Assessing Adverse Outcomes and Learning Needs in Canadian Psychiatric Independent Medical Examinations.

Despite the importance of independent medical examinations (IMEs), there is virtually no literature on the risks to the IME assessor nor the learning needs of psychiatrists in this area. To address this deficit, a retrospective chart review of nearly 38,000 cases from the Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) identified 108 files involving complaints or legal actions against psychiatrists performing IMEs. Most complaints identified by the CMPA were to regulatory bodies, including biased opinion, inadequate assessment, inappropriately relying on a requester's information without independent evaluation, nonadherence to regulatory body policies, cursory documentation lacking relevant details, and communication breakdowns. A survey by the Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (CAPL) and the Canadian Psychiatric Association (CPA) had 306 Canadian psychiatrist respondents. About 37 percent of psychiatrists completing IMEs reported medico-legal consequences, including complaints to regulatory authorities. Only 40 percent of those doing IMEs and 20 percent of all psychiatrists had formal training in doing IMEs. The studies confirm that despite a low but important risk of medico-legal consequences, many psychiatrists performing IMEs do not have formalized training. Using the new CAPL Canadian Guidelines for Forensic Psychiatry Assessment and Report Writing is a step to reduce the risk of such evaluations.

Choice of faecal immunochemical test matters: comparison of OC-Sensor and HM-JACKarc, in the assessment of patients at high risk of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Currently, NICE recommends the use of faecal immunochemical test (FIT) at faecal haemoglobin concentrations (f-Hb) of 10 µg Hb/g faeces to stratify for colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in symptomatic populations. This f-Hb cut-off is advised across all analysers, despite the fact that a direct comparison of analyser performance, in a clinical setting, has not been performed. METHODS: Two specimen collection devices (OC-Sensor, OC-S; HM-JACKarc, HM-J) were sent to 914 consecutive individuals referred for follow up due to their increased risk of CRC. Agreement of f-Hb around cut-offs of 4, 10 and 150 µg Hb/g faeces and CRC detection rates were assessed. Two OC-S devices were sent to a further 114 individuals, for within test comparisons. RESULTS: A total of 732 (80.1%) individuals correctly completed and returned two different FIT devices, with 38 (5.2%) CRCs detected. Median f-Hb for individuals diagnosed with and without CRC were 258.5 and 1.8 µg Hb/g faeces for OC-S and 318.1 and 1.0 µg Hb/g faeces for HM-J respectively. Correlation of f-Hb results between OC-S/HM-J over the full range was rho=0.74, p<0.001. Using a f-Hb of 4 µg Hb/g faeces for both tests found an agreement of 88.1%, at 10 µg Hb/g faeces 91.7% and at 150 µg Hb/g faeces 96.3%. A total of 114 individuals completed and returned two OC-S devices; correlation across the full range was rho=0.98, p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: We found large variations in f-Hb when different FIT devices were used, but a smaller variation when the same FIT device was used. Our data suggest that analyser-specific f-Hb cut-offs are applied with regard to clinical decision making, especially at lower f-Hb.

Evaluation of a bundle of care to reduce incisional surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is associated with morbidity, mortality and increased care costs; many SSIs are considered preventable. The aim of the present study was to test implementation of a pragmatic, evidence-based bundle designed to reduce incisional SSI after emergency laparotomy and elective major lower gastrointestinal surgery. METHOD: This was a prospective before-and-after study. Data were collected before the intervention and for two separate subsequent time periods. An evidence-based bundle of care (BOC) was implemented; the primary outcome measure was incisional SSI at 30 days. The secondary outcome measure was 30-day unplanned readmissions. The initial post-intervention group, Group 2, assessed a variable number of potential impacting factors; however, due to funding and staffing levels the second post-bundle group, Group 3, focused on the core aspects of the BOC and rates of incisional SSI and readmission. RESULTS: In total, 99 patients were included in the 'before' group; and 71 in Group 2 and 92 in Group 3, the post-intervention groups. The incisional SSI rate was 29.3% (29/99) before and 28.2% (20/71) in Group 2 (P=0.873) and 21.7% (20/92) in Group 3 (P=0.234) after the intervention. After adjustment for confounders, the care bundle was associated with a non-significant reduction in SSI (Group 2: odds ratio [OR] = 0.93, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.45-1.93, P=0.0843). However, it was associated with significantly reduced readmissions 18.1% (18/99) before versus 5.6% (4/71) in Group 2 (OR = 0.236, 95% CI = 0.077-0.72, P=0.012) and 8.7% (8/92) in Group 3 (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.16-0.9, P=0.029). Comparing the pre-bundle group to the post-bundle groups, there was an overall significant reduction in readmissions (P=0.003). This implies a number needed to treat of 8-11 patients to prevent one readmission. Adherence to antibiotic prophylaxis with the Trust guidelines increased from 91% to 99% (1 vs. 2, P=0.047). CONCLUSION: Introduction of the bundle was associated with a reduction in the observed rate of incisional SSI from 29.3% to 21.7%; significantly fewer patients required unplanned readmission. Use of the bundle was associated with significantly improved compliance with appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis.

High morbidity and mortality of Clostridium difficile infection and its associations with ribotype 002 in Hong Kong.

OBJECTIVES: We aim to study the disease burden, risk factors and severity of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in Hong Kong. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, case-control study in three acute-care hospitals in Hong Kong. Adult inpatients who developed CDI diarrhoea confirmed by PCR (n = 139) were compared with the non-CDI controls (n = 114). Ribotyping of isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed. RESULTS: The estimated crude annual incidence of CDI was 23-33/100,000 population, and 133-207/100,000 population among those aged ≥65 years. The mean age of CDI patients was 71.5. Nursing home care, recent hospitalization, antibiotics exposure (adjusted OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.3-7.1) and proton-pump inhibitors use (adjusted OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2-3.9) were risk factors. Severe CDI occurred in 41.7%. Overall mortality was 16.5% (among severe CDI, 26.5%). The commonest ribotypes were 002 (22.8%), 014 (14.1%), 012 and 046; ribotype 027 was absent. Ribotype 002 was associated with fluoroquinolone resistance and higher mortality (47.6% vs. 12.7%; adjusted HR 2.8, 95% CI 1.1-7.0). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show high morbidity and mortality of CDI in the older adults, and identify ribotype 002 as a possible virulent strain causing serious infections in this cohort.

Molecular epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection in a major chinese hospital: an underrecognized problem in Asia?

Clostridium difficile infection is almost unrecognized in mainland China. We have undertaken a study in a large Chinese teaching hospital in Changsha, Hunan, China, to identify cases of C. difficile, record patient characteristics, and define the molecular epidemiology with respect to ribotype distribution and cross-infection. Between April 2009 and February 2010, we examined fecal samples from 70 hospitalized patients with diarrhea who were receiving or had received antibiotics within the previous 6 weeks. Clinical information was collected and the samples were cultured for C. difficile retrospectively. Isolates were ribotyped, and multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat assay (MLVA) subtyping was performed on clusters of the same ribotype. The mean age of patients from whom C. difficile was cultured was 58 years, with only 4/21 patients aged >65 years. All patients, with a single exception, had received a third-generation cephalosporin and/or a quinolone antibiotic. Twenty-one isolates of C. difficile were recovered, and seven different ribotypes were identified, the dominant types being 017 (48%), 046 (14%), and 012 (14%). We identified two clusters of cross-infection with indistinguishable isolates of ribotype 017, with evidence of spread both within and between wards. We have identified C. difficile as a possibly significant problem, with cross-infection and a distinct ribotype distribution, in a large Chinese hospital. C. difficile may be underrecognized in China, and further epidemiological studies across the country together with the introduction of routine diagnostic testing are needed to ascertain the size of this potentially significant problem.

Regional survey of CTX-M-type extended-spectrum ß-lactamases among Enterobacteriaceae reveals marked heterogeneity in the distribution of the ST131 clone.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the prevalence and diversity of clinically significant extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae harbouring bla(CTX-M) in the West Midlands region of the UK. METHODS: During a 2 month period, 370 consecutive, non-duplicate isolates were collected from 13 laboratories. Isolates were screened for the presence of bla(CTX-M) by multiplex PCR and genotyped using denaturing HPLC (DHPLC). Clonal relationships were studied by PFGE and O25b-ST131 Escherichia coli were identified by PCR. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-four out of 345 ESBL-producing isolates (85.2%) carried bla(CTX-M). CTX-M group 1 enzymes were expressed in 284 (96.6%) isolates, with the other 10 carrying group 9, 2 and 25/26 genes. All group 1 isolates had bla(CTX-M-15) DHPLC profiles. The bla(CTX-M) E. coli were split into 23 PFGE clusters. The largest cluster (RE1) was indistinguishable from the previously described strain A and all but one harboured bla(CTX-M-15.) A total of 66% of E. coli were O25b-ST131 positive. CONCLUSIONS: The CTX-M-15-producing RE1 clone (strain A) is the predominant clone in the West Midlands. This clone has spread throughout the region since its emergence in an outbreak 3 years earlier. Most, but not all, RE1 isolates belong to the O25b-ST131 lineage, providing further evidence that this lineage plays a pivotal role in the clonal dispersal of CTX-M-15-producing Enterobacteriaceae. Strain A was found to be considerably more heterogeneous than when first described and has acquired greater resistance to gentamicin. Approximately one-third of CTX-M producers represented a wide variety of unrelated strains. The study shows the rapid spread and diversification of CTX-M-producing Enterobacteriaceae over a 3 year period.

The effect of a manual therapy knee protocol on osteoarthritic knee pain: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Knee osteoarthritis is a highly prevalent condition with a significant socioeconomic burden to society. It is known to effect sufferers through pain, loss of function and changes in health related quality of life. Management typically involves pharmacologic and/or exercise based therapy approaches to reduce pain. Previous studies have shown multimodal treatment approaches incorporating manual therapy to be efficacious. The aim of this study is to determine if a manual therapy technique knee protocol can alter the self reported pain experienced by a group of chronic knee osteoarthritis sufferers in a randomised controlled trial. METHODS: 43 participants with a chronic, non-progressive history of osteoarthritic knee pain, aged between 47 and 70 years were randomly allocated following a screening procedure to an intervention group (n=26; 18 men and 8 women, mean age 56.5 years) or a control group (n=17; 11 men and 6 women, mean age 54.6 years). Participants were matched for present knee pain intensity measured on a visual analogue scale. The intervention consisted of the Macquarie Injury Management Group Knee Protocol whilst the control involved a non-forceful manual contact to the knee followed by interferential therapy set at zero. Participants received three treatments per week for two consecutive weeks with a follow up immediately after the final treatment. Post-treatment Participants completed 11 questions including present knee pain intensity and feedback regarding their response to treatment utilizing a visual analogue scale. Results were analysed using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Prior to the intervention, there was no significant differences in age or present knee pain intensity. Following treatment, the intervention group reported a significant decrease in the present pain severity (mean 1.9) when compared to the control group (mean 3.1). Response to treatment questions indicated that compared to the control group, the intervention group felt the intervention had helped them (intervention mean 7.0; control mean 3.4), felt it decreased their knee symptoms such as crepitus (intervention mean 6.0; control mean 3.4) and improved their knee mobility (intervention mean 6.4; control mean 3.4) and their ability to perform general activities (intervention mean 6.5; control mean 3.8). Importantly the MIMG Knee Protocol intervention group reported no adverse reactions during treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A short-term manual therapy knee protocol significantly reduced pain suffered by participants with osteoarthritic knee pain and resulted in improvements in self-reported knee function immediately after the end of the 2 week treatment period.

The organisation of the stress response, and its relevance to chiropractors: a commentary.

The stress response is a natural reaction by the body, against potentially harmful stimuli to enhance the chance for survival. Persistent activation of the stress response can cause changes to homeostatic mechanisms. The study of stress neurophysiology, in the evaluation of the manifestation of disease in the body, suggests that these chronic changes have detrimental effects on sub cortical structures. Furthermore, there is much scientific support for the notion that chronic activation of supraspinal systems will lead to maladaptation of homeostatic mechanisms, causing the impairment of processes within the body, and ultimately leading to visceral disorders. The chiropractic profession for many years has alluded to chronic change of neurophysiological pathways as a potential explanation of visceral disorders, but the profession has typically described these in terms of somatovisceral or viscerosomatic reflex activity. Change in supraspinal neurophysiological efferent activity is increasingly being used to explain "stress" related disease. The chiropractic profession should consider investigating such stress responses by conducting spinal manipulative therapy trials that evaluate supraspinal effects of manipulation. Such research may help elucidate key mechanisms associated with the change of visceral disorders noted by some chiropractors following manipulative therapy.

Multilocus sequence typing of Neisseria meningitidis directly from clinical samples and application of the method to the investigation of meningococcal disease case clusters.

Infections associated with Neisseria meningitidis are a major public health problem in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Currently, over 40% of cases are confirmed directly from clinical specimens using PCR-based methodologies without an organism being isolated. A nested/seminested multilocus sequence typing (MLST) system was developed at the Health Protection Agency Meningococcal Reference Unit to allow strain characterization beyond the serogroup for cases confirmed by PCR only. This system was evaluated on a panel of 20 meningococcus-positive clinical specimens (3 cerebrospinal fluid and 17 blood samples) from different patients containing various concentrations of meningococcal DNA that had corresponding N. meningitidis isolates. In each case, the sequence type generated from the clinical specimens matched that produced from the corresponding N. meningitidis isolate; the sensitivity of the MLST system was determined to be less than 12 genome copies per PCR. The MLST system was then applied to 15 PCR meningococcus-positive specimens (2 cerebrospinal fluid and 13 blood samples), each from a different patient, involved in three case clusters (two serogroup B and one serogroup W135) for which no corresponding N. meningitidis organisms had been isolated. In each case, an MLST sequence type was generated, allowing the accurate assignment of individual cases within each of the case clusters. In summary, the adaptation of the N. meningitidis MLST to a sensitive nested/seminested format for strain characterization directly from clinical specimens provides an important tool for surveillance and management of meningococcal infection.