Perceived risks of adverse effects and influenza vaccination: a survey of hospital employees.

Background: Many hospital employees shun influenza immunization because they want to avoid adverse reactions. We surveyed hospital employees to elucidate whether the conception of the adverse effects of vaccination stems from correct or misperceived incidence rates of vaccine adverse effects. 

Methods: We used an anonymous self-administered paper questionnaire at a tertiary-care university hospital in Germany, in 2006.

To eat or not to eat? Effect of fasting prior to abdominal sonography examinations on the quality of imaging under routine conditions: A randomized, examiner-blinded trial.

Objective: Although often recommended, it is unclear whether fasting enhances the imaging quality of abdominal sonography examinations. The aim of this study was to produce experimental evidence of the effect of fasting on the imaging quality of abdominal organs.

Material And Methods: Formally consenting medical inpatients who underwent elective abdominal sonography examinations at a university medical center were randomized to either a fasting or a non-fasting preparation.

Risk factors for negative blood cultures in adult medical inpatients--a retrospective analysis.

Background: The identification of clinical factors associated with negative blood cultures could help to avoid unnecessary blood cultures. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a well-established inflammation marker commonly used in the management of medical inpatients.

Methods: We studied the association of clinical factors, CRP levels and changes of CRP documented prior to blood culture draws with the absence of bacteremia for hospitalized medical patients.

Pandemic influenza: are we prepared to face our obligations?

After decades of low personal risk for contracting lethal diseases, physicians are suddenly facing the possibility of a substantial increase in occupational risk during an influenza pandemic. If they are not confronted before the onset of an influenza pandemic, feelings of unease and fear or ignorance about physicians' professional obligations could profoundly hinder individual physicians in fulfilling their professional duties. Such feelings could therefore undermine institutional and societal preparations.

Influenza pandemic and professional duty: family or patients first? A survey of hospital employees.

Background: Conflicts between professional duties and fear of influenza transmission to family members may arise among health care professionals (HCP).

Methods: We surveyed employees at our university hospital regarding ethical issues arising during the management of an influenza pandemic.

Results: Of 644 respondents, 182 (28%) agreed that it would be professionally acceptable for HCP to abandon their workplace during a pandemic in order to protect themselves and their families, 337 (52%) disagreed with this statement and 125 (19%) had no opinion, with a higher rate of disagreement among physicians (65%) and nurses (54%) compared with administrators (32%).

[New developments in the diagnosis and therapy of acute bacterial meningitis].

Background: Acute bacterial meningitis is a medical emergency. Despite advances in the diagnosis and treatment it continues to have a high case-fatality rate and high rates of long-term neurologic sequelae.

Etiology: Since the widespread use of the vaccine for Haemophilus influenzae type B, Streptococcus pneumoniae has replaced it as the most common cause of acute community-acquired bacterial meningitis in industrialized countries.

Clinical determinants for the recovery of fungal and mezlocillin-resistant pathogens from bile specimens.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of all bile specimens obtained for routine cultures from January 1995 through December 1999 at our tertiary care hospital. Results of microbiologic testing were linked to clinical parameters gathered by means of chart review. A total of 722 isolates were cultured from 345 of 454 bile specimens obtained from 288 individual patients.