Surgical Site Infections During the Pandemic: The Impact of the "COVID Bundle".

Background: A reduction in surgical site infections (SSIs) has been reported in several discrete patient populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, this study evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SSI in a large patient cohort incorporating multiple surgical disciplines. We hypothesize that enhanced infection control and heightened awareness of such measures is analogous to an SSI care bundle, the hypothetical "COVID bundle", and may impact SSI rates.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of unplanned hospital visits and re-admissions following radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

Introduction: Unplanned visits (UPV) - re-admissions and emergency room (ER) visits - are markers of healthcare system quality. Radical prostatectomy (RP) is a commonly performed cancer procedure, where variation in UPV represents a gap in care for prostate cancer patients. Here, we systematically synthesize the rates, reasons, predictors, and interventions for UPV after RP to inform evidence-based quality improvement (QI) initiatives.

Recombinant human erythropoietin in combination with chemotherapy increases breast cancer metastasis in preclinical mouse models.

Purpose: Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) are used clinically for treating cancer-related anemia. Recent clinical trials have reported increased adverse events and reduced survival in ESA-treated breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, potentially related to erythropoietin (EPO)-induced cancer progression. However, minimal preclinical data are available about the impact of EPO on metastatic cell behavior and/or the metastatic process, and this was the goal of our study.