Risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in new users of antiepileptics.

Background: Estimates of risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) associated with some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have used denominators based on the number of prescriptions or daily doses. Because the risk of SJS is highest in new users of drugs, the use of denominators reflective of all users can lead to low estimates of risk associated with drugs. In this study, risk in new users is assessed.

Comparison of the statistical efficiency of case-crossover and case-control designs: application to severe cutaneous adverse reactions.

Although case-crossover analyses have lately emerged as an alternative to case-control analyses in epidemiological studies, it is not yet known in which situations they give reliable conclusions. In this work, the case-crossover and the case-control designs were first compared on the basis of a dataset from a published study of severe cutaneous adverse reactions resulting from drug exposures of various durations and prevalences of use (245 cases, 1147 controls, and exposures to 23 drug classes). Next, the statistical efficiency of each design was compared via Monte Carlo simulations.

Nosocomial wound infections: a prevalence study and analysis of risk factors.

This first German prevalence study surveilling nosocomial wound infections (NWI) was carried out in 72 representatively selected hospitals. NWI were recorded by 4 validated investigators. Seventy-nine NWI were recorded among 4983 operated patients (prevalence rate: 1.

Experience with two validation methods in a prevalence survey on nosocomial infections.

Objective: To determine whether an investigator effect remained on the first German study on the prevalence of nosocomial infections Nosokomiale Infektionen in Deutschland Erfassung und Prävention (NIDEP), despite extensive validation efforts.

Design: Two validation methods were applied: bedside validation and validation by case studies. In both cases, the results of the four investigators were compared with the diagnosis of gold standard observers.

Prevalence of primary bloodstream infections in representative German hospitals and their association with central and peripheral vascular catheters.

The prevalence of noncentral and central lines and the prevalence of nosocomial primary bloodstream infections was investigated in 72 representative German hospitals (NIDEP Study). Data from a total of 14,966 patients were documented. On the prevalence day, it amounted to 23.