结果 采油厂修井作业过程中存在的主要职业病危害因素包括其他粉尘、甲醛、乙醛、丁醛、苯酚、苯、甲苯、二甲苯、石棉纤维、噪声等,工作场所产生的化学毒物职业病危害因素浓度均符合国家相关职业接触限值要求,但是修井机司机接触的噪声强度超过接触限值。结论 甲醛、铅尘及噪声是油田修井作业的主要职业病危害因素,其中噪声危害程度较为严重,企业应针对性地采取革新工艺,加强个体防护等措施进行控制。     

新疆煤中天然放射性和铀伴生煤矿潜在职业照射

目的 分析新疆煤中天然放射性水平和铀伴生煤矿的潜在职业照射。方法 根据近年来新疆煤中天然放射性水平调查的论文报道中的数据,分析比较新疆煤中天然放射性水平。结果 通过分析发现,新疆煤中²³⁸U活度浓度与世界、美国和俄罗斯相近,²³²Th活度浓度低于世界、美国和俄罗斯,²³⁸U和²³²Th活度浓度均低于我国平均浓度,在正常自然本底变化范围内。结论 从放射卫生学角度考虑,合理开发利用新疆的煤炭资源不会对矿工和居民的健康带来额外影响。     

125I粒籽植入治疗辐射防护及关键控制技术探讨

目的 探讨碘-125（¹²⁵I）放射性粒籽植入治疗过程中可能存在的放射性职业病危害因素及辐射水平,探讨关键控制技术。方法 以5家开展¹²⁵I粒籽植入治疗项目的医疗机构为研究对象,采用放射卫生学现场调查、工作场所辐射防护水平检测、人员个人剂量监测等方法,调查粒籽植入涉源工作场所及相关人员的辐射水平;结合源项分析及放射卫生管理经验,根据危害分析与关键控制点（HACCP）的原理,探讨¹²⁵I粒籽植入治疗过程的关键控制点。结果 不同涉源场所中粒籽植入源运输包装、粒籽植入治疗室和专用病房工作场所各关注点的周围剂量当量率为本底~1.80 μSv/h（病房门处）,均小于2.5 μSv/h;35名放射工作人员全年个人剂量监测结果为0.20~1.80 mSv,平均为0.42 mSv。结论 不同涉源场所的辐射水平及人员的受照剂量均符合国家标准限值的要求;应根据关键控制措施,对¹²⁵I放射性粒籽植入治疗过程的关键环节予以控制。