The availability of HEPA-filtered rooms and the incidence of pneumonia in patients after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT): results from a prospective, multicentre, eastern European study.

Aims And Objectives: To establish the availability of High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)- and nonHEPA-filtered rooms in eastern European transplant centres and to investigate the impact on incidence of pneumonia and mortality after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Background: Barrier nursing in HEPA-filtered rooms is generally recommended for patients undergoing HSCT. There are only limited data on the availability of HEPA-filtered rooms and the impact on incidence of pneumonia and mortality.

The effect of polyvinylpyrrolidone-sodium hyaluronate gel (Gelclair) on oral microbial colonization and pain control compared with other rinsing solutions in patients with oral mucositis after allogeneic stem cells transplantation.

Background: Gelclair is an oral lubricating gel used in the management of oral mucositis (OM). We evaluated its efficacy, tolerance and impact on oral cavity microbial colonization in patients with OM after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells transplantation.

Material/method: Gelclair was administered in a group of 22 patients with active OM.

The risk factors for oral mucositis and the effect of cryotherapy in patients after the BEAM and HD-l-PAM 200 mg/m(2) autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Purpose: Oral mucositis (OM) still represents a significant complication of hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT). Observational studies focusing on risk factor definitions are still warranted.

Method: A total of 126 patients participated in this observational study after autologous HSCT with the BEAM and HD-l-PAM 200mg/m(2) conditioning regimens.

Once- versus twice-weekly changing of central venous catheter occlusive dressing in intensive chemotherapy patients: results of a randomized multicenter study.

Background: Changing a central venous catheter occlusive dressing on a twice-weekly basis is usually recommended in hemato-oncological patients. A longer interval is believed to give rise to infections. However, frequent dressing changes might cause local cutaneous damage.

Antimicrobial chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-coated central venous catheters versus those uncoated in patients undergoing allogeneic stem cell transplantation.

Introduction: Only a minimum is known about clinical effect of antimicrobial-coated central venous catheters (CVC) in stem cell transplantation settings, where CVC-related infections impose major threat to severely immunocompromised patients.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective, non-sponsored and nonrandomized study, there were 49 uncoated multi-lumen and non-tunneled CVCs and 58 antimicrobial chlorhexidine/silver sulfadiazine-coated CVCs inserted in allogeneic stem cell transplanted patients to facilitate treatment during conditioning and pre-engraftment phase (<30days after transplantation).

Results And Discussion: No significant differences were found between the two groups with respect to gender, age, intensity of pretransplant chemotherapy conditioning, duration of leucopenia, number of days with inserted CVC, number of CVC occlusive dressing changes performed per patient, and number of non-CVC-related infections.

Higher incidence of chemotherapy induced oral mucositis in females: a supplement of multivariate analysis to a randomized multicentre study.

Study on the normal saline vs povidone-iodine mouthwashes for oral mucositis (OM) prophylaxis in patients after high-dose chemotherapy comprising bischloroethyl nitrosourea etoposide ara-C melphalan (BEAM) or high-dose melphalan (HD-L-PAM) followed by autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation indicated that females have higher a incidence of OM compared to men, as reported by [Vokurka et al. 13:554-558, (2005)]. The multivariable analysis of larger cohort of 148 patients compliant with the original study protocol confirmed female gender to be an independent risk factor and predictor for OM.

The comparative effects of povidone-iodine and normal saline mouthwashes on oral mucositis in patients after high-dose chemotherapy and APBSCT--results of a randomized multicentre study.

Antimicrobial solutions are widely used in the nursing care of chemotherapy induced oral mucositis (OM). There is little evidence, however, supporting their use for reducing mucosal damage. In our study, 132 patients were randomized to use normal saline (n=65) or povidone-iodine diluted 1:100 (n=67) mouthwashes for OM prophylaxis and treatment after high-dose chemotherapy comprising BEAM or HD-L-PAM followed by autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation.