Biomedical waste in laboratory medicine: audit and management

Pathology, microbiology, blood bank and other diagnostic laboratories generate sizable amount of biomedical waste (BMW). The audit of the BMW is required for planning proper strategies. The audit in our laboratory revealed 8 kgs anatomical waste, 600 kgs microbiology waste, 220 kgs waste sharps, 15 kgs soiled waste, 111 kgs solid waste, 480 litres liquid waste along with 33,000 litres per month liquid waste generated from labware washing and laboratory cleaning and 162 litres of chemical waste per month. Section wise details are described in the text. Needle sharps are collected in puncture proof containers and the needles autoclaved before sending to needle pit. The glass forms the major sharp category and is disinfected with hypochlorite before washing/recycling. All microbiology waste along with containers/plates/tubes are autoclaved before recycling/disposal. The problem of formalin fixed anatomical waste as histology specimens is pointed out. The formalin containing tissues cannot be sent for incineration for the fear of toxic gas release and the guidelines by the Biomedical waste rule makers need to be amended for the issue. The discarded/infected blood units in blood bank need to be autoclaved before disposal since chemical treatments are difficult or inefficient. The liquid waste management needs more attention and effluent treatment facility needs to be viewed seriously for hospital in general. The segregation of waste at source is the key step and reduction, reuse and recycling should be considered in proper perspectives.     

总责任护士主导的医护一体化护理模式在创伤骨科的应用

目的探讨总责任护士主导的医护一体化临床护理模式在创伤骨科的应用效果。 方法选择2016年7月至2017年6月在南京大学医学院附属鼓楼医院创伤骨科行手术治疗的骨折患者200例，按照入院先后顺序分为对照组90例(实施创伤骨科常规护理)和观察组110例(实施医护一体化工作模式，包括成立医护合作小组、实施总责任护士主导的医护一体化查房、个体化诊疗方案的共同决策、疼痛管理、早期出院计划与延续护理)。比较2组患者的术后护理效果和医护合作满意度。对数据行t检验和χ²检验。 结果总责任护士主导的医护一体化模式下，观察组患者术后72 h内数字评分法(NRS)评分为(4.09±1.64)分，疼痛干预有效率为77.57%，对照组术后72 h内NRS评分为(5.15±1.69)分，疼痛干预有效率为57.95%，2组比较差异均有统计学意义(P值均小于0.05)；观察组下肢深静脉血栓、泌尿系统感染、便秘的发生例数分别为2、1、3，对照组下肢深静脉血栓、泌尿系统感染、便秘的发生例数分别为9、7、11，两组比较差异均有统计学意义(χ²＝4.486、4.296、6.812，P＝0.027、0.036、0.009)。观察组术后康复开始时间为(21.48±6.41)h，术后住院时间为(11.08±2.19)d；对照组术后康复开始时间为(36.48±10.75)h，术后住院时间为(13.95±2.93)d，2组比较差异均有统计学意义(t＝11.670、－7.616，P值均小于0.05)。2组医护合作满意度结果显示，观察组患者信息的交流得分为(3.78±0.85)分，共同参与治疗或护理决策得分为(3.86±0.87)分，医师和护士的关系得分为(4.00±0.84)分，总分为(3.87±0.67)分；对照组患者信息的交流得分为(3.32±1.00)分，共同参与治疗或护理决策得分为(3.23±0.93)分，医师和护士的关系得分为(3.45±0.96)分，总分为(3.33±0.84)分，2组比较差异均有统计学意义(P值均小于0.05)。 结论总责任护士主导的医护一体化护理模式的应用，以亚专科为核心，重新整合医护资源，共同参与制订患者的诊疗护理方案，共同聚焦患者安全与质量，加强了医护间的配合，提高了医疗护理服务质量，提升医护合作满意度。     

Differences in Adolescents’ Food Habits Checklist (AFHC) Scores before and during Pandemic in a Population-Based Sample: Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study

The COVID-19 pandemic is known to influence the dietary habits of adults, but results for adolescents in studies are ambiguous. The present work aimed to analyze the differences in the scores of the Adolescents’ Food Habits Checklist (AFHC) before and during the pandemic in the Polish Adolescents’ COVID-19 Experience (PLACE-19) Study population. The PLACE-19 Study was conducted during the pandemic among a population of 2448 students recruited from secondary schools in all regions of Poland using a random quota sampling. The participants were required to complete an AFHC consisting of 23 items pertaining to food purchase, preparation, and consumption habits. Current habits (during the pandemic) and previous habits were assessed and scored separately. The total (p = 0.001), purchase (p < 0.001), and consumption scores (p = 0.014) indicated that the AFHC scores during the pandemic were higher than before. For questions on purchase habits, a lower number of respondents reported eating in a restaurant, eating takeaway meals, having lunch away from home, or buying pastries, cakes or crisps. For questions on preparation habits, an greater number of respondents reported that they usually avoided eating fried food and tried to keep their overall sugar intake down, but fewer respondents said they tried to have low-fat desserts. For questions on consumption habits, a lower number of respondents reported that they usually ate a dessert or pudding if one were available and a larger number said they made sure to eat at least one serving of vegetables or salad a day and at least three servings of fruit most days. Based on the obtained results, it may be stated that although there was an increase in the AFHC scores during the pandemic, a similar share of respondents showed improved or worsened food habits, and a similar share changed their food habits from healthy to unhealthy and from unhealthy to healthy. At the same time, a majority of changes were associated with purchase habits, which were probably forced by lockdowns and the resultant restrictions in eating out or grocery shopping.     

Increased Operative Time Impacts Rates of Short-Term Complications After Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundPrevious evidence has demonstrated an exacerbating effect of increased operative time on short-term complications in total joint arthroplasty. While the same relationship may be expected for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), supporting evidence remains sparse. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of operative time on short-term complication rates after UKA and determine a critical threshold in operative times after which complications may increase.MethodsThe American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project was queried from 2007 to 2018 to identify 11,633 UKA procedures that were included in the final analysis. The effect of operative time on complications within 30 days was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. Receiver operating characteristics curves and spline regression models were used to identify critical thresholds in operative time that increase the likelihood of short-term complications.ResultsLonger operative times (in minutes) were associated with higher rates of surgical site infection (90.4 ± 26.7 vs 84.8 ± 25.5, P = .003), blood transfusions (94.9 ± 28.6 vs 84.9 ± 25.5, P = .007), as well as reoperation rates (90.8 ± 27.9 vs 84.9 ± 25.5, P = .01), extended hospital length of stay (93.4 ± 29.8 vs 84.5 ± 25.2, P < .001), and mortality (110.4 ± 35.5 vs 84.9 ± 25.5, P = .008). Following multivariate logistic regression, operative time was found to independently predict increased surgical site infection, blood transfusion, myocardial infarction, extended length of stay, and mortality (odds ratio: 1.09 – 1.45, CI: 1.01 – 1.91, all P values <0.02). Receiver operating characteristics curves found an increase in mortality risk during the 30-day postoperative period after 88.5 minutes of operative time, a finding supported by spline regression plots.ConclusionThe present study found a positive correlation between increased operative times and short-term postoperative complication rates after UKA. Despite a statistically significant association with increasing operative time, odds ratios of reported complications are relatively low.     

国产吻缝合器在超低位直肠癌根治术中的应用

目的：探讨国产吻、缝合器在超低位直肠前切除术中的应用。方法：对27例直肠癌患者行超低位直肠前切除,应用上海产金钟牌缝合器、吻合器,进行结肠－直肠吻合。结果：本组根治性切除25例（92．6％）;1例发生吻合口瘘,发生率为3．7％;吻合口狭窄3例,发生率为11．1％,均经保守治疗治愈。结论：合理使用国产缝合器、吻合器可完成超低位直肠癌的保肛手术,可达保肛、根治、降低费用、减少并发症的目的。     

Heroin in the United Kingdom: different forms, different origins, and the relationship to different routes of administration

Heroin exists in the United Kingdom in several different forms, which vary not only in their country of origin and purity, but also in their suitability for use by either injecting or by 'chasing the dragon'. The availability of these different forms of heroin has varied considerably over time. A review of the characteristics and availability of these various forms of heroin in recent years is presented, accompanied by consideration of their probable intended use by injection or by 'chasing the dragon'. Samples of black market heroin in the salt form are usually used by injection, whereas the base form is usually taken by 'chasing the dragon'. The heroin yield to the drug user from samples of heroin taken by 'chasing the dragon' varies according to its base or salt format and according to the presence of other drugs in the sample. Heroin samples from different countries of production mostly conform to either base or salt form. Novel approaches at the macro level to prevention and control of heroin-related problems through influence upon this complex heroin market-place should now be considered.     

An overview of hospital accreditation in Taiwan, Republic of China

This paper examines the hospital accreditation system in Taiwan, Republic of China. The paper describes the historical evolution of accreditation; preliminary teaching hospital accreditation; hospital and teaching hospital accreditation; issues and problems; and perspectives and challenges.     

Harnessing harm reduction in Australia: an interview with the Hon. Neal Blewett. Interview by Steve Allsop

The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) was established in April 1985. Aiming to provide a national framework to minimize the harmful consequences of drug use, the original 3-year programme was extended to 1997. A key figure in the NCADA, Dr Neal Blewett, was interviewed to gain his perspective on the development and implementation of the Campaign over its first 10 years.