Psychotropic Medication Prescribing to Patients with Dementia Admitted to Acute Hospitals in Ireland.

Background: Psychotropic medications are commonly prescribed to people with dementia (PwD) for non-cognitive symptoms of dementia (NCSD), but have significant risks. A national audit was performed in acute hospitals in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) to establish baseline practice prior to the launch and implementation of a National Clinical Guideline on the appropriate prescribing of psychotropic medications for NCSD. The objective of this study was to analyse psychotropic prescribing patterns and compare these with international data and with existing (limited) data from a previous audit round.

Sepsis in surgical inpatients: under-recognised but with significant consequences.

Background: The true incidence of sepsis in surgical cohorts in Ireland remains unclear. According to inpatient audits, patients in surgical diagnostic groups (DRG) who developed sepsis had a longer length of stay and higher mortality rate compared with medical DRG patients who developed sepsis.

Aims: We investigated sepsis incidence on a general surgical ward to identify risk factors and strategies to improve management.

Efficacy of the CathRite system to guide bedside placement of peripherally inserted central venous catheters in critically ill patients: a pilot study.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of the CathRite system as a tool to guide clinicians in placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) into the superior vena cava (SVC) in critically ill patients.

Design: Prospective, randomised, parallel controlled trial.

Participants And Setting: three8 critically ill patients (mean APACHE II score, 16.