A Point Prevalence Survey of Antimicrobial Use in Second-Level Mexican Hospitals: A Multicenter Study.

In 2018, the WHO published a methodology for conducting a point prevalence survey (PPS) of antibiotic use in hospitals. The aim of this study is to report the use of antibiotics in six second-level hospitals in Mexico using this methodology. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study based on the 2021-2023 adaptation for Latin American hospitals was conducted in internal medicine, surgery, intensive care unit (ICU), obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics departments of the IMSS in the western region of the state of Mexico.

Chocolate for breakfast prevents circadian desynchrony in experimental models of jet-lag and shift-work.

Night-workers, transcontinental travelers and individuals that regularly shift their sleep timing, suffer from circadian desynchrony and are at risk to develop metabolic disease, cancer, and mood disorders, among others. Experimental and clinical studies provide evidence that food intake restricted to the normal activity phase is a potent synchronizer for the circadian system and can prevent the detrimental metabolic effects associated with circadian disruption. As an alternative, we hypothesized that a timed piece of chocolate scheduled to the onset of the activity phase may be sufficient stimulus to synchronize circadian rhythms under conditions of shift-work or jet-lag.

[Principles of antisepsis, disinfection and sterilization].

This article aims to provide a brief review of the main concepts on which the prevention and control of infection are based. Antisepsis comprises a set of techniques aimed at the total sterilization, or at most, disinfection, removing germs that contaminate an environment. Both procedures must be preceded by an environmental cleanup in the location in which they intend to be applied.

Timing of DVT prophylaxis and risk of postoperative knee prosthesis infection.

This multicenter prospective study was performed to determine risk factors for knee prosthesis infection and the effect of timing doses of prophylactic low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) related to time of surgery on the risk of knee prosthesis infection. A total of 5496 consecutive patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty from 2005 to 2006 in 13 orthopedic centers were prospectively followed up for 6 months, and the incidence of knee prosthesis infection was recorded. A case control study was nested in the cohort.

[Efficiency and cost-effectiveness for a safety device].

When dealing with preventive measures, it is necessary to evaluate their effectiveness and to analyze the costs involved in implementing those measures. Therefore, the authors carried out a before-after intervention study on the use of a safe intravenous peripheral catheter in emergency ward services; this study included the participation by workers in selecting material by means of a Likert questionnaire. The effectiveness of a safe intravenous peripheral catheter was calculated comparing skin accidents caused by this device 40 months before and after its implantation.

[Predictive model for nosocomial pneumonia in intensive care units].

Background And Objective: Nosocomial pneumonia is the most common nosocomial infection in the intensive care units (ICUs) and contributes disproportionately to both poor outcomes and high cost of care in critically ill patients. In order to identify patients with greater risk of developing nosocomial pneumonia in ICUs, it is important to select the right preventive measures.

Patients And Method: It was an observational study of 2 prospective cohorts of patients staying in the ICU for 24 h or more: the main cohort (n=1,184) and the validation cohort (n=554).

[Flu vaccination in healthcare workers].

Background And Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the trends in yearly vaccination coverage in healthcare workers.

Method: Cross-sectional epidemiological study over fifteen seasons (1990-2005). Overall vaccination coverage and coverage by professional category was estimated annually.

[EPINETAC study].

Daily, health professionals face biological risks, which have important repercussions for their own health, while performing their professional duties. A system which records data that quantifies and specifies the causes of work place accidents, the instruments most frequently involved in accidents, the professional categories having the greatest exposure, the tasks most at risk and the types of lesions is fundamental in order to grasp the true dimensions of these problems related to accidents and serum-borne disease transmission. Such a data base-could lead to the necessity, and highlight the importance, to increase preventive and protective measures for health personnel.

European recommendations for the management of healthcare workers occupationally exposed to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.

Exposure prevention is the primary strategy to reduce the risk of occupational bloodborne pathogen infections in healthcare workers (HCW). HCWs should be made aware of the medicolegal and clinical relevance of reporting an exposure, and have ready access to expert consultants to receive appropriate counselling, treatment and follow-up. Vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV), and demonstration of immunisation before employment are strongly recommended.

European recommendations for the management of healthcare workers occupationally exposed to hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus.

Exposure prevention is the primary strategy to reduce the risk of occupational bloodborne pathogen infections in healthcare workers (HCW). HCWs should be made aware of the medicolegal and clinical relevance of reporting an exposure, and have ready access to expert consultants to receive appropriate counselling, treatment and follow-up. Vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV), and demonstration of immunisation before employment are strongly recommended.

[Adult vaccination update].

Vaccination, as a global concept, is the most cost-effective strategy in primary prevention of communicable diseases. One of the bigger difficulties in adult population is to reach the same vaccine coverage as in childhood vaccine programs. In order to solve this deficit, strategies established in the primary level are basic, due the fact that it's the first contact of adult population with health programs.

[Risk injuries at operating and delivery rooms. EPINETAC Project 1996-2000].

Background And Objective: Surgical areas have long been considered risky with regard to occupational exposures to blood-borne pathogens. The objective of study was to describe and evaluate the risk of occupational exposure to blood-borne pathogens at operating and delivery rooms, from reports of injuries in health care workers.

Subjects And Method: Transversal study of percutaneous injuries occurring in operating and delivery rooms which were registered in the Spanish surveillance system EPINETAC (Exposure Prevention Information Network Accidents) between 1996 and 2000.

[Occupational exposures to blood and biological material in healthcare workers. EPINETAC Project 1996-2000].

Background And Objective: The bloodborne injury is the most frequent risk in healthcare workers. Among them, the hollow-bore needlesticks are the most associated with the risk of acquire a bloodborne infection. In this study, occupational percutaneous injuries and risk factors associated to hollow-bore needlesticks registered in a national multicenter surveillance system are described.

[Occupational exposure to multiresistant Mycobacterium bovis in a hospital in Saragossa, Spain].

Background: Those working in a hospital environment are exposed to different occupational risks, although more specifically biological ones. One of the major risks is that of exposure by airborne transmission, more specifically, tuberculosis. This study is aimed at providing a description and analysis of the results of the implementation of an evaluation and surveillance protocol following occupational exposure to Multiresistant mycobacterium bovis (MRMb).

[Accidents with biological material in health care workers in 2 primary health care areas (1990-1999)].

Objective: To find out the exposures with biological material in health care workers in primary health care, registered in the biological accidents database from Preventive Medicine Service in Miguel Servet Universitary Hospital of Zaragoza.

Design: Descriptive study of a retrospective cohort. SITE: Primary health care, Areas II and V of Zaragoza.

[Changes in epidemiological pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in a tertiary hospital. Experience of 5 years].

Objective: To describe the demographic pattern and tendency of the infections by MRSA between 1992 and 1997.

Design And Methods: Descriptive study of the infections by MRSA in a tertiary-care hospital.

Results: 267 MRSA infections, 131 infections were included within 58 buds and 136 cases isolated form.

[Costs of accidental punctures in hospital health personnel].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to calculate the average cost of each hepatitis B, C and HIV follow-up carried out in the health personnel that have suffered an exposure to blood and body fluids and to estimate the cost for each of the different types of sources as well as to identify the items that account for the main part of the cost.

Methods: A cost analysis was carried out. The post-exposure programme was modelled in a decision tree combining probabilities (percentage of each type of source in dependence of its positivity for the three viruses and immunization state of the health personnel against hepatitis B) and monetary costs (pesetas from 1994).

[Time-series analysis applied to nosocomial infection].

Background: In this study we introduce a new view of hospital infection, to apply time series techniques to it. Our objective is to complement hospital infection's epidemiological surveillance by means of obtaining alert and alarm thresholds that make easy to the epidemiologist the decision of intervention, in case they are exceeded.

Methods: We have used the classic time series analysis described by Rumeau-Rouquette, and ARIMA (Autoregresive Integrated Moving Average) models developed by Box and Jenkins.

[Epidemiology of brucellosis. Retrospective study of 246 hospital cases].

246 cases of brucellosis registered by the Medicine Preventive Service of Miguel Servet Hospital for the period 1981-87 are retrospectively studied. It emphasizes the consumption of non controlled dairy products as the most frequent (54.5%) risk factor.

[The role of cancer registries in the planning of primary care. A special reference to the Calatayud health area].

The present study is based on the analysis of records concerning 2,123 cases of cancer registered between 1973 and 1982 in the Health Sector of Calatayud. We pretend to find out what sort of role is played by the gathered cancer information registries on the Community Health Diagnosis elaboration and, therefore, on the Primary Care Planning. An important loss of cases (23% in men and 13% in women) and a clear influence of socioeconomic factors concerning Epidemiology and even Cancer Care are remarked.