Promotion of hand hygiene: the experience of the orthopaedic hospital Gaetano Pini-CTO, Milan, Italy.

BACKGROUND: Hand hygiene is the primary preventive measure against health care-associated infections in terms of cost-effectiveness. In 2005, the WHO proposed the "Global Patient Safety Challenge" campaign, with the aim of reducing the overall incidence of such infections, through multimodal programs and strategies, interactive training tools and standardised methods for monitoring compliance. STUDY DESIGN: On the basis of project "Rimani", sponsored by the Health and Social Care Authority of Emilia-Romagna, the Istituto Ortopedico Gaetano Pini has implemented a project which seeks to increase healthcare staff's compliance with hand hygiene. METHODS: A multidisciplinary working group was created to prepare the project documents. Starting from 5th April 2015, twenty operational units were asked to produce information and training material. On 5th May, during a conference, a committee selected the three best works. The material was distributed on a monthly basis to the various departments. In addition to the training, the specifically trained operators of the Medical Monitoring Department carried out direct hand washing tests, filling out appropriate checklists. Non-compliance relating to the technique recorded in 2014 and 2015 was compared and a statistical analysis was conducted using Student's t-test for paired data. RESULTS: Three tests were carried out in 2014. Ninety-nine cases were monitored and 5 non-compliance cases were reported, concerning the execution of the procedural steps, the running time and closing the tap with one's hands at the end of the wash. In 2015 two tests, involving 30 operational units, were carried out. 60 observations were performed, and no non-conformities emerged concerning the technique. Statistical analysis showed a significant reduction of non-compliances between the 2014 and 2015 P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The results obtained agree with the main findings in literature. The comparison between the 2014 and 2015 tests shows a trend of improvement in the wash technique. This confirms the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary approach and recognises the active and participatory involvement suggested by the WHO.

From the risk analysis to the development of interventions and training for the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections. The experience of G. Pini Orthopedic Institute.

BACKGROUND: Health-care associated infections (HAIs) represents a phenomenon of central importance all over Europe. Every year 4,5 millions cases are detected in European Union, with 37.000 related deaths. Surgical-site infections (SSIs) are one of the most common HAIs, that are associated with an increased length of stay, re-operation rate, intensive care admissions rate, and higher mortality rate. METHODS: G. Pini Orthopedics Institute implemented in the last two years a multimodal strategy for controlling and preventing HAIs, in particular for SSIs. RESULTS: This paper describes the prevention's strategies adopted for prevention of HAIs, at G. Pini Orthopedic Institute. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that application of a multi modal promotion strategy was associated with an improvement in HAI prevention.

Hand and wrist surgery: study of efficacy about a new way for one-day low-complexity surgery.

BACKGROUND: In our Hand Micro-surgery Department surgery procedures identified by some regional legislation as "low-complexity care interventions" (BOCA) are carry out. For this reason, as pilot experience, it has been decided to apply Diagnostic Therapeutic Path (DTP) to this type of surgeries in order to improve the offered service. METHODS: From 2011 to 2012 we collected data about 410 BOCA procedures and we monitored a series of indicators. RESULTS: The patients were classified as ASA score 1-2 (99%) and they had a postoperative observation time less than 24h (95%). They reported a constant reduction of pain in the days after surgery (VAS ≤ 4). In 27 cases were found post-surgical complications. All patients evaluated positively this DTP. CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results were used to improve the activity in others Departments of our Institute.

Surgical site infections in oncologic orthopaedic prosthetics surgery.

BACKGROUND: Literature reports an incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) in oncological patients undergoing prosthetic replacement between 8% and 35% after first implantation and 43% after revision. The purpose of this retrospective study, conducted at the oncologic orthopaedic unit of G. Pini Orthopaedic Hospital in Milan, was to evaluate: - number of SSIs in oncological megaprosthetic reconstruction between 2008 and 2011, - possible risk factors associated with the onset of SSIs, - antibiotic prophylaxis applied. DESIGN AND METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients who underwent megaprosthetic reconstruction and collected data on whole treatment and follow up after discharge, focusing on possible risk factors implied in the onset of SSIs such as patient characteristics, site of surgery, duration of surgery, number of persons in the operating room, size of resection, antibiotic prophylaxis. We recorded every SSI which met the criteria set by the Hospital in Europe Link for Infection Control through Surveillance (HELICS) protocol. RESULTS: One-hundred and eleven surgeries were evaluated. Administration of prophylaxis was generally recorded and continued postoperatively for an average of 18.89 days, often depending on the length of the post-surgical stay. Mean duration of surgery was 254 minutes with an average of 7 persons attending the operating room. We recorded 6 SSIs.

To measure, evaluate and improve: four years long health records self-control activity at G. Pini Orthopedics Institute.

BACKGROUND: A health record, when properly handled, can be considered in all respects as an important tool that tracks the course of hospitalization, clinical aspects and the commitment of resources employed in the execution of the episode itself. METHODS: Lombardy Region has established, since 2009, that each hospital carry out a self-assessment of their documentation. The objective of self-control is to monitor the completeness and accuracy of documentation and to highlight the congruence in order to implement corrective activities to reduce the inappropriateness. RESULTS: The four years of self-control activities carried out in our Institute show that following the implementation of a supervisory and monitoring system, it was possible to report a statistically significant difference between the percentage of records deemed to comply in the first survey year (2009) and the last year considered (2012). It passes, that is, from 2.9% of conforming clinical records to 68.8% that do not conform. CONCLUSIONS: This trend is suggestive in confirming, as a whole, the effectiveness of internal controls, structured and repeated over time, which evaluate the completeness of the documentation and generate the appropriate corrective actions.

Integration of molecular, ecological, morphological and endosymbiont data for species delimitation within the Pnigalio soemius complex (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae).

Integrative taxonomy is a recently developed approach that uses multiple lines of evidence such as molecular, morphological, ecological and geographical data to test species limits, and it stands as one of the most promising approaches to species delimitation in taxonomically difficult groups. The Pnigalio soemius complex (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) represents an interesting taxonomical and ecological study case, as it is characterized by a lack of informative morphological characters, deep mitochondrial divergence, and is susceptible to infection by parthenogenesis-inducing Rickettsia. We tested the effectiveness of an integrative taxonomy approach in delimiting species within the P. soemius complex. We analysed two molecular markers (COI and ITS2) using different methods, performed multivariate analysis on morphometric data and exploited ecological data such as host-plant system associations, geographical separation, and the prevalence, type and effects of endosymbiont infection. The challenge of resolving different levels of resolution in the data was met by setting up a formal procedure of data integration within and between conflicting independent lines of evidence. An iterative corroboration process of multiple sources of data eventually indicated the existence of several cryptic species that can be treated as stable taxonomic hypotheses. Furthermore, the integrative approach confirmed a trend towards host specificity within the presumed polyphagous P. soemius and suggested that Rickettsia could have played a major role in the reproductive isolation and genetic diversification of at least two species.

A karyological study of the genus Pnigalio Schrank (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae): assessing the taxonomic utility of chromosomes at the species level.

We provide a karyological study of 12 species of the genus Pnigalio in an attempt to evaluate the taxonomic utility of karyotypes at the species level. For all species of Pnigalio examined the number of chromosome was 2n=12. Karyotype formulae presented mainly metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes, although a pair of acrocentrics or subtelocentrics, shorter than biarmed chromosomes, was present in some species. The analysis of karyotypes of Pnigalio showed frequent but not general interspecific variability of the chromosome traits. Although most of the studied species revealed concordance between morphological and karyological characters (centromeric index and relative length), two other categories have been identified: morphologically distinct species without reciprocal differences in karyotype structure, and morphologically similar species that strongly differ in chromosomal characters.

[Evaluation of ambulatory medical care in Milan]. / Analisi del consumo di prestazioni ambulatoriali nella città di Milano.

Ambulatory procedures are an essential component of health care both for their number and for their cost. We aim therefore to identify and to quantify the volume of ambulatory procedures performed in Milan during 2003. The data come from the Outpatient Care Information Report that collect much information by characteristics of patient, health care institution and procedure categories. The analyses in this report are based on absolute measures, utilization rates and concentration index. During the year 2003 nearly 20 millions of ambulatory procedures were performed in the public and private outpatient facilities of Milan for the resident population. The average annual rate was 15 procedures per person. Utilization varied according to patient age and sex, higher in women and in the elderly group, statistically significant variability is observed (p<0.001). Outpatient care accounts for high density supply (124 specialty points for 100,000 inhabitants). Utilization rate was not homogenous both for the medical specialties and for the geographical district distribution, all that, it seems depending on the activity concentration differences and complexity supply of services than on a different distribution of health needs. This analysis may be useful as methodological starting point for further investigating current outpatient care data and for identifying those sectors in need of corrective actions.

Reinforcing good practice: Implementation of guidelines at hospital G. Pini.

INTRODUCTION: Surgical site infections (SSIs) in orthopaedic surgery are a demanding complication for the patient and in terms of economics. Many guidelines (GLs) are available on antibiotic prophylaxis as an effective preventive measure; however, these GLs are often ignored in practice. A surveillance study of SSIs in arthroplasty, promoted by the Italian Study Group of Hospital Hygiene of the Italian Society of Public Health (SitI), showed a high percentage of non-adherence to GLs on antibiotic prophylaxis. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to review the existing GLs, share them within the hospital and then monitor their implementation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Information and training are considered to be great tools for implementation and sharing of GLs, which leads to significant improvements in clinical practice. A multidisciplinary team comprising infectious disease specialists, orthopaedic surgeons, nurse epidemiologists and public health specialists was established at the G. Pini Hospital in Milan to revise GLs, and to organise educational events for their implementation, sharing and dissemination. A checklist was devised for monitoring purposes. RESULTS: GLs were presented to orthopaedic surgeons and nurse coordinators during two educational events. Meetings were organised in each unit to present the results of the surveillance of SSIs in arthroplasty and to discuss the reasons why the prophylaxis regimens adopted were not consistent with GLs. It was emphasised that the most important issue, on which there is consensus in the scientific literature, was related to the duration of prophylaxis beyond 24h. The review process for GLs was presented and pocket-sized GLs were given to surgeons. The importance of documenting on medical record any deviations from the GLs was emphasised. CONCLUSIONS: Any changes in behaviour in clinical practice must be monitored and evaluated regularly. The monitoring of GLs in terms of correct choice of drug, timing of administration and duration of prophylaxis is made using a special checklist on a representative sample of medical records.

Thymopentine treatment improves clinical and immunological functions in aged subjects with chronic bronchitis.

The effect of in vivo thymopentine treatment (50 mg/subcutaneously every other day for six weeks) on clinical features and in vitro immunological parameters was evaluated in ten aged patients with chronic bronchitis. In vitro immunological studies were performed before and after treatment both on phenotypic (OK monoclonal defined lymphocyte subpopulations) and functional parameters (blastogenic responses to polyclonal mitogens Concanavalin-A and Phytoemagglutinine). Thymopentine did not significantly affect lymphocyte subpopulations, which were reduced before pharmacological treatment, when compared to those of young healthy controls. Peripheral blood lymphocytes blastogenic response to polyclonal mitogens was restored, even though proliferation did not reach the values of young healthy subjects. Thymopentine treatment significantly improved lymphocyte functions, without being able, however, to overcome completely the age-dependent loss of blastogenic responses. Nevertheless the favourable evolution of clinical symptoms we observed in our study may be, at least in part, related to the improvement in vivo of those immunological functions that we studied in vitro. Eight out of ten patients showed an evident improvement of symptoms and signs of chronic bronchitis after thymopentine treatment and four of them arrived to a complete remission from infectious episodes. No side effects were noted. Although still preliminary, these results seem to be encouraging as thymopentine could be used with success as an immunomodulating agent in aged people.

Evidence for adenosine adenosinedeaminase lymphocyte system impairment in ageing.

Age related immune disfunctions are the result of humoral and cellular changes of the immune system and reflect major alterations of T cell subpopulations which concern cyclic nucleotides and their precursors. There are now many reports showing that adenosine can affect some phenotypic and functional lymphocyte characteristics. We have found that a short preincubation (30') with adenosine can inhibit proliferative responses of peripheral blood lymphocytes to polyclonal mitogen Concanavalin A in young healthy controls (p less than 0.05) but not in aged healthy subjects. These data led us to the hypothesis that an impairment of the adenosine-adenosinedeaminase system could play an important role in the age-associated decline of immune responses. Our results show a highly significant reduction (16.45 +/- 3.56 vs 24.42 +/- 9.5 p less than 0.001) of adenosinedeaminase activity in peripheral lymphocytes of aged humans (mean age 75.5 +/- 6.7 range 23-30). Preliminary studies suggest that this alteration could be responsible to some extent, for the decreased mitogenic response of lymphocytes reported in ageing.

Impairment of lymphocyte suppressive system in recent onset insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Correlation with blood glucose and serum insulin levels.

In a previous study, we observed an impairment of the theophylline-induced suppressive system in recent onset IDDM patients, and demonstrated also a correlation with metabolic derangement. The aim of this study was to better investigate the relationship between theophylline sensitivity (ThS) and blood glucose/plasma insulin levels in recent onset IDDM patients subjected to preprogrammed variations by an insulin/glucose clamp with artificial pancreas. Eight patients were studied within 8 weeks from the onset of IDDM. ThS was evaluated as the ability of theophylline to inhibit blastogenic response of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) to Concanavalin A (ConA), after 120 min preincubation of the cells. All patients were connected to an artificial pancreas. Through i.v. continuous insulin infusion (0.02 U/kg/h) and/or i.v. continuous glucose and saline infusion, the following experimental conditions, lasting at least 1h, were obtained: T1: relative euglycemia and normal insulinemia; T2: relative euglycemia and hyperinsulinemia; T3: hyperglycemia and normal insulinemia; T4: hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. ThS was maintained in 6/8 patients at T1 and in 8/8 patients at T4. ThS was lost in 4/8 patients at T2 and T3. These data suggest that the loss of ThS induced by hyperglycemia can be corrected by hyperinsulinemia, and that it is maintained when euglycemia is accompanied by hypoinsulinemia. It is lost when these two parameters lose their interrelationship.