Purpose Bacterial adherence to the urinary catheter is an early step in biofilm formation and the pathogenesis of catheter associated urinary tract infection. We studied in vitro the effect of silver ...or nitrofurazone impregnation of urinary catheters on uropathogen ability to adhere to urinary catheters. Materials and Methods We studied commercially available nitrofurazone-silicone, silicone only, silver-silicone-hydrogel, silicone-hydrogel, silver-latex-hydrogel and latex-hydrogel catheters. Catheters were incubated in sterile broth for 0, 3, 5, 7 and 10 days, respectively, before inoculation and overnight incubation with Escherichia coli or Enterococcus faecalis. Results Adherence of E. coli and E. faecalis to nitrofurazone catheters was significantly decreased compared to that of silicone-only catheters when catheters were fresh. The anti-adherence effect of nitrofurazone on E. coli decreased with time but was still significant at 5 days. For E. faecalis the effect of nitrofurazone was lost by 3 days of pre-incubation. E. coli adherence was not significantly decreased on silver impregnated catheters compared to that on control catheters of the same base material. Silver was associated with a significant decrease in E. faecalis adherence to latex-hydrogel catheters but not to silicone-hydrogel catheters. The adherence of each species to silicone catheters with hydrogel was significantly lower than that to silicone-only control catheters. Conclusions Silver impregnation had little effect on bacterial adherence in our model and nitrofurazone impregnation had a significant effect only for the first 5 days. Our results do not support a role for silver urinary catheters to prevent catheter associated urinary tract infection by decreasing bacterial adherence.
Chondritis of the cricoid cartilage is a rare cause of airway stenosis that may occur after endotracheal intubation, particularly in the setting of trauma. Patients may present with significant ...airway compromise that is reversible if recognized and treated promptly. We describe the radiological appearance of cricoid chondritis on computed tomography (CT) imaging as a possible adjunct for prompt diagnosis.
Case series of two patients.
Tertiary referral center.
Twenty and seventeen year-old male patients.
Appearance on CT and clinical course.
We report two cases of young gentlemen who presented with dyspnea, stridor, and dysphonia after prolonged endotracheal intubation for polytrauma. Both patients had findings of subglottic narrowing, vocal fold edema and erythema, and reduced vocal fold abduction on laryngoscopy. CT revealed sclerosis and destruction of the cricoid cartilage. Both patients underwent a single endoscopic airway surgery with steroid injection and balloon dilation, as well as oral antibiotic and steroid therapy. They reported subjective improvement in their symptoms and had near complete resolution of their glottic and subglottic abnormalities on laryngoscopy. Neither patient has had recurrence of their stenosis at most recent follow up.
Chondritis of the cricoid cartilage may occur following intubation and presents with airway compromise that is reversible with treatment. Prompt diagnosis with adjunctive CT imaging facilitates early intervention, possibly preventing maturation of airway stenosis and development of abscess. Antibiotics should be considered in addition to surgical management.
•Cricoid chondritis is an underrecognized entity that may result from mucosal trauma to the airway.•We discuss successful management of cricoid chondritis with balloon dilation, steroids, and antibiotics.•Early diagnosis may avoid further complications, such as abscess or mature airway stenosis.
Summary Objectives Paradoxical vocal fold motion (PVFM) consists of intermittent adduction of the vocal folds during inspiration, resulting in stridor and worsened by anxiety and stress. The purpose ...of this study was to assess the impact of PVFM on quality of life in our pediatric patient population. Study Design This is a prospective, descriptive survey study. Methods Thirty-nine consecutive patients (ages 12–17 years) presenting with a PVFM diagnosis for respiratory retraining sessions with speech-language pathology were recruited. Patients completed a brief demographic questionnaire and the Short Form 36, version 2, a validated tool for measuring health-related quality of life. Results There were 31 (79%) girls and 8 (21%) boys with a mean age of 15.5 years. Subjects reported regular participation in competitive extracurricular activities, including track or cross country (30.8%), swimming (17.9%), and cheerleading or dancing (15.4%). Of the patients in the study, 46.2% were straight-A students. On the SF-36 (population averages normalized to a score of 50), the general health of patients with PVFM was better than that of the general population (53.27); however, their physical health limited their role activities more severely (42.82). In addition, a greater proportion of the group with PVFM was at risk for first-stage depression screening when compared with the general population (28% versus 18%). Conclusions We demonstrate a measurable detrimental impact of PVFM on health-related quality of life. This is consistent with previously published literature showing a preponderance of females with PVFM, most of whom are high achievers academically and athletically.
A Case of Diffuse Calcified Airway Nodules Liao, Kershena S; Gitomer, Sarah A; Altman, Kenneth W
JAMA otolaryngology-- head & neck surgery,
05/2016, Letnik:
142, Številka:
5
Journal Article
Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) is one of the most common hospital-acquired infections. However, many cases treated as hospital-acquired CAUTI are actually asymptomatic ...bacteriuria (ABU). Evidence-based guidelines recommend that providers neither screen for nor treat ABU in most catheterized patients, but there is a significant gap between these guidelines and clinical practice. Our objectives are (1) to evaluate the effectiveness of an audit and feedback intervention for increasing guideline-concordant care concerning catheter-associated ABU and (2) to measure improvements in healthcare providers' knowledge of and attitudes toward the practice guidelines associated with the intervention.
The study uses a controlled pre/post design to test an intervention using audit and feedback of healthcare providers to improve their compliance with ABU guidelines. The intervention and the control sites are two VA hospitals. For objective 1 we will review medical records to measure the clinical outcomes of inappropriate screening for and treatment of catheter-associated ABU. For objective 2 we will survey providers' knowledge and attitudes. Three phases of our protocol are proposed: the first 12-month phase will involve observation of the baseline incidence of inappropriate screening for and treatment of ABU at both sites. This surveillance for clinical outcomes will continue at both sites throughout the study. Phase 2 consists of 12 months of individualized audit and feedback at the intervention site and guidelines distribution at both sites. The third phase, also over 12 months, will provide unit-level feedback at the intervention site to assess sustainability. Healthcare providers at the intervention site during phase 2 and at both sites during phase 3 will complete pre/post surveys of awareness and familiarity (knowledge), as well as of acceptance and outcome expectancy (attitudes) regarding the relevant practice guidelines.
Our proposal to bring clinical practice in line with published guidelines has significant potential to decrease overdiagnosis of CAUTI and associated inappropriate antibiotic use. Our study will also provide information about how to maximize effectiveness of audit and feedback to achieve guideline adherence in the inpatient setting.
NCT01052545.
Abstract We have found in vitro that a biofilm of benign Escherichia coli 83972 interferes with urinary catheter colonization by pathogens, and in human studies E. coli 83972–coated urinary catheters ...are associated with lower rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections. We hypothesized that modifying surfaces to present mannose ligands for the type 1 fimbriae of E. coli would promote formation of dense E. coli 83972 biofilms, thereby interfering with surface colonization by Enterococcus faecalis , a common uropathogen. We covalently immobilized mannose on silicon substrates by attaching amino-terminated mannose derivative to carboxylic acid–terminated monolayers via amidation. Fluorescence microscopy showed that E. coli 83972 adherence to mannose-modified surfaces increased 4.4-fold compared to unmodified silicon surfaces. Pre-exposing mannose-modified surfaces to E. coli 83972 established a protective biofilm that reduced E. faecalis adherence by 83-fold. Mannose-fimbrial interactions were essential for the improved E. coli 83927 adherence and interference effects. From the Clinical Editor Recurrent urinary tract infections remain major adverse events associated with catheter use. The authors report that modifying catheter surface to present mannose ligands for the type 1 fimbriae of benign Escherichia coli 83972 promotes formation of dense E. coli biofilms, which 100-fold reduces urinary catheter colonization of uropathogens. Future application of this technology is expected to result in substantial UTI risk reduction in catheter users.
To describe the spectrum of swallowing abnormalities in children with Type I laryngeal cleft (LC-1) and evaluate the effect of LC-1 repair on swallowing abnormalities.
A retrospective review was ...performed of all consecutive children who were diagnosed with LC-1. Swallowing function was evaluated pre- and post-operatively using video fluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). VFSS reports were used to define swallowing abnormalities and to determine penetration aspiration scale (PAS) and functional oral intake scale (FOIS). Prevalence of swallowing abnormalities, PAS, and FOIS scores were compared before and after repair of LC-1.
Fifty-seven children with LC-1 had VFSS. The majority of children (86%) had a combination of oral phase, swallow triggering, pharyngeal phase, or esophageal phase impairment. The pharyngeal phase impairment was the most prevalent abnormality (p < 0.001). Esophageal phase impairment was the least prevalent VFSS abnormality (p < 0.001). Prevalence of impaired pharyngeal phase, laryngeal penetration on thin and thick liquids, and silent aspiration was less after repair of LC-1. Fourteen patients (41%) had developmentally appropriate diet with no restrictions after surgery. Nine patients (27%) required positioning and therapy strategies while having developmentally appropriate diet. PAS score after surgery was less than PAS score prior to surgery (p < 0.001). FOIS score after surgery was not different than FOIS score before surgery.
Multiple phases of swallowing function were impaired in the majority of children with LC-1. Prevalence of swallowing abnormalities varied in the subgroups of gender, gestational age, race, and presence of comorbidity. Swallowing function improved after repair of LC-1.
Phage therapy is a promising treatment of multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections but is limited by the narrow host range of phage. To overcome this limitation, we developed a host range ...expansion (HRE) protocol that expands the host range of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-specific phage by cycles of co-incubation of phage with multiple P. aeruginosa strains. Application of the HRE protocol to a mixture of 4 phages, using 16 P. aeruginosa strains for development, resulted in undefined phage mixtures with greatly expanded host range. Individual phage clones derived from the undefined mixture had expanded host ranges but no individual clone could lyse all of the strains covered by the undefined mixture from which it was isolated. Reconstituting host range-characterized clones into cocktails produced defined cocktails with predictable and broad host ranges. The undefined mixture from the 30
th
cycle of the mixed-phage HRE (4φC
30
) showed a dose-dependent ability to prevent biofilm formation by, and to reduce a pre-existing biofilm of, 3 P. aeruginosa clinical isolates that produced high amounts of biofilm. A defined cocktail reconstituted from 3 host range-characterized clones had activity on high biofilm-formers susceptible to the phage. Phage therapy was superior to antibiotic therapy (levofloxacin) in a strain of P. aeruginosa that was resistant to levofloxacin. The HRE protocol establishes a rapid approach to create libraries of phage clones and phage cocktails with broad host range, defined composition and anti-biofilm activity.
Objectives
To determine if socioeconomic disadvantage impacts perioperative outcomes after tracheostomy.
Methods
We performed a retrospective case series of children who underwent tracheostomy. ...Children were divided into less and more disadvantaged groups based on their community's Area Deprivation Index (ADI), a validated socioeconomic vulnerability measure. Primary outcomes were the length of stay, total cost, in‐hospital mortality, and 30‐day all‐cause readmission after tracheostomy placement. Length of stay was further analyzed using parametric survival analysis.
Results
A total of 239 patients met inclusion criteria, with 153 (64%) residing in more disadvantaged communities. Children from more disadvantaged communities were less likely to be White (42% vs. 26%, P = .009) and more likely to have Medicaid coverage (90% vs. 62%, P < .001). The two groups had similar medical complexity and comorbidities. The main outcome measures showed differences in median total length of stay (113 vs. 79 days, P = .04) and median total cost ($461 000 vs. $279 000, P = .01). Children with tracheostomies who were from more disadvantaged communities also had increased risk of prolonged hospitalizations (HR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.48–0.83, P = .001). Readmissions, mortality rates, and quality of life scores were similar between groups.
Conclusions
Community disadvantage was associated with differences in hospitalization length and costs after pediatric tracheostomy placement. Further research should continue to describe how health disparities impact children's safe and efficient care with tracheostomies.
Level of Evidence
4 Laryngoscope, 131:2603–2609, 2021
PDF
