Short Peripheral Venous Catheters Contamination and the Dangers of Bloodstream Infection in Portugal: An Analytic Study.

Peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) are the most used vascular access devices in the world. However, failure rates remain considerably high, with complications such as PVC-related infections posing significant threats to patients' well-being. In Portugal, studies evaluating the contamination of these vascular medical devices and characterizing the associated microorganisms are scarce and lack insight into potential virulence factors. To address this gap, we analyzed 110 PVC tips collected in a large tertiary hospital in Portugal. Experiments followed Maki et al.'s semi-quantitative method for microbiological diagnosis. Staphylococcus spp. were subsequently studied for the antimicrobial susceptibility profile by disc diffusion method and based on the cefoxitin phenotype, were further classified into strains resistant to methicillin. Screening for the mecA gene was also done by a polymerase chain reaction and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)-vancomycin as determined by E-test, proteolytic and hemolytic activity on skimmed milk 1% plate and blood agar, respectively. The biofilm formation was evaluated on microplate reading through iodonitrotetrazolium chloride 95% (INT). Overall, 30% of PVCs were contaminated, and the most prevalent genus was Staphylococcus spp., 48.8%. This genus presented resistance to penicillin (91%), erythromycin (82%), ciprofloxacin (64%), and cefoxitin (59%). Thus, 59% of strains were considered resistant to methicillin; however, we detected the mecA gene in 82% of the isolates tested. Regarding the virulence factors, 36.4% presented α-hemolysis and 22.7% ß-hemolysis, 63.6% presented a positive result for the production of proteases, and 63.6% presented a biofilm formation capacity. Nearly 36.4% were simultaneously resistant to methicillin and showed expression of proteases and/or hemolysins, biofilm formation, and the MIC to vancomycin were greater than 2 µg/mL. Conclusion: PVCs were mainly contaminated with Staphylococcus spp., with high pathogenicity and resistance to antibiotics. The production of virulence factors strengthens the attachment and the permanence to the catheter's lumen. Quality improvement initiatives are needed to mitigate such results and enhance the quality and safety of the care provided in this field.

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Placement in a Cardiology Ward: A Focus Group Study of Nurses' Perspectives.

Intravenous therapy administration through peripheral venous catheters is one of the most common nursing procedures performed in clinical contexts. However, peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) remain insufficiently used by nurses and can be considered a potential alternative for patients who need aggressive intravenous therapy and/or therapy for extended periods. The purpose of this study was to understand nurses' perspectives about PICC implementation in their clinical practice. As part of an action-research project, three focus groups were developed in June 2019 with nineteen nurses of a cardiology ward from a Portuguese tertiary hospital. From the content analysis, two main categories emerged: 'nursing practices' and 'patients'. Nurses considered PICC beneficial for their clinical practice because it facilitates maintenance care and catheter replacement rates. Moreover, nurses suggested that, since there is a need for specific skills, the constitution of vascular access teams, as recommended by international guidelines, could be an advantage. Regarding patient benefits, nurses highlighted a decrease in the number of venipunctures and also of patient discomfort, which was associated with the number of peripheral venous catheters. Infection prevention was also indicated. As an emerging medical device used among clinicians, peripherally inserted central catheters seem to be essential to clinical practice.

Impact of an Innovative Securement Dressing and Tourniquet in Peripheral Intravenous Catheter-Related Complications and Contamination: An Interventional Study.

Reusable tourniquets and conventional securement dressings are considered risk factors for the occurrence of reported complications and catheter-related bloodstream infections. This study's purpose is to assess the impact of single-use disposable tourniquets and advanced occlusive polyurethane dressings with reinforced cloth borders on peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC)-related complications and contamination. A pre- and post-interventional prospective observational study was conducted in a cardiology ward of a tertiary hospital between April 2018 and February 2019. Overall, demographic and clinical data from 156 patients and PIVC-related outcomes were collected (n = 296) as well as PIVC tips for microbiological analysis (n = 90). In the pre-intervention phase (n = 118), complication rates of 62.1% were reported, while 44.1% of the PIVCs were contaminated (n = 34). In the post-intervention phase (n = 178), complication rates decreased to 57.3%, while contamination rates significantly decreased to 17.9% (p = 0.014; n = 56). Through a logistic regression, it was found that the use of innovative technologies reduces the chance of PIVC contamination by 79% (odds ratio (OR): 0.21; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.05-0.98; p = 0.046). Meanwhile, PIVC-related complications and fluid therapy emerged as predictors for PIVC contamination. Findings suggest that the adoption of these innovative devices in nurses' practice contributes to the significant reduction of PIVC contamination.

Is Femoral Version Associated with Changes in Hip Muscle Strength in Females with Symptomatic Femoroacetabular Impingement?

Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between femoral anteversion and hip muscle strength in subjects with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Method The femoral version angles described in the arthro-magnetic resonance images and isokinetic tests were retrospectively evaluated from July 2016 to December 2017. The inclusion criteria were: a) femoral version evaluated by the same radiologist; b) α angle ≥ 55°; and c) no limiting pain during the isokinetic test. Flexion/extension, abduction/adduction, and internal/external rotation peak torques were evaluated at 30° per second in 5 repetitions. The correlation between femoral version and muscle strength was evaluated by simple linear regression at a 5% significance level. Results A total of 37 females filled the inclusion criteria, and 51 symptomatic hips were evaluated. There was no correlation of the femoral anteversion in the flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation and internal rotation peak torques. Conclusion Femoral anteversion did not show a correlation with hip muscle strength in females with symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement.

Is Femoral Version Associated with Changes in Hip Muscle Strength in Females with Symptomatic Femoroacetabular Impingement? / A versão femoral está associada a alterações na força dos músculos do quadril em mulheres com impacto femoroacetabular sintomático?

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between femoral anteversion and hip muscle strength in subjects with femoroacetabular impingement syndrome. Method The femoral version angles described in the arthro-magnetic resonance images and isokinetic tests were retrospectively evaluated from July 2016 to December 2017. The inclusion criteria were: a) femoral version evaluated by the same radiologist; b) α angle ≥ 55°; and c) no limiting pain during the isokinetic test. Flexion/extension, abduction/ adduction, and internal/external rotation peak torques were evaluated at 30° per second in 5 repetitions. The correlation between femoral version and muscle strength was evaluated by simple linear regression at a 5% significance level. Results A total of 37 females filled the inclusion criteria, and 51 symptomatic hips were evaluated. There was no correlation of the femoral anteversion in the flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation and internal rotation peak torques. Conclusion Femoral anteversion did not show a correlation with hip muscle strength in females with symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement.

Resumo Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a associação da anteversão femoral e da força dos músculos do quadril em indivíduos com síndrome do impacto femoroacetabular. Método Os ângulos de versão femoral descritos nas imagens de ressonância magnética articular e os testes isocinéticos foram avaliados retrospectivamente entre julho de 2016 e dezembro de 2017. Os critérios de inclusão foram: a) versão femoral avaliada pelo mesmo radiologista; b) ângulo α ≥ 55°; e c) ausência de dor limitante durante o teste isocinético. Os picos de torque em flexão/extensão, abdução/adução e rotação interna/externa foram avaliados a 30°/s em 5 repetições. A correlação entre a versão femoral e a força muscular foi avaliada por meio de regressão linear simples, com nível de significância estatística de 5%. Resultados Um total de 37 mulheres atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. Foram avaliados 51 quadris sintomáticos. Não houve correlação da anteversão femoral nos picos de torque em flexão, extensão, abdução, adução, rotação externa e rotação interna. Conclusão A anteversão femoral não foi correlacionada à força dos músculos do quadril em mulheres com impacto femoroacetabular sintomático.