Variable Case Detection and Many Unreported Cases of Surgical-Site Infection Following Colon Surgery and Abdominal Hysterectomy in a Statewide Validation.

OBJECTIVE To assess hospital surgical-site infection (SSI) identification and reporting following colon surgery and abdominal hysterectomy via a statewide external validation METHODS Infection preventionists (IPs) from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) performed on-site SSI validation for surgical procedures performed in hospitals that voluntarily participated. Validation involved chart review of SSI cases previously reported by hospitals plus review of patient records flagged for review by claims codes suggestive of SSI. We assessed the sensitivity of traditional surveillance and the added benefit of claims-based surveillance.

An instrument for observational assessment of nausea in young children.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Keller Index of Nausea (KIN), a new instrument for observational assessment of nausea in children 1 through 5 years of age. The KIN and the University of Wisconsin Children's Hospital Pain Scale were used to assess children brought to a general pediatric outpatient clinic for a variety of health problems. There were statistically significant positive point biserial correlations between the KIN scores and three criteria: (a) a medical diagnosis consistent with the presence of nausea, (b) a chief complaint per parent consistent with the presence of nausea, and (c) the parent's statement that the child is experiencing nausea.