[SANITARY WASTE IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING: ATTITUDE OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS TOWARD ADVANCED MANAGEMENT OF SANITARY WASTE]. / Residuos sanitarios en el ámbito hospitalario (y 3).

OBJECTVE: The aim of this study was to assess the attitude of nurse assistants, nurses, physicians, and lab technicians about advanced management of medical waste. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of Attitude and explanatory variable degree of concordance between Attitude, Knowledge, and Risk Perception. The sample size was 176 health professionals from three hospitals in,the Barcelona area. A questionnaire of 44 items with responses measured on a Likert scale type questions and free and spontaneous association and incomplete sentences was used. RESULTS: Mean Attitude of health professionals surveyed was 4.40, with a standard deviation of 0.4 on a scale of 1-5, where 1 is considered a very negative and five a very positive Attitude. According to the values obtained with the Professional Category, the nurse assistants had an average value of 4.45 in Attitude, followed by nurses (4.36), physicians (4.27), and lab technicians (4.47). In the Pearson correlation, coefficients between Attitude, Risk Perception, Global Assessment, and level of Knowledge, values of r = 0.172 andp = 0.023 were obtained, r = -0.156 and p = 0.039 and r = 0.013 and p = 0.865 respectively. The mean values of the variables Knowledge, Risk Perception, Attitude, and Overall Rating were significantly different (ANOVA) in Knowledge level, according to Professional Category and Welfare Service, but not in other categories. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study suggest that health professionals generally have a very positive Attitude towards the management of medical waste. A significant relationship between Attitude and Risk Perception and Overall Rating was observed. In terms of the analysis of Variance, there was a significant difference in the level of Knowledge according to the Professional Category and the Assistance Service.

[MANAGEMENT OF HEALTHCARE WASTE IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING. UNDERSTANDING RISK MANAGEMENT]. / Gestión de los residuos sanitarios en el ámbito hospitalario (2).

UNLABELLED: The sanitary waste represents a potential hazard for health workers. Given the high risk of infection in labor accidents, the correct management of sanitary waste minimizes this risk and improves labor and environment conditions. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk perception with health professionals in relation to the advanced sorting and management of healthcare waste (HW). METHODOLOGY: The current study is a descriptive, cross-sectional. The sample size was 177 health workers (nurse assistants, nurses, physicians, lab technicians) from three hospitals in Barcelona (Catalonia). Homemade questionnaire and questions with a free and spontaneous association and incomplete sentences were used to analyze labor variables, perception of risk and personal security through a Likert scale. RESULTS: Using a score from 1 (the lowest perception of risk) to 5 (the high perception of risk) to assess the risk perception, the average value for nurse assistants, nurses, physicians, and lab technicians was 3.71, 3.75, 3.83 and 4.03, respectively. Referring to items with free and spontaneous response association, 44.8% of workers consider HW as a biohazard, 29.6% consider it as waste material, 22.1% state that it must be managed properly and 3.5% described it as unknown residues. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that all health professionals generally have a perception of high risk. The lab technicians have a higher perception of the real risk of inadequate management of HW A 63.2% report that everyone has to make a proper management to preserve their occupational health; the 59% consider that the HW are a biological risk to the general population and only the 47.8% that are harmful to public health. Although it should be noted that only 44.8% think that HW are toxic and dangerous.

[Perceptions of dependent elderly cared for by immigrant workers concerning the help they need and receive]. / ¿Cómo perciben los mayores a sus cuidadoras inmigrantes? Sobre la ayuda que necesitan y reciben en el domicilio.

INTRODUCTION: Social-demographic changes such as the increasing number of dependent elderly people, the incorporation of women into the workforce, and declining family size have led to the emergence of a new occupation, that of home care for elderly dependents. This work is usually carried out by women immigrants. Little is known about how this care is perceived by the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the daily lives of elderly people cared for by hired immigrants to identify aspects of their health and the care they receive. METHODOLOGY: A qualitative study conducted through twelve theoretical sampling interviews that were recorded, transcribed and analyzed with computer support of Atlas Ti V5. RESULTS: The elderly do not anticipate or prepare for the problems of old age. Their main concerns regarding health are illness, pain and death. All wish to remain as autonomous as possible. The need to arrange home care services is often first perceived by the family. Home-help workers assist in basic and instrumental daily activities and provide care and company. Cultural conflicts in the practice of care are rare. Despite general satisfaction with help received, the elderly consider that the workers lack specific training in caring for the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: The elderly are aware of the current difficulties of families to care for them and they are adapting to the new reality of home care. They value the worker who helps them because besides helping with housework, they provide company, entertainment and affection. Primary care nurses can play a key role in training immigrant workers in caring for the elderly.

Radio-guided procedure in minimally invasive surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism.

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, of choice in most cases of primary hyperparathyroidism, shows a high detection rate, based on precise preoperative localization by MIBI scintigraphy (SPECT/CT) and neck ultrasound. Radioguided minimally invasive parathyroidectomy is an even more effective technique, which shortens surgical times, maintains minimal incision and few complications, allows immediate verification of parathyroid adenoma removal and is especially interesting in patients with ectopic lesions or cervical surgical history. In this paper, the indications, protocols and differences between the two available radioguided parathyroid surgery procedures (MIBI and R.O.L.L.) are exposed.

Preoperative parathyroid localization. Relevance of MIBI SPECT-CT in adverse scenarios.

PURPOSE: Selective parathyroidectomy, the treatment of choice for primary hyperparathyroidism, requires precise preoperative localization. Our purpose was to compare the accuracy and concordance of pre-surgical MIBI parathyroid scintigraphy and ultrasonography, as well as to assess the relevance of hybrid acquisition (SPECT/CT) in compromised circumstances: low-weight or ectopic adenomas, coexisting thyroid disease and re-interventions. METHODS: The study included 223 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism operated in a single Surgical Unit from August 2016 to March 2021. Preoperative ultrasonography and double-phase MIBI were performed with early SPECT/CT acquisition. A minimally invasive surgical approach was initially attempted, except in patients with concomitant thyroid surgery or multiglandular parathyroid disease. RESULTS: Selective parathyroidectomy was accomplished in 179 patients (80.2%); cervicotomy and/or thoracoscopy in 44. Removal of the parathyroid lesion was achieved in 211 patients (94.6%), corresponding 204 (96.7%) to adenomas (37 ectopic). The cure rate was 94.2%. Preoperative MIBI SPECT/CT showed higher sensitivity and accuracy (84%; 80%) compared to ultrasound (72%; 71%), being more precise in defining the exact anatomical location (75.8% vs 68.7%). These differences reached statistical significance in ectopic glands. The existence of concomitant thyroid pathology did not decrease the sensitivity of SPECT/CT (84.2%). Mean parathyroid weight was 692.2mg (95%CI: 443.5-941) in MIBI-negative cases and 1145.9mg (95%CI: 983.6-1308.3) in MIBI-positive (p=0.001). Re-intervention was successful in the 8 patients with previous surgery. CONCLUSION: MIBI SPECT/CT presents greater sensitivity, accuracy and anatomical precision than ultrasound for preoperative parathyroid localization, even in the case of ectopic glands or coexisting thyroid pathology. The weight of the pathological gland is a significantly limiting factor.

High-risk clones and novel sequence type ST4497 of Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates producing different alleles of NDM-type and other carbapenemases from a single tertiary-care centre in Egypt.

Enterobacteria producing NDM carbapenemases represent a severe diagnostic and therapeutic challenge in healthcare settings. Infections caused by NDM-positive strains are usually associated with high mortality rates and very limited treatment options. A total number of 33 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP) isolates were included in this study, comprising 30 recovered from clinical diagnostic samples and 3 cultured from screening rectal swabs taken at patient admission. Bacterial identification was performed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by reference broth microdilution and a commercial automated method. Isolates were investigated for carbapenemase production using the ß-CARBA test, the modified carbapenem inactivation method (mCIM) and, for the 30 clinical isolates, by MALDI-TOF/MS, using the MBT STARⓇ-Carba IVD Kit. Carbapenem resistance genes were characterised by PCR and sequencing. Seven different blaNDM gene variants were identified in 94% of the isolates, whilst three variants of blaOXA-48-like were detected in 27% of the isolates. Most CRKP corresponded to high-risk clones (ST147, ST11 and ST15). Novel ST4497 is reported for the first time in this study as well as the first emergence of K. pneumoniae ST231 producing OXA-232 in Egypt. These results indicate an ongoing evolution of the blaNDM genes in our area and confirm the need for a maintained surveillance system in order to monitor the spread of these mobile blaNDM genes.

[Evaluation of the nurse working environment in health and social care intermediate care units in Catalonia]. / Evaluación del ambiente de trabajo de las enfermeras en las unidades sociosanitarias de atención intermedia de Cataluña.

INTRODUCTION: A favourable work environment contributes to greater job satisfaction and improved working conditions for nurses, a fact that could influence the quality of patient outcomes. The aim of the study is two-fold: Identifying types of centres, according to the working environment assessment made by nurses in intermediate care units, and describing the individual characteristics of nurses related to this assessment. METHODS: An observational, descriptive, prospective, cross-sectional, and multicentre study was conducted in the last quarter of 2014. Nurses in intermediate care units were given a questionnaire containing the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) which assesses five factors of the work environment using 31 items. Sociodemographic, employment conditions, professional and educational variables were also collected. RESULTS: From a sample of 501 nurses from 14 centres, 388 nurses participated (77% response). The mean score on the PES-NWI was 84.75. Nine centres scored a "favourable" working environment and five "mixed". The best valued factor was "work relations" and the worst was "resource provision/adaptation". Rotating shift work, working in several units at the same time, having management responsibilities, and having a master degree were the characteristics related to a better perception of the nursing work environment. CONCLUSIONS: In most centres, the working environment was perceived as favourable. Some employment conditions, professional, and educational characteristics of nurses were related to the work environment assessment.

Description of the OXA-23 ß-lactamase gene located within Tn2007 in a clinical isolate of Acinetobacter baumannii from Spain.

A carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii expressing blaOXA-23 was recovered from an intensive care unit patient in a third-level hospital from Spain. Genetic analysis showed the association of this carbapenemase with the transposon Tn2007 located in a plasmid of 10 kb. The isolate was classified as ST-1. This strain has shown a potential ability to displace other endemic strains in the hospital and is the first reported identification of A. baumannii carrying blaOXA-23 related to Tn2007 in Spain.

Characterisation of the first ongoing outbreak due to KPC-3-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ST512) in Spain.

The aim of this study was to characterise carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates that caused an outbreak in a hospital in the south of Spain, originating from a patient transferred in 2012 from Italy. Forty-four K. pneumoniae isolates, recovered from 28 patients, were screened by PCR for extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL) and carbapenemase genes and the products were further sequenced. Plasmids were transferred by electroporation and were classified using PCR-based Inc/rep typing and IncF subtyping. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used to determine the genetic relatedness of the isolates. All isolates yielded positive modified Hodge test results, harboured bla(SHV-11), bla(TEM-1) and bla(KPC-3) genes, showed an identical PFGE pattern, and were assigned to clone sequence type 512 (ST512). The bla(KPC-3) gene was located on a 140-kb K2:A-:B-plasmid. In conclusion, the successful K. pneumoniae ST512 clone caused a major outbreak in Spain from an imported case and is the first description of an outbreak in this country due to the KPC-3-producing K. pneumoniae ST512 clone.

Prognostic factors and staging systems in parathyroid cancer: a multicenter cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid carcinoma (PC) is an uncommon disease that generally is detected postoperatively and traditionally is associated with a poor prognosis. Our purpose was to evaluate treatment outcomes, prognostic factors, and usefulness of some proposed staging systems for this disease. METHODS: A multicenter review of patients with surgically resected PC was performed, led by the Spanish Association of Surgery. All surgical units affiliated with its endocrine surgery section were invited to answer a questionnaire that collected several hospital-related, clinical, biochemical, operative, pathologic, and follow-up data. Their relationships with prognosis were assessed by both univariate and multivariate analysis, as well as the effectiveness of three staging systems for parathyroid carcinoma. RESULT: Of the 6,863 patients undergoing parathyroidectomy, 62 (0.9%) had PC. Of them, 12 (19.3%) died, in 5 cases (8%) because of disease, and 14 (22.6%) suffered recurrence, after a median follow-up of 55 months. The most predictive independent variables on tumor recurrence were intraoperative tumor rupture (hazard ratio [HR] 6.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19-32.36; P = .030); the presence of mitotic figures within tumor parenchyma cells (HR 4.76; 95% CI 1.24-18.21; P = .022); and allocation in class III according to Schulte differentiated staging classification (HR 5.23; 95% CI 1.41-19.31; P = .013). As to disease-specific survival, poor outcomes were associated with intraoperative tumor rupture (HR 58.71; 95% CI 2.39-1,439.96; P = .013) and distant recurrence (HR 38.74; 95% CI 3.44-435.62; P = .003). CONCLUSION: In addition to factors associated with tumor histopathology and stage, prognosis of PC is greatly influenced by surgeon's performance, which emphasizes the importance of preoperative diagnosis.

Increased raw poultry meat colonization by extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in the south of Spain.

The present study was conducted to assess the prevalence of retail chicken and turkey meat colonized by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBLEC) in Seville, Spain. ESBLEC recovered from meat samples purchased in 2010 were characterized by specific PCR analysis for bla genes, phylogenetic groups and subgroups (genotypes) and O25b/pabB/B2 traits of ST131. Results were compared with those obtained in a previous study in 2007, when a high percentage of retail meat samples were found to be colonized by ESBLEC. The prevalence of retail poultry meat colonized by ESBLEC increased from 62.5% in 2007 to 93.3% in 2010 (p=0.005). Non-pathogenic B1 and A(1) genotypes accounted for more than 60% of the 60 isolates recovered. Sequence type ST131 or B2 phylogroup isolates were not detected. Clonal relatedness was detected in just 2 CTX-M-1-producing isolates from 2 chicken samples belonging to phylogenetic group A, genotype A(1). There continued to be a significantly high quinolone resistance, with 85.4% and 32.2% of isolates showing resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin, respectively. SHV-12 was the most common ESBL harbored by E. coli, although it has decreased in prevalence since 2007. Meanwhile, CTX-M ESBLs prevalence has increased. We conclude that the trend of colonization by ESBLECs-particularly CTX-M-producing isolates-in raw poultry meat has increased in a short period of time in our area.

Characterisation of clinical and food animal Escherichia coli isolates producing CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum ß-lactamase belonging to ST410 phylogroup A.

Seven phylogroup A CTX-M-15-producing Escherichia coli isolates recovered from clinical and meat samples were further characterised. All of them belonged to sequence type ST410. Only 2 of the 22 virulence genes investigated were detected. All isolates carried the fimH gene encoding type 1 fimbriae, and five isolates harboured the iucD gene encoding aerobactin siderophore. A group of five isolates showed 81.2% similarity by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), comprising three clinical isolates belonging to ONT:H9 and two food isolates belonging to O55:H9. Different HpaI digestion patterns were observed for plasmids, but all of them belonged to IncFIB group and harboured bla(CTX-M-15) associated with bla(OXA-1), bla(TEM), tetA, catB3 and aac(6')-Ib surrounded by an identical genetic environment. These findings showed the possibility of lateral gene transfer of bla(CTX-M-15) as well as other antibiotic resistance determinants between low-virulence food and clinical isolates.

[Comparison of 3 methods for determining sensitivity to imipenem and meropenem in Acinetobacter baumannii with a carbapenem-heteroresistant phenotype]. / Comparación de tres métodos para determinar la sensibilidad a imipenem y meropenem en Acinetobacter baumannii con fenotipo heterorresistente a carbapenemes.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed agreement among 3 assays for determining susceptibility to imipenem (IMP) and meropenem (MPM) of Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) heteroresistant to carbapenems (Hr-CP). METHODS: Thirty Ab clinical isolates belonging to 6 clones (REP-PCR) were studied, in which IMP and MPM MICs were between < or = 1 and > or = 8 mg/l by Wider system. MICs determined by Wider were compared with those obtained by microdilution (MD) and E-test. Errors in the clinical category were determined considering MD as the reference method. RESULTS: Twenty-five Ab were Hr-CP (growth of resistant colonies within the inhibition area of disks and E-test strips). Agreement for the MICs (+/- 1log(2)) in Hr-CP colonies was as follows: Wider vs. MD (96% IMP, 100% MPM), Wider vs. E-test (50% IMP, 64% MPM), MD vs. E-test (64% IMP, 60% MPM). Major errors were not observed. Minor errors and moderate errors for IMP included Wider vs. MD (40% and 0%), E-test vs. MD (40% and 12%), and disks vs. MD (36% and 8%). Agreement for the MICs considering colonies growing within the inhibition areas (E-test and disks) was Wider vs. E-test (8% IMP, 12% MPM), and MD vs. E-test (8% IMP and MPM). Major errors were not observed in this case either; minor errors and moderate errors for IMP were seen in E-test vs. MD (40% and 48%), and disks vs. MD (40% and 48%). CONCLUSION: Susceptibility testing methods based on microdilution (Wider system and MD) are not useful to detect subpopulations of Ab Hr-CP.