Timing of emergency medical services activations for falls.

Objective: Falls are a major challenge to public health, particularly among older adults. Understanding factors that influence fall risk is pivotal in the prevention of falls and fall-related injuries. This study evaluated the timing of emergency medical service (EMS) activations for falls and transport patterns for adults age ≥65. Methods: A patient care report system at a single fire-based emergency medical service agency in a suburban, Midwest city was retrospectively reviewed. Type of call (lift assist/fall), time of injury (time, day, and month), and demographics (sex, age) were collected for residents age ≥65 who activated 9-1-1 for a lift assist or fall. Results: 1169 calls met inclusion criteria. Mornings and afternoons were the time of day associated with falls (33 % and 36 % of EMS activations, respectively, vs. 21 % and 10 % for evenings and nights, respectively; p = 0.002) while day of the week and month were not associated with falls or lift assists. More males requested lift assists than females (256 vs. 238) and more females called for falls than males (408 vs. 267; p < 0.001). Falls were more likely to be associated with transport to the hospital than lift assists (78% vs. 7 %). Female sex was associated with increased risk for transport to the hospital (60 % of females vs. 40 % of males; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Mornings and afternoons were associated with increased risk for falls and sex (female) with increased risk for transport to the hospital.

Genetic Analyses of Rare ESBL ST628 Klebsiella pneumoniae Detected during a Protracted Nosocomial Outbreak in the United Kingdom.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) cultures from a hospital-wide outbreak in the UK, which lasted for over 12 months, were sequenced. We sought to sequence and genetically characterise the outbreak strain. Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST) was performed on 65 K. pneumoniae isolates saved from the outbreak. All isolates were sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) MinION flowcell: 10 isolates, including the isolate with the earliest collection date in 2017, were additionally sequenced on the NovaSeq 6000 platform to build high-accuracy nanopore-illumina assemblies. Among the sequenced strains, 60 were typed as ST628. 96.6% (n = 58/60) ST628 strains harboured a large ~247-kb FIB(K) plasmid carrying up to 11 antimicrobial resistance genes, including the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) gene, blaCTX-M-15. Clonality between the outbreak isolates was confirmed using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing. The outbreak strains were phylogenetically related to clinical ST628 strains identified in 2012, 6 years prior to the outbreak. A rare ESBL K. pneumoniae K2 ST628 strain harbouring a multi-drug resistant (MDR) plasmid encoding the ESBL gene blaCTX-M-15 was detected across multiple independent wards during the protracted nosocomial outbreak. Surveillance of this strain is recommended to prevent future nosocomial outbreaks.

Skeletal muscle atrophy in clinical and preclinical models of chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are often regarded as experiencing wasting of muscle mass and declining muscle strength and function, collectively termed sarcopenia. The extent of skeletal muscle wasting in clinical and preclinical CKD populations is unclear. We evaluated skeletal muscle atrophy in preclinical and clinical models of CKD, with multiple sub-analyses for muscle mass assessment methods, CKD severity, sex and across the different preclinical models of CKD. We performed a systematic literature review of clinical and preclinical studies that measured muscle mass/size using the following databases: Ovid Medline, Embase and Scopus. A random effects meta-analysis was utilized to determine standard mean difference (SMD; Hedges' g) between healthy and CKD. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic. Preclinical study quality was assessed via the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation and clinical studies quality was assessed via the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This study was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020180737) prior to initiation of the search. A total of 111 studies were included in this analysis using the following subgroups: 106 studies in the primary CKD analysis, 18 studies that accounted for diabetes and 7 kidney transplant studies. Significant atrophy was demonstrated in 78% of the preclinical studies and 49% of the clinical studies. The random effects model demonstrated a medium overall SMD (SMD = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.52-0.64) when combining clinical and preclinical studies, a medium SMD for the clinical population (SMD = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.42-0.55; all stages) and a large SMD for preclinical CKD (SMD = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.76-1.14). Further sub-analyses were performed based upon assessment methods, disease status and animal model. Muscle atrophy was reported in 49% of the clinical studies, paired with small mean differences. Preclinical studies reported significant atrophy in 78% of studies, with large mean differences. Across multiple clinical sub-analyses such as severity of CKD, dialysis modality and diabetes, a medium mean difference was found. Sub-analyses in both clinical and preclinical studies found a large mean difference for males and medium for females suggesting sex-specific implications. Muscle atrophy differences varied based upon assessment method for clinical and preclinical studies. Limitations in study design prevented conclusions to be made about the extent of muscle loss with disease progression, or the impact of dialysis. Future work would benefit from the use of standardized measurement methods and consistent clinical staging to improve our understanding of atrophy changes in CKD progression, and analysis of biological sex differences.

Microbial diversity and antimicrobial resistance in faecal samples from acute medical patients assessed through metagenomic sequencing.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to global public health. However, unsatisfactory approaches to directly measuring the AMR burden carried by individuals has hampered efforts to assess interventions aimed at reducing selection for AMR. Metagenomics can provide accurate detection and quantification of AMR genes within an individual person's faecal flora (their gut "resistome"). Using this approach, we aimed to test the hypothesis that differences in antimicrobial use across different hospitals in the United Kingdom will result in observable differences in the resistome of individual patients. Three National Health Service acute Hospital Trusts with markedly different antibiotic use and Clostridioides difficile infection rates collected faecal samples from anonymous patients which were discarded after C. difficile testing over a period of 9 to 15 months. Metagenomic DNA was extracted from these samples and sequenced using an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. The resulting sequencing reads were analysed for taxonomic composition and for the presence of AMR genes. Among 683 faecal metagenomes we found huge variation between individuals in terms of taxonomic diversity (Shannon Index range 0.10-3.99) and carriage of AMR genes (Median 1.50 genes/cell/sample overall). We found no statistically significant differences in diversity (median Shannon index 2.16 (IQR 1.71-2.56), 2.15 (IQR 1.62-2.50) and 2.26 (IQR 1.55-2.51)) or carriage of AMR genes (median 1.37 genes/cell/sample (IQR 0.70-3.24), 1.70 (IQR 0.70-4.52) and 1.43 (IQR 0.55-3.71)) at the three trusts respectively. This was also the case across the sample collection period within the trusts. While we have not demonstrated differences over place or time using metagenomic sequencing of faecal discards, other sampling frameworks may be more suitable to determine whether organisational level differences in antibiotic use are associated with individual-level differences in burden of AMR carriage.

Antibiotic review kit for hospitals (ARK-Hospital): a stepped-wedge cluster-randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Strategies to reduce antibiotic overuse in hospitals depend on prescribers taking decisions to stop unnecessary antibiotic use. There is scarce evidence for how to support these decisions. We evaluated a multifaceted behaviour change intervention (ie, the antibiotic review kit) designed to reduce antibiotic use among adult acute general medical inpatients by increasing appropriate decisions to stop antibiotics at clinical review. METHODS: We performed a stepped-wedge, cluster (hospital)-randomised controlled trial using computer-generated sequence randomisation of eligible hospitals in seven calendar-time blocks in the UK. Hospitals were eligible for inclusion if they admitted adult non-elective general or medical inpatients, had a local representative to champion the intervention, and could provide the required study data. Hospital clusters were randomised to an implementation date occurring at 1-2 week intervals, and the date was concealed until 12 weeks before implementation, when local preparations were designed to start. The intervention effect was assessed using data from pseudonymised routine electronic health records, ward-level antibiotic dispensing, Clostridioides difficile tests, prescription audits, and an implementation process evaluation. Co-primary outcomes were monthly antibiotic defined daily doses per adult acute general medical admission (hospital-level, superiority) and all-cause mortality within 30 days of admission (patient level, non-inferiority margin of 5%). Outcomes were assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population (ie, excluding sites that withdrew before implementation). Intervention effects were assessed by use of interrupted time series analyses within each site, estimating overall effects through random-effects meta-analysis, with heterogeneity across prespecified potential modifiers assessed by use of meta-regression. This trial is completed and is registered with ISRCTN, ISRCTN12674243. FINDINGS: 58 hospital organisations expressed an interest in participating. Three pilot sites implemented the intervention between Sept 25 and Nov 20, 2017. 43 further sites were randomised to implement the intervention between Feb 12, 2018, and July 1, 2019, and seven sites withdrew before implementation. 39 sites were followed up for at least 14 months. Adjusted estimates showed reductions in total antibiotic defined daily doses per acute general medical admission (-4·8% per year, 95% CI -9·1 to -0·2) following the intervention. Among 7 160 421 acute general medical admissions, the ARK intervention was associated with an immediate change of -2·7% (95% CI -5·7 to 0·3) and sustained change of 3·0% (-0·1 to 6·2) in adjusted 30-day mortality. INTERPRETATION: The antibiotic review kit intervention resulted in sustained reductions in antibiotic use among adult acute general medical inpatients. The weak, inconsistent intervention effects on mortality are probably explained by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hospitals should use the antibiotic review kit to reduce antibiotic overuse. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Bicondylar Tibial Plateau Fractures: What Predicts Infection?

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify the patient, injury, and treatment factors associated with infection of bicondylar plateau fractures and to evaluate whether center variation exists. DESIGN: Retrospective review. SETTING: Eighteen academic trauma centers. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1,287 patients with 1,297 OTA type 41-C bicondylar tibia plateau fractures who underwent open reduction and internal fixation were included. Exclusion criteria were follow-up less than 120 days, insufficient documentation, and definitive treatment only with external fixation. INTERVENTION: Open reduction and internal fixation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Superficial and deep infection. RESULTS: One hundred one patients (7.8%) developed an infection. In multivariate regression analysis, diabetes (DM) (OR [odds ratio] 3.24; P ≤ 0.001), alcohol abuse (EtOH) (OR 1.8; P = 0.040), dual plating (OR 1.8; P ≤ 0.001), and temporary external fixation (OR 2.07; P = 0.013) were associated with infection. In a risk-adjusted model, we found center variation in infection rates (P = 0.030). DISCUSSION: In a large series of patients undergoing open reduction and internal fixation of bicondylar plateau fractures, the infection rate was 7.8%. Infection was associated with DM, EtOH, combined dual plating, and temporary external fixation. Center expertise may also play a role because one center had a statistically lower rate and two trended toward higher rates after adjusting for confounders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV-Therapeutic retrospective cohort study.

Automated referral to community paramedicine during 9-1-1 fall calls for resource activation.

BACKGROUND: We sought to improve the referral process to a community paramedicine (CP) program following a 9-1-1 encounter. METHODS: An electronic health record (EHR) for CP records with the ability to link to emergency EHR was identified and implemented with a single-click referral to the CP program. Referrals were tracked for 15 months before and after implementation. RESULTS: Referral capacity increased from an average of 14.2 referrals per month to 44.9 referrals per month. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest an EHR is a useful investment for CP programs and may be integral to efficient program operations.

Prevalence of insertion sequence elements in plasmids relating to mgrB gene disruption causing colistin resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Colistin is a last resort antibiotic for the treatment of carbapenemase producing Klebsiella pneumoniae. The disruption of the mgrB gene by insertion sequences (ISs) is a mechanism mediating colistin resistance. Plasmids encode mobilizable IS elements which integrate into the mgrB gene in K. pneumoniae causing gene inactivation and colistin resistance. The species prevalence of mgrB-gene disrupting insertion elements ISL3 (ISKpn25), IS5 (ISKpn26), ISKpn14, and IS903B present on plasmids were assessed. IS containing plasmids were also scanned for antimicrobial resistance genes, including carbapenem resistant genes. Plasmids encoding ISs are abundant in K. pneumoniae. IS903B was found in 28 unique Inc groups, while ISKpn25 was largely carried by IncFIB(pQil) plasmids. ISKpn26 and ISKpn14 were most often found associated with IncFII(pHN7A8) plasmids. Of the 34 unique countries which contained any of the IS elements, ISKpn25 was identified from 26. ISKpn26, ISKpn14, and IS903B ISs were identified from 89.3%, 44.9%, and 23.9% plasmid samples from China. Plasmids carrying ISKpn25, ISKpn14, and ISKpn26 IS have a 4.6-, 6.0-, and 6.6-fold higher carbapenemase gene count, respectively, relative to IS903B-carrying plasmids. IS903B bearing plasmids have a 20-, 5-, and 5-fold higher environmental source isolation count relative to ISKpn25, ISKpn14, and ISKpn26 bearing plasmids. ISKpn25 present on IncFIB(pQil) sourced from clinical settings is established across multiple countries, while ISKpn26, ISKpn14, and IS903B appear most often in China. Carbapenemase presence in tandem with IS elements may help promote an extensively drug resistant profile in K. pneumoniae limiting already narrow treatment options.

Assessment of Fall-Related Emergency Medical Service Calls and Transports after a Community-Level Fall-Prevention Initiative.

Background: Getting effective fall prevention into the homes of medically and physically vulnerable individuals is a critical public health challenge. Community paramedicine is emerging globally as a new model of care that allows emergency medical service units to evaluate and treat patients in non-emergency contexts for prevention efforts and chronic care management. The promise of community paramedicine as a delivery system for fall prevention that scales to community-level improvements in outcomes is compelling but untested.Objective: To study the impact of a community paramedic program's optimization of a fall prevention system entailing a clinical pathway and learning health system (called Community-FIT) on community-level fall-related emergency medical service utilization rates.Methods: We used an implementation science framework and quality improvement methods to design and optimize a fall prevention model of care that can be embedded within community paramedic operations. The model was implemented and optimized in an emergency medical service agency servicing a Midwestern city in the United States (∼35,000 residents). Primary outcome measures included relative risk reduction in the number of community-level fall-related 9-1-1 calls and fall-related hospital transports. Interrupted time series analysis was used to evaluate relative risk reduction from a 12-month baseline period (September 2016 - August 2017) to a 12-month post-implementation period (September 2018-August 2019).Results: Community paramedic home visits increased from 25 in 2017, to 236 in 2018, to 517 in 2019, indicating a large increase in the number of households that benefited from the efforts. A relative risk reduction of 0.66 (95% [CI] 0.53, 0.76) in the number of fall calls and 0.63 (95% [CI] 0.46, 0.75) in the number of fall-related calls resulting in transports to the hospital were observed.Conclusions: Community-FIT may offer a powerful mechanism for community paramedics to reduce fall-related 9-1-1 calls and transports to hospitals that can be implemented in emergency medical agencies across the country.

Barriers to the Initiation of Home Modifications for Older Adults for Fall Prevention.

INTRODUCTION: Home modifications are associated with decreased risk for falls and facilitate safe aging in place. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to procurement of home modifications for older adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional interviews by 2 separate (1 male and 1 female) researchers in a Midwestern city of home repair ("handyman") and construction businesses within 15 miles of the areas of interest (neighborhood with a high socioeconomic status and neighborhood with low socioeconomic status) with a publicly listed phone number (n = 98). Estimated cost, earliest date of installation, and duration for a home modification project (installation of 3 grab bars) were collected. RESULTS: At least 1 response was attained only 43% of the time (n = 42), and residential grab bar installations were not provided by most businesses (n = 24). The average quote for materials and labor was $394.31 (range $125-$1300). Five of the 7 businesses that responded to both researchers with the same representative differed in cost estimates, generally offering a reduced quote for the low socioeconomic status neighborhood by as much as $300. Quotes provided to the female researcher were also higher than those obtained by the male researcher by about $30 regardless of socioeconomic status. The average wait for home modifications was 23 days and the average anticipated duration of the project was 2.6 hours. DISCUSSION: There are financial and procedural barriers to accessing home modifications for older adults who independently attempt to acquire them. There is a need for pathways in clinical and community settings to reduce barriers to home modifications to reduce the risk of falls. CONCLUSION: Home modifications are a promising tool to reduce falls and fall-related injuries in older adults. However, further work to identify cost-effective and timely options to reduce acquisition barriers is necessary to leverage the preventive power of home modifications.

Effect of Cognitive Prehabilitation on the Incidence of Postoperative Delirium Among Older Adults Undergoing Major Noncardiac Surgery: The Neurobics Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Postoperative delirium in older adults is a common and costly complication after surgery. Cognitive reserve affects the risk of postoperative delirium, and thus preoperative augmentation of reserve as a preventive technique is of vital interest. Objective: To determine whether cognitive prehabilitation reduces the incidence of postoperative delirium among older adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This was a prospective, single-blinded randomized clinical trial conducted from March 2015 to August 2019 at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus. Patients 60 years and older undergoing major, noncardiac, nonneurological surgery under general anesthesia, with an expected hospital stay of at least 72 hours, were eligible for trial inclusion. Patients were excluded for preoperative cognitive dysfunction and active depression. Interventions: Participation in electronic, tablet-based preoperative cognitive exercise targeting memory, speed, attention, flexibility, and problem-solving functions. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was incidence of delirium between postoperative day 0 to day 7 or discharge, as measured by a brief Confusion Assessment Method, Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale, or a structured medical record review. Secondary outcomes compared delirium characteristics between patients in the intervention and control groups. Results: Of the 699 patients approached for trial participation, 322 completed consent and 268 were randomized. Subsequently, 17 patients were excluded, leaving 251 patients in the primary outcome analysis. A total of 125 patients in the intervention group and 126 control patients were included in the final analysis (median [interquartile range] age, 67 [63-71] years; 163 women [64.9%]). Ninety-seven percent of the patients in the intervention group completed some brain exercise (median, 4.6 [interquartile range, 1.31-7.4] hours). The delirium rate among control participants was 23.0% (29 of 126). With intention-to-treat analysis, the delirium rate in the intervention group was 14.4% (18 of 125; P = .08). Post hoc analysis removed 4 patients who did not attempt any cognitive exercise from the intervention group, yielding a delirium rate of 13.2% (16 of 121; P = .04). Secondary analyses among patients with delirium showed no differences in postoperative delirium onset day or duration or total delirium-positive days across study groups. Conclusions and Relevance: The intervention lowered delirium risk in patients who were at least minimally compliant. The ideal activities, timing, and effective dosage for cognitive exercise-based interventions to decrease postoperative delirium risk and burden need further study. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02230605.

Cost-benefit analysis of surveillance for surgical site infection following caesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the economic burden to the health service of surgical site infection following caesarean section and to identify potential savings achievable through implementation of a surveillance programme. DESIGN: Economic model to evaluate the costs and benefits of surveillance from community and hospital healthcare providers' perspective. SETTING: England. PARTICIPANTS: Women undergoing caesarean section in National Health Service hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Costs attributable to treatment and management of surgical site infection following caesarean section. RESULTS: The costs (2010) for a hospital carrying out 800 caesarean sections a year based on infection risk of 9.6% were estimated at £18 914 (95% CI 11 521 to 29 499) with 28% accounted for by community care (£5370). With inflation to 2019 prices, this equates to an estimated cost of £5.0 m for all caesarean sections performed annually in England 2018-2019, approximately £1866 and £93 per infection managed in hospital and community, respectively. The cost of surveillance for a hospital for one calendar quarter was estimated as £3747 (2010 costs). Modelling a decrease in risk of infection of 30%, 20% or 10% between successive surveillance periods indicated that a variable intermittent surveillance strategy achieved higher or similar net savings than continuous surveillance. Breakeven was reached sooner with the variable surveillance strategy than continuous surveillance when the baseline risk of infection was 10% or 15% and smaller loses with a baseline risk of 5%. CONCLUSION: Surveillance of surgical site infections after caesarean section with feedback of data to surgical teams offers a potentially effective means to reduce infection risk, improve patient experience and save money for the health service.

Developing a serocorrelate of protection against invasive group B streptococcus disease in pregnant women: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Group B streptococcus is the leading cause of infection in infants. Currently, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis is the major strategy to prevent invasive group B streptococcus disease. However, intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis does not prevent maternal sepsis, premature births, stillbirths or late-onset disease. Maternal vaccination may offer an alternative strategy. Multivalent polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine development is under way and a serocorrelate of protection is needed to expedite vaccine licensure. OBJECTIVES: The ultimate aim of this work is to determine the correlate of protection against the major group B streptococcus disease-causing serotypes in infants in the UK. The aim of this feasibility study is to test key operational aspects of the study design. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study of pregnant women and their infants in a 6-month period (1 July to 31 December 2018). SETTING: Five secondary and tertiary hospitals from London and South England. National iGBS disease surveillance was conducted in all trusts in England and Wales. PARTICIPANTS: Pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years who were delivering at one of the selected hospitals and who provided consent during the study period. There were no exclusion criteria. INTERVENTIONS: No interventions were performed. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (1) To test the feasibility of collecting serum at delivery from a large cohort of pregnant women. (2) To test the key operational aspects for a proposed large serocorrelates study. (3) To test the feasibility of collecting samples from those with invasive group B streptococcus. RESULTS: A total of 1823 women were recruited during the study period. Overall, 85% of serum samples were collected at three sites collecting only cord blood. At the two sites collecting maternal, cord and infant blood samples, the collection rate was 60%. A total of 614 women were screened for group B streptococcus with a colonisation rate of 22% (serotype distribution: 30% III, 25% Ia, 16% II, 14% Ib, 14% V and 1% IV). A blood sample was collected from 34 infants who were born to colonised women. Maternal and infant blood and the bacterial isolates for 15 newborns who developed invasive group B streptococcal disease during the study period were collected (serotype distribution: 29% III, 29% II, 21% Ia, 7% Ib, 7% IV and 7% V). LIMITATIONS: Recruitment and sample collection were dependent on the presence of research midwives rather than the whole clinical team. In addition, individualised consent limited the number of women who could be approached each day, and site set-up for the national surveillance study and the limited time period of this feasibility study limited recruitment of all eligible participants. CONCLUSIONS: We have verified the feasibility of collecting and processing rectovaginal swabs and blood samples in pregnant women, as well as samples from those with invasive group B streptococcal disease. We have made recommendations for the recruitment of cases within the proposed GBS3 study and for controls both within GBS3 and as an extension of this feasibility study. FUTURE WORK: A large case-control study comparing specific immunoglobulin G levels in mothers whose infants develop invasive group B streptococcal disease with those in colonised mothers whose infants do not develop invasive group B streptococcal disease is recommended. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN49326091; IRAS project identification number 246149/REC reference number 18/WM/0147. FUNDING: This project was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme and will be published in full in Health Technology Assessment; Vol. 23, No. 67. See the NIHR Journals Library website for further project information.

Group B streptococcus is often carried by healthy women and usually causes no problems. Group B streptococcus may be passed from mother to child, primarily through the birth canal, and, in rare cases, can cause serious disease (i.e. pneumonia, sepsis or meningitis) and even death in babies. It may be possible to prevent group B streptococcus disease in babies by giving a vaccine to pregnant women. The reason for vaccinating the mother is so that she can pass on protection (antibodies) during the pregnancy to her baby. A vaccine is currently being developed against group B streptococcus that aims to boost this protection. To help vaccine development progress faster, we need to find out how much antibody is actually needed to protect babies from group B streptococcus disease. A large study is needed to address this question; therefore, we have performed a feasibility study to assess the practicalities of performing this large study. Specifically, we will assess (1) women's willingness to participate in a swabbing and cord blood study, (2) the ability to collect swabs and cord blood once recruited, (3) the ability to identify group B streptococcus disease in this population and (4) the laboratory processing of samples. We recruited 1823 pregnant women from five maternity units in England in a 6-month period: 22% of all women delivering at all sites and 74% of those women who were approached. In three hospitals, cord blood samples from 85% of 1201 women were collected. In two hospitals, we collected 60% of maternal blood samples, 53% of cord blood samples and 99% of swabs from the vagina and rectum from 622 women. A total of 22% of these women carried group B streptococcus in their vagina or gut and we collected blood samples from 34 healthy babies born to these women. During the study, we collected samples from 15 babies who had developed severe group B streptococcus disease; four babies were born to women participating in the study and the rest were identified through national surveillance. In conclusion, we have verified the feasibility of collecting and processing swabs from the vagina and rectum and blood samples in pregnant women, as well as samples from babies who developed group B streptococcus disease. In addition, we have identified a number of strategies that could be adopted in a future study in order to increase recruitment and sample collection.

The role of sociodemographics in the occurrence of orthopaedic trauma.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to determine the effects of sociodemographic factors on the occurrence of orthopaedic injuries in an adult population presenting to a level 1 trauma center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who received orthopaedic trauma care at a level 1 academic trauma center. RESULTS: 20,919 orthopaedic trauma injury cases were treated at an academic level 1 trauma center between 01 January 1993 and 27 August 2017. Following application of inclusion/exclusion criteria, a total of 14,654 patients were retrieved for analysis. Out of 14,654 patients, 4602 (31.4%) belonged to low socioeconomic status (SES), 4961 (32.0%) to middle SES and 5361 (36.6%) to high SES. Following adjustment for age, sex, race, insurance status and injury severity score (ISS), patients belonging to middle SES vs. low SES (OR 0.77 [95% CI 0.63-0.94]; p = 0.009) or high SES vs. low SES (OR 0.77 [95% CI 0.62-0.95]; p = 0.016) had lower odds of receiving a penetrating injury as compared to a blunt injury. CONCLUSION: The results from this study indicate that a link exists between sociodemographic factors and the occurrence of orthopaedic injuries presenting to a level 1 trauma center. The most common cause of injury varied within age groups, by sex, and within the different socioeconomic groups.

Resurgence of scarlet fever in England, 2014-16: a population-based surveillance study.

BACKGROUND: After decades of decreasing scarlet fever incidence, a dramatic increase was seen in England beginning in 2014. Investigations were launched to assess clinical and epidemiological patterns and identify potential causes. METHODS: In this population-based surveillance study, we analysed statutory scarlet fever notifications held by Public Health England from 1911 to 2016 in England and Wales to identify periods of sudden escalation of scarlet fever. Characteristics of cases and outbreaks in England including frequency of complications and hospital admissions were assessed and compared with the pre-upsurge period. Isolates from throat swabs were obtained and were emm typed. FINDINGS: Data were retrieved for our analysis between Jan 1, 1911, and Dec 31, 2016. Population rates of scarlet fever increased by a factor of three between 2013 and 2014 from 8·2 to 27·2 per 100 000 (rate ratio [RR] 3·34, 95% CI 3·23-3·45; p<0·0001); further increases were observed in 2015 (30·6 per 100 000) and in 2016 (33·2 per 100 000), which reached the highest number of cases (19 206) and rate of scarlet fever notifcation since 1967. The median age of cases in 2014 was 4 years (IQR 3-7) with an incidence of 186 per 100 000 children under age 10 years. All parts of England saw an increase in incidence, with 620 outbreaks reported in 2016. Hospital admissions for scarlet fever increased by 97% between 2013 and 2016; one in 40 cases were admitted for management of the condition or potential complications. Analysis of strains (n=303) identified a diversity of emm types with emm3 (43%), emm12 (15%), emm1 (11%), and emm4 (9%) being the most common. Longitudinal analysis identified 4-yearly periodicity in population incidence of scarlet fever but of consistently lower magnitude than the current escalation. INTERPRETATION: England is experiencing an unprecedented rise in scarlet fever with the highest incidence for nearly 50 years. Reasons for this escalation are unclear and identifying these remains a public health priority. FUNDING: None.

Descriptive epidemiology of Escherichia coli bacteraemia in England, April 2012 to March 2014.

We determined the incidence, risk factors and antimicrobial susceptibility associated with Escherichia coli bacteraemia in England over a 24 month period. Case data were obtained from the national mandatory surveillance database, with susceptibility data linked from LabBase2, a voluntary national microbiology database. Between April 2012 and March 2014, 66,512 E. coli bacteraemia cases were reported. Disease incidence increased by 6% from 60.4 per 100,000 population in 2012-13 to 63.5 per 100,000 population in 2013-14 (p < 0.0001). Rates of E. coli bacteraemia varied with patient age and sex, with 70.5% (46,883/66,512) of cases seen in patients aged ≥ 65 years and 52.4% (33,969/64,846) of cases in females. The most common underlying cause of bacteraemia was infection of the genital/urinary tract (41.1%; 27,328/66,512), of which 98.4% (26,891/27,328) were urinary tract infections (UTIs). The majority of cases (76.1%; 50,617/66,512) had positive blood cultures before or within two days of admission and were classified as community onset cases, however 15.7% (10,468/66,512) occurred in patients who had been hospitalised for over a week. Non-susceptibility to ciprofloxacin, third-generation cephalosporins, piperacillin-tazobactam, gentamicin and carbapenems were 18.4% (8,439/45,829), 10.4% (4,256/40,734), 10.2% (4,694/46,186), 9.7% (4,770/49,114) and 0.2% (91/42,986), respectively. Antibiotic non-susceptibility was higher in hospital-onset cases than for those presenting from the community (e.g. ciprofloxacin non-susceptibility was 22.1% (2,234/10,105) for hospital-onset vs 17.4% (5,920/34,069) for community-onset cases). Interventions to reduce the incidence of E. coli bacteraemia will have to target the community setting and UTIs if substantial reductions are to be realised.

Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Tissue Acquisition From Bone Metastases for Molecular Analyses.

BACKGROUND: The urgent need for castration-resistant prostate cancer molecular characterization to guide treatment has been constrained by the disease's predilection to metastasize primarily to bone. We hypothesized that the use of clinical and imaging criteria could maximize tissue acquisition from bone marrow biopsies (BMBs). We aimed to develop a score for the selection of patients undergoing BMB. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 115 BMBs were performed in 101 patients: 57 were included in a derivation set and 58 were used as the validation set. The clinical and laboratory data and prebiopsy computed tomography parameters (Hounsfield units [HUs]) were determined. A score for the prediction of biopsy positivity was developed from logistic regression analysis of the derivation set and tested in the validation set. RESULTS: Of the 115 biopsy specimens, 75 (62.5%) were positive; 35 (61.4%) in the test set and 40 (69%) in the validation set. On univariable analysis, hemoglobin (P = .019), lactate dehydrogenase (P = .003), prostate-specific antigen (P = .005), and mean HUs (P = .004) were selected. A score based on the LDH level (≥ 225 IU/L) and mean HUs (≥ 125) was developed in multivariate analysis and was associated with BMB positivity in the validation set (odds ratio, 5.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.9%-13.4%; P = .001). The area under the curve of the score was 0.79 in the test set and 0.77 in the validation set. CONCLUSION: BMB of the iliac crest is a feasible technique for obtaining tumor tissue for genomic analysis in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer metastatic to the bone. A signature based on the mean HUs and LDH level can predict a positive yield with acceptable internal validity. Prospective studies of independent cohorts are needed to establish the external validity of the score.

Agreement among healthcare professionals in ten European countries in diagnosing case-vignettes of surgical-site infections.

OBJECTIVE: Although surgical-site infection (SSI) rates are advocated as a major evaluation criterion, the reproducibility of SSI diagnosis is unknown. We assessed agreement in diagnosing SSI among specialists involved in SSI surveillance in Europe. METHODS: Twelve case-vignettes based on suspected SSI were submitted to 100 infection-control physicians (ICPs) and 86 surgeons in 10 European countries. Each participant scored eight randomly-assigned case-vignettes on a secure online relational database. The intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to assess agreement for SSI diagnosis on a 7-point Likert scale and the kappa coefficient to assess agreement for SSI depth on a three-point scale. RESULTS: Intra-specialty agreement for SSI diagnosis ranged across countries and specialties from 0.00 (95%CI, 0.00-0.35) to 0.65 (0.45-0.82). Inter-specialty agreement varied from 0.04 (0.00-0.62) in to 0.55 (0.37-0.74) in Germany. For all countries pooled, intra-specialty agreement was poor for surgeons (0.24, 0.14-0.42) and good for ICPs (0.41, 0.28-0.61). Reading SSI definitions improved agreement among ICPs (0.57) but not surgeons (0.09). Intra-specialty agreement for SSI depth ranged across countries and specialties from 0.05 (0.00-0.10) to 0.50 (0.45-0.55) and was not improved by reading SSI definition. CONCLUSION: Among ICPs and surgeons evaluating case-vignettes of suspected SSI, considerable disagreement occurred regarding the diagnosis, with variations across specialties and countries.

Emerging trends in the epidemiology of invasive group B streptococcal disease in England and Wales, 1991-2010.

BACKGROUND: Few cross-population studies examining the epidemiology of invasive group B streptococcal (GBS) disease have been undertaken. To identify longitudinal trends in the burden and characteristics of infections, national surveillance data on diagnoses in England and Wales from 1991 to 2010 were analyzed. METHODS: A parallel review of laboratory-confirmed invasive GBS infection surveillance reports and isolates submitted to the national reference laboratory was undertaken. Cases were defined as GBS isolated from a normally sterile site. RESULTS: A total of 21 386 reports of invasive GBS infection were made between 1991 and 2010. The annual rate of reports doubled over the 20 years from 1.48 to 2.99 per 100 000 population. Significant increases were seen in all age groups but most pronounced in adults. Rates of early-onset (0-6 days) infant disease fluctuated but showed a general rise between 2000 and 2010 from 0.28 to 0.41 per 1000 live births. Rates of late-onset (7-90 days) disease increased steadily between 1991 and 2010 from 0.11 to 0.29 per 1000 live births. Resistance to erythromycin increased markedly from 2.5% in 1991 to 15% in 2010. The distribution of serotypes varied according to patient age and over time with type III increasing among early-onset cases and decreasing in adults. CONCLUSIONS: Although risk of invasive GBS infection remains highest within the first few days of life, the relative burden of disease is shifting toward adults. The rise in incidence and antibiotic resistance makes development of an effective and safe vaccine all the more pressing.