Reduction of Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Driving Change.

Despite the many advancements in infection prevention, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) continue to be problematic for many hospitals. The large urban teaching hospital featured in this article developed a team that consisted of a registered nurse quality Lean coach, bedside nurses from each inpatient nursing unit, physicians, an infection prevention specialist nurse, an education specialist nurse, and members of the quality department to study this matter. The team focused on understanding current practice related to the use and duration of indwelling urinary catheters.

Nursing Strategies to Safeguard COVID-19 Patients From Harm in the Intensive Care Unit.

The aim of this article is to identify quality improvement nursing strategies that have been implemented to safeguard COVID-19 patients from harm while being cared for in the intensive care unit (ICU). This article incorporates a literature review on the experiences of nurses working at a large urban teaching hospital in the areas of critical care, quality, safety, and regulatory. As leaders in the delivery of health care, nurses have always pioneered innovative ways to deliver care despite difficult circumstances.

Utilization of Institute for Health Care Improvement Tools to Develop a Mortality Review Process.

Mortality rates have emerged as one of the main metrics determining quality of care within a hospital. In an effort to evaluate cases, this article illustrates the use of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement Global Trigger Tool as well as the implementation of a 3-prong review process in a large, urban teaching facility. In addition, the findings of the evaluation process are shared.

A comparison of two open surgical cricothyroidotomy techniques by military medics using a cadaver model.

Study Objective: The CricKey is a novel surgical cricothyroidotomy device combining the functions of a tracheal hook, stylet, dilator, and bougie incorporated with a Melker airway cannula. This study compares surgical cricothyroidotomy with standard open surgical versus CricKey technique.

Methods: This was a prospective crossover study using human cadaveric models.

A case of moderate liver enzyme elevation after acute acetaminophen overdose despite undetectable acetaminophen level and normal initial liver enzymes.

Liver function test (LFT) increase is an early sign of acetaminophen (APAP) toxicity. Typically, when an acute overdose patient is evaluated and has an initial undetectable APAP level and normal liver enzymes, the patient is not treated with N-acetylcysteine, and liver enzymes are not expected to increase later. We report a case of moderate LFT increase despite normal LFTs and an undetectable APAP level after delayed presentation of an APAP ingestion.

Blue laser via IR resonant doubling with 71% fiber to fiber efficiency.

We report on high efficiency resonant doubling to 486 nm using periodically poled KTP. The IR laser source is an FBG stabilized semiconductor laser with a maximum polarization maintaining (PM) fiber coupled output of 840 mW. An output power of 680 mW at 486 nm was obtained from our optimized cavity, giving net efficiency of 81%.

Determination of the fine structure constant using helium fine structure.

We measure 31,908,131.25(30) kHz for the 2(3)}P J=0 to 2 fine structure interval in helium. The difference between this and theory to order mα7 (20 Hz numerical uncertainty) implies 0.

Effect of selenium- and glutathione-enriched yeast supplementation on a combined atherosclerosis and diabetes hamster model.

Selenium has a central role in antioxidant pathways as a cofactor to glutathione peroxidase. The present study evaluated the effects of four different preparations of inactivated yeast containing various concentrations of selenium and glutathione on a combined atherosclerosis and diabetes hamster model. The hamsters were supplemented with the yeast products for three months.

Precise measurement of the J = 1 to J = 2 fine structure interval in the 2( 3)P state of helium.

We measure the J = 1 to J = 2 fine structure interval in the ( 3)2P state of helium to be 2 291 175.9(1.0) kHz.