Odorous vaginal discharge - a case study for thorough investigation.

Odorous vaginal discharge is a common presentation to general practitioners, and a frequent presentation for bacterial infections and sexually transmissible diseases. Busy GPs may be tempted to make a diagnosis from the clinical history and symptoms, and prescribe antibiotics as a first line treatment. This case highlights an unusual cause of persistent odorous vaginal discharge.

National analysis of sepsis hospitalizations and factors contributing to sepsis in-hospital mortality in Canada.

Sepsis is one of the leading causes of in-hospital mortality in Canada. Patient safety is an important component of sepsis prevention and control. The Canadian Institute for Health Information recently released a report that examines a national picture of sepsis hospitalizations and mortality.

Association between tamsulosin and serious ophthalmic adverse events in older men following cataract surgery.

Context: Both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and cataract formation are common in older men. The alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker tamsulosin is frequently prescribed to treat BPH, and research suggests this drug may increase the intraoperative difficulty of cataract surgery. No studies have documented whether use of tamsulosin or other alpha-blocker drug therapies affect the risk of serious postoperative adverse events.

Risk factors for acute endophthalmitis after cataract surgery: a population-based study.

Objective: To identify risk factors for suspected acute endophthalmitis after cataract surgery.

Design: Population-based retrospective cohort.

Participants: Administrative data from more than 440,000 consecutive cataract surgeries in Ontario, Canada, from April 1, 2002, to March 31, 2006.

Immunization coverage among young children of urban immigrant mothers: findings from a universal health care system.

Objective: To investigate access to effective primary health care services in children of new immigrants to Canada by assessing immunization coverage at age 2.

Methods: We used multiple linked administrative data sets to analyze primary health service use and immunizations of children born between July 1, 1997, and June 30, 1998, in Ontario, Canada. These children were linked via their mothers' records to a federal Landed Immigrant Database.

A 10-year population-based cohort analysis of cataract surgery rates in Ontario.

Background: We studied the rates and distribution of cataract surgery throughout Ontario using population-based administrative data.

Methods: We identified patients who had had cataract surgery performed between April 1, 1994, and March 31, 2005. We calculated crude cataract surgery rates, overall and regional adjusted rates per 100,000 residents aged 65 and over, and age- and sex-specific rates.

Surgeon volumes and selected patient outcomes in cataract surgery: a population-based analysis.

Objective: To study the association of annual surgeon volume of cataract procedures with the risk of postoperative adverse events.

Design: We used population-based administrative health records to conduct a retrospective cohort study from 2001 through 2003.

Participants: The number of surgeons who performed more than 50 cataract surgeries annually ranged from 231 to 243 over the 3 years.

Effect of provider continuity on test repetition.

Background: Provider continuity (PC) occurs when a patient is treated by the same physician over time. A perceived benefit of PC is decreased test repetition. Repeat tests make up a significant proportion of overall laboratory utilization.

The consistency of panelists' appropriateness ratings: do experts produce clinically logical scores for rectal cancer treatment?

Objective: To quantify the clinical consistency of expert panelists' ratings of appropriateness of pre-operative and post-operative chemotherapy plus radiation for rectal cancer.

Methods: A panel of nine physicians (two surgeons, four medical oncologists, three radiation oncologists) rated the appropriateness of providing pre-operative and post-operative treatments for rectal cancer, utilizing a modified-Delphi (RAND/UCLA) approach. Clinical scenarios were paired so that each component of a pair differed by only one clinical feature (e.