[Factors determining inappropriate days of stay in a third-level hospital]. / Factores determinantes de la estancia inadecuada en un hospital de tercer nivel.

BACKGROUND: To identify the factors associated with a higher risk of inappropriate days of stay. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Crude and adjusted inappropriateness rates were calculated using negative binomial regression to obtain information about the relative risk of each variable. The Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP) was applied to collect information about patients' hospital stays. RESULTS: A total of 34.17% (95%CI, 33.28-35.08) of the stays were inappropriate. Women, age older than 65 years, elective admission, and stays in medical services showed the highest inappropriateness risk. Lack of correct patient follow-up in the medical record increased the risk of inappropriateness to 36%. CONCLUSIONS: Lack of continual registration of the patient's clinical course increased the risk of inappropriate days of stay in the hospital. The use of the negative binomial is a valid and simple option for analysis of this type of phenomenon.

[Viral gastroenteritis. Application of a protocol for astrovirus detection in childhood gastroenteritis]. / Gastroenteritis de etiología vírica. Aplicación de un protocolo para el diagnóstico de astrovirus en casos de gastroenteritis infantil.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis is an important subject in clinical virology which is mainly determined by the availability of reagents in laboratories, such as in the case of astrovirus. The aim of this study was to estimate the increase in the diagnostic performance achieved after the incorporation of astrovirus search in the diagnosis protocol of acute viral gastroenteritis. We also analyzed the trend of infections in other more commonly searched virus, such as rotavirus and enteric adenovirus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study during 20 years that included 12,980 stool samples processed for gastroenteritis virus diagnosis. Since 1997 an enzyme immunoassay for astrovirus has been applied to those samples that are negative for rotavirus and adenovirus. The study was divided in two periods (1986-1996 and 1997-2005, without and with astrovirus diagnosis) and the percentage of patients diagnosed in each period was compared. The trend of positive results as well as the percentage of positive results over all patients studied was modelled using the least squares method. RESULTS: The percentages of positive patients for rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus were 10.3%, 2.3% and 6.0% respectively, and there were uncommon co-infections by rotavirus and adenovirus (0.2%). The protocol applied to the astrovirus diagnosis increased the diagnosis rate up to 16.8% of the studied cases. Significant statistical differences were observed between the 2 study periods. A quadratic growth was observed in the results of positive diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The search of astrovirus in gastroenteritis cases by a selective protocol increased the diagnostic performance of gastrointestinal virus by 6%. In view of these results, it would be useful to implement astrovirus diagnosis in faeces with liquid or semi-liquid consistency when rotavirus and adenovirus detection is negative.

[Trend and seasonal variations of Campylobacter gastroenteritis in Valladolid, Spain. A five-year series, 2000-2004]. / Tendencia y variaciones estacionales de las gastroenteritis por Campylobacter en Valladolid. Serie de cinco años: 2000-2004.

BACKGROUND: Campylobacter is one of the main enteric pathogens, nevertheless many aspects of its epidemiology still are not well known. This study aims to analyze the trend and seasonal pattern in Valladolid. METHODS: A time series analysis was developed using an additive model. The information sources were the reports to the Microbiological Information System from the main hospitals in Valladolid. Patients who showed a positive coproculture to Campylobacter spp. in the period 2000-2004 were considered cases. Trend, seasonal coefficients, incidence rates by age, sex and year of notification and incidence rate ratios were calculated. RESULTS: A decreasing trend in reported cases was observed. A significant seasonal coefficient was obtained in the 6th four-week period (c=12,854, p = 0.023). The incidence rate was higher among those under five years of age and among males, rising up to 1841.9 cases (95% CI: 1797.2-1889.6) and 99.7 cases (95% CI: 96.9-102.4) per 100,000 inhabitants-year respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacter infections occurs to a greater extent in late springtime, affecting mainly children. It is necessary to delve deeper into the knowledge of the epidemiology of this microorganism at the local level with a multidisciplinary approach, taking both microbiological and epidemiological aspects into account.

Gastroenteritis by rotavirus in Spanish children. Analysis of the disease burden.

Rotavirus is one of the most common causes of gastroenteritis worldwide. With the commercialisation of effective rotavirus vaccines in Europe in sight, it is necessary to provide studies which evaluate the disease burden. The aim of this study is two-fold, on one hand, to determine the burden of the rotavirus disease in Spanish children under the age of five, and on the other, to estimate the economic cost of these hospitalizations. The study was undertaken during a 5 year period (2000-2004). The rotavirus hospitalization rate was determined using the Minimum Basic Data Set of the national hospital discharge register. The observed data were compared with those expected by applying a model developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adapted for European Countries. The financial expense of these hospitalizations was estimated. Of all admissions coded as gastroenteritis, 31.6% were due to rotavirus. The hospitalization rate by rotavirus was 480 cases per 100,000 children under five. These data are within the confidence range proposed by the adapted CDC model. The financial expense due to hospitalizations reaches 123,262 euros yearly in a Spanish University Hospital. In conclusion, rotavirus contributes significantly to the hospitalization of acute gastroenteritis. The rate of hospitalization by rotavirus is higher compared to other studies carried out in Spain. In view of future commercialisation of rotavirus vaccines, more in-depth analysis considering direct and indirect costs are necessary.

Factores determinantes de la estancia inadecuada en un hospital de tercer nivel / Factors determining inappropriate days of stay in a third-level hospital

Introducción: Identificar los factores asociados a un mayor riesgo de estancias inadecuadas. Material y método: Se calcularon las tasas crudas y ajustadas de inadecuación mediante regresión binomial negativa, obteniéndose los riesgos relativos para distintas variables. La recogida de datos se realizó mediante el Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol. Resultados: El 34,17% (intervalo de confianza del 95%, 33,28-35,08) de las estancias fueron inadecuadas. Las mujeres, los mayores de 65 años, los ingresos programados y las estancias en servicios médicos tuvieron más riesgo de inadecuación. La ausencia en la historia clínica de un seguimiento continuado del paciente incrementa el riesgo de inadecuación un 36%. Conclusiones: La ausencia de un registro continuado de la evolución clínica del paciente es un factor que incrementa el riesgo de estancias inadecuadas. La utilización de la binomial negativa es una alternativa válida y sencilla para el análisis de este tipo de fenómenos

Background: To identify the factors associated with a higher risk of inappropriate days of stay. Material and method: Crude and adjusted inappropriateness rates were calculated using negative binomial regression to obtain information about the relative risk of each variable. The Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP) was applied to collect information about patients' hospital stays. Results: A total of 34.17% (95%CI, 33.28-35.08) of the stays were inappropriate. Women, age older than 65 years, elective admission, and stays in medical services showed the highest inappropriateness risk. Lack of correct patient follow-up in the medical record increased the risk of inappropriateness to 36%. Conclusions: Lack of continual registration of the patient's clinical course increased the risk of inappropriate days of stay in the hospital. The use of the negative binomial is a valid and simple option for analysis of this type of phenomenon

Tendencia y variaciones estacionales de las gastroenteritis por Campylobacter en Valladolid: serie de cinco años: 2000-2004 / Trend and seasonal variations of Campylobacter gastroenteritis in Valladolid, Spain. A five-year series, 2000-2004

Fundamento: El Campylobacter es uno de los principales patógenos entéricos, sin embargo algunos aspectos de su epidemiología no se conocen con precisión. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar en la provincia de Valladolid la tendencia y variación estacional de las gastroenteritis que provoca. Métodos: Se realizó un análisis de series temporales mediante un modelo aditivo a partir de las declaraciones realizadas al Sistema de Información Microbiológico por los dos principales hospitales de la provincia de Valladolid. Se consideró como caso a los pacientes que presentaron un coprocultivo con un aislamiento de Campylobacter spp. en el período 2000- 2004. Se determinaron la tendencia, los coeficientes estacionales de la serie de casos, las tasas de incidencia en función de la edad, el sexo y el año de declaración y las razones de tasas. Resultados: Se observó una tendencia descendente en la declaración de casos durante el periodo de estudio y se detectó un coeficiente estacional significativo en la cuatrisemana seis (c=12,854, p=0,023). La tasa de incidencia fue mayor en los menores de cinco años y en los hombres, ascendiendo a 1841,9 casos (IC 95: 1797,2-1889,6) y 99,7 casos (IC 95% 96,9-102,4) por 100.000 habitantes-año respectivamente. Conclusiones: La infección por Campylobacter tiene lugar en mayor medida en la época del final de la primavera, afectando principalmente a los niños. Es necesario profundizar en el conocimiento de la epidemiología de este microorganismo a nivel local con un abordaje multidisciplinar que considere tanto aspectos microbiológicos como epidemiológicos

Background: Campylobacter is one of the main enteric pathogens, nevertheless many aspects of its epidemiology still are not well known. This study aims to analyze the trend and seasonal pattern in Valladolid. Methods: A time series analysis was developed using an additive model. The information sources were the reports to the Microbiological Information System from the main hospitals in Valladolid. Patients who showed a positive coproculture to Campylobacter spp. in the period 2000-2004 were considered cases. Trend, seasonal coefficients, incidence rates by age, sex and year of notification and incidence rate ratios were calculated. Results: A decreasing trend in reported cases was observed. A significant seasonal coefficient was obtained in the 6th four-week period (c=12,854, p=0,023). The incidence rate was higher among those under five years of age and among males, rising up to 1841.9 cases (95% CI: 1797.2- 1889.6) and 99.7 cases (95% CI: 96.9-102.4) per 100,000 inhabitants-year respectively. Conclusions: Campylobacter infections occurs to a greater extent in late springtime, affecting mainly children. It is necessary to delve deeper into the knowledge of the epidemiology of this microorganism at the local level with a multidisciplinary approach, taking both microbiological and epidemiological aspects into account

Gastroenteritis de etiología vírica. Aplicación de un protocolo para el diagnóstico de astrovirus en casos de gastroenteritis infantil / Viral gastroenteritis. Application of a protocol for astrovirus detection in childhood gastroenteritis

Fundamento y objetivo: El diagnóstico de gastroenteritis víricas es un importante capítulo en la virología clínica que está fundamentalmente condicionado por la disponibilidad de reactivos en los laboratorios, como en el caso del astrovirus. El objetivo de este estudio es estimar el incremento del rendimiento diagnóstico alcanzado tras la incorporación de la búsqueda de astrovirus en el protocolo de gastroenteritis víricas agudas y analizar la tendencia de la infección por otros virus de búsqueda más general, como son rotavirus y adenovirus entéricos. Material y método: Se trata de un estudio retrospectivo de 20 años en el que se procesaron 12.980 muestras de heces para diagnóstico de virus de gastroenteritis. Desde 1997 se ha aplicado a las muestras negativas para rotavirus y adenovirus un enzimoinmunoanálisis para astrovirus. Se ha dividido el tiempo de estudio en 2 períodos (1986-1996 y 1997-2005, sin y con diagnóstico de astrovirus, respectivamente) y se ha comparado el porcentaje de pacientes en los que se obtiene un diagnóstico etiológico de virus de gastroenteritis. Se han modelizado el componente de tendencia de la serie de resultados positivos y el porcentaje que suponen del total de pacientes estudiados mediante mínimos cuadrados. Resultados: El porcentaje de pacientes positivos para rotavirus, adenovirus y astrovirus fue del 10,3, el 2,3 y el 6,0%, respectivamente, y fue infrecuente la aparición de coinfecciones entre rotavirus y adenovirus (0,2%). El protocolo aplicado para el diagnóstico de astrovirus permite aumentar el rendimiento diagnóstico hasta un 16,8% de los casos estudiados, existiendo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los 2 períodos. Se ha observado un crecimiento cuadrático en el diagnóstico de gastroenteritis víricas durante el período de estudio. Conclusiones: La búsqueda de astrovirus en casos de gastroenteritis mediante un protocolo selectivo ha demostrado aumentar la rentabilidad diagnóstica de los virus enteropatógenos en un 6%. A la vista de los resultados, sería de utilidad ampliar la búsqueda de astrovirus en pacientes con heces de consistencia líquida o semilíquida cuando la detección de rotavirus y adenovirus sea negativa

Background and objective: Diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis is an important subject in clinical virology which is mainly determined by the availability of reagents in laboratories, such as in the case of astrovirus. The aim of this study was to estimate the increase in the diagnostic performance achieved after the incorporation of astrovirus search in the diagnosis protocol of acute viral gastroenteritis. We also analyzed the trend of infections in other more commonly searched virus, such as rotavirus and enteric adenovirus. Material and methods: Retrospective study during 20 years that included 12,980 stool samples processed for gastroenteritis virus diagnosis. Since 1997 an enzyme immunoassay for astrovirus has been applied to those samples that are negative for rotavirus and adenovirus. The study was divided in two periods (1986-1996 and 1997-2005, without and with astrovirus diagnosis) and the percentage of patients diagnosed in each period was compared. The trend of positive results as well as the percentage of positive results over all patients studied was modelled using the least squares method. Restults: The percentages of positive patients for rotavirus, adenovirus and astrovirus were 10.3%, 2.3% and 6.0% respectively, and there were uncommon co-infections by rotavirus and adenovirus (0.2%). The protocol applied to the astrovirus diagnosis increased the diagnosis rate up to 16.8% of the studied cases. Significant statistical differences were observed between the 2 study periods. A quadratic growth was observed in the results of positive diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis during the study period. Conclusions: The search of astrovirus in gastroenteritis cases by a selective protocol increased the diagnostic performance of gastrointestinal virus by 6%. In view of these results, it would be useful to implement astrovirus diagnosis in faeces with liquid or semi-liquid consistency when rotavirus and adenovirus detection is negative