[Management of a 4MRGN Acinetobacter baumanii outbreak in a burn unit]. / Management eines Ausbruches mit 4 MRGN Acinetobacter baumannii in einem Brandverletzten-zentrum.

Patients with 4MRGN Acinetobacter baumanii infections in a burn unit represent great challenge. The structured management with 7 involved patients in such a situation is presented. After discovering the infectious trigger a management team is established. An immediate stop for further admissions was announced and all infected room areas and medical equipment were analysed for infection foci. The infected patients were transferred to regional hospitals or a rehabiltation hospital after finishing all surgical procedures. In one case, for whom further operations were needed, a transfer to a separated area of the intermediate care unit (IMC) within the hospital was arranged. The performed analysis of infection foci indicated a bronchoscopy tower to be the infection source. The outbreak was terminated after transferring all patients, final disinfection and subsequent nebulisation with 5-6% hydrogen peroxide within 18 days.

A single-centre experience of the treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms: clinical and anatomic characteristics of open versus endovascular repair.

AIM: The treatment of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms is a constant challenge for vascular surgeons and can be achieved either by endovascular repair or by an open surgical technique. Endovascular repair presents a higher 30-day survival rate. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and anatomical characteristics and the outcomes of these two treatment techniques. METHODS: Our study sample comprised patients who presented at the emergency department of a General Regional Hospital with rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm between January 2003 and December 2008. Of the 43 patients who were treated, 23 underwent open surgical repair and 20 underwent endovascular repair. RESULTS: Comorbidities, age, clinical presentation and anatomical characteristics didn't present statistically significant differences in the two groups. Patients in the endovascular repair group were transfused with less units of blood and fresh frozen plasma (P=0.001) and had shorter stay in the intensive care unit (P=0.042). The 30-day mortality rate was 43% for open surgical repair and 35% for endovascular treatment (P=0.627), while the overall in-hospital mortality rate was 61% and 50% (P=0.474), respectively. CONCLUSION: When certain anatomical characteristics are present and the hemodynamic condition of the patient allows it, endovascular treatment appears to be associated with better survival rates, both 30-day and overall.