Examining the effect of direct-from-blood bacterial testing on antibiotic administration and clinical outcomes: a protocol and statistical analysis plan for a pragmatic randomised trial.

Introduction: Patients with suspected bacterial infection frequently receive empiric, broad-spectrum antibiotics prior to pathogen identification due to the time required for bacteria to grow in culture. Direct-from-blood diagnostics identifying the presence or absence of bacteria and/or resistance genes from whole blood samples within hours of collection could enable earlier antibiotic optimisation for patients suspected to have bacterial infections. However, few randomised trials have evaluated the effect of using direct-from-blood bacterial testing on antibiotic administration and clinical outcomes.

Retrospective Clinical Outcomes of Keratoplasty Using Human Donor Corneas Preserved in Eusol-C Hypothermic Storage Medium.

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of cornea transplantation (penetrating keratoplasty, Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty, Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty, and deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty) using donor corneas stored in Eusol-C hypothermic storage medium compared to corneas stored in organ-culture. : The clinical outcomes of 92 patients who underwent corneal transplantation with human donor corneas stored in Eusol-C medium at 2-8 °C were retrospectively evaluated. The control group consisted of 169 patients who received corneas organ-cultured at 31 °C.

Swab Testing to Optimize Pneumonia treatment with empiric Vancomycin (STOP-Vanc): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Vancomycin, an antibiotic with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is frequently included in empiric treatment for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) despite the fact that MRSA is rarely implicated in CAP. Conducting polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on nasal swabs to identify the presence of MRSA colonization has been proposed as an antimicrobial stewardship intervention to reduce the use of vancomycin. Observational studies have shown reductions in vancomycin use after implementation of MRSA colonization testing, and this approach has been adopted by CAP guidelines.

Turning stories into learning journeys: the principles and methods of Immersive Education.

This paper describes the theoretical and practical aspects of Immersive Education, an educational methodology based on interactive narratives, articulated as emotional journeys, to develop competencies. It has been developed throughout three school years (2021-2024) with more than 400 students (8-12 years old) in Public Schools in Italy and Spain. Immersive Education can be integrated with curricular school activities and can be used to target both curricular and transversal learning objectives, specifically the ones connected with the Personal, Social and Learning to learn Key Competence (LifeComp European framework).

Robotic Versus Open Distal Pancreatectomy: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: Minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy offers recognised benefits over open surgery. Robotic surgery, with its shorter learning curve and technical advancements, presents a promising alternative to laparoscopy in managing pancreatic diseases.

Methods: This study enrolled consecutive patients undergoing distal pancreatectomy between January 2013 and May 2022.