Commuting patterns among Italian nurses: a cross-sectional study.

UNLABELLED: Commuting is an additional burden that affects working stress, reduces leisure time and raises the risk of accidents. Little data are available about nurses' commuting patterns or the impact of commuting on their lives. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to describe commuting patterns among Italian nurses and to explore possible associations with nurses' intention to change job. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in central Italy. Nurses were invited to participate through a variety of public measures. Those participating completed an online questionnaire available on a website established for this specific purpose. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-five nurses participated. The mean distance covered every day to go to work and back home is 30.8 km. A total of 43.3% of nurses cover 25 km or more every day to work; 5.7% cover 100 km or more. The mean time spent in commuting is 52.9 min daily. Furthermore, 14.5% of nurses spend every month commuting a time equal to or longer than the working time of 1 week. The mean monthly expenditure is 87.30 Euro (6% of mean salary). Nurses younger than 30 cover longer distances (P=0.0006), spend more time (P=0.001) and have higher expenditure (P=0.003) than their older colleagues. Willingness to change job seems associated with the use of public means of transportation (P=0.04). Nurses from the population under study cover longer distances, spend longer time in daily commuting and have higher monthly costs than the rest of the Italian workers' population. CONCLUSIONS: Travelling to work represents a non-negligible burden for nurses, particularly for younger nurses. Nurses seem to have lesser opportunities to rest and to recover energies than other workers. The Italian nurses' recruiting system may have a role in explaining our data. Further studies are needed to investigate the impact of nurses' commuting on the healthcare system.

Isolation measures for prevention of infection with respiratory pathogens in cystic fibrosis: a systematic review.

Respiratory infections are the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). These infections are typically caused by a limited number of respiratory pathogens, particularly Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Since the 1980s, several outbreaks of unique strains of PA and BCC among CF patients attending the same CF care centres have been described, leading to a sharp decline in the patients' health. One of the measures adopted in CF centres to interrupt ongoing outbreaks is the separation of patients with a respiratory tract culture that is positive for PA or BCC from patients who are not infected. This type of measure has been implemented routinely in many CF centres to prevent cross-transmission of PA and BCC. The aim of this review was to determine what evidence is available to support the efficacy of isolation (or segregation) practices in preventing, delaying or reducing the risk for CF patients of acquiring PA and BCC. A systematic review of scientific literature from 1980 to 31 December 2004 was performed. Existing guidelines regarding infection control in CF were also analysed. In total, 398 relevant papers were retrieved. Only 10 well-designed studies were found that evaluated the efficacy of isolation practices in preventing the transmission of respiratory pathogens in CF care centres (one prospective controlled study, one retrospective cohort study, five 'before-after' studies and three cross-sectional studies. No systematic reviews or randomized controlled trials exist on this subject. In the absence of studies with an experimental, controlled design, the efficacy of isolation practices in preventing the transmission of respiratory pathogens in CF remains unproven. However, notwithstanding the considerable limits represented by the study designs, which were mainly retrospective, the observational studies reviewed seem to support the implementation of isolation (or segregation) measures to reduce the risk of transmission of BCC and PA in CF patients.

Impact of hospitalization on the sleep patterns of newborns, infants and toddlers admitted to a pediatric ward: a cross-sectional study.

AIM: Sleep is essential for children's physical and mental recovery and it is indispensable for their growth, for endocrine and for immune function, and for the development of cognitive behavioral skills. The purpose of this study is to describe the impact of hospitalization on the sleep patterns of newborns, infants and toddlers, as well as mothers' perceptions of any changes in their children's sleep patterns. METHODS: This was a single-centre cross-sectional study. The study included children aged up to 2 years who had been hospitalized for more than two days, selected by accidental sampling. Data were collected using an anonymous questionnaire with open and closed questions administered to mothers. RESULTS: Two hundred and one children aged on average 11.2 months (SD 10.3) were enrolled in the study. The percentage of children who at home used to sleep less than 5 hours a night increased by 4.7% in hospital, while the percentage of children sleeping 9 to 11 hours at home decreased by 5.9% in hospital. In hospital mothers put their children to bed later than at home. Indeed, the number of individuals going to bed between 9 and 10 p.m. decreased by 9.8% in hospital, while the number of children going to bed between 10 and 11 p.m. increased by 10.1%. The number of children who had 2 to 4 awakenings per night increased by 13.9% and the number of those who had 4 to 6 nocturnal awakenings increased by 4.8%; 50.5% of mothers reported that their children's sleep was interrupted by nurses to provide care. Mothers generally perceived their children's sleep as adequate, even if they noticed that their children were more restless and irritable. Mothers with only one child reported that they had more difficulty helping their children fall asleep (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: The study highlights the need to review the routine in paediatric wards on the basis of the sleep needs of children. Further studies are needed to estimate the effectiveness of the specific measures suggested by mothers.

Sweat testing in newborns positive to neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis.

Sweat chloride concentrations above 40 mmol/l are unusual in newborns screened for cystic fibrosis and should be followed up. Centiles of sweat chloride concentrations in newborns positive to cystic fibrosis neonatal screening are presented. There are no significant correlations between age at sweat testing and sweat chloride concentration or quantity of sweat collected.

Birth weight for gestational age centiles for Italian neonates.

OBJECTIVE: To provide centiles for birth weight (BW) according to gestational age (GA) and sex for infants born in Italy. METHODS: We used records of the whole neonatal population of Tuscany, a region in Italy, from July 1991 to June 2002 as resulting from the database of the cystic fibrosis neonatal screening program (n=290129). We excluded as unlikely for GA those BW that were more than two interquartile ranges above the 75th centile or below the 25th centile for each GA and gender group. RESULTS: We present the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 97th centiles of BW for GA from the 24th to 43rd week of gestation for male and female Italian neonates, as both tables and smoothed curves. CONCLUSIONS: The large size of the examined population allows us to provide up-to-date, reliable BW for GA centiles for Italian newborns, especially for lower GAs.

Is early use of pacifier a risk factor for diarrhea?

AIM: Non nutritive suckling has been always used by mothers for calming and comforting infants and young children. Previous studies have suggested that pacifiers may get contaminated but only three studies have shown a possible association between the use of pacifiers and diarrhea or enteric infections. The goal of this study was to investigate whether the early start of pacifier within the first month of life is a risk factor for diarrhea in early childhood. METHODS: Case-control study. Subjects 12 to 36 month old were recruited. Cases were children with at least 1 episode of diarrhea per year of life. RESULTS: Among cases (N.=63), those who had started using pacifier in the first month of life were 61.9%, while among controls (N.=78) they were 29.4%, OR 3.89, CI95% 1.92-7.85. Type and frequency of pacifier hygiene practices were not associated with diarrhea. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the recommendation to postpone pacifier use after the first month of life not to interfere with the duration of breastfeeding, may have also the effect to reduce the risk of episodes of diarrhea in the first three years of life.

Management of totally implantable vascular access devices in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease associated with recurrent lung infections, that represent a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Cystic fibrosis requires frequent antibiotic treatments, sometimes by mouth or via aerosol but often via the intravenous route. Totally implanted venous access devices (ports) allow an easy and safe vascular access for unlimited periods of time, and they can be used in CF to administer antibiotics and other i.v. infusions; if compared to external central venous catheters, ports are better tolerated, since they permit almost unlimited physical activity and do not interfere with patient's self-image. Though ports require a minimal level of care, they may be sometimes associated with relevant complications, which can be insertion-related (pneumothorax, arterial puncture, local hematoma), or management-related (infection, occlusion of the lumen, venous thrombosis). This article summarizes some recommendations on the management of ports in CF, considering the existing literature. Still, some issues remain unsolved and will need further research and studies.

The costs of treatment of early and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis patients.

The aim of cystic fibrosis (CF) care is to improve both the life expectancy and quality of life of patients. However, rising costs and limited resources of health services must be taken into account. There are many different antibiotic strategies for therapy of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in CF patients. In this 5-year retrospective study we found that the cost of treatment of initial infection is considerably lower than the cost of treating chronic P. aeruginosa infections. The percentage distribution of costs of antibiotic treatment in relationship to the administration route was considerably different between outpatients and inpatients. We observed an increase in antibiotic costs with the age of the patient and the decrease in FEV(1)values. The implementation of early eradication treatment, in addition to decreasing the prevalence of patients chronically infected by P. aeruginosa, might also bring about a notable decrease in costs.

Antibiotic therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis.

Antibiotic strategies against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients should consider the natural history of the P. aeruginosa infection, ranging from the first isolation of the germ in the airways to isolation at every microbiological culture, and the patient's clinical condition. Antibiotic treatment against P. aeruginosa given at the time of first isolation may prevent or delay chronic infection. The period of intermittent colonization can be considered the time before the development of mucoid P. aeruginosa phenotype. The optimal treatment strategy in this stage remains unclear in terms of agents used and duration of treatment. To treat acute exacerbation, the authors suggest using intravenous administration of two different classes of antibiotics. Maintenance antibiotics are administered to slow the decline in pulmonary function for P. aeruginosa chronic infection. The meaning of maintenance therapy has changed over time, beginning from intravenous quarterly anti-Pseudomonas antibiotics, irrespective of symptoms, to other strategies such as oral macrolides, ciprofloxacin or inhaled antibiotics (tobramycin and colistin). Aerosol delivery can provide a high concentration at the desired site with minimal absorption and therefore low risk of toxicity. There is scientific evidence that antibiotics are clinically effective in CF patients. Antibiotic selection should be based on periodic isolation and identification of pathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility.

Bone mineral density in cystic fibrosis patients under the age of 18 years.

AIM: The increase in life expectancy of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients has brought about a rise in new clinical problems in these patients, such as a decrease in bone mineral density (BMD). The cause of diminished BMD in CF is multi-factorial. METHODS: The aim of this cross-sectional study, conducted on 39 CF patients under the age of 18 years, was to evaluate the degree of bone mineralization and the prevalence of low BMD in these patients during a follow-up at the Cystic Fibrosis Regional Center of Tuscany, using a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan, and to then study the factors correlated with low BMD. RESULTS: Areas BMD values (g/cm2) and Z-score values were determined. Eighteen patients (46%) out of the our sample had decreased BMD, while 21 patients (54%) had normal values. A statistically significant association was found between BMD Z-score values and pancreatic insufficiency, BMI<5th percentile and DeltaF508 homozygosis. Subjects treated with oral steroid therapy had a 3.9 times greater risk of developing osteoporosis compared to non-treated subjects (95% C.I.: 1.07-22.6; R.R. 4.9). An association was found between BMD Z-score values and FEV1 values (r=0.29; P=0.06), physical activity total score values (r=0.22; P=0.19) and the Chrispin-Norman chest radiographic score (r=-0.31; P=0.06). CONCLUSION: Early identification of reduced bone mass values would permit early intervention to prevent the development of osteoporosis. Maintaining pulmonary function, guaranteeing optimal nutritional status, following an adequate program of physical activity and controlling steroid intake could maintain BMD over time.

[Incidence of nosocomial rotavirus infections in a pediatric hospital over a 3-year period]. / Incidenza di infezioni nosocomiali da Rotavirus in un Ospedale pediatrico in un periodo di 3 anni.

AIM: To estimate the incidence rate of hospital-acquired rotavirus infections (HRI) in a paediatric hospital in a 3-year period; the risk of HRI associated to age, sex, ward, season; the cost determined by HRI for the healthcare system. METHODS: Retrospective epidemiological study, carried out using hospital datasets, with the analysis of some clinical records. RESULTS: In the 2003-2005 period the HRI incidence rate was 1.9% (mean age 15.2 months, SD 11.8, range 1.5-49), with a decreasing trend over years. Children aged less than 8 months were at higher risk of HRI than others (RR 1.83, CI 95% 1.18-2.85) as well as were children admitted to a 0-18 months pediatric medicine ward (RR=2.84, CI 95% 1.78-4.5) and to an infectious diseases ward (RR=4.9, CI 95% 3.4-7). The incidence of HRI was higher in the winter than in the rest of the year (RR 1.59, CI 95% 1.07-2.36). The hospital stay of children with HRI was prolonged by a mean of 5.2 days compared to age, sex and comorbidity-matched controls. (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The method used in this study is easily reproducible. Data obtained can be used as internal quality indicators and to evaluate the performance of different hospital wards in infection control. Infection prevention activities should involve mothers and families of hospitalized children, as they perform on them a great deal of basic care and hygiene activities which are at risk for hospital cross-infections.

Early eradication therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis patients.

In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients early antibiotic treatment of lung infection has been shown to lead to Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradication. The present study determined: 1) the time period from eradication to new P. aeruginosa acquisition; 2) P. aeruginosa re-growth and new acquisition; and 3) the impact of eradication therapy on lung function, antimicrobial resistance, emergence of other pathogens and treatment costs. Ciprofloxacin and colistin were used to eradicate P. aeruginosa in 47 CF patients. Bacterial pathogens, lung function decline, P. aeruginosa antimicrobial resistance and anti-pseudomonal serum antibodies were assessed quarterly and compared with an age-matched CF control group. Additionally, costs of antibiotic therapy in both groups were assessed. Early antibiotic therapy leads to a P. aeruginosa free-period of a median (range) of 18 (4-80) months. New acquisition with different P. aeruginosa genotypes occurs in 73% of episodes. It also delays the decline of lung function compared with chronically infected patients, prevents the occurrence of antibiotic resistant P. aeruginosa strains, does not lead to emergence of other pathogens, and significantly reduces treatment costs. The treatment substantially lowers P. aeruginosa prevalence in CF. In conclusion, early antibiotic therapy exerts beneficial effects on the patient's clinical status and is cost-effective compared with conventional antibiotic therapy for chronically infected cystic fibrosis patients.