[Less blood culture samples: less infections?].

Background: The data of the German hospital nosocomial infection surveillance system (KISS) were used to investigate the association between the frequency of blood cultures (BC) and central venous catheter associated bloodstream infection (CVC-BSI) rates in intensive care units (ICU).

Methods: A questionnaire on the frequency of BCs taken was sent to all ICUs participating in KISS and univariable and multivariable analyses were performed on the results.

Results: A total of 223 ICUs provided data.

Increasing consumption of MRSA-active drugs without increasing MRSA in German ICUs.

Purpose: The aim of our study was to analyze changes in the consumption of MRSA-active antibiotics and in the burden of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) over a period of 9 years in a network of German intensive care units (ICU).

Methods: Data from 55 ICUs in Germany were analyzed from 2001 through 2009.

Sagittal spino-pelvic alignment failures following three column thoracic osteotomy for adult spinal deformity.

Purpose: Three column thoracic osteotomy (TCTO) is effective to correct rigid thoracic deformities, however, reasons for residual postoperative spinal deformity are poorly defined. Our objective was to evaluate risk factors for poor spino-pelvic alignment (SPA) following TCTO for adult spinal deformity (ASD).

Methods: Multicenter, retrospective radiographic analysis of ASD patients treated with TCTO.

Increase of patients co-colonised or co-infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium or extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.

Purpose: To determine the incidence of patients co-colonised or co-infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium or extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae in four German tertiary care hospitals.

Methods: This study was conducted at four tertiary care hospitals (all with >1,000 beds) in different geographic regions in Germany (Berlin in the east, Luebeck in the north, Freiburg in the southwest and Nuernberg in the southeast). Routine surveillance data on MRSA, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and ESBL-producing bacteria were analysed from 2007 to 2009.

Are carbon nanotube effects on green algae caused by shading and agglomeration?

Due to growing production, carbon nanotubes (CNT) may soon be found in a broad range of products and thus in the environment. In this work, an algal growth test was developed to determine effects of pristine and oxidized CNT on the green algae Chlorella vulgaris and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. CNT suspensions were prepared in algal test medium and characterized taking into account the suspension age, the reduced light transmittance of nanoparticle suspensions defined as shading of CNT and quantified by UV/vis spectroscopy, and the agglomeration of the CNT and of the algal cells.

Wide dissemination of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. in acute care and rehabilitation hospitals.

A prospective surveillance system for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-E) and ESBL-producing Klebsiella spp. (ESBL-K) was implemented in 39 German hospitals with the aim of determining the incidence densities (IDs) of community-onset and hospital-onset cases and of identifying risk factors for high IDs of hospital-onset cases. During 2008, 2081 ESBL-E/K cases were documented.

Changes in thoracic kyphosis negatively impact sagittal alignment after lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy: a comprehensive radiographic analysis.

Study Design: Consecutive, multicenter retrospective review.

Objective: To evaluate if change in thoracic kyphosis (TK) has a positive or negative impact on spinopelvic alignment after lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) with short fusions.

Summary Of Background Data: In the setting of sagittal malalignment, the effect of large vertebral resections can now be anticipated in long fusions, but their impact on unfused segments (reciprocal changes [RC]) remains poorly understood.

Benchmarking of urinary tract infection rates: experiences from the intensive care unit component of the German national nosocomial infections surveillance system.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether surveillance of symptomatic catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in intensive care units (ICUs) leads to reduced CAUTI rates. Data from the German national nosocomial infection surveillance system (KISS: Krankenhaus Infektions Surveillance Systems) from three starter periods were used for the analysis (1997-2000, 2001/2002, 2003 or later). For each period data from the first and third years of participation were compared.

The Scoliosis Research Society Health-Related Quality of Life (SRS-30) age-gender normative data: an analysis of 1346 adult subjects unaffected by scoliosis.

Study Design: Prospective, cross-sectional study.

Objective: To determine Scoliosis Research Society (SRS)-30 health-related quality of life (HRQOL) reference values by age and gender in an adult population unaffected by scoliosis thereby allowing clinicians and investigators to compare individual and/or groups of spinal deformity patients to their generational peers.

Summary Of Background Data: Normative data are collected to establish means and standard deviations of health-related quality of life outcomes representative of a population.

Spino-pelvic parameters after surgery can be predicted: a preliminary formula and validation of standing alignment.

Study Design: Prospective and retrospective radiographic study of adult patients with spinal deformities.

Objective: Construct predictive models for pelvic tilt (PT) and global sagittal balance (sagittal vertical axis [SVA]) and evaluate the effectiveness of these predictive models against a group of patients after pedicle subtraction osteotomy.

Summary Of Background Data: Spinal balance involves a complex interaction between the pelvis and vertebral column.

Does removing the spinal tether in a porcine scoliosis model result in persistent deformity? A pilot study.

Background: Using a tethering technique, a porcine model of scoliosis has been created. Ideally, tether release before placement and evaluation of corrective therapies would lead to persistent scoliosis.

Questions/purposes: Does release of the spinal tether result in persistent deformity?

Methods: Using a unilateral spinal tether and ipsilateral rib cage tethering, scoliosis was initiated on seven pigs.

Idiopathic scoliosis.

Background: Scoliosis is a three-dimensional deviation of the spinal axis. The main diagnostic criterion is spinal curvature exceeding 10° on a plain anteroposterior X-ray image. Scoliosis is called idiopathic when no other underlying disease can be identified.

Does vertebral level of pedicle subtraction osteotomy correlate with degree of spinopelvic parameter correction?

Object: Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) is a spinal realignment technique that may be used to correct sagittal spinal imbalance. Theoretically, the level and degree of resection via a PSO should impact the degree of sagittal plane correction in the setting of deformity. However, the quantitative effect of PSO level and focal angular change on postoperative spinopelvic parameters has not been well described.

Nosocomial methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia - epidemiology and trends based on data of a network of 586 German ICUs (2005-2009).

The epidemiology of MRSA pneumonia varies across countries. One of the most import risk factors for the development of nosocomial MRSA pneumonia is mechanical ventilation. Methicillin resistance in S.

Adult spinal deformity-postoperative standing imbalance: how much can you tolerate? An overview of key parameters in assessing alignment and planning corrective surgery.

Study Design: Current concepts review.

Objective: Outline the basic principles in the evaluation and treatment of adult spinal deformity patients with a focus on goals to achieve during surgical realignment surgery.

Summary Of Background Data: Proper global alignment of the spine is critical in maintaining standing posture and balance in an efficient and pain-free manner.

The MRSA-import in ICUs is an important predictor for the occurrence of nosocomial MRSA cases.

Nosocomial infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) account for increased morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs in critically ill patients worldwide. The intensive care unit (ICU) component of the German surveillance system for nosocomial infections (Krankenhaus-Infektions-Surveillance-System, KISS) has been supplemented with a module targeting the surveillance of multiresistant pathogens [Multiresistente Erreger (MRE)-KISS] in order to account for the increasing burden of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to assess the association between structural and organizational characteristics of ICUs and the number of nosocomial MRSA cases.

Costs of nosocomial pneumonia caused by meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Nosocomial infections with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lead to increased health and economic costs. The purpose of this study was to determine costs for nosocomial MRSA pneumonia compared with meticillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) pneumonia.

Changes in radiographic and clinical outcomes with primary treatment adult spinal deformity surgeries from two years to three- to five-years follow-up.

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of data entered prospectively into a multicenter database-clinical and radiographic outcomes assessment.

Objective: Our hypothesis is that between the 2-year and the 3- to 5-year points surgically treated adult spinal deformity patients will show significant reduction in outcomes by Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and numerical rating scale back and leg pain scores and will show increasing thoracic kyphosis, loss of lumbar lordosis, and loss of coronal and sagittal balance.

Summary Of Background Data: Most analyses of primary presentation adult spinal deformity surgery assess 2-year follow-up.

Risk-benefit assessment of surgery for adult scoliosis: an analysis based on patient age.

Study Design: Retrospective review of a prospective, multicenter database.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether elderly patients undergoing scoliosis surgery had an incidence of complications and improvement in outcome measures comparable with younger patients.

Summary Of Background Data: Complications increase with age for adults undergoing scoliosis surgery, but whether this impacts the outcomes of older patients is largely unknown.

Dramatic increase of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli in German intensive care units: secular trends in antibiotic drug use and bacterial resistance, 2001 to 2008.

Introduction: The objective of the present study was to analyse secular trends in antibiotic consumption and resistance data from a network of 53 intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods: The study involved prospective unit and laboratory-based surveillance in 53 German ICUs from 2001 through 2008. Data were calculated on the basis of proportions of nonduplicate resistant isolates, resistance densities (that is, the number of resistant isolates of a species per 1,000 patient-days) and an antimicrobial usage density (AD) expressed as daily defined doses (DDD) and normalised per 1,000 patient-days.

Factors affecting distal end & global decompensation in coronal/sagittal planes 2 years after fusion.

Introduction: Decompensation of un-fused vertebrae is a potential complication of spinal instrumentation performed for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This can result in problems requiring revision surgery. The purpose of this study was to compare patients who decompensated in the sagittal/coronal plane and those who do not and to identify risk factors.

Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging findings in 20-year survivors of mediastinal radiotherapy for Hodgkin's disease.

Purpose: The recognition of the true prevalence of cardiac toxicity after mediastinal radiotherapy requires very long follow-up and a precise diagnostic procedure. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) permits excellent quantification of cardiac function and identification of localized myocardial defects and has now been applied to a group of 20-year Hodgkin's disease survivors.

Methods And Materials: Of 143 patients treated with anterior mediastinal radiotherapy (cobalt-60, median prescribed dose 40 Gy) for Hodgkin's disease between 1978 and 1985, all 53 survivors were invited for cardiac MRI.

Pneumonia associated with invasive and noninvasive ventilation: an analysis of the German nosocomial infection surveillance system database.

Purpose: Pneumonia associated with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) is one of the indicator infections of the German Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System. In 2005 surveillance was extended to include pneumonia associated with noninvasive ventilation (NIV). The aim of this study was to determine the utilization of IMV and NIV and the associated incidence densities (IDs) of pneumonia and to compare the characteristics of pneumonia cases and the spectrum of associated pathogens.