Risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among front-line healthcare workers in Northeast Brazil: a respondent-driven sampling approach.

Objectives: We assessed the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, personal protective equipment (PPE) shortages and occurrence of biological accidents among front-line healthcare workers (HCW).

Design, Setting And Participants: Using respondent-driven sampling, the study recruited distinct categories of HCW attending suspected or confirmed patients with COVID-19 from May 2020 to February 2021, in the Recife metropolitan area, Northeast Brazil.

Outcome Measures: The criterion to assess SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW was a positive self-reported PCR test.

Interventions to improve professional adherence to guidelines for prevention of device-related infections.

Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a major threat to patient safety, and are associated with mortality rates varying from 5% to 35%. Important risk factors associated with HAIs are the use of invasive medical devices (e.g.

[Survival and prognostic factors in systolic heart failure with recent symptom onset].

Objective: To study survival and prognostic factors associated with mortality in patients with systolic heart failure followed up since symptom onset.

Methods: We carried out a study with a cohort of 204 consecutive patients with systolic heart failure, whose symptom onset occurred within the 6 weeks preceding the first medical visit. They were followed up for 46 months.

Ethical aspects in the management of the terminally ill patient in the pediatric intensive care unit.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of management plans and decision-making processes for terminal care patients in pediatric intensive care units.

Methodology: Evidence-based medicine was done by a systematic review using an electronic data base (LILACS, 1982 through 2000) and (MEDLINE, 1966 through 2000). The key words used are listed and age limits (0 to 18 years) were used.

Comparison of US and non-US central venous catheter infection rates: evaluation of processes and indicators in infection control study.

Objective: We sought to identify the presence or absence of international variation in central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection (BSI) rates and to examine associated infection control practices that might underlie the differences.

Design: The Evaluation of Processes and Indicators in Infection Control (EPIC) study was conducted as a prospective surveillance study.

Settings: The study took place in intensive care units (ICUs) from 14 countries, which were from the Asian Pacific (3), Europe (7), Middle East (2), and South America (2), in addition to 41 US hospitals.