Association Between Multivitamin Use on Admission and Clinical Outcomes in Patients Hospitalised with Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Case-Cohort Study.

Background/objectives: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of hospitalisations worldwide. Micronutrient deficiencies may influence CAP risk and severity, but their impact on CAP outcomes remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of multivitamin use on hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) admission, in-hospital mortality, and 30-day readmissions in hospitalised CAP patients.

The role of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in predicting outcomes among patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Objectives: The value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in predicting outcomes in patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) remains debated. This study evaluated whether NLR independently predicts clinical outcomes and enhances the predictive performance of the CURB-65 score in patients with CAP.

Methods: Data from CAP admissions at two Australian hospitals from 2018 to 2023 were analysed.

Characteristics of paracetamol poisoning in a local health network and consistency of hospital management with national guidelines.

The management of paracetamol poisoning in our local health network and consistency with national guidelines is unclear. We conducted a 4-month retrospective study of all paracetamol poisonings identified in two South Australian hospitals. Most presentations were deliberate self-poisoning (90.

External validation and comparative analysis of the HOSPITAL score and LACE index for predicting readmissions among patients hospitalised with community-acquired pneumonia in Australia.

Objective Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of emergency hospitalisations globally and is associated with high readmission rates. Specific score systems developed for all medical conditions such as the HOSPITAL score and the LACE index can also usefully predict CAP readmissions. However, there is limited evidence regarding their performance in the Australian healthcare settings.

Recent temporal trends, characteristics and outcomes of patients with non-COVID-19 community-acquired pneumonia at two tertiary hospitals in Australia: an observational study.

Background: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) leads to considerable morbidity and mortality globally. However, data on CAP burden in Australia, especially during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, are limited.

Aims: We characterised and assessed clinical outcomes of non-COVID-19 CAP hospitalisations over a 6-year period at two major hospitals in South Australia.

Nonanemic Iron Deficiency in Cardiac Surgery: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Objectives: Anemia and iron deficiency in patients having cardiac surgery increases their perioperative risk. Nonanemic iron deficiency (NAID) in this group is less well-described. We aimed to investigate the incidence and outcomes of patients with NAID undergoing cardiac surgery.

Comparing Outcomes of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Patients Discharged from General Medicine and Respiratory Units in Australia: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis.

: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common emergency presentation in Australia, with the choice of admitting specialty unit often influenced by pneumonia severity and comorbidities. However, it remains unclear whether there are between-specialty differences in patient characteristics and outcomes. We sought to address this issue by investigating the characteristics and outcomes of CAP patients admitted to General Medicine (GM) versus Respiratory units.

Complications and outcomes of total hip arthroplasty in dogs with luxoid hip dysplasia: 18 cases (2010-2022).

Objective: To describe the complications and outcomes in dogs with luxoid hip dysplasia (LH) undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) and compare complication rates with THA in non-LH dogs.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Sample Population: Client-owned dogs (n = 217) undergoing primary THA (n = 238).

Handoffs and transitions of care: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and practice management guideline from the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma.

Background: The Joint Commission reports that at least half of communication breakdowns occur during handovers or transitions of care. There is no consensus on how best to approach the transfer of care within acute care surgery (ACS). We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the current data on handoffs and transitions of care in ACS patients and evaluate the impact of standardization and formalized communication processes.

Electronic Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (eIMCI): a randomized controlled trial to evaluate an electronic clinical decision-making support system for management of sick children in primary health care facilities in South Africa.

Background: Electronic clinical decision-making support systems (eCDSS) aim to assist clinicians making complex patient management decisions and improve adherence to evidence-based guidelines. Integrated management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) provides guidelines for management of sick children attending primary health care clinics and is widely implemented globally. An electronic version of IMCI (eIMCI) was developed in South Africa.

Outlier or handover: outcomes for General Medicine inpatients.

Objective Patients admitted from the emergency department may be co-located on the treating team's 'home ward'. If no bed is available, patients may be sent to another ward, where they may remain under the admitting team as an 'outlier'. Conversely, care may be handed over to the team on whose home ward they are located.

When knowledge is not enough: barriers to recommended cassava processing in resource-constrained Kwango, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: Despite interventions to provide knowledge and improve bitter cassava processing in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), cassava processing is sub-optimal. Consumption of insufficiently processed bitter cassava is associated with konzo, a neurological paralytic disease.

Objective: This study aimed to explore barriers to appropriate cassava processing carried out by women in one deep rural, economically deprived area of DRC.

The value of distinguishing patients with isolated subsegmental pulmonary embolism presenting to two tertiary hospitals in Australia: an observational study.

Isolated-subsegmental-pulmonary-embolism (SSPE) is increasingly diagnosed with the use of computed-tomography-pulmonary-angiogram (CTPA). There remains clinical equipoise for management of SSPE with previous studies not accounting for frailty while determining clinical outcomes. Clinical outcomes among patients with isolated SSPE were compared with those with a more proximal PE after accounting for frailty and other risk-factors.

Early Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures is Feasible in Patients With Non-Urgent Operative Pelvic Injuries.

Introduction: The feasibility of prioritizing surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) in patients with other injuries is unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the timing and outcomes of SSRF between patients with and without non-urgent operative pelvic injuries.

Patients And Methods: In this retrospective observational study, all patients between 2010 and 2020 who underwent SSRF (SSRF group) and those who underwent SSRF and non-urgent operative management of pelvic fractures (SSRF + P group) were included.

Contemporary management and outcomes of penetrating colon injuries: Validation of the 2020 AAST Colon Organ Injury Scale.

Introduction: The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Colon Organ Injury Scale (OIS) was updated in 2020 to include a separate OIS for penetrating colon injuries and included imaging criteria. In this multicenter study, we describe the contemporary management and outcomes of penetrating colon injuries and hypothesize that the 2020 OIS system correlates with operative management, complications, and outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients presenting to 12 Level 1 trauma centers between 2016 and 2020 with penetrating colon injuries and Abbreviated Injury Scale score of <3 in other body regions.

High-'n'-dry? A comparison of cannabis and alcohol use in drivers presenting to hospital after a vehicular collision.

Design: This was a prospective observational study.

Background And Aims: The characteristics of cannabis-involved motor vehicle collisions are poorly understood. This study of injured drivers identifies demographic and collision characteristics associated with high tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations.

Recurrent nephrolithiasis and loss of kidney function: a cohort study.

Purpose: To evaluate whether symptomatic recurrent nephrolithiasis leads to loss of kidney function.

Methods: Adults who presented to the Emergency Department at least twice with symptomatic and radiologically confirmed nephrolithiasis were retrospectively recruited. Primary endpoint was the change in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) between baseline and at the time of data collection.

Challenges of using e-health technologies to support clinical care in rural Africa: a longitudinal mixed methods study exploring primary health care nurses' experiences of using an electronic clinical decision support system (CDSS) in South Africa.

Background: Electronic decision-making support systems (CDSSs) can support clinicians to make evidence-based, rational clinical decisions about patient management and have been effectively implemented in high-income settings. Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) uses clinical algorithms to provide guidelines for management of sick children in primary health care clinics and is widely implemented in low income countries. A CDSS based on IMCI (eIMCI) was developed in South Africa.

Treatment of a cystocele in a female dog 3 days after whelping.

A case of a cystocele is reported in a 3-year-old intact female Doberman pinscher. The urinary bladder and vaginal body were reduced within the abdominal cavity and secured by cystopexy and cervicopexy allowing the uterus and ovaries to be spared. This is the first report describing the surgery for a cystocele in a young female dog 3 days after whelping, with sparing of the reproductive tract.

Impact of Malnutrition on Clinical Outcomes of Acutely Hospitalised Heart Failure Patients at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Australia: An Observational Study.

Background: Malnutrition is common in patients with heart failure (HF) but is often neglected, despite guidelines suggesting that all hospitalised patients should undergo nutritional screening within 24-hours of admission.

Aims: This study investigated the nutritional screening rates and determined the immediate and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with HF admitted at two tertiary hospitals in Australia.

Methods: Nutritional screening was assessed by the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST) completion rates.

A qualitative study to explore dietary knowledge, beliefs, and practices among pregnant women in a rural health zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Background: A nutritious and healthy diet during pregnancy is essential for the health of both mother and baby. Inadequate dietary intake during pregnancy contributes to maternal malnutrition and can have lifelong effects on the health of the child. Maternal malnutrition is common in many low-income countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).