Glasgow coma scale 7 or less surveillance program for brain death identification in Argentina: Epidemiology and outcome.

BACKGROUND: In Argentina, the rate of cadaveric organ donation per million inhabitants has recently increased to 10.5 (it was previously <7). PURPOSE: To overcome this challenge, the National Institute for Organ Donation and Transplantation (INCUCAI) created a proactive donor detection plan performed by intensive care unit (ICU) physicians (hospital transplantation coordinators) from 90 selected hospitals across the country. METHODS: A prospective, observational study of patients in severe coma status was conducted from September 2003 to December 2005. We enrolled hospitalized patients who displayed a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 7 or less and who were admitted to ICUs. Data included demographics, etiology of coma, cardiac arrest, brain death, discharge or derivation, and positive/negative donation. RESULTS: Among 9841 enrolled patients, we excluded 498 who were discharged to another hospital or had unknown outcomes, leaving 9343 for analysis including 64% males and 36% females of overall mean age 50 +/- 19 years (adults) and 5 +/- 4 years (children). Herein, we have highlighted the high risk of death during the first 2 days in the ICU of patients with GCS 7 or less. Gunshot to the head-injured patients and those with hemorrhagic strokes were less likely to survive. In this study, cardiac arrest events and organ donors (OD) GCS 7 or less ratios emerged as quality control markers of ICU care, unraveling problems of potential donor maintenance or inadequate policies. CONCLUSIONS: The GCS 7 or less surveillance program seemed to be a valuable tool for identifying organ donors and potentially treatable events, such as the high rate of cardiac arrest observed in this study.

Efficacy of amoxicillin-sulbactam, given twice-a-day, for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia: a clinical trial based on a pharmacodynamic model.

The present multicenter study reports the results of a clinical trial, designed on the basis of a pharmacodynamic study published previously (Bantar et al., J. Chemother 2000; 12: 223-227) to assess the efficacy of amoxicillin/sulbactam (875 mg/125 mg), given orally twice-a-day for 7 days in the treatment of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Eighty-four evaluable subjects older than 19 years with clinical symptoms and features suggestive of CAP, consulting from June 2000 to March 2002 and meeting the PORT risk class I through III, were enrolled in the study. Mean age (y +/- standard deviation) was 46.7 +/- 16.3 and 62% of the patients had some co-morbidity predisposing for CAP. Several individuals (77.4%) fell into a low-risk class (i.e. PORT I or II) and 22.6% of patients belonged to a moderate-risk class at the start of treatment. Six patients (6.45%) had pneumococcal bacteremia. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the organism most frequently isolated (61.9% of all the patients in whom an etiologic diagnosis was made), followed by Haemophilus influenzae. Clinical success was observed in 97.6% of the patients (confidence interval 95%, 94.3%-100%). Almost all the individuals with clinical success became afebrile within the first 3 days of therapy. Ten patients (11.8%) reported mild or moderate adverse events (especially diarrhea) possibly related to the antimicrobial therapy, but this did not lead to withdrawal from the trial. The results of this study suggest that amoxicillin/sulbactam (875 mg/125 mg) is an efficacious and well tolerated option for treating patients with CAP belonging to a low-moderate risk class and support the use of a short, oral (7-day) b.i.d. regimen.

Urban epizootic of rabies in Mexico: epidemiology and impact of animal bite injuries.

From 1 July 1987 to 31 December 1988, a total of 317 animals (91% of which were dogs) were confirmed to have rabies in Hermosillo, Mexico. The median age of rabid dogs was 1 year, 69% were male, and 98% were owned. The epizootic started in the southern areas of the city, rapidly involved the entire city, and persisted mainly in lower socioeconomic status areas. The area of the city and mean household size were significant predictor variables for the population density of rabid dogs around household clusters (Poisson linear regression, P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, resp). Approximately 2.5% of city residents were bitten by dogs in 1987, with the rate of reported dog bite injuries being positively correlated with mean household size and the proportion of households that owned dogs. Visits to the city health centre for evaluation of possible exposures to rabies increased by 135% after the start of the epizootic; approximately 273 per 100,000 city residents were administered a full or partial course of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in 1987. Children were at greatest risk for exposures to rabies, accounting for 60% of all reported animal bite injuries evaluated at the health centre. Also they were more likely than older persons to have received bite injuries to the head, face, and neck (odds ratio = 21.6, 95% confidence interval = 5.4, 186.5).

PIP: Almost all cases of human rabies result from bites by rabid dogs. Controlling dog rabies is therefore crucial for humans. 317 animals, 91% of which were dogs, were confirmed to have rabies in Hermosillo, Mexico, from July 1, 1987, to December 31, 1988. The dogs were of median age 1 year, 69% were male, and 98% were owned. The epizootic started in the southern areas of the city, spread quickly through the city, and persisted largely in lower socioeconomic status areas. Approximately 2.5% of city residents were bitten by dogs in 1987, with the rate of reported dog bite injuries positively correlated with mean household size and the proportion of households which owned dogs. Visits to the city health center for evaluation of possible exposures to rabies increased by 135% after the start of the epizootic over which approximately 273 per 100,000 city residents were administered a full or partial course of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in 1987. Comprising 60% of all reported animal bite injuries evaluated at the center, children were at greatest risk for exposures to rabies. Children were also more likely than older people to have received bite injuries to the head, face, and neck.