Improving handwashing among parent-attendants visiting a newborn unit practising family participatory care.

In our newborn intensive care unit (NICU), we practise family participatory care, where the unit staff encourage parents and attendants of sick newborns to partner with them and be involved in care for their babies. There remains a concern that this practice may increase the risk of nosocomial infections being carried into the unit by parent-attendants. Staff observed that handwashing behaviours were suboptimal and inconsistent among parent-attendants.

Transvaginal sonography versus hysteroscopy in evaluation of abnormal uterine bleeding.

Background: Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) accounts for 33% of female patients referred to gynaecologists. Common causes of AUB include endometrial polyps, endometrial hyperplasia, submucous fibroids and anovulation. Accurate diagnosis of the cause of AUB can reduce the frequency of hysterectomy.