Mcneilhenderson4953

ergo serial CXRs. LGH447 Given the low incidence of PTX/HTX/HPTX in patients with a normal presentation CXR, along with the resource implications of serial CXRs, it may be prudent to discharge patients with thorough counselling and advice to return for review if warranted.

Otorhinolaryngology services are not available in all hospitals and atraumatic epistaxis is a common presentation to Emergency Departments (ED). Not all ED staff are experienced in managing epistaxis and there appeared to be a high rate of re-bleeding after treatment provided. We aimed to improve outcome for ED patients presenting with atraumatic epistaxis and staff conditions by creating a Departmental pathway outlining a management plan and ensuring all equipment needed was readily available.

A retrospective 6-month audit was done to assess current management and re-bleed percentage rates post nasal packing. A team was assembled, stocked a trolley, created an Atraumatic epistaxis ED pathway and promoted its use by staff. Repeated Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles were undertaken.Chosen measures were (1) Reduced re-bleed rates post nasal packing from initial audit levels; (2) Increased nasal packing duration; (3) Improved qualitative feedback by ED doctors (4) 100% E.N.T. trolley stock.

Audit showed minimal use of vasoconstrictor spray, a 7-hour mean nasal pack duration, a re-bleed rate post nasal packing of 39% and staff reports of difficulties accessing items required.After introduction of the E.N.T. trolley, there was positive staff feedback regarding improved availability of treatment items and full stocking of the trolley was achieved after repeated cycles.Following introduction of the Epistaxis pathway and staff education, average re-bleed rates post nasal packing dropped* from 39% to 20% in the first cycle; 21% in the third cycle; 25% in the fourth cycle and 14% in the fifth cycle- (*Isolated re-bleed average of 40% observed in the second cycle).Mean nasal packing duration increased from 7h to 9, 10, 10, 12 and 8h in the 2-monthly cycles successively.

The project's aims of improving epistaxis patients' outcomes and improved convenience for ED staff were achieved.

The project's aims of improving epistaxis patients' outcomes and improved convenience for ED staff were achieved.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a time sensitive emergency. In resource limited settings, prompt identification and management of patients experiencing AMI in the pre-hospital setting may minimise the negative consequences associated with overburdened emergency medical and hospital services. Expedited care thus, in part, relies on the dispatch of appropriate pre-hospital medical providers by emergency medical dispatchers. Identification of these patients in call centres is challenging due to a highly diverse South African society, with multiple languages, cultures, and levels of education. The aim of this study was therefore, to describe the terms used by members of the South African public when calling for an ambulance for patients suffering an AMI.

In this qualitative study, we performed content analysis to identify keywords and phrases that callers used to describe patients who were experiencing an advanced life support (ALS) paramedic-diagnosed AMI. Using the unique case reference number of randoS paramedics to inappropriate cases.

South African callers use a consistent set of descriptors when requesting an ambulance for a patient experiencing an AMI. The most common of these are non-pain descriptors related to the heart. These descriptors may ultimately be used in developing validated algorithms to assist dispatch decisions. In this way, we hope to expedite the correct level of care to these time- critical patients and prevent the unnecessary dispatch of limitedly available ALS paramedics to inappropriate cases.

Despite children representing a significant proportion of Emergency Unit (EU) attendances globally, it is concerning that many healthcare facilities are inadequately equipped to deliver paediatric resuscitation. The rapid availability of a full range of paediatric emergency equipment is critical for delivery of effective, best-practice resuscitation. This study aimed to describe the availability of essential, functional paediatric emergency resuscitation equipment on or close to the resuscitation trolley, in 24-hour EUs in Cape Town, South Africa.

A cross sectional study was conducted over a six-month period in government funded hospital EUs, providing 24-hour emergency paediatric care within the Cape Town Metropole. A standardised data collection sheet of essential resuscitation equipment expected to be available in the resuscitation area, was used. Items were considered to be available if at least one piece of equipment was present. Functionality of available equipment was defined as equipment that hadn't expired, whose original packaging was not outwardly damaged or compromised and all components were present and intact.

Overall, a mean of 43% (30/69) of equipment was available on the resuscitation trolley across all hospitals. The overall mean availability of equipment in the resuscitation area was 49% (34/69) across all hospitals. Mean availability of functional equipment was 42% (29/69) overall, 41% (28/69) at district-level hospitals, and 45% (31/69) at regional/tertiary hospitals.

Essential resuscitation equipment for children is insufficiently available at district-level and higher hospitals in the Cape Town Metropole. This is a modifiable barrier to the provision of high-quality paediatric emergency care.

Essential resuscitation equipment for children is insufficiently available at district-level and higher hospitals in the Cape Town Metropole. This is a modifiable barrier to the provision of high-quality paediatric emergency care.

Variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding is a dreadful complication of portal hypertension with a significant morbidity and mortality. Different prognostic scores can be used. However, in the local context of Madagascar, the completion of paraclinical investigations can be delayed by the limited financial means of patients. Hence, determining clinical mortality risk factors of variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding could be interesting. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical mortality risk factors of variceal gastrointestinal bleeding (VUGIB).

An observational, cohort retrospective study was conducted over an 8-year period (2010-2017), at the surgical intensive care unit of the J.R. Andrianavalona University Hospital, Antananarivo, in patients admitted for VUGIB confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and whose clinical examination was performed at admission. The primary endpoint was intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis w

Upper gastrointestinal bleeding may be life-threatening. The mortality scores are certainly useful; however, the identification of clinical factors is interesting in countries like Madagascar, pending the results of paraclinical investigations.

Throughout the world, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Low-and middle-income countries experience an especially high burden of TBI. link2 While guidelines for TBI management exist in high income countries, little is known about the optimal management of TBI in low resource settings. Prevention of secondary injuries is feasible in these settings and has potential to improve mortality.

A pragmatic quasi-experimental study was conducted in the emergency centre (EC) of Mulago National Referral Hospital to evaluate the impact of TBI nursing education and use of a monitoring tool on mortality. Over 24 months, data was collected on 541 patients with moderate (GCS9-13) to severe (GCS≤8) TBI. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality and secondary outcomes included time to imaging, time to surgical intervention, time to advanced airway, length of stay and number of vital signs recorded.

Data were collected on 286 patients before the intervention and 255 after. U monitoring tool, however, there was no detectable impact on mortality. The high mortality among patients with TBI underscores the need for treatment strategies that can be implemented in low resource settings. Promising approaches include improved monitoring, organized trauma systems and protocols with an emphasis on early aggressive care and primary prevention.

The availability of trained Medical Toxicologists in developing countries is limited and education in Medical Toxicology remains inadequate. The lack of toxicology services contributes to a knowledge gap in the management of poisonings. A need existed to investigate the core competencies required by toxicology graduates to effectively operate in a Poisons Information Centre. The aim of this study was to obtain consensus from an expert group of health care workers on these core competencies. This was done by making use of the Delphi technique.

The Delphi survey started with a set of carefully selected questions drawn from various sources including a literature review and exploration of existing curricula. To capture the collective opinion of experts in South Africa, Africa and also globally, three different groups were invited to participate in the study. To build and manage the questionnaire, the secure Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) web platform was used.

A total of 134 competencies were seliterative rounds and feedback from experts, was effective in reaching consensus on the learning outcomes of a Medical Toxicology curriculum. The study results will ultimately improve education in Medical Toxicology.Aim Carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp) strains are important nosocomial pathogens worldwide. In this study, we aimed to reveal the antibiotic resistance of clinical CR-Kp strains and determine the presence of KPC, OXA-48, VIM and IMP carbapenemase genes. link3 CTX-M-1, TEM-1, SHV-1 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes, qnrA, qnrB, qnrS plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes and sul1 and sul2 sulfonamide resistance genes provided molecular epidemiological data. Methods A total of 175 K. pneumoniae strains were isolated from clinical samples of patients hospitalised in an intensive care unit (ICU) betweent April and October 2017. The strains were identified with conventional methods, with VITEK 2 (BioMerieux, France) and MALDI-TOF MS (Bruker, USA). Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested using the disc-diffusion method and E-test (BioMerieux, France). Antimicrobial resistance genes were investigated via real-time PCR in strains identified as CR-Kp. Results High frequencies of bla TEM-1 (86.36%), bla SHV-1 (86.36%), and bla CTX-M-1 (95.45%) genes were found in CR-Kp strains. Morever, all three ESBL genes coexisted in 77.3% of all strains. bla KPC was detected in 12 (54.55%) of the strains, and 4 of them which had an MIC> 16 μg/mL to imipenem showed bla OXA-48 positivity as well. The qnrS gene determinant (86.36%) had the highest frequency, and strains carrying qnrA showed higher MICs for ciprofloxacin. Conclusion CR-Kp strains are able to develop different antimicrobial resistance patterns according to regional changes in antimicrobial therapeutic policies. Thus, it is important to monitor the regional molecular epidemiological data for efficient treatment.