Increase in PVC-BSI during the second COVID-19 pandemic year: analysis of catheter and patient characteristics.

Background: Increasing nosocomial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic have been reported. However, data describing peripheral venous catheter associated bloodstream infections (PVC-BSI) are limited.

Aims: To describe the epidemiology and risk factors for PVC-BSI during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Microbiology of catheter-associated bloodstream infection: differences according to catheter type.

Objectives: Catheter-associated bloodstream infections (CABSI) cause preventable morbidity. We compared the microbiological etiology of CABSI across different types of central and peripherally-inserted catheters.

Methods: We analyzed prospectively collected CABSI data in a 2100-bed hospital network in Switzerland between 2016 and 2022.

Impact of intermittent versus continuous infusions on central line-associated bloodstream infection risk in haemato-oncology patients: a quasi-experimental study.

Background: Continuous fluid infusions delivered between therapies by piggy-back systems avoid disconnection and reconnection of central venous catheters (CVCs), thereby reducing opportunities for line contamination. However, the impact of continuous versus intermittent infusions on central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) is unknown.

Aim: To investigate the effect of temporary infusion interruption and line disconnection, with or without use of a 70% isopropyl alcohol cap (IPA-C) on CLABSI rates in haematology patients.

Sepsis mortality among patients with haematological malignancy admitted to intensive care 2000-2022: a binational cohort study.

Background: Sepsis occurs in 12-27% of patients with haematological malignancy within a year of diagnosis. Sepsis mortality has improved in non-cancer patients in the last two decades, but longitudinal trends in patients with haematological malignancy are not well characterised. We aimed to compare outcomes, including temporal changes, in patients with and without a haematological malignancy admitted to ICU with a primary diagnosis of sepsis in Australia and New Zealand over the past two decades.

Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in patients with cancer: current knowledge and future directions.

Patients with cancer experience higher rates of preventable harm from hospital-acquired bloodstream infections (haBSIs) and central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) compared with the general hospital population. The prevention of haBSIs and CLABSIs in patients with cancer is an urgent priority, and requires standardized surveillance and reporting efforts. The application of haBSI and CLABSI definitions, classification systems and surveillance strategies for patients with cancer is complex, and there is wide variation in clinical practice.

Assessing the implementation of physical activity-promoting public policies in the Republic of Ireland: a study using the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI).

Background: Government policy can promote physical activity (PA) as part of a multilevel systems-based approach. The Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI) is a monitoring framework which assesses the implementation of government policy by drawing on the experience of national stakeholders. This study is the first to assess the extent of policy implementation in the Republic of Ireland using the PA-EPI tool, and to provide information on how policy implementation can be improved, with the intention of maximizing its impact on population levels of PA.

Long-term antibiotic prescribing in the community: 6 years of Australian national data.

Background: Prolonged or indefinite courses of antibiotics are sometimes prescribed for suppression of chronic infection, prophylaxis, and noninfective indications. Little is known about long-term prescribing practices in the community. In Australia, 75% of outpatient prescribing is funded through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), a government program for subsidized medications.

Evaluating the need for an integrated geriatric service in older general surgery patients.

Background: Despite the success of an orthogeriatric model in improving outcomes of older patients, there is a paucity of evidence in general surgical disciplines. The aim of this project was to assess the viability of acute kidney injury (AKI) as an indicator of the care of older patients admitted under general surgery.

Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of patients aged 75 years and older admitted under general surgery between 1 July 2015 and 30 June 2018 at the Royal Hobart Hospital was conducted.

Walking with head-mounted virtual and augmented reality devices: Effects on position control and gait biomechanics.

What was once a science fiction fantasy, virtual reality (VR) technology has evolved and come a long way. Together with augmented reality (AR) technology, these simulations of an alternative environment have been incorporated into rehabilitation treatments. The introduction of head-mounted displays has made VR/AR devices more intuitive and compact, and no longer limited to upper-limb rehabilitation.

Running biomechanics before and after Pose® method gait retraining in distance runners.

Pose® Method gait retraining has been claimed to modify running form and prevent injury. This study examined the running biomechanics before and after Pose® Method gait retraining. Fourteen runners underwent a 4-week Pose® Method gait retraining program delivered by a certified coach.

A national study of the clinical management of HIV-positive women in Australia: what are the successes and where are the gaps?

Unlabelled: Background Women comprise ~10% of people living with HIV in Australia, so are often underrepresented in research.

Methods: This study invited clinicians providing care to women living with HIV to complete an anonymous survey containing questions related to four key areas: HIV (including diagnosis, treatment and virological outcomes), reproductive health (including sexual activity, contraception, pregnancy and outcomes) and linkage and retention in care.

Results: In total, 484 surveys were received, with responses from all states and territories.

The barriers to linkage and retention in care for women living with HIV in an high income setting where they comprise a minority group.

Women comprise a minority population of individuals living with HIV in Australia, and are often poorly represented in research and clinical trials so their needs remain largely unknown. Data suggests that they are diagnosed later than men and start antiretroviral therapy at a lower CD4 cell count. This raises the question whether there are sex specific barriers to linkage and retention in care.

Shoe-mounted accelerometers should be used with caution in gait retraining.

Real-time biofeedback gait retraining has been reported to be an effective intervention to lower the impact loading during gait. While many of the previous gait retraining studies have utilized a laboratory-based setup, some studies used accelerometers affixed at the distal tibia to allow training outside the laboratory environment. However, many commercial sensors for gait modification are shoe-mounted.

Type effect of inhibitory KT tape on measured vs. perceived maximal grip strength.

This study examined the effects of KT tape (KT) applied in an inhibitory manner on muscle activity, measured maximal grip strength, and perceived maximal grip strength in regular KT-users and non-users. This study was a single-blinded crossover study with sixty participants including 27 kT-users and 33 non-users. Participants underwent maximal grip strength tests with and without inhibitory KT applied across the wrist extensors.

Biomechanical Outcomes Due to Impact Loading in Runners While Looking Sideways.

A stable gaze is necessary to optimize visual conditions during running. Head accelerations generally remain stable when looking in front; however, it is unclear if this response is similar when the head is turned sideways, and whether other adaptive strategies are present to maintain this stability. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to examine whether runners maintained stable head accelerations while gazing at fixed targets in front and to their sides.

One Teacher's Experience of Teaching Physical Education and Another School Subject: An Inter-Role Conflict?

Purpose: This study was situated within a longitudinal study of 5 teachers examining the realities of teaching physical education by determining the impact of individual dispositions and contextual factors on the career trajectories of postprimary physical education teachers in Ireland (Iannucci & MacPhail, 2017). One of these participants, Jane, was examined in this study to gain a greater understanding of the realities and tensions experienced by a postprimary teacher enacting 2 distinct sets of role expectations when teaching physical education and another school subject concurrently.

Method: Data reported in this article were collected through a semistructured interview and living graph.

Control of impact loading during distracted running before and after gait retraining in runners.

Gait retraining using visual biofeedback has been reported to reduce impact loading in runners. However, most of the previous studies did not adequately examine the level of motor learning after training, as the modified gait pattern was not tested in a dual-task condition. Hence, this study sought to compare the landing peak positive acceleration (PPA) and vertical loading rates during distracted running before and after gait retraining.

Chronic disease self-management support for persons with dementia, in a clinical setting.

The burden of chronic disease is greater in individuals with dementia, a patient group that is growing as the population is aging. The cornerstone of optimal management of chronic disease requires effective patient self-management. However, this is particularly challenging in older persons with a comorbid diagnosis of dementia.

Completion of Limitation of Medical Treatment forms by junior doctors for patients with dementia: clinical, medicolegal and education perspectives.

Objective Limitation of Medical Treatment (LMT) forms are an essential element of end-of-life care. Decision making around LMT is complex and often involves patients with dementia. Despite the complexity, junior doctors frequently play a central role in completing LMT forms.

Senior staff perspectives of a quality indicator program in public sector residential aged care services: a qualitative cross-sectional study in Victoria, Australia.

Objective: The aims of the present study were to describe the views of senior clinical and executive staff employed in public sector residential aged care services (RACS) about the benefits and limitations of using quality indicators (QIs) for improving care, and to identify any barriers or enablers to implementing the QI program.

Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study using semistructured interviews and direct observation of key informants involved in the QI program was performed across 20 public sector RACS in Victoria, Australia. Participants included senior clinical, executive and front-line staff at the RACS.