Purpose: Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a very low-risk procedure. Despite this, there remains great variability in the use of protective equipment. Given the monetary and environmental costs of protective equipment, the difference in infection rates with full versus limited protective equipment was assessed.
Methods: A total of 857 consecutive patients were retrospectively reviewed after undergoing thyroid FNAs at the main hospital and outpatient clinic site performed from 12/1/2020 to 11/30/2023. The hospital site operated with full protective equipment (bouffant, sterile gown, sterile gloves, and full body sterile drape), and the outpatient site with limited (sterile gloves, limited sterile paper drape) protective equipment. Two patients were excluded as no procedure was performed. Review for signs of infection within 30 days of procedure was performed using medical records, which was blinded to the extent of protective equipment utilization.
Results: No infections were identified in either group, with 0/629 (0%, 95%CI 0-1%) in the full protective equipment group vs. 0/226 (0%, 95%CI 0-2%) in the limited protective equipment group. There was no statistically significant difference in infection rate between full and limited protective equipment use in thyroid FNA in the included 855 procedures (95%CI 0-1%). Two patients out of 629 (0.3%) in the full protective equipment group developed mild allergic reaction to topical antiseptic. The 226 procedures with limited protective equipment represent a saving of at least 204,530 g of CO2 equivalents, equivalent to driving a car for almost 3000 miles.
Conclusion: Reducing the extent of protective equipment does not adversely affect the infection rate in thyroid FNAs. Given the inherent costs involved in the procurement and waste of protective equipment, reducing protective equipment use is warranted to reduce both the monetary and environmental impacts of waste.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00261-024-04525-z | DOI Listing |
Environ Res
January 2025
Department of Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA, United States. Electronic address:
The growing impact of climate change and escalating wildfire seasons has led to heightened ambient air pollution, potentially affecting children's sleep health. However, current epidemiological research often relies on outdoor weather data to model the environmental impacts on sleep health, potentially mischaracterizing the actual bedroom environment. To address these challenges, we conducted experiments to investigate the relationships among ambient, indoor, and personal exposure to PM concentrations and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPlant Physiol Biochem
January 2025
Modern Protected Horticulture Engineering & Technology Center, College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, China; National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Northern Horticultural Facilities Design & Application Technology (Liaoning), Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Protected Horticulture (Shenyang Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Shenyang, China; Key Laboratory of Horticultural Equipment, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shenyang, China. Electronic address:
Plant height is a key trait that significantly influences plant architecture, disease resistance, adaptability to mechanical cultivation, and overall economic yield. Galactinol synthase (GolS) is a crucial enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs). It plays a significant role in carbohydrate transport and storage, combating abiotic and biotic stresses, and regulating plant growth and development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTalanta
January 2025
Department of Materials and Environmental Technology, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate tee 5, 19086, Tallinn, Estonia. Electronic address:
Ampicillin (AMP) ranks third among the top ten most frequently sold antibiotic combinations globally, raising concerns due to its extensive use. Improper disposal practices in agriculture, aquaculture, and healthcare have led to environmental contamination of water sources with elevated AMP levels. Current methods for detecting such contamination are costly, require sophisticated equipment, and depend on skilled personnel and unstable natural receptors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmun Inflamm Dis
January 2025
Faculty of Medicine, Alzaiem Alazhari University, Khartoum, Sudan.
Introduction: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a common vasculitis predominantly affecting larger vessels, especially in individuals aged 70-79. Cerebrovascular ischemic events (CIE), such as stroke and transient ischemic attacks, are serious but rare complications of GCA, with a pooled prevalence of 4%. Some studies found that within 2 weeks of GCA diagnosis, 74% and 34% of patients experience transient or severe ischemic events, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnn Ital Chir
January 2025
Institute of Central Nervous System Vascular Injury and Repair, Jining Medical Science Research Institute, The First People's Hospital of Jining, 272000 Jining, Shandong, China.
Aim: This study aims to report a rare case of an embolization protection device (EPD) entrapment during Carotid Artery Stent (CAS) and to discuss the management strategy, including open surgery and concurrent carotid endarterectomy (CEA).
Case Presentation: A 71-year-old female presented with left limb weakness and unclear speech following CAS. Imaging revealed a new cerebral infarction and right internal carotid artery stenosis.
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