Impact of measurement and feedback on chlorhexidine gluconate bathing among intensive care unit patients: A multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether measurement and feedback of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) skin concentrations can improve CHG bathing practice across multiple intensive care units (ICUs). DESIGN: A before-and-after quality improvement study measuring patient CHG skin concentrations during 6 point-prevalence surveys (3 surveys each during baseline and intervention periods). SETTING: The study was conducted across 7 geographically diverse ICUs with routine CHG bathing. PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients in the medical ICU. METHODS: CHG skin concentrations were measured at the neck, axilla, and inguinal region using a semiquantitative colorimetric assay. Aggregate unit-level CHG skin concentration measurements from the baseline period and each intervention period survey were reported back to ICU leadership, which then used routine education and quality improvement activities to improve CHG bathing practice. We used multilevel linear models to assess the impact of intervention on CHG skin concentrations. RESULTS: We enrolled 681 (93%) of 736 eligible patients; 92% received a CHG bath prior to survey. At baseline, CHG skin concentrations were lowest on the neck, compared to axillary or inguinal regions (P < .001). CHG was not detected on 33% of necks, 19% of axillae, and 18% of inguinal regions (P < .001 for differences in body sites). During the intervention period, ICUs that used CHG-impregnated cloths had a 3-fold increase in patient CHG skin concentrations as compared to baseline (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Routine CHG bathing performance in the ICU varied across multiple hospitals. Measurement and feedback of CHG skin concentrations can be an important tool to improve CHG bathing practice.

Determinant factors for chronic kidney disease after partial nephrectomy.

The objective of this review is to evaluate the factors that determine the development or deterioration of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) after partial nephrectomy (PN). When current literature is reviewed, it is found that factors that influence renal function after partial nephrectomy, are multifactorial. Those are divided into pre-surgical factors, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, urolithiasis, obesity, metabolic syndrome among others; intra-surgical factors, like the surgical technique used, the remaining healthy tissue, the experience of the surgeon, the time and type of ischemia among others. Lastly, post-surgical factors, also impose some influence on the post-surgical renal performance. It was also found that minimally invasive surgery, in addition to its known advantages, seems to offer a greater field of action in the future that will allow more nephrons preservation in any future surgical scenario. Finally, the current trend is to perform PN on all patients, in whom surgery is technically feasible regardless of the approach used, without risking oncological outcomes, patient safety, and without being exposed to any additional complications.

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the prostate: a case report.

This report is of a 68-year-old male patient with a three-year history of severe, progressive, low urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) with a score of 20 points on the International Symptom Scale. The patient received alpha-1-blocker therapy without adequate response. Transurethral resection of the prostate was performed, and the anatomopathological report indicated the presence of a haematolymphoid small-cell neoplasia and glandulostromal prostatic hyperplasia. Posterior immunohistochemistry evaluation reported an extra-nodal marginal zone-B lymphoma non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The patient was followed up for five years by the urology and oncology departments. In the fourth year of follow-up, the patient had B symptoms (fever, night sweats and weight loss). At the same time, laboratory tests showed haemolytic anaemia; then a new bone marrow biopsy was carried out. The histopathological specimen showed six lymphoid aggregates, constituted by a B-cell population with intra-trabecular predominance and reactivity for CD20 and BCL-2. New thoracic and abdominal computed tomographies were performed without any findings suggestive of extra-prostatic spreading. Subsequently, a chemotherapy regimen was started on the patient with the following therapeutic scheme: Rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV per day, cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 IV per day, Vincristine 1.4 mg/m2 IV dose per day and Prednisone 40 mg/m2 on days 1-5 (R-CVP scheme) for 21 days, until he completed six cycles. No signs, symptoms or progression have been recorded.