The importance of the day of the week and duration of data collection in prevalence surveys of nosocomial infections.

In a national prevalence survey setting, we studied whether the day of week selected for data collection, and the number of days needed to complete the survey, were associated with the prevalence of hospital-acquired infection (HAI). The EPINE (Estudio de Prevalencia de las Infecciones Nosocomiales en España) database (1990-2002) was analysed for the purposes of the study. Adjusting for the admission day in the week, the number of intrinsic risk factors, the number of extrinsic risk factors and the prevalence length of stay, a 'weekend effect' was confirmed in this study. The day of the week selected for data collection was related to the presence of infection in the surveyed patients, showing for the period of Saturday-Monday a higher prevalence of patients with HAI (adjusted OR 1.08, 95%CI 1.05-1.10). There was a crude positive trend between number of weeks and prevalence, but the number of days involved in data collection was finally not associated with the prevalence of HAI, once adjustment for hospital size was made. The percentage of repeated records increased linearly with hospital size, and the frequency of infections was higher within this group (OR 2.8, 95%CI 2.6-3.0). The results of this study highlight the need for encouraging hospitals to shorten the time spent in obtaining a prevalence survey. If it is impossible to carry out the survey within the limits of one day, data collection should then be limited to that period of the week, Tuesday to Friday.

[Importance of family history in enuresis]. / Importancia de la historia familiar en la enuresis.

A study on the familial background of nocturnal enuresis was conducted by administering a questionnaire to all school children in 1st year of Elementary Education. A total of 4,425 children were surveyed. The number of questionnaires returned was 2,770. Only 2,616 children born in 1985, aged 6-7 years, with no schooling delay were evaluated. A familial background of enuresis is much more frequent in enuretic than non-enuretic children (p < 0.001). When NE existed in first degree relatives, enuresis was also present in up to 40% children versus 8.5% in those with no familial history (p < 0.001). The background of NE is the father in 39.6% enuretic and 8.2% non-enuretic children (p < 0.001); in 42.1% enuretic children NE background was the mother, while non-enuretic children have maternal background in 10.4% (p < 0.001). Children with NE have a background of enuresis in their siblings in 62.9% cases versus 20.9% of non-enuretic children (p < 0.001).