Variation of drugs involved in acute drug toxicity presentations based on age and sex: an epidemiological approach based on European emergency departments.

Objective: To analyse the relative percentage of acute recreational drug toxicity emergency department (ED) presentations involving the main drug groups according to age and sex and investigate different patterns based on sex and age strata.

Methods: We analysed all patients with acute recreational drug toxicity included by the Euro-DEN Plus dataset (22 EDs in 14 European countries) between October 2013 and December 2016 (39 months). Drugs were grouped as: opioids, cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), hallucinogens, new psychoactive substances (NPS), benzodiazepines and ketamine.

Prevalence and predictors of oral to intravenous antibiotic switch among adult emergency department patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections: a pilot, prospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and predictors of oral to intravenous antibiotic switch among adult emergency department (ED) patients with acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSIs).

Design: Multicentre, pilot cohort study.

Setting: Three urban EDs in Dublin, Ireland.

Incorporating Cone-Beam CT Into the Diagnostic Algorithm for Suspected Radiocarpal Fractures: A New Standard of Care?

The purpose of this study was to assess the result of adding cone-beam CT to the standard imaging algorithm for patients with suspected radiographically occult traumatic radiocarpal fractures. A prospective review was performed on all patients who had cone-beam CT investigation of acute wrist pain after normal initial radiographs. Patients with no identified fractures were clinically reassessed and referred for MRI if concern for a fracture persisted.

Emergencies related to recreational drug abuse in Spain compared to emergencies attended in 3 European areas.

Objectives: To analyze epidemiologic, clinical, and care characteristics in cases in which patients came to 2 Spanish emergency departments (EDs) with symptoms caused by recreational drug abuse. To compare the characteristics with those reported for other areas of Europe.

Material And Methods: Secondary analysis of the registry of the European Drug Emergencies Network (Euro-DEN Plus), which collects cases in 14 European countries and 20 EDs.

Nurses', physicians' and radiographers' perceptions of the safety of a nurse prescribing of ionising radiation initiative: A cross-sectional survey.

Background: A new initiative was introduced in Ireland following legislative changes that allowed nurses with special training to prescribe ionising radiation (X-ray) for the first time. A small number of studies on nurse prescribing of ionising radiation in other contexts have found it to be broadly as safe as ionising radiation prescribing by physicians. Sociological literature on perceptions of safety indicates that these tend to be shaped by the ideological position of the professional rather than based on objective evidence.

Who needs a shot ... a review of tetanus immunity in the West of Ireland.

Introduction: Tetanus is a rare disease but, in the era of widespread vaccination, largely a preventable one. Immunization programmes in childhood are felt to offer lifelong immunity but it is known that with increased age immunity wanes. We sought to assess immunity in a sample of patients presenting for conditions unrelated to injury to the emergency department covering an area in the West of Ireland.