Impacto de la pandemia COVID-19 en la cirugía de columna en un centro de segundo nivel / Impact of COVID-19 pandemia on spine surgery in 2nd level hospital

Introducción: Las consecuencias de la pandemia por COVID-19, como en otros aspectos de la medicina, se han visto reflejadas también en la actividad quirúrgica de columna vertebral. Objetivos: El objetivo principal del presente estudio es cuantificar el número de intervenciones realizadas entre los años 2016 y 2021 y analizar el tiempo de espera en los pacientes intervenidos como medida indirecta del volumen de la lista de espera. Como objetivos secundarios se realiza un análisis del tiempo de estancia hospitalaria y el tiempo quirúrgico a lo largo de la serie. Métodos: Se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo en relación con el volumen de intervenciones y diagnósticos durante un periodo que incluye desde la etapa previa a la pandemia (2016) hasta finales del año 2021, en que la situación global llegó a una cuasi-normalización de la actividad. Se han identificado un total de 1.039 registros. Se incluyen las variables edad, género, días en lista de espera antes de la intervención, diagnóstico, tiempo de estancia hospitalaria y tiempo quirúrgico. Resultados: Se objetiva una disminución en el número total de intervenciones durante la pandemia respecto al año 2019 (32,15% menos el año 2020 y 23,5% menos el 2021). Tras el análisis de los datos, se observa un aumento en la dispersión y la mediana del tiempo de espera global y por patologías a partir de 2020, sin detectarse diferencias significativas en el tiempo de hospitalización ni en el tiempo quirúrgico. Conclusión: Durante la pandemia se ha producido una disminución del número de intervenciones debido a la necesidad de redistribuir recursos humanos y materiales para hacer frente al incremento de pacientes críticos afectados por la COVID-19. El aumento de la dispersión y de la mediana global y por patologías de la variable tiempo de espera se traduce como un aumento del tiempo de espera en las cirugías diferibles realizadas durante los años de...(AU)

Introduction: The consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, like in any other field of medicine, had such a massive effect in the activity of spine surgeons. Objectives: The main purpose of the study is quantifying the number of interventions done between 2016 and 2021 and analyze the time between the indication and the intervention as an indirect measurement of the waiting list. As secondary objectives we focused on variations of the length of stay and duration of the surgeries during this specific period. Methods: We performed a descriptive retrospective study including all the interventions and diagnosis made during a period including pre-pandemic data (starting on 2016) until 2021, when we considered the normalization of surgical activity was achieved. A total of 1039 registers were compiled. The data collected included age, gender, days in waiting list before the intervention, diagnosis, time of hospitalization and surgery duration. Results: We found that the total number of interventions during the pandemic has significantly decreased compared to 2019 (32.15% less in 2020 and 23.5% less in 2021). After data analysis, we found an increase of data dispersion, average waiting list time and for diagnosis after 2020. No differences were found regarding hospitalization time or surgical time. Conclusion: The number of surgeries decreased during pandemic due to the redistribution of human and material resources to face the raising of critical COVID-19 patients. The increase of data dispersion and median of waiting time, is the consequence of a growing waiting list for non-urgent surgeries during the pandemic as the urgent interventions also raised, those with a shorter waiting time.(AU)

[Translated article] Impact of COVID-19 pandemia on spine surgery in 2nd level hospital / Impacto de la pandemia COVID-19 en la cirugía de columna en un centro de segundo nivel

Introducción: Las consecuencias de la pandemia por COVID-19, como en otros aspectos de la medicina, se han visto reflejadas también en la actividad quirúrgica de columna vertebral. Objetivos: El objetivo principal del presente estudio es cuantificar el número de intervenciones realizadas entre los años 2016 y 2021 y analizar el tiempo de espera en los pacientes intervenidos como medida indirecta del volumen de la lista de espera. Como objetivos secundarios se realiza un análisis del tiempo de estancia hospitalaria y el tiempo quirúrgico a lo largo de la serie. Métodos: Se ha realizado un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo en relación con el volumen de intervenciones y diagnósticos durante un periodo que incluye desde la etapa previa a la pandemia (2016) hasta finales del año 2021, en que la situación global llegó a una cuasi-normalización de la actividad. Se han identificado un total de 1.039 registros. Se incluyen las variables edad, género, días en lista de espera antes de la intervención, diagnóstico, tiempo de estancia hospitalaria y tiempo quirúrgico. Resultados: Se objetiva una disminución en el número total de intervenciones durante la pandemia respecto al año 2019 (32,15% menos el año 2020 y 23,5% menos el 2021). Tras el análisis de los datos, se observa un aumento en la dispersión y la mediana del tiempo de espera global y por patologías a partir de 2020, sin detectarse diferencias significativas en el tiempo de hospitalización ni en el tiempo quirúrgico. Conclusión: Durante la pandemia se ha producido una disminución del número de intervenciones debido a la necesidad de redistribuir recursos humanos y materiales para hacer frente al incremento de pacientes críticos afectados por la COVID-19. El aumento de la dispersión y de la mediana global y por patologías de la variable tiempo de espera se traduce como un aumento del tiempo de espera en las cirugías diferibles realizadas durante los años de...(AU)

Introduction: The consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, like in any other field of medicine, had such a massive effect in the activity of spine surgeons. Objectives: The main purpose of the study is quantifying the number of interventions done between 2016 and 2021 and analyze the time between the indication and the intervention as an indirect measurement of the waiting list. As secondary objectives we focused on variations of the length of stay and duration of the surgeries during this specific period. Methods: We performed a descriptive retrospective study including all the interventions and diagnosis made during a period including pre-pandemic data (starting on 2016) until 2021, when we considered the normalization of surgical activity was achieved. A total of 1039 registers were compiled. The data collected included age, gender, days in waiting list before the intervention, diagnosis, time of hospitalization and surgery duration. Results: We found that the total number of interventions during the pandemic has significantly decreased compared to 2019 (32.15% less in 2020 and 23.5% less in 2021). After data analysis, we found an increase of data dispersion, average waiting list time and for diagnosis after 2020. No differences were found regarding hospitalization time or surgical time. Conclusion: The number of surgeries decreased during pandemic due to the redistribution of human and material resources to face the raising of critical COVID-19 patients. The increase of data dispersion and median of waiting time, is the consequence of a growing waiting list for non-urgent surgeries during the pandemic as the urgent interventions also raised, those with a shorter waiting time.(AU)

[Translated article] Impact of COVID-19 pandemia on spine surgery in 2nd level hospital.

INTRODUCTION: The consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, like in any other field of medicine, had such a massive effect in the activity of spine surgeons. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the study is quantifying the number of interventions done between 2016 and 2021 and analyze the time between the indication and the intervention as an indirect measurement of the waiting list. As secondary objectives we focused on variations of the length of stay and duration of the surgeries during this specific period. METHODS: We performed a descriptive retrospective study including all the interventions and diagnosis made during a period including pre-pandemic data (starting on 2016) until 2021, when we considered the normalization of surgical activity was achieved. A total of 1039 registers were compiled. The data collected included age, gender, days in waiting list before the intervention, diagnosis, time of hospitalization and surgery duration. RESULTS: We found that the total number of interventions during the pandemic has significantly decreased compared to 2019 (32.15% less in 2020 and 23.5% less in 2021). After data analysis, we found an increase of data dispersion, average waiting list time and for diagnosis after 2020. No differences were found regarding hospitalization time or surgical time. CONCLUSION: The number of surgeries decreased during pandemic due to the redistribution of human and material resources to face the raising of critical COVID-19 patients. The increase of data dispersion and median of waiting time, is the consequence of a growing waiting list for non-urgent surgeries during the pandemic as the urgent interventions also raised, those with a shorter waiting time.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemia on spine surgery in 2nd level hospital. / Impacto de la pandemia COVID-19 en la cirugía de columna en un centro de segundo nivel.

INTRODUCTION: The consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, like in any other field of medicine, had such a massive effect in the activity of spine surgeons. OBJECTIVES: The main purpose of the study is quantifying the number of interventions done between 2016 and 2021 and analyze the time between the indication and the intervention as an indirect measurement of the waiting list. As secondary objectives we focused on variations of the length of stay and duration of the surgeries during this specific period. METHODS: We performed a descriptive retrospective study including all the interventions and diagnosis made during a period including pre-pandemic data (starting on 2016) until 2021, when we considered the normalization of surgical activity was achieved. A total of 1039 registers were compiled. The data collected included age, gender, days in waiting list before the intervention, diagnosis, time of hospitalization and surgery duration. RESULTS: We found that the total number of interventions during the pandemic has significantly decreased compared to 2019 (32.15% less in 2020 and 23.5% less in 2021). After data analysis, we found an increase of data dispersion, average waiting list time and for diagnosis after 2020. No differences were found regarding hospitalization time or surgical time. CONCLUSION: The number of surgeries decreased during pandemic due to the redistribution of human and material resources to face the raising of critical COVID-19 patients. The increase of data dispersion and median of waiting time, is the consequence of a growing waiting list for non-urgent surgeries during the pandemic as the urgent interventions also raised, those with a shorter waiting time.

Dorsolumbalgia: a propósito de una presentación infrecuente / Back pain: a case with an uncommon presentation

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Functional Outcomes 18 Months After Total and Midarm Transplantation: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: The function reported after arm transplantation is deemed beneficial relative to the marked disability that upper arm amputation causes. OBJECTIVE: We report a 51-year-old man with a Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score of 75.83 who underwent bilateral arm transplantation in October 2015. PROCEDURE: The right arm was transplanted at the glenohumeral joint level, including transplantation of the humeral head, joint capsule, and rotator cuff ligaments and tendons. Additionally, neurorrhaphies were performed at the origin of the terminal branches of the brachial plexus, including the axillary and musculocutaneous nerves. Therefore, this was considered a total arm transplantation. The left arm was transplanted at the transhumeral level, with complete transplantation of the biceps and triceps brachii, and terminolateral neurorrhaphy of the donor musculocutaneous nerve to the receptor radial nerve. A maintenance triple immunosuppression scheme was administered, with tacrolimus levels kept at 10 ng/mL. RESULTS: At 18 months post-transplantation, the intrinsic musculature in the left hand showed electrical registry, DASH score was 67.5, Carroll test score was 28 in both extremities, Hand Transplant Score System was 67.5 in the right extremity and 77.5 in the left extremity, and Short Form-36 score was 96.1. The patient was healthy, with restored body integrity. He could lift medium-sized weightless objects, eat and go to the bathroom by himself, drink liquids with bimanual grasp, swim, dress almost independently, and drive. CONCLUSION: The functional evolution of the patient was similar to previously reported transplanted arms, even though the right arm transplant involved the glenohumeral joint and axillary and musculocutaneous nerve repair.

Fouling communities and degradation of archeological metals in the coastal sea of the Southwestern Gulf of Mexico.

Corrosion and biofouling phenomena of cast iron and brass were evaluated under natural conditions to determine the degradation process of archeological artifacts. Field exposure studies of experimental materials were conducted over 15 months at an offshore position in the sea of Campeche in the Gulf of Mexico. Corrosion was determined by gravimetric measurements. The community structure of the benthic assemblage inhabiting the surfaces of both materials was evaluated. A total of 53 species was identified. The community in both cases was composed of a small number of species. Encrusting, attached and erect life forms were dominant on iron. Attached life forms were dominant on brass. Biofouling produced a decrease in the weight loss measurements of cast iron samples. Biofouling provided a beneficial factor for in situ preservation of iron archeological artifacts in wreck sites.

Novel embalming solution for neurosurgical simulation in cadavers.

OBJECT: Surgical simulation using postmortem human heads is one of the most valid strategies for neurosurgical research and training. The authors customized an embalming formula that provides an optimal retraction profile and lifelike physical properties while preventing microorganism growth and brain decay for neurosurgical simulations in cadavers. They studied the properties of the customized formula and compared its use with the standard postmortem processing techniques: cryopreservation and formaldehyde-based embalming. METHODS: Eighteen specimens were prepared for neurosurgical simulation: 6 formaldehyde embalmed, 6 cryopreserved, and 6 custom embalmed. The customized formula is a mixture of ethanol 62.4%, glycerol 17%, phenol 10.2%, formaldehyde 2.3%, and water 8.1%. After a standard pterional craniotomy, retraction profiles and brain stiffness were studied using an intracranial pressure transducer and monitor. Preservation time-that is, time that tissue remained in optimal condition-between specimen groups was also compared through periodical reports during a 48-hour simulation. RESULTS: The mean (± standard deviation) retraction pressures were highest in the formaldehyde group and lowest in the cryopreserved group. The customized formula provided a mean retraction pressure almost 3 times lower than formaldehyde (36 ± 3 vs 103 ± 14 mm Hg, p < 0.01) and very similar to cryopreservation (24 ± 6 mm Hg, p < 0.01). For research purposes, preservation time in the cryopreserved group was limited to 4 hours and was unlimited for the customized and formaldehyde groups for the duration of the experiment. CONCLUSIONS: The customized embalming solution described herein is optimal for allowing retraction and surgical maneuverability while preventing decay. The authors were able to significantly lower the formaldehyde content as compared with that in standard formulas. The custom embalming solution has the benefits from both cryopreservation (for example, biological brain tissue properties) and formaldehyde embalming (for example, preservation time and microorganism growth prevention) and minimizes their drawbacks, that is, rapid decay in the former and stiffness in the latter. The presented embalming formula provides an important advance for neurosurgical simulations in research and teaching.

Group B streptococcal colonization and the risk of pre-eclampsia.

To determine if there was an association between recto-vaginal group B streptococcus (GBS) colonization and pre-eclampsia, two cross-sectional studies were conducted using statewide hospital databases. The first study analysed data from the state of Florida, USA, and included 190 645 women who were discharged in 2001. This dataset was used to generate the hypothesis that GBS colonization is associated with pre-eclampsia. The second study tested the GBS hypothesis using the records of 577 153 women who delivered in 2004 or 2005 in Texas, USA. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for the outcome of pre-eclampsia comparing GBS-positive to GBS-negative women were calculated using logistic regression. The aOR for the association between GBS carriage and pre-eclampsia was 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.65-0.77] in the Florida dataset. In the Texas dataset, the overall prevalence of GBS carriage was 14.1% while the overall prevalence of pre-eclampsia was 4.0%. GBS carriers were 31% less likely than non-carriers to have pre-eclampsia (aOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.66-0.72) in Texas. In two large statewide analyses, GBS carriage was inversely associated with pre-eclampsia. A sensitivity analysis revealed that misclassification of GBS status is not a likely explanation of our findings.

[Mechanical restraint: its use in intensive cares]. / Contención mecánica: su uso en cuidados intensivos.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the use of mechanical restraint (MR) or physical restraints in a Critical Care unit and to evaluate the procedure. BASIC PROCEDURES: A descriptive, prospective study. INCLUSION CRITERIA: patients who required MR from March to June 2010. VARIABLES: demographic, clinical presentation, indications, techniques and devices. A statistical analysis with mean, standard deviation and percentages using the program SPSS 14.0. RESULTS: A total of 85 cases were studied: 65.9% male, mean age 64.19 (±17.9), NEMS 29.3 (±8.2). Incidence of MR: 15.6%. Main indication for MR: Risk of serious disruption of treatment processes (80%). Decision nurse (94.1%). Urgent action: (85.9%). Registration procedure: 57.6%. Information to the family: 9.4%. Previous actions: verbal containment (100%), pharmacological (48.2%). CONCLUSIONS: There is a relevant incidence of MR. The principal reason is that of avoiding interruption of the therapeutic process. The nurse makes the initial decision. Necessary information/training of professionals for legal and ethical repercussions is needed.

NEMS: ¿nuevo predictor de mortalidad en el paciente crítico? / Nems: a new predictor of mortality in the critical patient?

En las unidades de cuidados intensivos se utilizan habitualmente escalas que predicen el riesgo de mortalidad hospitalaria y objetivan las necesidades terapéuticas y asistenciales que requieren los pacientes críticos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar si el NEMS podía ser utilizado como predictor de mortalidad, comparándolo con el APACHE II. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo en una unidad de cuidados intensivos polivalente de 24 camas. El APACHE II y NEMS se estratificaron en 3 niveles. Se recogieron datos demográficos y el valor en las primeras 24 horas del APACHE II y NEMS. Se incluyeron 1.257 pacientes; fallecieron el 16,4%. Fueron quirúrgicos el 69,6%; la mediana para estancia y edad fue de 2 días (1-4) y 66 años (50-77); el 59,3% fueron hombres. La mediana para vivos y muertos de APACHE II fue 10 (6-20) y 22,5 (17,25-29) respectivamente, (p<0,001) y para NEMS, 24 (18-29) y 34 (25-39,7), (p<0,001). La correlación entre ambas escalas fue rho=0,457, (p<0,01). La regresión logística controlada por edad, sexo y APACHE mostró solo para NEMS elevados un OR=3,1 (IC95%: 1,5-6,6), respecto al nivel mas inferior. Según los resultados no se debe utilizar el NEMS como predictor de mortalidad, aunque el riesgo de muerte aumenta tres veces con NEMS altos (AU)

Abstract Numerical scales are commonly used in intensive care units to predict hospital mortality and to assess the therapeutic effort and care that critically ill patients require. The aim of this work was to study whether the NEMS value can be used as a predictor of mortality, comparing it with the APACHE II. A prospective study in a 24 intensive care unit beds was conducted. The APACHE II and NEMS values were stratified into three levels. Demographic data and the first 24 hours values of APACHE II and NEMS scales were collected. A total of 1257 patients were included, 16.4% of whom died. 69.6% were surgical; median stay was 2 days (1-4). Medianage was 66 years (50-77), 59.3% were men. The median APACHE II and NEMS for the living and the dead in the subsequent course was 10 (6-20) versus 22.5 (17.25 to 29) (p <0.001) and 24(18-29) versus 34 (25 to 39.7) (p < 0.001) respectively. The correlation between both scales was rho = 0.457 (p < 0.01). Logistic regression controlled for age, sex and APACHE II showed an OR of3.1 (95% CI: 1.5-6.6) only for high NEMS, compared to the lowest level. According to the results NEMS should not be used as a predictor of mortality, although the risk of death increases by three times with high NEMS (AU)

[NEMS: a new predictor of mortality in the critical patient?]. / NEMS: ¿nuevo predictor de mortalidad en el paciente crítico?

Numerical scales are commonly used in intensive care units to predict hospital mortality and to assess the therapeutic effort and care that critically ill patients require. The aim of this work was to study whether the NEMS value can be used as a predictor of mortality, comparing it with the APACHE II. A prospective study in a 24 intensive care unit beds was conducted. The APACHE II and NEMS values were stratified into three levels. Demographic data and the first 24 hours values of APACHE II and NEMS scales were collected. A total of 1257 patients were included, 16.4% of whom died. 69.6% were surgical; median stay was 2 days (1-4). Median age was 66 years (50-77), 59.3% were men. The median APACHE II and NEMS for the living and the dead in the subsequent course was 10 (6-20) versus 22.5 (17.25 to 29) (p <0.001) and 24 (18-29) versus 34 (25 to 39.7) (p<0.001) respectively. The correlation between both scales was rho=0.457 (p<0.01). Logistic regression controlled for age, sex and APACHE II showed an OR of 3.1 (95% CI: 1.5-6.6) only for high NEMS, compared to the lowest level. According to the results NEMS should not be used as a predictor of mortality, although the risk of death increases by three times with high NEMS.

Centring ability and apical transportation after overinstrumentation with ProTaper Universal and ProFile Vortex instruments.

AIM: To evaluate morphological changes to the major foramen after overinstrumentation with ProTaper Universal and ProFile Vortex Ni-Ti rotary instruments. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-eight mesiobuccal canals of maxillary and mandibular first molars were divided into two groups of 14 canals each. The root canals were prepared with ProTaper Universal or ProFile Vortex instruments. ProTaper and Vortex instruments were used until the file tip protruded 1 mm beyond the working length (0.5 mm beyond the major foramen). The major foramen was photographed before and after overinstrumentation with each file of the two systems used. The images were superimposed and evaluated using Adobe Photoshop. The parameters evaluated were canal transportation, centring ability and shape of the major foramen. Transportation and centring ability were calculated in two directions: the direction of maximum curvature (MC) and a direction vertical to the maximum curvature (VC). Measurements of canal transportation and centring ability were analysed by anova followed by post hoc least significance difference (LSD) multiple comparisons. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed amongst the different instruments with respect to centring ability in either direction (P > 0.05). The F3 ProTaper Universal instrument was associated with a higher mean values for transportation in the direction of MC (P < 0.05) than the S1, S2 and F1 ProTaper Universal instruments and the size 15, 0.06 taper, size 20, 0.06 taper, and size 25, 0.06 taper ProFile Vortex instruments. The size 30, 0.06 taper ProFile Vortex instrument had a larger mean value for transportation in the direction of MC (P < 0.05) than the S1 ProTaper Universal and size 15, 0.06 taper ProFile Vortex instruments. The S1, S2, F1, F2 and F3 ProTaper Universal files and the size 15, 0.06 taper, size 20, 0.06 taper, size 25, 0.06 taper, and size 30, 0.06 taper ProFile Vortex files produced an oval foramen in 71%, 71%, 85%, 85%, 71%, 71%, 85%, 85% and 89% of the cases, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In most samples, the ProTaper Universal and ProFile Vortex files produced transportation of the major foramen and created an oval-shaped major foramen after overinstrumentation.

[Technical and functional standards and implementation of a clinical information system in intensive care units]. / Estándares técnicos y funcionales, y proceso de implantación, de un sistema de información clínica en unidades de cuidados intensivos.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical Information Systems (CIS) are becoming a useful tool for managing patients and data in the ICU. However, the existing CIS differ in their capabilities and technical requirements. It is therefore essential for intensivists, as the end clients of these applications, to define the suitable minimum specifications required in order to be operative and helpful. OBJECTIVES: The Spanish Society of Intensive Care Medicine and Coronary Units, through its Organization and Management Workgroup, has designated a group of clinical and software experts to draft a document with the recommendable technical and operating requirements of these systems. METHODS: The group was formed by ten people supported by managers or engineers from the five principal industries producing CIS in Spain. The project involved the following phases: a) Completion of a check list. This step was considered necessary in order to establish the precise current situation of CIS applications. b) Discussion of the results by the group of experts in a meeting and in online format. RESULTS: The requirements were grouped into four sections: technical, functional, safety and data management. All requirements were classified as basic and optional in order to allow the end user to choose among different options according to the existing budget, though ensuring a minimal set of useful characteristics. A chronogram for the installation process was also proposed.

Calidad de vida, escalas de valoración y medidas preventivas en el linfedema / Quality of life, rating scales, and lymphedema preventive measures

El objetivo de este trabajo es actualizar los conocimientos existentes y evaluar la evidencia publicada sobre los indicadores de calidad de vida, las escalas de valoración y las medidas preventivas existentes del linfedema de los miembros. Se revisaron las bases de datos Medline, Physiotherapy Evidence Database y la Biblioteca Cochrane hasta enero de 2010 (AU)

This paper has aimed to update the existing knowledge and evaluate the published evidence on indicators of quality of life, the rating scales and the existing preventive measures of lymphedema of the limbs. A review was made of the Medline database, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and the Cochrane Library up to January 2010 (AU)

[Evaluation of the effect of a cleaning/disinfection intervention on the rate of multiresistant microorganism infections in the Intensive Care Unit]. / Evaluación del efecto de una intervención de limpieza/desinfección sobre la incidencia de infecciones por microorganismos multirresistentes en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos.

AIM: Evaluate the effect of an intervention on the rate of nosocomial infections (NI) produced by multiresistant microorganisms in the Intensive Care Units. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A study was conducted before and after an intervention in two ICUs to control an outbreak of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumanii (MRAB). During the outbreak (from 22-12-06 to 12-2-07) the wards were closed and both the wards and the equipment of both ICUs were cleaned and disinfected. A microbiological sampling was also made. The nosocomial infection rate density of the multiresistant microorganisms was compared between hospitalized patients: preintervention (1-3-2006 to 15-12-2006) and postintervention (1-3-2007 to 15-12-2007). To certify if there were any statistically significant differences between them, a rate ratio (RT) was calculated with a 95% confidence interval. The level of statistical significance was established at p < 0.05. We stratified per unit, per type of microorganism and location of the infection. RESULTS: The global NI incidence rate for multiresistant microorganisms significantly declined after the interventions in both units (RT: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.34-2.50), p < 0.005. A significant decrease was also observed on the NI incidence rate for the following microorganisms: P. aeruginosa (RT: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.41-3.96), Enterobacter BLEE (RT: 2.31, 95% CI: 1.11-4.82) and S. maltophilia (RT: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.10-6.99). In regards to the infection location, a significant decrease in respiratory infection rates was observed (RT: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.29-2.99). CONCLUSION: The intervention conducted to control the MRAB outbreak was effective in reducing the NI incidence of multiresistant microorganisms.

Evaluación del efecto de una intervención de limpieza/ desinfección sobre la incidencia de infecciones por microorganismos multirresistentes en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos / Evaluation of the effect of a cleaning/disinfection intervention on the rate of multiresistant microorganism infections in the Intensive Care Unit

Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de una intervención sobre la incidencia de infecciones nosocomiales(IN) por microorganismos multirresistentes en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI).Material y métodos. Se realizó un estudio antes-después de una intervención para el controlde un brote de Acinetobacter baumannii multirresistente (ABMR) en dos UCI. Durante el brote(del 22-12-06 al 12-2-07) se procedió al cierre y limpieza/desinfección de las salas y equipamientode las dos UCI, con muestreo microbiológico antes y después. Se comparó la densidadde incidencia de IN por microorganismos multirresistentes entre los pacientes ingresados: preintervención(del 1-3-2006 al 15-12-2006) y posintervención (del 1-3-2007 al 15-12-2007). Paracomprobar si existían diferencias estadísticamente signifi cativas se calculó la razón de tasas(RT) y su intervalo de confi anza (IC) al 95%. El nivel de signifi cación estadística se estableció enp < 0,05. Se estratifi có por unidad, tipo de microorganismo y localización de la infección.Resultados. La tasa de incidencia global de IN por microorganismos multirresistentes disminuyósignifi cativamente tras la intervención en ambas unidades (RT: 1,83, IC 95% 1,34-2,50), p < 0,005.También existió disminución signifi cativa en la tasa de incidencia de IN para los microorganismos:P. aeruginosa (RT: 2,36, IC 95% 1,41-3,96), enterobacterias BLEE (RT: 2,31, IC 95% 1,11-4,82) y S.maltophilia (RT: 2,77, IC 95% 1,10-6,99). Con respecto a la localización de la infección resultósignifi cativa la disminución en la tasa de infecciones respiratorias (RT: 1,96, IC 95% 1,29-2,99).Conclusión. La intervención realizada para el control del brote de ABMR fue efectiva paradisminuir la incidencia de IN por otros microorganismos multirresistentes(AU)

Aim. Evaluate the effect of an intervention on the rate of nosocomial infections (NI)produced by multiresistant microorganisms in the Intensive Care Units.Material and methods. A study was conducted before and after an intervention in two ICUsto control an outbreak of multiresistant Acinetobacter baumanii (MRAB). During theoutbreak (from 22-12-06 to 12-2-07) the wards were closed and both the wards and theequipment of both ICUs were cleaned and disinfected. A microbiological sampling was alsomade. The nosocomial infection rate density of the multiresistant microorganisms wascompared between hospitalized patients: preintervention (1-3-2006 to 15-12-2006) andpostintervention (1-3-2007 to 15-12-2007). To certify if there were any statisticallysignifi cant differences between them, a rate ratio (RT) was calculated with a 95% confi denceinterval. The level of statistical signifi cance was established at p < 0.05. We stratifi ed perunit, per type of microorganism and location of the infection.Results. The global NI incidence rate for multiresistant microorganisms signifi cantlydeclined after the interventions in both units (RT: 1.83, 95% CI: 1.34-2.50), p < 0.005. Asignifi cant decrease was also observed on the NI incidence rate for the followingmicroorganisms: P. aeruginosa (RT: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.41-3.96), Enterobacter BLEE (RT: 2.31,95% CI: 1.11-4.82) and S. maltophilia (RT: 2.77, 95% CI: 1.10-6.99). In regards to theinfection location, a signifi cant decrease in respiratory infection rates was observed (RT:1.96, 95% CI: 1.29-2.99).Conclusion. The intervention conducted to control the MRAB outbreak was effective inreducing the NI incidence of multiresistant microorganisms(AU)