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2. Patch testing with the European baseline series and 10 added allergens : single centre study of 748 patientsKatja Adamič, Nisera Bajrović, Renato Eržen, Maja Jošt, Peter Kopač, Mitja Košnik, Nika Lalek, Mihaela Zidarn, Dejan Dinevski, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Background: The European baseline series (EBS) of contact allergens is subject to change. An allergen is considered for inclusion when routine patch testing of patients with suspected contact dermatitis results in ≥ 0.5% prevalence rate.
Objectives: We aimed to determine the frequency of sensitizations to 30 EBS allergens and 10 locally added allergens. Additionally, we assessed the strength and evolution of reactions to all tested allergens and co-reactivity of additional allergens.
Methods: Patch testing with our baseline series of 40 allergens was done in 748 consecutive adults. Tests were applied to the upper back and removed by patients after 48 hours. Readings were done on day 3 (D3) and D6 or D7 (D6/7). Positive reactions fulfilled the criteria of at least one plus (+) reaction. Retrospective analysis was done.
Results: Eight allergens not listed in the EBS had ≥ 0.5% prevalence rate (i.e., cocamidopropyl betaine, thiomersal, disperse blue mix 106/124, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, diazolidinyl urea, propylene glycol, Compositae mix II, and dexamethasone-21-phosphate), and 16.6% of positive reactions would have been missed without D6/7 readings.
Conclusion: We propose further studies to evaluate whether cocamidopropyl betaine, disperse blue mix 106/124, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3-diol, diazolidinyl urea, and Compositae mix II need to be added to the EBS.
Keywords: clinical epidemiology, baseline series, contact sensitization, patch tests, simultaneous reactivity
Published in DKUM: 13.07.2023; Views: 315; Downloads: 51
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5. Efficacy of a bundle approach in preventing the incidence of ventilator associated pneumonia (VAP)Sandra Burja, Tina Belec, Nika Bizjak, Jernej Mori, Andrej Markota, Andreja Sinkovič, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a potentially preventable iatrogenic illness that may develop following mechanical ventilation. A bundle for the prevention of VAP consists of different measures which may vary between institutions, and may include: elevation of the head of the bed, oral care with chlorhexidine, subglottic suctioning, daily assessment for extubation and the need for proton-pump inhibitors, use of closed suction systems, and maintaining endotracheal cuff pressure at 25 cmH2O. Our aim was to determine the efficacy of a VAP prevention bundle, consisting of the above-mentioned measures, by evaluating the incidence of VAP before (no-VAP-B group) and after (VAP-B group) the introduction of the bundle. We retrospectively evaluated the data for patients who were mechanically ventilated with an endotracheal tube, in the period between 1 September and 31 December 2014 (no-VAP-B group, n = 55, 54.5% males, mean age 67.8 ± 14.5 years) and between 1 January to 30 April 2015 (VAP-B group, n = 74, 62.1% males, mean age 64.8 ± 13.7 years). There were no statistically significant differences between no-VAP-B and VAP-B groups in demographic data, intensive care unit (ICU) mortality, hospital mortality, duration of ICU treatment, and duration of mechanical ventilation. No significant differences in the rates of VAP and early VAP (onset ≤7 days after intubation) were found between no-VAP-B and VAP-B groups (41.8% versus 25.7%, p = 0.06 and 10.9% versus 12.2%, p > 0.99, respectively). However, a significant decrease in the late VAP (onset >8 days after intubation) was found in VAP-B group compared to no-VAP-B group (13.5% versus 30.9%, p = 0.027). Overall, our results support the use of VAP prevention bundle in clinical practice.
Keywords: ventilator-associated pneumonia, VAP, primary prevention, epidemiology, medical devices, intratracheal intubation, bundle
Published in DKUM: 13.11.2017; Views: 1674; Downloads: 373
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6. Evaluation of arterial hypertension control in family practice in SloveniaMarjetka Korpar, Branimir Leskošek, Marjan Pajntar, Polonca Ferk, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: Objective: We performed a study on almost 20,000 Slovene patients with arterial hypertension (AH) to evaluate age- and gender-dependent blood pressure control, differences in the rate of AH control in the period 2002-2008, and to validate a potential impact of selected quality indicators on blood pressure control.
Methods: The study was conducted as a part of the "Quality of Healthcare in Slovenia" project, in agreement with the National Medical Ethics Committee of the Republic of Slovenia. Appropriate statistical analyses were performed and the results evaluated.
Results: Arterial hypertension control was relatively high (55.8%, 95% CI: 55.1-56.5) in the period 2002-2008 and improved significantly during that period. Based on our statistical model, the improved AH control in year 2006 compared to 2002 is particularly due to lower initial blood pressure values before treatment. Uncontrolled AH was largely attributed to uncontrolled systolic blood pressure. We found positive association between AH control and the frequency of blood pressure control in less than six-month time intervals.
Conclusions: According to our results, AH control in family practice in Slovenia is relatively high compared to other European countries, but the results refer only to patients visiting their family medicine physicians.
Keywords: arterial hypertension, epidemiology, treatment, quality indicators
Published in DKUM: 10.05.2017; Views: 1310; Downloads: 89
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