COVID-19 infection rate and mortality in a local health authority in Italy: Differences between home-dwelling and residential older adults.

Objectives: The health emergency following the COVID-19 pandemic has seen hospital structures collapse and put in crisis nursing homes and other long-term care facilities worldwide. Our study aims to analyze and comparing the data relating to the infection rate and mortality for COVID-19 in the elderly over 75 living in the long-term care facilities and in the home-dwelling population.

Study Design: The study adopts a retrospective cohort design and was conducted in Italy, in the Lazio region, in the area of the Local Health Authority (LHA) named "Azienda Sanitaria Locale Roma 6".

A novel, integrated approach for understanding and investigating Healthcare Associated Infections: A risk factors constellation analysis.

Introduction: Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are major public health threats in upper- and lower-middle-income countries. Electronic health records (EHRs) are an invaluable source of data for achieving different goals, including the early detection of HAIs and AMR clusters within healthcare settings; evaluation of attributable incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs); and implementation of governance policies. In Italy, the burden of HAIs is estimated to be 702.

Head-Of-Bed Elevation (HOBE) for Improving Positional Obstructive Sleep Apnea (POSA): An Experimental Study.

Purpose: Evaluate the effectiveness of the head-of-bed elevation position (HOBE) with a 30° elevation of the head and trunk, in improving obstruction of the upper airways in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. A prospective trial simultaneously performing drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) and polysomnography (PSG) tests was performed. Methods: Forty-five patients were included in the prospective study protocol.

Epidemiology of Hypoalbuminemia in Hospitalized Patients: A Clinical Matter or an Emerging Public Health Problem?

Serum albumin levels are strongly associated with the morbidity, prognosis, and mortality rates of patients with hypoalbuminemia, which is a frequent problem during hospitalization. An observational retrospective study was carried out to analyze changes in albumin levels in hospitalized patients at the "Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata-PTV" in 2018. The prevalence of preexisting hypoalbuminemia at the time of discharge from hospital was investigated using a sample of 9428 patients.

Hematologic alterations and early mortality in a cohort of HIV positive African patients.

Introduction: Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is highly prevalent worldwide, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, where anaemia is also widespread. HIV infection is known to be associated with anaemia and various other haematologic alterations, but little data on correlation with immunological and virologic conditions in treatment-naïve patients and impact on mortality are available. Our study aims to investigate hematologic features in HIV-infected individuals in Malawi and Mozambique and assesses possible correlations with early morality.

'Too many BeEPs in our teens!' Behavioral and emotional problems in a large group of Italian adolescents.

Background: One in six adolescents suffers from mental health problems. Despite the presence of general information on Italian adolescents' mental health, researches conducted with standardized assessment tools are scarce in the literature. We evaluated the prevalence of self-reported behavioral and emotional problems in a group of Italian adolescents and examined their relation to socio-demographical variables.

Can risk be predicted? An umbrella systematic review of current risk prediction models for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension.

Objective: To provide an overview of the currently available risk prediction models (RPMs) for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), diabetes and hypertension, and to compare their effectiveness in proper recognition of patients at risk of developing these diseases.

Design: Umbrella systematic review.

Data Sources: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library.

Biomarkers for predicting spontaneous preterm birth: an umbrella systematic review.

Objective: To identify all systematic reviews investigating the role of maternal and fetal biomarkers for predicting spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB).

Methods: Medline and Web of Sciences databases were searched electronically. Studies exploring the association between maternal biomarkers and spontaneous delivery were considered suitable for inclusion.

Frequent Use of Emergency Departments by the Elderly Population When Continuing Care Is Not Well Established.

Introduction: The elderly, who suffer from multiple chronic diseases, represent a substantial proportion of Emergency Department (ED) frequent users, thus contributing to ED overcrowding, although they could benefit from other health care facilities, if those were available. The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize hospital visits of older patients (age 65 or greater) to the ED of a university teaching hospital in Rome from the 1st of January to the 31st of December 2014, in order to identify clinical and social characteristics potentially associated with "elderly frequent users".

Material And Methods: A retrospective study was performed during the calendar year 2014 (1st January 2014 - 31st December 2014) analyzing all ED admissions to the University Hospital of Rome Tor Vergata.

[eHealth: necessity and challenges].

In times of economic crisis and a national healthcare system that absorbs more than 7% of the gross domestic product, there is a need to "rethink" healthcare practice. EHealth is part of this process of improving accessibility to services, use of available resources and coordination of program choices, and is an indispensable tool for implementing this cultural and management revolution. How realistic is it, today, to think of implementing a digitalized healthcare practice network? To settle this question is essential for today's national healthcare system.

Influenza vaccination coverage among medical residents: an Italian multicenter survey.

Although influenza vaccination is recognized to be safe and effective, recent studies have confirmed that immunization coverage among health care workers remain generally low, especially among medical residents (MRs). Aim of the present multicenter study was to investigate attitudes and determinants associated with acceptance of influenza vaccination among Italian MRs. A survey was performed in 2012 on MRs attending post-graduate schools of 18 Italian Universities.

[Acceptability of vaccinations in adults].

Vaccines represent the most effective and economical tools available in the field of Public Health. The use of vaccines led to profound changes in the epidemiology of many infectious diseases, reducing their morbidity and mortality. Adults became specific target of immunization strategies in the last decades.

[Reactogenicity and immunogenicity of intradermal flu vaccine among the medical students of the University of Rome Tor Vergata].

Healthcare workers and medical students are a preferencial category for the administration of the seasonal influenza vaccination both for the protection of the patient and the continuity of care. Despite this the coverage remains low throughout the world. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the acceptability of the influenza vaccination among the students of the school of Medicine and Health Professions.

[Hepatitis B prevention measures in chronic kidney disease patients].

Hepatitis B virus infection is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients on dialysis, that are a target for vaccination. However, due to the poor immunogenicity of all types of vaccines in dialysis patients the collaboration between general practitioners, nephrologists and vaccination centers is essential to introduce the best preventive measures and to identify and immunize patients with chronic kidney disease before they enter dialysis.

[Neisseria meningitidis: new vaccines and preventive strategies].

Invasive disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis raise concern in the population and Public Health Authority is called to propose and test strategies for optimizing resources available for its prevention. Polysaccharide vaccines started the approach to immune prophylaxis, the introduction of conjugate vaccines brought to major advances for the prevention of this disease and the future availability of a vaccine against serogroup B will provide an additional tool to protect the population.

[Antitetanus vaccination: benefits and risks].

The significant reduction of the cases of tetanus in the years led to an increased perception of risk associated with vaccination, which, like any medical procedure, entails the possibility of adverse reactions. Although the reviews of the literature show that the tetanus vaccine is implicated as responsible for serious adverse events, the neurological complications associated with it are extremely rare, as confirmed also by the small number of cases reported in the literature. It's necessary that all events temporally associated with vaccination are properly investigated and brought to the attention of healthcare workers and citizens, in order to establish an early treatment, which in most cases leads to complete recovery.

[Epidemiology and prevention of hepatitis A and B in developing countries].

Viral hepatitis A and B are serious public health problems all over the world. Effective prophylactic measures and improvement in the hygienic and sanitary conditions have considerably modified the diseases trend, characterized by high prevalence levels in developing countries. In this paper the epidemiology of hepatitis A and B is reviewed, focused on endemic areas, on the basis of data collected from local and international studies in order to evaluate prevention strategies for both local population and travelers.