Enhancing physicians' radiology diagnostics of COVID-19's effects on lung health by leveraging artificial intelligence.

Introduction: This study aimed to develop an individualized artificial intelligence model to help radiologists assess the severity of COVID-19's effects on patients' lung health. Methods: Data was collected from medical records of 1103 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using RT- qPCR between March and June 2020, in Hospital Madrid-Group (HM-Group, Spain). By using Convolutional Neural Networks, we determine the effects of COVID-19 in terms of lung area, opacities, and pulmonary air density. We then combine these variables with age and sex in a regression model to assess the severity of these conditions with respect to fatality risk (death or ICU). Results: Our model can predict high effect with an AUC of 0.736. Finally, we compare the performance of the model with respect to six physicians' diagnosis, and test for improvements on physicians' performance when using the prediction algorithm. Discussion: We find that the algorithm outperforms physicians (39.5% less error), and thus, physicians can significantly benefit from the information provided by the algorithm by reducing error by almost 30%.

Infección de prótesis articular por Pseudomonas stutzeri: Reto terapéutico asociado a múltiples graves complicaciones / Pseudomonas stutzeri prosthetic joint infection: a therapeutic challenge associated with multiple severe complications

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Respuesta a «Cómo limitar los sesgos en estudios cuasiexperimentales» / Reply to "How to limit bias in quasiexperimental studies"

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Profilaxis dual con teicoplanina añadida a cefazolina en la prevención de la infección de prótesis articular / Dual prophylaxis with teicoplanin and cefazolin in the prevention of prosthetic joint infection

INTRODUCCIÓN: Existe un creciente aumento de las infecciones de prótesis articular (IPA) por bacterias resistentes a las cefalosporinas utilizadas en la profilaxis quirúrgica. La sustitución de estas por glucopéptidos no ha demostrado mejorar los resultados pero sí su asociación. MÉTODOS: Estudio comparativo de la asociación de teicoplanina y cefazolina antes de la cirugía de artroplastia frente a cefazolina sola de un grupo control previo. RESULTADOS: En el periodo control hubo 16 IPA de 585 cirugías, mientras que en el grupo de intervención fueron 6 de 579 (incidencia 2,7% vs. 1,03%; RR 0,4, p = 0,04). En el grupo control, 11 de las infecciones fueron causadas por bacterias grampositivas frente a 4 en el de intervención (1,8% vs. 0,7%, p = 0,08). CONCLUSIONES: La adición de teicoplanina a cefazolina en la profilaxis de la cirugía de artroplastia se asoció a una reducción de la incidencia de IPA, a expensas de un descenso de las causadas por grampositivos

INTRODUCTION: There is a growing increase in prosthetic joint infection (PJI) incidence due to cephalosporin-resistant bacteria, used in surgical prophylaxis. The replacement of these with glycopeptides has not been shown to improve the results, but they have been shown to improve with their combination. METHODS: Comparative study of combination of teicoplanin and cefazolin before arthroplasty surgery against cefazolin alone from a previous control group. RESULTS: During the control period, there were 16 PJIs from 585 surgeries, while in the intervention group there were 6 from 579 (incidence 2.7% vs. 1.03%, RR 0.4, P = .04). In control group, 11 of the infections were caused by Gram-positive bacteria versus 4 in the intervention group (1.8% vs. 0.7%, P = .08). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of teicoplanin to cefazolin in the prophylaxis of arthroplasty surgery was associated with a reduction in the incidence of PJI, thanks to a decrease in infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria

Dual prophylaxis with teicoplanin and cefazolin in the prevention of prosthetic joint infection. / Profilaxis dual con teicoplanina añadida a cefazolina en la prevención de la infección de prótesis articular.

INTRODUCTION: There is a growing increase in prosthetic joint infection (PJI) incidence due to cephalosporin-resistant bacteria, used in surgical prophylaxis. The replacement of these with glycopeptides has not been shown to improve the results, but they have been shown to improve with their combination. METHODS: Comparative study of combination of teicoplanin and cefazolin before arthroplasty surgery against cefazolin alone from a previous control group. RESULTS: During the control period, there were 16 PJIs from 585 surgeries, while in the intervention group there were 6 from 579 (incidence 2.7% vs. 1.03%, RR 0.4, P=.04). In control group, 11 of the infections were caused by Gram-positive bacteria versus 4 in the intervention group (1.8% vs. 0.7%, P=.08). CONCLUSIONS: The addition of teicoplanin to cefazolin in the prophylaxis of arthroplasty surgery was associated with a reduction in the incidence of PJI, thanks to a decrease in infections caused by Gram-positive bacteria.

Efecto de la asistencia compartida con medicina interna sobre la estancia hospitalaria de los pacientes ingresados en el Servicio de Otorrinolaringología / Effect of comanagement with internal medicine on hospital stay of patients admitted to the Service of Otolaryngology

Introducción y objetivos: Los pacientes ingresados en el Servicio de Otorrinolaringología (ORL) están aumentando en edad, comorbilidad y complejidad, induciendo un incremento de interconsultas a Medicina Interna (MI). Una alternativa a las interconsultas es la asistencia compartida (AC). Estudiamos el efecto de la AC con MI sobre la estancia hospitalaria de los enfermos ingresados en ORL. Métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo de los pacientes ≥ 14 años ingresados desde el 1 de enero del 2009 hasta el 30 de junio del 2013 en ORL; desde mayo del 2011 con AC con MI. Analizamos edad, sexo, tipo de ingreso, si fue operado, peso administrativo asociado a GRD, número total de diagnósticos al alta, índice de comorbilidad de Charlson (ICh), defunción, reingresos y estancia hospitalaria. Resultados: Los pacientes con AC fueron de mayor edad (4,5 años, intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC del 95%], 2,8 a 6,3), con más ingresos urgentes (odds ratio [OR] 1,4; IC del 95%, 1,1 a 1,8), mayor peso administrativo (0,3637; IC del 95%, 0,0710 a 0,6564), mayor número de diagnósticos (1,3; IC del 95%, 1 a 1,6), ICh (0,4; IC del 95%, 0,2 a 0,6) y también de defunción (OR 4,1; IC del 95%, 1,1 a 15,7). Al ajustar, observamos que la AC redujo el 28,6% la estancia en ORL, 0,8 días (IC del 95%, 0,1 a 1,6; p = 0,038). Este descenso supone un ahorro, al menos, de 165.893 Euros. Conclusiones: Los enfermos ingresados en ORL están aumentando su edad, comorbilidad y complejidad. La AC se asocia a una disminución de la estancia y los costes en ORL, similares a lo observado en otros servicios quirúrgicos (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Patients admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) are increasing in age, comorbidity and complexity, leading to increased consultations/referrals to Internal Medicine (IM). An alternative to consultations/referrals is co-management. We studied the effect of co-management on length of stay (LoS) in hospital for patients admitted to ENT. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study including patients ≥14 years old discharged from ENT between 1/1/2009 and 30/06/2013, with co-management from May/2011. We analysed age, sex, type of admission, whether the patient was operated, administrative weight associated with DRG, total number of discharge diagnoses, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), deaths, readmissions and LoS. Results: There were statistically significant differences between both groups in age (4.5 years; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.8-6.3), emergency admissions (odds ratio [OR] 1.4; 95% CI 1.1-1.8), administrative weight (0.3637; 95% CI 0.0710-0.6564), number of diagnoses (1.3; 95% CI 1-1.6), CCI (0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.6) and deaths (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.1-15.7). On adjustment, co-management reduced ENT LoS in hospital by 28.6%, 0.8 days (95% CI 0.1-1.6%; P=.038). This reduction represents an ENT savings of at least Euros 165,893. Conclusions: Co-management patients admitted to ENT are increasing in age, comorbidity and complexity. Co-manage (AU)

Asistencia compartida (comanagement) con Medicina Interna en el Servicio de Ginecología / Comanagement with Internal Medicine in a Gynecology Department

Objetivo. Las pacientes hospitalizadas en Ginecología están aumentando su edad y complejidad, dificultando la labor de los ginecólogos. Estudiamos el efecto de la asistencia compartida (AC) con Medicina Interna (MI) sobre la estancia hospitalaria de las enfermas ingresadas en Ginecología. Material y método. Comparamos las pacientes ≥ 14 años dadas de alta de Ginecología en 2013, con AC con MI, con las del 2012, sin AC. Analizamos edad, ingreso urgente, cirugía sí/no, peso administrativo, número total de diagnósticos, índice de comorbilidad de Charlson (ICh), estancia hospitalaria, fallecimiento y reingresos. Resultados. En el año 2013 observamos incrementos del 20,6% en el número de diagnósticos y del 46,2% en el ICh. La estancia media ajustada se redujo en 0,5 días (IC 95% 0,2 a 0,7; p < 0,001). Conclusiones. La AC con MI se asocia a una disminución de la estancia media en Ginecología, en línea con lo observado en otros servicios quirúrgicos (AU)

Objective. There has been an increase in the age and complexity of patients hospitalized in gynecology departments, which has affected the work of gynecologists. We studied the effect of comanagement (CM) with Internal Medicine (IM) on hospital stay among gynecology inpatients. Material and methods. We compared patients aged ≥ 14 years old discharged from the gynecology department in 2013 who underwent CM with IM with patients who did not undergo CM and who were discharged in 2012. We analyzed age, emergency admission, surgery yes/no, administrative weight, number of diagnoses, the Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), hospital stay, fallecimiento, and readmissions. Results. In 2013, we observed increases of 20.6% in the number of diagnoses and of 46.2% in the CCI. The adjusted length of stay was reduced by 0.5 days (95% CI 0.2 to 0.7; p < 0.001). Conclusions. CM with IM is associated with a decrease in length of stay in gynecology, in line with that observed in other surgical departments (AU)

¿Tienen los cirujanos más dificultades en la atención de los pacientes hospitalizados no intervenidos respecto a los intervenidos? / Do surgeons have more difficulties in the hospital care of non-surgery patients than with surgery patients?

OBJETIVO: Un porcentaje variable de los enfermos ingresados en los servicios quirúrgicos no son operados por diversas razones. Nuestro objetivo es comprobar si los cirujanos tienen más dificultades en la atención de los pacientes ingresados no operados que en los operados. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Hemos incluido a todos los pacientes de edad ≥ 14 años dados de alta el año 2010 de Cirugía General, Ginecología, Urología y Otorrinolaringología. Las variables principales fueron la estancia, mortalidad, reingresos y número de interconsultas solicitadas a servicios médicos. Las variables secundarias: edad, sexo, número de ingresos urgentes, número total de diagnósticos y el índice de comorbilidad de Charlson (ICh). RESULTADOS: Entre el 8,7 y el 22,8% de los pacientes ingresados en estos servicios no son operados. Los pacientes no operados tienen significativamente mayores estancia, mortalidad, reingresos y solicitudes de interconsultas que los operados, con significativamente mayores edad (excepto Urología), número de diagnósticos, ingresos urgentes e ICh (excepto Urología). CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes ingresados en los servicios quirúrgicos que no son operados tienen mayor mortalidad, reingresos y solicitudes de interconsultas que los operados, probablemente por su mayor complejidad médica y urgencia del ingreso. Ello podría indicar una mayor dificultad en su manejo por parte de los cirujanos

OBJECTIVE: A variable percentage of patients admitted to surgical departments are not operated on for several reasons. Our goal is to check if surgeons have more problems in caring for non-operated hospitalized patients than operated ones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included all patients aged ≥ 14 years discharged in 2010 from General Surgery, Gynaecology, Urology, and Otolaryngology. The main variables were the length of stay, mortality, readmissions, and number of consultations/referrals requested to medical services. Secondary variables were age, sex, number of emergency admissions, total number of diagnoses, and the Charlson comorbidity index (ICh). RESULTS: Between 8.7% and 22.8% of patients admitted to these surgical departments are not operated on. The non-operated patients had a significantly higher stay, mortality, readmissions and consultations/referrals requests than operated ones, with significantly higher age (except Urology), number of diagnoses, emergency admissions and ICh (except Urology). CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to surgical departments and are not operated on have higher mortality, readmissions and consultation/referrals requests than those operated on, which may be due to their greater medical complexity and urgency of admission. This suggests a greater difficulty in their care by surgeons

DoSurgeons Have More Difficulties in the Hospital Care of Non-surgery Patients Than With Surgery Patients?

OBJECTIVE: A variable percentage of patients admitted to surgical departments are not operated on for several reasons. Our goal is to check if surgeons have more problems in caring for non-operated hospitalized patients than operated ones. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included all patients aged ≥ 14 years discharged in 2010 from General Surgery, Gynaecology, Urology, and Otolaryngology. The main variables were the length of stay, mortality, readmissions, and number of consultations/referrals requested to medical services. Secondary variables were age, sex, number of emergency admissions, total number of diagnoses, and the Charlson comorbidity index (ICh). RESULTS: Between 8.7% and 22.8% of patients admitted to these surgical departments are not operated on. The non-operated patients had a significantly higher stay, mortality, readmissions and consultations/referrals requests than operated ones, with significantly higher age (except Urology), number of diagnoses, emergency admissions and ICh (except Urology). CONCLUSIONS: Patients admitted to surgical departments and are not operated on have higher mortality, readmissions and consultation/referrals requests than those operated on, which may be due to their greater medical complexity and urgency of admission. This suggests a greater difficulty in their care by surgeons.

Effect of comanagement with internal medicine on hospital stay of patients admitted to the Service of Otolaryngology.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Patients admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology (ENT) are increasing in age, comorbidity and complexity, leading to increased consultations/referrals to Internal Medicine (IM). An alternative to consultations/referrals is co-management. We studied the effect of co-management on length of stay (LoS) in hospital for patients admitted to ENT. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study including patients ≥14 years old discharged from ENT between 1/1/2009 and 30/06/2013, with co-management from May/2011. We analysed age, sex, type of admission, whether the patient was operated, administrative weight associated with DRG, total number of discharge diagnoses, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), deaths, readmissions and LoS. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between both groups in age (4.5 years; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.8-6.3), emergency admissions (odds ratio [OR] 1.4; 95% CI 1.1-1.8), administrative weight (0.3637; 95% CI 0.0710-0.6564), number of diagnoses (1.3; 95% CI 1-1.6), CCI (0.4; 95% CI 0.2-0.6) and deaths (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.1-15.7). On adjustment, co-management reduced ENT LoS in hospital by 28.6%, 0.8 days (95% CI 0.1-1.6%; P=.038). This reduction represents an ENT savings of at least €165,893. CONCLUSIONS: Co-management patients admitted to ENT are increasing in age, comorbidity and complexity. Co-management is associated with reduced LoS and costs in ENT, similar to those observed in other surgical services.

[Factors that influence interdepartmental referrals between Surgical Departments and Internal Medicine]. / Factores que influyen en la solicitud de interconsultas a medicina interna por los servicios quirúrgicos.

INTRODUCTION: To analyse the long term outcome of the age and comorbidity of patients admitted to Surgical Departments, the number of referrals to Internal Medicine made by these Departments, and to assess whether there are seasonal variations and the call/reject effect. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We compared the age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the number of referrals made by Traumatology, General Surgery and Urology of patients discharged in 2000, with those discharged in 2007. Seasonal variations and the call/reject effect were studied by analysing all the interdepartmental referrals made by all the surgical departments from the year 2000 to 2007. RESULTS: Age increased by 5.6% between 2000 and 2007, the CCI by 5.8%, and interdepartmental referrals by 60%. Interdepartmental referrals decreased in July and August, whilst they increased in January, February, June and October, up to 64% more in January, although with variations of almost 50% in the same month. We detected differences of up to 68.2% in the referrals requested to different physicians. CONCLUSIONS: We observed a sharp increase in the requests for referral to Internal Medicine by Surgical Departments of our hospital, which is not explained by the increase in admissions to these Departments, and which could be associated with the increase in age and comorbidity of their patients. Requests for interdepartmental referral have marked monthly variations and also as regards the Consulting Physician.

Factores que influyen en la solicitud de interconsultas a medicina interna por los servicios quirúrgicos / Factors that influence interdepartmental referrals between Surgical Departments and Internal Medicine

Objetivo Analizar la evolución de la edad y la comorbilidad de los pacientes ingresados en los servicios quirúrgicos, el número de interconsultas pedidas por dichos servicios a medicina interna y valorar la existencia de variaciones estacionales y efecto llamada/rechazo en su solicitud. Material y métodos Comparamos la edad, el índice de comorbilidad de Charlson (ICh) y el número de interconsultas solicitadas de los pacientes dados de alta en 2000 con los de 2007, de traumatología, cirugía general y urología. Estudiamos las variaciones estacionales y el efecto llamada/rechazo analizando todas las interconsultas solicitadas por todos los servicios quirúrgicos del hospital desde 2000 hasta 2007.ResultadosEntre 2000 y 2007 la edad aumentó el 5,6%; el ICh, el 5,8% y las interconsultas, el 60%. En julio y agosto se reduce la solicitud de interconsultas, mientras que en enero, febrero, junio y octubre se incrementan, hasta un 64% más en enero, aunque con variaciones dentro de un mismo mes de hasta casi el 50%. Detectamos diferencias que alcanzan el 68,2% en la solicitud de interconsultas a los diferentes internistas. Conclusiones Observamos un fuerte ascenso en la solicitud de interconsultas a medicina interna por los servicios quirúrgicos de nuestro hospital, que no se explica por el aumento de ingresos en dichos servicios, y que puede estar en relación con el incremento de la edad y la comorbilidad de sus enfermos. La petición de interconsultas presenta marcadas variaciones mensuales y también con respecto al internista consultor (AU)

Introduction To analyse the long term outcome of the age and comorbidity of patients admitted to Surgical Departments, the number of referrals to Internal Medicine made by these Departments, and to assess whether there are seasonal variations and the call/reject effect. Material and methods We compared the age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the number of referrals made by Traumatology, General Surgery and Urology of patients discharged in 2000, with those discharged in 2007. Seasonal variations and the call/reject effect were studied by analysing all the interdepartmental referrals made by all the surgical departments from the year 2000 to 2007.ResultsAge increased by 5.6% between 2000 and 2007, the CCI by 5.8%, and interdepartmental referrals by 60%. Interdepartmental referrals decreased in July and August, whilst they increased in January, February, June and October, up to 64% more in January, although with variations of almost 50% in the same month. We detected differences of up to 68.2% in the referrals requested to different physicians. Conclusions We observed a sharp increase in the requests for referral to Internal Medicine by Surgical Departments of our hospital, which is not explained by the increase in admissions to these Departments, and which could be associated with the increase in age and comorbidity of their patients. Requests for interdepartmental referral have marked monthly variations and also as regards the Consulting Physician (AU)

[Intestinal leishmaniasis and Sézary syndrome: endoscopic diagnosis]. / Leishmaniasis intestinal y síndrome de Sézary: diagnóstico endoscópico.

Sézary syndrome is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of cutaneous origin that provokes severe cellular immunosuppression leading to greater susceptibility to opportunistic infections. We present the case of a male patient with a diagnosis of Sézary syndrome complicated by visceral leishmaniasis and Mycobacterium avium complex coinfection, with intestinal involvement of both pathogens -an exceptional finding in the absence of HIV infection. The diagnosis was confirmed by bone marrow biopsy and oral endoscopy with intestinal biopsy. Because of the severity of the infection and the failure of conventional treatment, miltefosine, a new antiparasitic agent still under investigation, was administered with favorable response. However the patient developed fatal pneumonia.

Leishmaniasis intestinal y síndrome de Sézary: diagnóstico endoscópico / Intestinal leishmaniasis and Sézary syndrome: endoscopic diagnosis

El síndrome de Sézary es un linfoma no hodgkiniano de origen cutáneo que provoca una inmunosupresión celular grave y, por ello, una mayor susceptibilidad a adquirir infecciones oportunistas. Presentamos el caso de un paciente diagnosticado de un síndrome de Sézary, complicado con leishmaniasis visceral y coinfección por Mycobacterium avium complex, con afección intestinal por ambos patógenos, hecho excepcional en ausencia de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humama. La biopsia de la médula ósea y la endoscopia oral con toma de biopsias del intestino confirmaron el diagnóstico. La gravedad del cuadro y el fracaso de los tratamientos convencionales obligaron a emplear miltefosina, un nuevo fármaco antiparasitario en fase de investigación, con el que se obtuvo una respuesta favorable. Sin embargo, el cuadro se complicó con una neumonía de evolución fatal

Sézary syndrome is a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of cutaneous origin that provokes severe cellular immunosuppression leading to greater susceptibility to opportunistic infections. We present the case of a male patient with a diagnosis of Sézary syndrome complicated by visceral leishmaniasis and Mycobacterium avium complex coinfection, with intestinal involvement of both pathogens ­an exceptional finding in the absence of HIV infection. The diagnosis was confirmed by bone marrow biopsy and oral endoscopy with intestinal biopsy. Because of the severity of the infection and the failure of conventional treatment, miltefosine, a new antiparasitic agent still under investigation, was administered with favorable response. However the patient developed fatal pneumonia