Determinants and outcomes of bloodstream infection in adults associated with one versus two sets of positive index blood cultures.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether positivity in one or both index sets of blood cultures influences clinical determinants and mortality when diagnosing bloodstream infections (BSI). METHODS: Retrospective population-based surveillance of all mono-microbial BSI was conducted among residents of the western interior of British Columbia. Clinical details were obtained by chart review and all-cause case-fatality was established at 30 days. Index cultures were defined as the first two sets of cultures initially drawn to diagnose incident BSI. RESULTS: A total of 2500 incident BSI were identified of which 945 (37.8%) and 1555 (62.2%) were based on one and two positive index cultures, respectively. There was an overall difference in the distribution of pathogens, with both Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae more likely to have two positive index cultures. Different foci of infection were associated with one versus two positive index cultures. Overall, 409 patients died within 30 days of index BSI for an all-cause case-fatality of 16.4%; with no difference between two positive (250/1555; 16.1%) and one positive (159/945; 16.8%; p 0.3) index blood culture. The number of positive index blood cultures was not associated with 30-day case-fatality after adjustment for confounding variables using logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Although approximately one-third of BSI are diagnosed on the basis of a single positive blood culture and are associated with different clinical determinants, whether one or both index blood cultures are positive is not associated with lethal outcome.

Cervical length and quantitative fetal fibronectin in the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in asymptomatic women with congenital uterine anomaly.

BACKGROUND: Congenital uterine anomalies are associated with late miscarriage and spontaneous preterm birth. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was 1) to determine the rate of spontaneous preterm birth in each type of congenital uterine anomaly, and 2) to assess the performance of quantitative fetal fibronectin and cervical length measurement by transvaginal ultrasound in asymptomatic women with congenital uterine anomalies for the prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at <34 and <37 weeks of gestation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort of women with congenital uterine anomalies asymptomatic for spontaneous preterm birth, from 4 tertiary referral centers in the United Kingdom (2001-2016). Congenital uterine anomalies were categorized into fusion (unicornuate, didelphic, and bicornuate uteri) or resorption defects (septate, with or without resection, and arcuate uteri), based on prepregnancy diagnosis. All women underwent serial transvaginal ultrasound cervical length assessment in the second trimester (16 to 24 weeks' gestation); a subgroup underwent quantitative fetal fibronectin testing from 18 weeks' gestation. We investigated the relationship between congenital uterine anomalies and predictive test performance for spontaneous preterm birth at <34 and <37 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: A total of 319 women were identified as having congenital uterine anomalies in our high-risk population. Of the women, 7% (23/319) delivered spontaneously at <34 weeks' gestation and 18% (56/319) at <37 weeks' gestation. Rates of spontaneous preterm birth by type were as follows: 26% (7/27) for unicornuate, 21% (7/34) for didelphic, 16% (31/189) for bicornuate, 13% (7/56) for septate, and 31% (4/13) for arcuate. In all, 80% (45/56) of women who had spontaneous preterm birth at <37 weeks did not develop a short cervical length (<25 mm) during the surveillance period (16-24 weeks). The diagnostic accuracy of short cervical length had a low sensitivity (20.3) for predicting spontaneous preterm birth at <34 weeks. Cervical length had an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.56 (95% confidence interval, 0.48-0.64) and 0.59 (95% confidence interval, 0.55-0.64) for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at <34 and <37 weeks, respectively. The area under the curve for cervical length to predict spontaneous preterm birth at <34 weeks was 0.48 for fusion defects (95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.57) but 0.78 (95% confidence interval, 0.66-0.91) for women with resorption defects. Overall quantitative fetal fibronectin had an area under the curve of 0.63 (95% confidence interval, 0.49-0.77) and 0.58 (95% confidence interval, 0.49- 0.68) for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at <34 and <37 weeks, respectively. The area under the curve for prediction of spontaneous preterm birth at <37 weeks with quantitative fetal fibronectin for fusion defects was 0.52 (95% confidence interval, 0.41-0.63) but 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.63-0.95) for women with resorption defects. Results were similar when women with intervention were excluded. CONCLUSION: The commonly used markers cervical length and quantitative fetal fibronectin have utility in prediction of spontaneous preterm birth in resorption congenital uterine defects but not in fusion defects. This is contrary to findings in other high-risk populations. These findings need to be accounted for when planning antenatal care, and have potential implications for predictive tests used in spontaneous preterm birth surveillance and intervention.

Combined osteopathy and exercise management of Achilles tendinopathy in an athlete.

Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy is a common injury in sporting populations. There is conflicting evidence about the best approach to conservative management. This report focuses on the rehabilitation of an Achilles tendinopathy utilizing osteopathic manual therapy (OMT) and a structured exercise program in a semi-professional volleyballer. The patient presented with a 4-month history of right mid-portion Achilles tendon pain that began after a lateral inversion sprain of the right ankle. The primary complaint was pain impacting the patients vertical jump performance. The patient complained of pain that was greatest in the morning and at the beginning of a training session prior to warming up. The inventory therapy was a combination of OMT. The manual therapy was complemented with a rehabilitation program. Outcomes were assessed with the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Achilles (VISA-A), visual analogue scales (VAS), painful arc, London Hospital Test, soleus lunge test and maximum vertical jump. This case presented many challenging management options including a resolving right ankle lateral inversion sprain, a past history of contralateral Achilles tendinopathy and a high training load. The case demonstrated the importance of patient-centered practice. It was integral that the patient's role as a semi-professional athlete on the volleyball court was analyzed closely in order to replicate different facets of his game, so that the rehabilitation program could support a return to performance at the highest level. Once the initial deficits in mobility and strength were addressed, the rehabilitation program focus moved to injury prevention.

El parto pretérmino: herramientas predictivas y preventivas en la práctica clinica / Preterm birth: predictive and preventive tools in clinical practice

Despite advances in both neonatal care and our understanding of the pathophysiology of the condition as a whole, preterm birth is a phenomenon that continues to have significant impact globally. It remains the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide, and the prevalence is increasing. Not only does it carry significant social cost, preterm birth places huge economic burden on the healthcare system. It is increasingly recognised that preterm birth is a multifactorial syndrome, rather than a single condition and we have seen a number of exciting advances in predictive and preventative tools for clinical practice. The ability of quantitative fetal fibronectin to predict spontaneous preterm birth in both high and low risk women has been one of these recent promising developments. Exploration continues into the potential for quantitative fetal fibronectin to be used in synergy with transvaginal ultrasound measurement of cervical length to improve predictive accuracy. Developments focus on enabling clinicians to predict risk at the point of care. Research continues to explore cervical cerclage, progesterone and the Arabin pessary as prophylactic interventions for women at risk of preterm birth, with increasing evidence for their potential role. Latest exploration of reactive management for imminent preterm birth is altering our clinical approach and is likely to improve outcomes. This review article will discuss some of the recent developments we have seen in this exciting area

A pesar de los avances en la atención prenatal y en la comprensión de la fisiopatología del cuadro como un todo, el parto pretérmino es un fenómeno que continúa provocando un impacto significativo global. Continúa como la causa principal de morbilidad y mortalidad perinatal en todo el mundo y su prevalencia está en aumento. No solamente conlleva un costo social significativo, sino que el parto pretérmino produce una carga económica importante para el sistema de salud. Cada vez más, hay datos que indican que el parto pretérmino es un síndrome multifactorial, más que un cuadro único y nosotros documentamos un gran número de avances en las herramientas predictivas y preventivas en la práctica clínica. Uno de estos avances más recientes es la capacidad de la fibronectina fetal cuantitativa para predecir un parto pretérmino espontáneo, tanto en mujeres de alto riesgo como de bajo riesgo. La investigación continúa hacia el uso potencial de la fibronectina fetal cuantitativa en sinergia con la medición de la longitud cervical por ecografía transvaginal para mejorar la precisión predictiva. Los avances están dirigidos a que los clínicos puedan predecir el riesgo en el lugar de atención. Las investigaciones continúan con la evaluación del cerclaje cervical, la progesterona y el pesario de Arabin como intervenciones profilácticas para las mujeres en riesgo de parto pretérmino, con pruebas crecientes para su papel potencial. Las exploraciones ulteriores con terapia reactiva para el parto pretérmino inminente alteran nuestro enfoque clínico y probablemente mejoren los desenlaces clínicos. Esta revisión analizará algunos de los avances recientes observados en esta área apasionante