Examining outpatients' hand hygiene behaviour and its relation to COVID-19 infection prevention measures.

BACKGROUND: The increasing demand for outpatient care is associated with a higher risk of infection transmission in these settings. However, there is limited research on infection prevention and control practices in ambulatory clinics, and none focuses on patients. AIM: To examine outpatients' hand hygiene behaviours, their determinants, and their associations with other infection prevention measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We observed the hand hygiene behaviour of one cohort of patients in one outpatient clinic and surveyed a separate sample in five clinics about their hand hygiene practice in outpatient facilities. A questionnaire based on the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) was used to examine predictors of the behaviour. Moreover, patients indicated their compliance with COVID-19 infection prevention measures, vaccination status, disease risk perception, and vaccine hesitancy. FINDINGS: Observed hand hygiene rates among 618 patients were low (12.8%), while 67.3% of the 300 surveyed patients indicated sanitizing their hands upon entering the clinic. The TDF domains 'memory, attention, and decision processes' and 'emotions' significantly predicted both current (today's) and general hand hygiene behaviour in outpatient clinics. Hand hygiene behaviour and compliance with COVID-19 infection prevention showed a positive association; however, no significant connection was found with patients' vaccination status, suggesting different behavioural motivators. CONCLUSION: Hand hygiene among outpatients should be improved through interventions focusing on helping patients remember to clean their hands. More research on infection prevention in outpatient facilities is needed to ensure patient safety.

Effectiveness of the lateral pedicled endonasal flap for prevention of restenosis in frontal sinus drillouts.

BACKGROUND: Frontal sinus median drainage according to Draf is an established procedure for achieving maximum drainage of the frontal sinus. Despite great efforts and several modifications, restenosis of the neo-ostium is still a persistent problem. This study presents an approach by implementing local mucosal flaps to prevent restenosis and compares it with the conventional technique without using the flap. METHODS: Description of endonasal, lateral pedicle mucosal flap. A Draf III procedure was performed on 156 patients between 2012 and 2021. Data for 123 of the included patients were retrospectively analyzed in terms of surgical indication, technique, postoperative aftercare and patency of the drainage pathway. The follow-up observation period was between 3 and 24 months. RESULTS: Treatment with the pedicle mucosal flap took place in 86 cases. 37 patients were treated as a control group without this flap. The analysis showed a significant association to the event "total closure of the drainage pathway" for surgical technique, as well as in the case of the presence of an allergy and the existence of Samter's triad. Furthermore, there was a significant association between the onset of "near total closure of the frontal sinus ostium" and Samter';s triad, CRS and revision surgery was involved. CONCLUSIONS: Use of an endonasal lateral pedicle flap for reconstruction of mucosal defects in frontal sinus surgery improves the long-term chances of a patent drainage pathway. Bone exposed by drilling was covered with a local mucosal flap for a faster epithelialization, healing and less scarring.

[Hygiene during otorhinolaryngological examinations : Prevention of nosocomial infections]. / Hygiene bei der HNO-Untersuchung : Vermeidung nosokomialer Infektionen.

Awareness of the importance of working as aseptically as possible first emerged in the 19th century. In the meantime, there is an obligation to prevent transmission and further spread of pathogens, including adherence to the Infection Protection Act. Pathogens can also survive for a long time on inanimate surfaces, from where they can be transferred via the hands of personnel and thus lead to infections. Studies have shown that even contamination of untouched instruments after an otorhinolaryngological examination is not a rare occurrence. The Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention (KRINKO) of the Robert Koch Institute gives recommendations for general hygiene measures (basic or standard hygiene). These must be adapted and implemented accordingly for the otorhinolaryngological examination. Due to the increasing development of resistance of nosocomial pathogens and the current pandemic, consistent implementation of these infection-prevention measures is important.

[Circadian rhythm : Influence on Epworth Sleepiness Scale score]. / Zirkadianer Rhythmus : Einfluss auf den Punktwert der Epworth-Schläfrigkeits-Skala.

BACKGROUND: The Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) is frequently used to determine daytime sleepiness in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. It is still unclear whether different levels of alertness induced by the circadian rhythm influence ESS score. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of circadian rhythm-dependent alertness on ESS performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a monocentric prospective noninterventional observation study, 97 patients with suspected sleep-disordered breathing were investigated with respect to daytime sleepiness in temporal relationship to polysomnographic examination and treatment. The Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and the Stanford Sleepiness Scale (SSS) served as references for the detection of present sleepiness at three different measurement times (morning, noon, evening), prior to and following a diagnostic polysomnography night as well as after a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) titration night (9 measurements in total). The KSS, SSS, and ESS were performed at these times in a randomized order. RESULTS: The KSS and SSS scores revealed a circadian rhythm-dependent curve with increased sleepiness at noon and in the evening. Following a diagnostic polysomnography night, the scores were increased compared to the measurements prior to the night. After the CPAP titration night, sleepiness in the morning was reduced. KSS and SSS reflect the changes in alertness induced by the circadian rhythm. The ESS score war neither altered by the intra-daily nor by the inter-daily changes in the level of alertness. CONCLUSION: According to the present data, the ESS serves as a reliable instrument to detect the level of daytime sleepiness independently of the circadian rhythm-dependent level of alertness.

[Disinfection and recontamination of rigid endoscopes: improved safety using an immersion quiver system]. / Desinfektion und Rekontamination starrer Endoskope: Mehr Sicherheit durch ein Tauchköchersystem.

BACKGROUND: In Otorhinolaryngology, rigid endoscopes are used daily at a high frequency. There is no consensus for reprocessing these medical instruments. Often immersion disinfection procedures are used. The present study examined the possible risk of recontamination by this disinfection method and investigated the possibility of avoiding this risk by using a new immersion quiver system. METHODS: Using coloured markers, a possible contact of the endoscope with the top edges of quivers of different diameters during endoscope removal was tested for. In addition, it was evaluated whether Staphylococcus aureus transfer is possible via this route. The same methodology was applied to a new immersion quiver system. RESULTS: Whenever removing the rigid endoscopes from the conventional quiver, these touched the top of the quiver, regardless of its diameter. A transfer of Staphylococcus aureus from the quiver to the endoscope via this route could be detected in five out of eight attempts. During endoscope removal from the new immersion quiver system, no contact of the endoscope with the outer quiver occurred in 20 passes. In none of eight trials was a transfer of Staphylococcus aureus from previously contaminated immersion quivers to the endoscope shown; all immersion quivers were sterile after disinfection. DISCUSSION: After conventional immersion disinfection, recontamination of rigid endoscopes by a contaminated quiver edge is possible. An immersion quiver system can resolve this risk of recontamination easily, by decontaminating not only the endoscope, but also the immersion quiver (inner quiver) itself in the disinfectant solution.

[Bevacizumab in therapy-refractory epistaxis: case report of low-dose antibody therapy for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia]. / Bevacizumab bei therapierefraktärer Epistaxis: Fallbericht einer niedrigdosierten, submukös injizierten Antikörpertherapie bei M. Osler.

We report on the submucosal injection of bevacizumab (Avastin) at a dose of 0.3 to 3.75 mg per side in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Application of such low doses has not been described in the literature yet. Our case report shows the positive effect of low-dose bevacizumab on therapy-refractory epistaxis. No complications were caused by the bevacizumab treatment.

A retrospective analysis of low dose, intranasal injected bevacizumab (Avastin) in hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia.

The constantly recurring epistaxis means a great reduction of quality of life for patients with hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT). As yet, an ideal treatment has not been found. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been described as a possible new therapy. In particular, the success of submucosal doses <100 mg has not been analysed before. We injected bevacizumab (Avastin) submucosally in addition to Nd:YAG laser therapy. Doses <7.5 mg were used. To investigate the effect of these additional injections in comparison to laser therapy alone, a retrospective analysis was done. For this purpose a standardized patient questionnaire was completed, which included recording the patients' Epistaxis Severity Score (ESS) before and after the antibody treatment. Besides, patient files were analysed to collect objective data like haemoglobin levels and the number of blood transfusions needed. Data for eleven patients could be analysed. A significant improvement in the ESS resulting from additional bevacizumab therapy was observed (p < 0.01). In particular, the frequency of epistaxis (p = 0.011), duration of epistaxis (p < 0.01), severity of epistaxis (p < 0.01) and the need for acute medical treatment (p = 0.014) decreased significantly. The haemoglobin levels increased significantly (p = 0.011) and the number of blood transfusions declined. There were no side effects caused by the antibody treatment. Additional injections of a low dose of bevacizumab seem to be superior to Nd:YAG laser therapy alone. These results justify further studies.

[Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome: a case of Tullio phenomenon]. / Syndrom des dehiszenten superioren Bogengangs: Tullio-Phänomen aufgeklärt.

Superior semicircular canal dehiscence syndrome is a clinical picture with sound and pressure-induced vertigo, autophony, hearing loss and a lowered bone conduction threshold. It is an important differential diagnosis to otosclerosis and patent eustachian tube. Diagnostic investigations include audiometric testing, nystagmus provocation, computed tomography and vestibular evoked myogenic potentials. Surgical repair of the dehiscence represents a curative therapeutic option. We describe the disease symptoms on the basis of a typical case.