[Re-organization of health services in Italy and the role of medical directors of hospitals and local health units]. / Il Direttore sanitario aziendale e il processo di riorganizzazione dei servizi ospedalieri e territoriali.

Health authorities, medical directors and managers are called to face increasing and inter-related challenges regarding the ongoing financial crisis, aging of the population and the need to acquire innovative medical technologies. These challenges need to be tackled in order to ensure sustainability of the healthcare systems and appropriateness and quality of healthcare services. In Italy, the role of medical directors has progressively evolved over the years and now requires strengthened managerial skills and additional professional expertise and skills to plan, implement and evaluate the new systems of government. We performed an extensive literature review and a qualitative study involving six semi-structured interviews with key actors (health managers) in order to explore and clarify the possible future role of medical directors in Italy and what training should be provided to residents in Hygiene and Preventive Medicine.

Influenza and immunization: a quantitative study of media coverage in the season of the «Fluad case¼.

BACKGROUND: Seasonal influenza generates serious health and economic losses. In the last influenza season, the report of three deaths originally blamed on the Fluad vaccine drew widespread attention from the media and is likely to have had a major negative impact on vaccine uptake. OBJECTIVE: We quantitatively analyzed media coverage on influenza and immunization-related topics on all published issues of the Italian newspaper ranking first in circulation, over one year. DESIGN: We retrieved relevant key words and articles, reporting on article topic, length, position, and approach to immunization, and on other selected indicators' summary statistics, trends, and correspondence with key events. RESULTS: Selected key words were retrieved 798 times over the study period, 34% specifically focusing on influenza. The average number of influenza-related key words per issue was 96%higher in the four-day «uncertainty¼ period from when the deaths were first reported to the release of the test results disproving any causal association between the deaths and the vaccine (time frame #1), as compared to the whole study period. Ninety relevant articles were included in the analysis, 51%focusing on influenza, the average number/issue being 97%higher during time frame #1. During time frame #1, articles were also longer and located in the main sections of the newspapers. No articles were published at the launch of the seasonal influenza immunization campaign. CONCLUSION: We propose an analytic model of media monitoring that could be effectively applied to support health authorities and representatives of the scientific community in conveying health education messages through the media.

Reducing external drainage-related cerebrospinal fluid infections through implementation of a multidisciplinary protocol: experience in a paediatric hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of external cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drain-related CNS infections before and after implementation of a protocol for their prevention. DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study, with comparison of incidence before and after the implementation of the intervention. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Rome, Italy. Children receiving an external cerebrospinal fluid drain from 1 January 2013 to 31 March 2015. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Drain-related infections. RESULTS: Fifty-two patients were included in the study. Before protocol implementation, cumulative incidence was 14 per 100 drains. Incidence rate was 8/1,000 catheter-days. After protocol implementation, cumulative incidence and incidence rate were 6.7 per 100 drains and 4.6 per 1,000 catheter-days (p=0.61 and p=0.2 versus the pre-intervention period, respectively). Infected patients were significantly younger (median age: 16.5 days vs 13.4 months; p=0.026), had a significantly higher number of procedures (5 vs 1 procedure per patient; p <0.0001) and were most frequently affected by post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus of premature newborns (50% vs 16.7%; p=0.039), compared to non-infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: After protocol implementation, we observed a reduction of incidence of CSF drain-related infections, though the short post-intervention period limited the power of the study to detect a significant difference. Patients <1 year of age, with multiple interventions and post-haemorrhagic hydrocephalus had higher risk of CSF drain-related infections.

Antibiotic resistance as a major public health concern: epidemiology and economic impact.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is mainly sustained by the improper use of antibiotics and has become a global public health concern both in the field of human and animal health. Italy has the highest prevalence of AMR among European countries, in particular carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, which reached 34.3% in 2013. Multidrug-resistant microorganisms' infections are associated with increased risk of complications, higher hospitalization rates, increased healthcare costs, loss of productivity and increased mortality. This paper summarizes the most recent epidemiological data regarding the spread of antibiotic resistance in Italy, consumption and economic impact, outlining the need for timely action and integrated approaches in all countries.

Legionella control in the water system of antiquated hospital buildings by shock and continuous hyperchlorination: 5 years experience.

BACKGROUND: To control the presence of Legionella in an old hospital water system, an integrated strategy of water disinfection-filtration was implemented in the university hospital Umberto I in Rome. METHODS: Due to antiquated buildings, hospital water system design and hospital extension (38 buildings), shock hyperchlorination (sodium hypochlorite, 20-50 ppm of free chlorine at distal points for 1-2 h) followed by continuous hyperchlorination (0.5-1.0 mg/L at distal points) were adopted, and microbiological and chemical monitoring of the water supply was carried out in the university hospital (December 2006-December 2011). RESULTS: Overall, 1308 samples of cold <20°C (44.5%), mixed ≥20°C ≤ 45°C (37.7%) and hot >45°C (17.8%) water were collected, determining residual free chlorine (0.43 ± 0.44 mg/L), pH (7.43 ± 0.29) and trihalomethanes (8.97 ± 18.56 µg/L). Legionella was isolated in 102 (9.8%) out of 1.041 water samples without filters (L. pneumophila sg 1 17.6%, L. pneumophila sg 2-14 28.4%, L. non pneumophila 53.9%), and in none of the 267 samples with filters. Legionella was recovered in 23 buildings out of 38 and 29 samples (28.4%) exceeded 103 cfu/L. When considering the disinfection treatment Legionella was isolated: before shock hyperchlorination (21.1%), 15 days after shock hyperchlorination (7.8%), 30 days after shock hyperchlorination (3.5%), during continuous hyperchlorination (5.5%) and without continuous hyperchlorination (27.3%). Continuous hyperchlorination following the shock treatment achieved >70% reduction of positive samples, whereas no continuous hyperchlorination after shock treatment was more frequently associated to Legionella isolation (OR 6.41; 95% CI 3.10-13.26; p <0.001). Independent risk factors for Legionella isolation were: residual free chlorine <0.5 mg/L (OR 13.0; 95% CI 1.37 - 123.2; p <0.03), water T° ≥20°C ≤ 45°C (OR 12.0; 95% CI 1.28 - 111.48; p <0.03) and no continuous hyperchlorination after shock treatment (OR 10.3; 95% CI 1.06 - 100.05; p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Shock and continuous hyperchlorination achieved significant Legionella reduction, but effective chlorine levels (>0.5 < 1.0 mg/L) deteriorated water quality (organoleptic and chemical). However, shock and continuous hyperchlorination remains a valid-term option in old buildings with no water system rational design, managing problems due to hospital extension and absence of a proper hot water recirculation system.

[Human Papillomavirus infection and vaccination: knowledge and attitudes of Italian general practitioners]. / Infezione da Papillomavirus umano e vaccinazione: conoscenze e ruolo dei medici di medicina generale.

OBJECTIVE: To assess General Pratictioner's (GPs) knowledge and attitudes about HPV infection and prevention. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS: A semi-structured survey was conducted from November to December 2013 among Italian GPs. Descriptive and univariate analyses were carried out. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES AND RESULTS: 938 GPs were included in the study. 15% participated in continuing medical education courses focusing on HPV. GPs identified as HPV transmission routes: sexual (100%), cutaneous (15%), transplacental (13%), haematic (9%) and by air (2%); they considered HPV-related diseases: cervical (98%), vulvar and vaginal (42%), anal (39%), penile (38%) and oral (38%) cancer, genital warts (79%) and respiratory papillomatosis (12%). They knew HPV vaccination is to prevent HPV-associated cancer (60%), in particular cervical cancer (35%), genital warts (3%) and sexually transmitted diseases (2%). A total of 73% were aware of the existence of both available vaccines, 69% believed that immunization target population should be females before initiation of sexual activity, 87% knew the age of vaccine administration. No significant difference in knowledge was retrieved by age, gender, level of education or region of origin. CONCLUSION: We report a lack of knowledge on HPV infection and vaccination in GPs. GPs have a key role in the Italian health system. Although 12-year old patients are a small percentage of their patients, it is of fundamental importance to promote medical education and training among GPs in order to meet HPV coverage targets and control HPV-associated diseases.