Changes in the etiology, incidence and prognosis of acute lower respiratory track infections in human immunodeficiency virus patients.

Aim: To describe the incidence, the changes in the etiology and the prognosis of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in HIV infected patients, presenting by the first time to the Emergency Department (ED), during years 2000-2010.

Study Design: Prospective collection of data.

Methods: Data were collected on the first visit of HIV-infected patients at our ED due to a LRTI, (defined according to the criteria of the European Respiratory Society), between 1/1/2000 and 31/12/2010.

Quick diagnosis units or conventional hospitalisation for the diagnostic evaluation of severe anaemia: a paradigm shift in public health systems?

Background: Acute hospital bed utilisation is a growing concern for health care systems in most countries with public health models, as it represents a significant share of health costs. Anaemia with haemoglobin levels below 8 g/l has traditionally been a criterion used to hospitalise patients in our centre for diagnosis.

Methods: We conducted a longitudinal study with a prospective and retrospective cohort to investigate the usefulness of a Quick Diagnosis Unit (QDU) for the evaluation of patients with severe anaemia as compared with hospitalisation in a tertiary public hospital.