Blood culture bottle shortage mitigation efforts: analysis of impact on ordering and patient impact.

Objective Design: In June of 2024, Becton Dickinson experienced a blood culture bottle shortage for their BACTEC system, forcing health systems to reduce usage or risk exhausting their supply. Virginia Commonwealth University Health System (VCUHS) in Richmond, VA decided that it was necessary to implement austerity measures to preserve the blood culture bottle supply.

Setting: VCUHS includes a main campus in Richmond, VA as well as two affiliate hospitals in South Hill, VA (Community Memorial Hospital (CMH)) and Tappahannock Hospital in Tappahannock, VA.

Sequential emergence and contraction of epithelial subtypes in the prenatal human choroid plexus revealed by a stem cell model.

Despite the major roles of choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPECs) in brain homeostasis and repair, their developmental lineage and diversity remain undefined. In simplified differentiations from human pluripotent stem cells, derived CPECs (dCPECs) displayed canonical properties and dynamic multiciliated phenotypes that interacted with Aβ uptake. Single dCPEC transcriptomes over time correlated well with human organoid and fetal CPECs, while pseudotemporal and cell cycle analyses highlighted the direct CPEC origin from neuroepithelial cells.

Impact of antiviral therapy on short- and long-term outcomes of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease after influenza infection.

Background: Respiratory complications often accompany influenza in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this retrospective study, we quantified the impact of antiviral therapy on exacerbations, healthcare resource utilization (HRU), and costs in patients with COPD across 5 influenza seasons.

Methods: Using claims data from US MarketScan® databases, we identified patients with COPD who had an influenza diagnosis during the 2012-2016 influenza seasons.

Maternal and neonatal factors associated with cesarean delivery in a cohort of pregnancies complicated by prenatally diagnosed congenital heart disease.

Background: Pregnancies with prenatally diagnosed congenital heart disease (CHD) have increased cesarean delivery (CD) rates, with no outcome improvement.

Objective: We aim to examine indications for delivery, indications for CD and risk factors associated with CD.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort of 322 singleton pregnancies prenatally diagnosed with moderate to severe CHD.

Outcomes of antiviral treatment for influenza in type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term effects of antiviral treatment on influenza-related health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) and a diagnosis of influenza.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: Claims data from the IBM MarketScan Commercial Claims Database were used to identify patients with T2D and a diagnosis of influenza between October 1, 2016, and April 30, 2017.

Comparison of Pregnancy Outcomes of Previable and Periviable Rupture of Membranes After Laser Photocoagulation for Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome.

Objective: To describe the pregnancy outcomes of patients who experienced previable and periviable prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) after the treatment of twin-twin transfusion syndrome.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients whose pregnancies were complicated by twin-twin transfusion syndrome who were treated with fetoscopic laser photocoagulation at a single fetal center and subsequently experienced PROM from April 2010 to June 2019. Outcomes were infant survival and latency from PROM to delivery.

Impact of influenza infection on the short- and long-term health of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Influenza is a common cause of acute respiratory infection that leads to exacerbation of underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To elucidate the short- and long-term effects of influenza in patients with COPD, we examined health care resource utilization (HRU) and costs up to 13 months following influenza infection.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using U.

Influenza Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Review of Recent Innovations in Antiviral Therapy and Relevance to Primary Care Practice.

Seasonal influenza requires appropriate management to protect public health and resources. Decreasing the burden of influenza will depend primarily on increasing vaccination rates as well as prompt initiation of antiviral therapy within 48 hours of symptom onset, especially in the context of the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. A careful approach is required to prevent health services from being overwhelmed by a surge in demand that could exceed capacity.

Clustering of subpatent infections in households with asymptomatic rapid diagnostic test-positive cases in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea independent of travel to regions of higher malaria endemicity: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Prevalence of falciparum malaria on Bioko Island remains high despite sustained, intensive control. Progress may be hindered by high proportions of subpatent infections that are not detected by rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) but contribute to onward transmission, and by imported infections. Better understanding of the relationship between subpatent infections and RDT-detected infections, and whether this relationship is different from imported versus locally acquired infections, is imperative to better understand the sources of infection and mechanisms of transmission to tailor more effective interventions.

Universal transvaginal cervical length screening during pregnancy increases the diagnostic incidence of low-lying placenta and placenta previa.

Background: Universal transvaginal cervical length screening has been increasingly implemented with both positive and negative consequences.

Objective: In this study, we described the diagnostic incidence of low-lying placenta and placenta previa with the implementation of universal transvaginal cervical length screening.

Study Design: This is a retrospective cohort study of women undergoing midtrimester universal transvaginal cervical length screening.

Time required to complete transvaginal cervical length in women receiving universal cervical length screening for preterm birth prevention.

Background: Preterm birth contributes to over one-third of infant deaths, and although there are several risk factors for preterm birth few tests predict this obstetric complication. Midtrimester transvaginal cervical length (TVCL) screening is currently the best clinical predictor of spontaneous preterm birth and has been suggested to be applied universally. Although several studies have examined the cost-efficacy of universal screening, the time consumption and resultant time management has not been examined.

The Impact of Breast Care Nurses: An Evaluation of the McGrath Foundation's Breast Care Nurse Initiative.

Objective: Over the four years to 30 June, 2017 the McGrath Foundation's Second Federal Government Breast Care Nurse (BCN) Initiative funded 57 McGrath BCNs (MBCNs) to deliver better continuity of care and provide specialized support to those diagnosed with and undergoing treatment for breast cancer. This article summarizes the findings generated through a mixed-method evaluation of the program's appropriateness, effectiveness, and efficiency.

Methods: The evaluation comprised surveys and semi-structured interviews with patients, multidisciplinary clinicians and MBCNs.

Predicting the Future: Using Simulation Modeling to Forecast Patient Flow on General Medicine Units.

Background: Hospitals are complex adaptive systems within which multiple components such as patients, practitioners, facilities, and technology interact. A careful approach to optimization of this complex system is needed because any change can result in unexpected deleterious effects. One such approach is discrete event simulation, in which what-if scenarios allow researchers to predict the impact of a proposed change on the system.

Maternal Obesity Is an Independent Risk Factor for Intensive Care Unit Admission during Delivery Hospitalization.

Objective: We aim to quantify the impact of obesity on maternal intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Materials And Methods: This is a population-based, retrospective cohort study of Ohio live births from 2006 to 2012. The primary outcome was maternal ICU admission.

Comparison of prostaglandin and mechanical cervical ripening in the setting of small for gestational age neonates.

The objective of this study is to determine whether cervical ripening with misoprostol (MP) is associated with higher rates of cesarean delivery (CD) compared with dinoprostone (DP) or Pitocin/Foley balloon (PFB) in infants found to be small for gestational age (SGA). Single center institution based cohort study of all inductions between 2008 and 2012 where birth weight was found to be as SGA (< 10th percentile). Maternal demographic, obstetric, and labor characteristics were compared between SGA births where cervical ripening with MP, DP, or PFB was used as the primary agent.

Effect of Post-Cesarean Delivery Oral Cephalexin and Metronidazole on Surgical Site Infection Among Obese Women: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: The rate of obesity among US women has been increasing, and obesity is associated with increased risk of surgical site infection (SSI) following cesarean delivery. The optimal perioperative antibiotic prophylactic regimen in this high-risk population undergoing cesarean delivery is unknown.

Objective: To determine rates of SSI among obese women who receive prophylactic oral cephalexin and metronidazole vs placebo for 48 hours following cesarean delivery.

A new method to measure muscle protein synthesis in humans by endogenously introduced d9-leucine and using blood for precursor enrichment determination.

Enrichment from the easily accessible blood amino acid pool is commonly used as precursor enrichment to calculate rates of muscle protein fractional synthesis in relevant human studies in lieu of the less accessible muscle fluid amino acid pool. However, the accuracy of this approach depends largely on the extent to which there is low discrepancy in free amino acid enrichment between blood and muscle. Steady-state gradient (i.

Estimation of the growth rate in fetuses with an abnormal cerebroplacental ratio compared to those with suspected growth restriction without evidence of centralization of blood flow.

Objectives: To evaluate the growth rate in fetuses with suspected growth restriction according to their Doppler characteristics.

Methods: A retrospective cohort of fetuses with suspected growth restriction was identified. We reviewed umbilical artery and middle cerebral Doppler pulsatility indices and calculated the cerebroplacental ratio.

Doppler for growth restriction: the association between the cerebroplacental ratio and a reduced interval to delivery.

Objective: Evaluation of the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) as an adjunct to umbilical artery Doppler (UA) to assess risk of delivery before 32 weeks and/or delivery within 2 weeks from diagnosis of fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Study Design: In a cohort of fetuses with suspected FGR, UA Doppler was performed, and when abnormal the CPR was calculated (middle cerebral pulsatility index/umbilical artery pulsatility index). Doppler characteristics were used to determine three study groups: (1) normal UA, (2) abnormal UA with normal CPR and (3) abnormal UA with abnormal CPR.

Association between an abnormal cerebroplacental ratio and the development of severe pre-eclampsia.

Objective: To study the association between the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and the development of pre-eclampsia.

Study Design: Three study groups were determined: Group 1-normal umbilical artery (UA; referent), Group 2-abnormal UA and normal CPR and Group 3-abnormal UA and an abnormal CPR. The primary outcome was the development of severe pre-eclampsia.

The impact of paediatric oncology education on clinical practice -- a phenomenological study.

Purpose: Over the past 40 years, 5-year survival rates for children and young people with cancer have risen dramatically in the United Kingdom (UK), an improvement largely attributable to the increasingly effective treatments and the centralisation of care. Registered nurses in clinical roles, both within the hospital and the community setting, require on-going and relevant education and training programmes to equip them with the necessary professional and personal skills to ensure they are fit for purpose.

Method: This research study reports on Child Health Nurses (CHN's) perceptions of the impact of paediatric oncology education on their practice.

Scotland's getting aulder.

Like the rest of the Uk, Scotland's population profile is changing.