Surgery News & Articles

1 Using a combined nursing and medical approach to reduce the incidence of central line associated bacteraemia in a New Zealand critical care unit: A clinical audit Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, May 3, 2013
Hocking C et al. - This paper outlines the effectiveness of using a combined nursing and medical approach in reducing central line associated bacteraemia in a New Zealand critical care unit. The study demonstrated a combined nursing and medical approach using central line bundles was effective in reducing the central line associated bacteraemia rate per 1000 line days and sustaining a median central line associated bacteraemia rate of zero.

2 Continuous on-line glucose measurement by microdialysis in a central vein. A pilot study Critical Care, May 16, 2013
Blixt C et al. – Tight glucose control in the ICU has been proven difficult with an increased risk for hypoglycaemic episodes. Also the variability of glucose may have an impact on morbidity. An accurate and feasible on–line/continuous measurement is therefore desired. In this study a central vein catheter with a microdialysis membrane in combination with an on–line analyzer for continuous monitoring of circulating glucose and lactate by the central route was tested. Continuous on–line ...

3 Prepackaged central line kits reduce procedural mistakes during central line insertion: a randomized controlled prospective trial BMC Medical Education, May 1, 2013
Fenik Y et al. - Authors assessed whether the use of prepackaged all-inclusive central line insertion kits reduces procedural mistakes during central line catheter insertion by novices. Prepackaged all-inclusive kits for novices improved the procedure quality and saved staff time resources in a controlled simulation environment. Future studies are needed to address whether central line kits also improve patient safety in hospital settings.

4 CLABSI prevention efforts result in up to 200,000 infections prevented in intensive care units EurekAlert!, May 14, 2013
New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 200,000 central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) have been prevented among patients in intensive care units (ICUs) since 1990. The study, published in the June issue of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, suggests that this progress is likely related to prevention strategies now common in hospitals ...

5 Health care failure mode and effect analysis to reduce nicu line-associated bloodstream infections Pediatrics, May 22, 2013
Chandonnet CJ et al. – central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) in NICU result in increased mortality, morbidity, and length of stay. The authors NICU experienced an increase in the number of CLABSIs over a 2–year period. They sought to reduce risks for CLABSIs using health care failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) by analyzing central line insertion, maintenance, and removal practices. The process of HFMEA helped reduce the CLABSI rate and reinforce the culture of ...

6 The impact of antibiotic impregnated PICC lines on the incidence of bacteremia in a regional burn center Burns, May 9, 2013
Armstrong SD et al. - The purpose of the study is to examine the impact of antibiotic impregnated Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines on the bacteremia rate in a regional burn center. Antibiotic impregnated PICC lines decrease the bacteremia rate in the burn population. This has potential benefits for both patient morbidity and mortality as well as potential cost savings for the healthcare system.

7 Relationship between crown-root angulation (collum angle) of maxillary central incisors in Class II, division 2 malocclusion and lower lip line ORTHODONTICS: The Art and Practice of Dentofacial Enhancement, May 6, 2013
Srinivasan B et al. - The present study aimed to measure the magnitude of the collum angle (crown-root angulation) of maxillary central incisors present in Class II, division 2 malocclusion and to relate the changes in its magnitude with variations in the lower lip line. Variations in magnitude of the collum angle with the change in the lower lip line suggest a probable etiologic role of the lower lip line in the development of the collum angle.

8 Adverse events associated with nevirapine and efavirenz-based first-line antiretroviral therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis AIDS, May 14, 2013
Shubber Z et al. - Since 2002, the WHO has recommended either nevirapine (NVP) or efavirenz (EFV) as part of first-line antiretroviral therapy. These two drugs are known to have differing toxicity profiles, but the risk of these toxicities overall is not well established. Compared to NVP, EFV is associated with a lower frequency of severe adverse events, in particular treatment discontinuations. This finding supports a move toward EFV-based therapy as the preferred ...

9 Impact of a multidimensional infection control approach on central line-associated bloodstream infections rates in adult intensive care units of 8 cities of Turkey: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials, May 6, 2013
Leblebicioglu H et al. - The aim of this study is to analyze the impact of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) multidimensional infection control approach to reduce the rates of CLAB in 13 ICUs of 13 INICC member hospitals from 8 cities of Turkey. The implementation of multidimensional infection control approach was associated with a significant reduction in the CLAB rates in adult ICUs of Turkey, and thus should be widely implemented.

10 Decreasing Central-Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Connecticut Intensive Care Units Journal for Healthcare Quality , February 7, 2013
Hong AL et al. - The purpose of this study was to determine whether the multifaceted intervention from the Michigan Keystone program could be implemented in Connecticut and to evaluate the impact on CLABSI rates in intensive care units (ICUs). The primary outcome was the NHSN-defined rate of CLABSI. Seventeen ICUs, representing 14 hospitals and 104,695 catheter days were analyzed. This study demonstrated that the multifaceted intervention used in the Keystone program could be ...