[Evaluation of the knowledge and attitudes to the standard precautions for infection control of the healthcare workers of a Portuguese central and university hospital]. / Avaliação dos conhecimentos e atitudes sobre precauções padrão controlo de infecção dos profissionais de saúde de um hospital central e universitário Português.

INTRODUCTION: The Standard Precautions are measures to prevent healthcare workers' exposure to infectious agents, like HIV, HBV and HCV, through the routine use of techniques and appropriate barriers that reduce the exposure probability. These measures intend to prevent contact with blood and other fluids, potentially infected, contributing to the reduction of nosocomial infection. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and adherence to the standard precautions for infection control among the healthcare workers of the Hospital Geral de Santo António, through the application of a questionnaire. To identify the gaps of each professional group and clinical departments, in order to better define the needs to planning future education. RESULTS: Of the total of 172 questionnaires, 7% did not know about the standard precautions, the majority from medical staff. Importantly 21% affirm recapping needles. Globally, a low level knowledge about the ways HIV, HBV and HCV is transmitted was verified, mostly regarding the possibility of transmission from dishes and other material necessary to give food to the patients. About 95% considered it important to wash the hands in several different situations but 21% are unaware of alternative alcoholic solutions. CONCLUSIONS: There is a precarious knowledge of these measures, enhancing the risk of nosocomial infection and pointing to the need of specific education for all different health professionals.

Epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal colonization among patients and healthcare workers in a Portuguese hospital: a pre-intervention study toward the control of MRSA.

This two-year study investigated the epidemiology of nasal colonization with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) in two wards with a high frequency of MRSA isolation, at Hospital Geral de Santo António (HGSA), Portugal. Three point-prevalence surveys per year were carried out. A case-control approach was used to identify potential risk factors associated with MRSA carriage among patients. Incidence rates and risk factors of MRSA carriage among HCWs who were negative at the baseline observation were estimated. Prevalence of MRSA carriage among 276 patients screened was 5.1%. Admission to HGSA or attendance to the Diabetic Foot Outpatient Unit (DFOU) of HGSA within the past 12 months, and previous MRSA isolation were significant risk factors for MRSA carriage. Among HCWs (n = 126), the prevalence of MRSA carriage was 4.8% and the incidence rate was 61/1000 person-years. Nurses and nurse aids were the HCW categories with the highest risk of becoming colonized with MRSA over time (p = 0.01). One HCW chronically colonized was detected. Molecular typing revealed a clonal identity for isolates recovered from patients and HCWs of the same wards, with 88.6% of isolates belonging to the EMRSA-15 (ST22-MRSA-IV) clone.

Premature rupture of membranes at 20 weeks: report of a successful outcome after transcervical application of fibrin glue.

A 30-year-old primigravida was admitted to hospital at 20 weeks of gestation because of premature rupture of membranes and oligohydramnios. The patient was maintained in bed rest and given intravenous ampicillin. Forty-eight hours later, after documenting the absence of infection and maintenance of the oligohydramnios, fibrin glue was applied transcervically under ultrasound control. There was subjective improvement in amniotic fluid volume after treatment, but always within the criteria of oligohydramnios. Fibrin glue application was repeated twice due to reported increase in fluid loss and diminished amniotic fluid volume on ultrasound. Amoxicillin per os was started at 23 weeks, and clavulanic acid was added at 26 weeks due to the isolation of an Escherichia coli on cervical-vaginal cultures. No signs of infection ensued until 34 weeks, when an axillary temperature of 39.5 degrees C was detected together with a non-reassuring cardiotocographic pattern, the latter leading to the performance of an urgent cesarean section. The newborn had an Apgar score of 9/10/10, umbilical artery pH of 7.32, and no external deformities. He showed no signs of lung hypoplasia and required no oxygen supplementation. Oropharyngeal and blood cultures revealed an E. coli infection and antibiotic treatment was started. No further complications occurred and he was discharged home on the 8th day of life. At 12 months, the child reveals a normal development. The mother had a mild and short-lasting wound infection and was discharged on the 8th postoperative day.

[Transvaginal ultrasound assessment of the cervix and digital examination before labor induction]. / Avaliação ecográfica do colo e avaliação tocológica prévias à indução do trabalho de parto.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between sonographic measurement of cervical length and Bishop score with duration of labour induction. METHODS: A prospective, blinded, observational study was performed in 191 pregnant women undergoing labor induction. Ultrasound measurement of cervical length and determination of Bishop score were performed. Induction was based exclusively on the Bishop score according to Obstetric Unit protocol. The criteria for considering the cervix unripe were either Bishop score < 6 or a cervical length = 26 mm. Duration of induction is defined like the induction-to-delivery interval. The main outcomes assessed were the duration of induction, the delivery within 24 h of induction and type of delivery. RESULTS: The duration of induction was between 2 h 27 min and 61 h 30 min. We found an association between cervical length and Bishop score with duration of induction. The duration of induction was significantly increased in nulliparous (median 18 h 38 min vs. 9 h 18 min). There was no correlation of age or weight of pregnant women with the duration of induction. Comparison between Bishop score and cervical length in predicting delivery within the first 24 hours showed that the pregnant women with low Bishop score had a higher risk of deliver after 24 hours of induction (OR = 21.16), as the ones with cervical length longer than 26 mm (OR = 5.06). Analyzing the relation of these two parameters with type of delivery we realize that low Bishop score has a higher risk of cesarean section (OR = 2.67) and that there wasn't any relation between type of delivery and cervical length. DISCUSSION: In this study we verified a statistically significant relation between Bishop score, US cervical length and previous vaginal birth with induction duration. Pregnant woman's age and weight didn't have influence on the duration of induction. The study showed that both Bishop score and US cervical length are useful in predicting delivery within the first 24 hours. Bishop score was also related with type of delivery.