Covered Versus Uncovered Metal Stents for the Drainage of the Malignant Distal Biliary Obstruction With ERCP: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction And Aim: Unresectable malignant distal biliary obstruction is a condition that should be treated with drainage and clearance of the biliary duct. self-expanded metal stents (SEMS) are known to be better and more effective than plastic stents because the patency is longer. The actual evidence is insufficient to recommend if it is better the use of SEMSu over SEMSc or vice versa for the drainage of the malignant distal biliary obstruction during ERCP.

[Open submucosal dissection: first case described].

Endoscopic submucosal dissection is a new treatment, basically for the management of early gastric cancer, it is also a good option for large benign lesions if a "una pieza" resection needs to be performed. However this technique requires not only gastroenterologist with proven technical skill, but also some special devices not necessarily disposables in our country. The present paper describes the case of a patient with a large hyperplastic polyp located in the upper third of the stomach who underwent an open endoscopic submucosal dissection to resect the lesion owing to its size and characteristics.

Are laboratory-based antibiograms reliable to guide the selection of empirical antimicrobial treatment in patients with hospital-acquired infections?

Objectives: Antibiograms are often taken into account to define a rational selection of an empirical antimicrobial therapy for treating patients with hospital-acquired infections. In this study, we performed a paired comparison between the antibiogram constructed with laboratory-based data and that formed with data subjected to prior clinical validation.

Methods: Between 2003 and 2005, the laboratory of microbiology printed in duplicate every individual susceptibility report corresponding to hospitalized patients and the copy was sent to the department of infection control.

Does a reduction in antibiotic consumption always represent a favorable outcome from an intervention program on prescribing practice?

Objectives: In our hospital, a continuous intervention program aimed at optimizing the quality of antibiotic use was introduced by late 1999 and antibiotic consumption was a major outcome for assessment. However, healthcare conditions have been subject to change over the last five years, and a pronounced economic crisis in 2002 affected the availability of antibiotics. Therefore, we hypothesized that the consumption of these drugs could be a suitable indirect marker of the crisis.

Replacement of broad-spectrum cephalosporins by piperacillin-tazobactam: impact on sustained high rates of bacterial resistance.

We have previously observed a significant reduction of ceftriaxone resistance in Proteus mirabilis associated with an increase in the use of cefepime, along with a decrease in the consumption of broad-spectrum cephalosporins (CEP). However, we did not observe such a reduction with Klebsiella pneumoniae. Therefore, we sought to determine whether replacement of CEP by piperacillin-tazobactam might be useful in reducing sustained high rates of CEP resistance by this organism.

A hospitalwide intervention program to optimize the quality of antibiotic use: impact on prescribing practice, antibiotic consumption, cost savings, and bacterial resistance.

Several findings from Argentina provide compelling evidence of the need for more rational use of antimicrobial agents. Thus, a multidisciplinary antimicrobial treatment committee for the development of a hospital-wide intervention program was formed to optimize the quality of antibiotic use in hospitals. Four successive steps were developed during 6-month periods: baseline data collection, introduction of a prescription form, education, and prescribing control.

Central venous catheter-related infection: a prospective, observational study to assess the incidence rate at a teaching hospital in Argentina.

One hundred fifty-one central venous catheters (CVCs) were observed for development of infection. The infection rate was higher for CVCs with a duration of less than 6 days than for those with a longer duration. Our data suggest that scheduled replacement of CVCs is not necessary.

[ENDOSCOPIC INJECTION TREATMENT OF BLEEDING PEPTIC ULCER].

BACKGROUND: Objectives were two. (1) to determine theefficiency of the endoscopic injection therapy (EIT) in patients suffering from bleeding caused by peptic ulcer disease with high risk of recurrence, and (2) to recognize clinical and endoscopical risk factors that influence recurrence of hemorrhage and mortality from this pathology. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that included 121 patients, who were admitted by a unit specialized in managing gastrointestinal hemorrhage owing to peptic ulcer with active bleeding or non-bleeding visible vessel, and who underwent EIT with epinephrine between March, 1994 and February, 1996.