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Does an Antimicrobial Incision Drape Prevent Intraoperative Contamination? A Randomized Controlled Trial of 1187 Patients.
Hesselvig, AB, Arpi, M, Madsen, F, Bjarnsholt, T, Odgaard, A, ,
Clinical orthopaedics and related research. 2020;(5):1007-1015
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), a serious complication after arthroplasty, has not changed for years. Interventions such as eradication of Staphylococcus aureus and antibiotic bone cement are used to diminish infection risk but despite these efforts, the percentage of infection in TKA remains constant. Antimicrobial drapes have a dual action, acting both as a physical and antimicrobial barrier to counter bacterial contamination of the surgical wound. To study the effect of antimicrobial drapes, we used intraoperative contamination as a proxy for infection in our investigation. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES (1) Do antimicrobial surgical drapes reduce the risk of intraoperative microbial contamination in patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty? (2) Are other factors such as sex, season, age, type of arthroplasty and duration of surgery associated with an increased risk of contamination in patients undergoing primary knee arthroplasty? (3) Does loosening of the antimicrobial drape increase contamination risk? METHODS An investigator-initiated, two-arm, non-blinded, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial was performed at five different hospitals in the capital and central regions of Denmark. Twenty-four surgeons participated in the study. Participants were patients older than 18 years undergoing primary knee arthroplasty. We excluded patients with an iodine allergy, previous open knee surgery, previous septic arthritis, any antibiotics taken 4 weeks before surgery, and if they were unable to understand the implications of study participation. Patients were randomly assigned to operation with an antimicrobial drape (intervention group) or operation without (control group). We screened 1769 patients, of which 100 were ineligible and 10 declined to participate. In all, 94% (1659 of 1769) of patients consented and were randomized to the intervention group (51%, 838 of 1659) and control group (49%, 821 of 1659), respectively. In all, 36% (603 of 1659) of patients in the intervention group and 35% (584 of 1659) patients in the control group were available for final analysis. No crossover was performed, and analysis was done per-protocol. Patients were excluded due to logistic failures like lack of utensils, samples disappearing en route to the laboratory mainly caused by implementation of a new electronic patient chart (EPIC, Verona, WI, USA), and forgetful surgeons. Intraoperatively, we swabbed for bacteria at the surgical site and in a rinse from the surgeons' gloves. All samples were sent for cultivation, and colony forming units (CFUs) counts ≥ 1 were deemed contaminated. The primary outcome measure was the difference in the proportion of contaminated patients between the two randomized groups. Secondary outcome measures were the affiliation of sex, season, age, type of implant used, and duration of surgery on contamination risk. To investigate whether other factors were affiliated with contamination risk, we did a logistic regression to control for confounding variables, including sex, age, season, type of implant and duration of surgery. RESULTS Use of iodinated drapes reduced contamination, with contamination detected in 10% (60 of 603) procedures where iodinated drapes were used compared with 15% (90 of 584) when they were not (odds ratio 0.61 [95% CI 0.43 to 0.87]; p = 0.005), with a relative risk reduction of 35% (95% CI 12.3 to 52.5) and a number needed to treat of 18 patients. After controlling for confounding variables such as sex, age, type of implant, and duration of surgery, we found that not using an antimicrobial drape increased contamination risk by a factor of 1.6 (95% CI 1.08 to 2.35; p = 0.02). Female sex and undergoing surgery in the central region were associated with lower odds of contamination (OR 0.55 [95% CI 0.39 to 0.8]; p = 0.002 and OR 0.45 [95% CI 0.25 to 0.8]; p = 0.006, respectively). Patients with more than a 10-mm separation of the drape from the skin had higher odds of contamination (OR 3.54 [95% CI 1.64 to 11.05]; p = 0.0013). CONCLUSIONS The use of an antimicrobial drape resulted in lower contamination risk than operating without an antimicrobial drape. Our findings suggest that antimicrobial drapes are useful in infection prevention, but further studies are needed to investigate the effect of antimicrobial drapes on infection. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Level I, therapeutic study.
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A Population-Based Cohort Study on the Drug-Specific Effect of Statins on Sepsis Outcome.
Lee, CC, Lee, MG, Hsu, TC, Porta, L, Chang, SS, Yo, CH, Tsai, KC, Lee, M
Chest. 2018;(4):805-815
Abstract
BACKGROUND Whether statin treatment, proved by recent experimental studies to have an antimicrobial activity, exerts a drug- or a class-specific effect in sepsis remains unknown. METHODS Short-term mortality in patients with sepsis was analyzed using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database. Use of statins was defined as the cumulative use of a specific statin (atorvastatin, simvastatin, or rosuvastatin) for > 30 days prior to the index sepsis admission. We determined the association between statin and sepsis outcome by multivariate-adjusted Cox models and propensity score (PS)-matched analysis, using a 1:1:1 PS matching technique. RESULTS A total of 52,737 patients with sepsis fulfilled the inclusion criteria, of which 1,855 were prescribed atorvastatin, 916 were prescribed simvastatin, and 732 were prescribed rosuvastatin. Compared with nonusers, simvastatin (hazard ratio [HR], 0.72; 95% CI, 0.58-0.90) and atorvastatin (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.68-0.90) were associated with an improved 30-day survival, whereas rosuvastatin was not (HR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.73-1.04). Using rosuvastatin as the reference, atorvastatin (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.64-0.99) and simvastatin (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.59-0.99) had superior effectiveness in preventing mortality. CONCLUSIONS Compatible with in vitro experimental findings, our results suggest that the drug-specific effect of statins on sepsis is not correlated to their lipid-lowering potency.
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Joint Model of Iron and Hepcidin During the Menstrual Cycle in Healthy Women.
Angeli, A, Lainé, F, Lavenu, A, Ropert, M, Lacut, K, Gissot, V, Sacher-Huvelin, S, Jezequel, C, Moignet, A, Laviolle, B, et al
The AAPS journal. 2016;(2):490-504
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Abstract
Hepcidin regulates serum iron levels, and its dosage is used in differential diagnostic of iron-related pathologies. We used the data collected in the HEPMEN (named after HEPcidin during MENses) study to investigate the joint dynamics of serum hepcidin and iron during the menstrual cycle in healthy women. Ninety menstruating women were recruited after a screening visit. Six fasting blood samples for determination of iron-status variables were taken in the morning throughout the cycle, starting on the second day of the period. Non-linear mixed effect models were used to describe the evolution of iron and hepcidin. Demographic and medical covariates were tested for their effect on model parameters. Parameter estimation was performed using the SAEM algorithm implemented in the Monolix software. A general pattern was observed for both hepcidin and iron, consisting of an initial decrease during menstruation, followed by a rebound and stabilising during the second half of the cycle. We developed a joint model including a menstruation-induced decrease of both molecules at the beginning of the menses and a rebound effect after menses. Iron stimulated the release of hepcidin. Several covariates, including contraception, amount of blood loss and ferritin, were found to influence the parameters. The joint model of iron and hepcidin was able to describe the fluctuations induced by blood loss from menstruation in healthy non-menopausal women and the subsequent regulation. The HEPMEN study showed fluctuations of iron-status variables during the menstrual cycle, which should be considered when using hepcidin measurements for diagnostic purposes in women of child-bearing potential.
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A novel antimicrobial and antithrombotic lock solution for hemodialysis catheters: a multi-center, controlled, randomized trial.
Maki, DG, Ash, SR, Winger, RK, Lavin, P, ,
Critical care medicine. 2011;(4):613-20
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Catheter-related bloodstream infection is the greatest threat to the safety of patients on hemodialysis. Catheter lock solutions containing heparin have been linked to an increased risk of hemorrhage and thrombocytopenia. OBJECTIVES To ascertain the safety and efficacy for prevention of catheter-related bloodstream infection and catheter loss from patency failure of a novel catheter lock solution with antimicrobial and antithrombotic activity containing 0.24 M (7.0%) sodium citrate, 0.15% methylene blue, 0.15% methylparaben, and 0.015% propylparaben (C-MB-P), compared with heparin. DESIGN Multicenter, prospective, randomized, open-label trial with patients studied for up to 6 months. An independent clinical evaluation committee assessing trial outcomes was blinded to patients' treatment assignments. SETTING Twenty-five outpatient hemodialysis units. PATIENTS Patients with end-stage renal disease receiving maintenance hemodialysis through a percutaneous cuffed and tunneled internal jugular hemodialysis catheters. INTERVENTIONS Participants' catheters were locked between hemodialysis sessions with the C-MB-P lock solution or sterile saline containing 5000 units of unfractionated heparin (control). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We recorded and evaluated catheter-related bloodstream infections, catheter loss attributable to luminal thrombosis, and adverse events. A total of 407 patients participated in the trial (49,565 catheter days), 201 in the C-MB-P group and 206 in the heparin group. Patients in the two lock solution groups were comparable for risk factors predisposing to catheter-related bloodstream infection. Catheters locked with C-MB-P were significantly less likely to cause catheter-related bloodstream infection (0.24 vs. 0.82 per 1000 catheter days; relative risk, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.12-0.70; p = .005) and were less likely to be lost because of patency failure (0 vs. 4; log rank, p = .04). CONCLUSIONS The novel C-MB-P lock solution is well tolerated, significantly reduces the risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection, and provides protection comparable to heparin against patency failure.
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Efficacy of a pelargonium sidoides preparation in patients with the common cold: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
Lizogub, VG, Riley, DS, Heger, M
Explore (New York, N.Y.). 2007;(6):573-84
Abstract
BACKGROUND The common cold is a viral infection with symptoms such as sneezing, sore throat, and running nose. It is one of the most prevalent illnesses in the world, and although commonly caused by rhinoviruses, antibiotics are often prescribed unnecessarily. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to evaluate alternative treatments such as herbal medications, whose efficacy and safety is proven by pharmacological and clinical studies. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of a liquid herbal drug preparation from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides compared with placebo in adult patients with the common cold. DESIGN The study was designed as a multicenter, prospective, randomized, double blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial with an adaptive group-sequential design. SETTING The study took place in eight outpatient departments affiliated with hospitals. PATIENTS One hundred three male and female adult patients with at least two major and one minor or with one major and three minor cold symptoms (maximum symptom score of 40 points), present for 24 to 48 hours, and who gave provision of informed consent were randomized to receive either 30 drops (1.5 mL) of the liquid herbal drug preparation EPs or placebo three times a day. INTERVENTION Patients received randomized treatment for a maximum period of 10 days. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome criterion was the sum of symptom intensity differences (SSID) of the cold intensity score (CIS) from day one to day five. The CIS consists of the following 10 cold symptoms: nasal drainage, sore throat, nasal congestion, sneezing, scratchy throat, hoarseness, cough, headache, muscle aches, and fever. RESULTS From baseline to day five, the mean SSID improved by 14.6 +/- 5.3 points in the EPs group compared with 7.6 +/- 7.5 points in the placebo group. This difference was statistically significant (P < .0001). The mean CIS decreased by 10.4 +/- 3.0 points and 5.6 +/- 4.3 points in EPs and placebo-treated patients, respectively. After 10 days, 78.8% versus 31.4% in the EPs versus placebo group were clinically cured (CIS equals zero points or complete resolution of all but a maximum of one cold symptom; P < .0001). The mean duration of inability to work was significantly lower in the EPs treatment group (6.9 +/- 1.8 days) than in the placebo group (8.2 +/- 2.1 days; P = .0003). Treatment outcome (rates of complete recovery or major improvement from disease [integrative medicine outcomes scale]) was assessed better in the EPs treatment group than in the placebo group by both the investigator and the patient on day five (P < .0001). Adverse events occurred in three of 103 patients (2.9%), with two of 52 (3.8%) and one of 51 (2.0%) patients in the EPs and placebo group, respectively. All adverse events were assessed as nonserious. At the end of treatment, all patients (100%) in the active treatment group judged the subjective tolerability of EPs as good or very good. CONCLUSIONS EPs represents an effective treatment of the common cold. It significantly reduces the severity of symptoms and shortens the duration of the common cold compared with placebo. The herbal drug is well tolerated.
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Effect of interferon-gamma on hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B virus infection: a randomized controlled study.
Weng, HL, Wang, BE, Jia, JD, Wu, WF, Xian, JZ, Mertens, PR, Cai, WM, Dooley, S
Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. 2005;(8):819-28
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatic fibrosis due to chronic HBV infection has enormous socioeconomic impact. Besides strategies targeting virus elimination, prevention or reversal of liver fibrosis is amenable. Given the antifibrotic activity of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a randomized open-labeled multicenter trial was initiated to test IFN-gamma in HBV infection. METHODS HBsAg-positive patients with biopsy proven hepatic fibrosis (n = 99, stages 2-4, Scheuer criterion) were treated with diammone-glycyrrhizinate and potassium-magnesium aspartate. Sixty-six randomly assigned patients were treated with 50 mug IFN-gamma intramuscularly on a daily basis for 3 months and on alternate days the subsequent 6 months. Efficacy was evaluated by liver biopsy and serologic markers. RESULTS Fifty-four patients in the IFN-gamma group and 29 patients in the control group completed the study. The hepatic fibrosis score was significantly reduced in 63% of IFN-gamma treated patients compared with 24.1% in the control group by using a semiquantitative scoring system evaluating both liver architecture and fibrotic deposits. Mean values for the total fibrosis score decreased from 13.8 +/- 5.8 to 10.1 +/- 5.1 in the IFN-gamma group (P = .0001), whereas they were unchanged in control subjects (13.2 +/- 6.8 vs 12.6 +/- 4.8, P = .937). The Scheuer system showed 12 out of 54 patients improved >or=1 stage(s) in the IFN-gamma group compared with 1 of 29 in the control group. Antifibrotic activity might be attributed to decreased transforming growth factor-beta signaling via phosphorylated Smad2 and reduced number of activated, alpha-smooth muscle actin positive hepatic stellate cells. CONCLUSIONS IFN-gamma treatment for 9 months improves fibrosis scores in patients with chronic HBV infection most likely by antagonizing profibrogenic transforming growth factor-beta effects.
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An open label, randomized comparative study of levofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in the treatment of purulent sinusitis in adult Thai patients.
Jareoncharsri, P, Bunnag, C, Fooanant, S, Tunsuriyawong, P, Voraprayoon, S, Srifuengfung, S, Dhiraputra, C
Rhinology. 2004;(1):23-9
Abstract
The objective of the study was to compare the clinical efficacy and bacteriological response of levofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (co-amoxiclav) in the treatment of purulent maxillary sinusitis. Sixty patients randomly received either levofloxacin 300 mg orally once daily (LEV group) or co-amoxiclav 625 mg three times a day (COA group) for 14 days. Thirty four patients were in the LEV group and 26 patients were in the COA group. The mean total symptom score was significantly decreased after treatment and was comparable between both groups. Radiological improvement was 61.8% in the LEV group (41.2% resolution, 20.6% improvement) and 61.5% in the COA group (26.9% resolution, 34.6% improvement). Pretreatment maxillary antral aspiration cultures were positive in 28 patients (82.4%) in the LEV group and 20 patients (76.9%) in the COA group. Bacteriological eradication was 78.5% in the LEV group and 70.0% in the COA group, which was not significantly different. In the LEV group, the eradication rate for major pathogens of acute sinusitis was 100% for H. influenzae (both betalactamase +ve and -ve), 100% for S. pneumoniae and S. aureus, 100% for Neisseria species, and 66.7% for P. aeruginosa. The eradication rate in the COA group was 75% for H. influenzae (both betalactamase +ve and -ve), 100% for S. pnumoniae and S. aureus, 50% for Neisseria species, and 0% for P. aeruginosa. There were no significant changes in vital sign measurements or hemato-biochemical parameters at the end of treatment as compared to baseline values, in both groups. Adverse events were found in 8.8% of patient in the LEV group and in 7.7% of patients in the COA group. Adverse events included nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. All the adverse events in both groups were mild and resolved spontaneously. This study demonstrated that levofloxacin 300 mg orally once daily was as effective and safe as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 625 mg three times a day in the treatment of maxillary sinusitis, either acute or acute exacerbation. Both drugs showed bacteriological efficacy that was not significantly different. The once daily dosage regimen is more applicable, convenience and has better compliance.
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Effectiveness of ototopical antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media in Aboriginal children: a community-based, multicentre, double-blind randomised controlled trial.
Couzos, S, Lea, T, Mueller, R, Murray, R, Culbong, M
The Medical journal of Australia. 2003;(4):185-90
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To compare the effectiveness of ototopical ciprofloxacin (0.3%; CIP) with framycetin (0.5%), gramicidin, dexamethasone (FGD) eardrops (5 drops twice daily for 9 days) together with povidone-iodine (0.5%) ear cleaning as treatments for chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in Aboriginal children. DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS Aboriginal community-controlled, community-based, multicentre, double-blind, randomised controlled trial in eight Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across northern Australia, involving 147 Aboriginal children with CSOM. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Resolution of otorrhoea (clinical cure), proportion of children with healed perforated tympanic membrane (TM) and improved hearing, 10-21 days after starting treatment. RESULTS 111 children aged 1-14 years (CIP, 55; FGD, 56) completed treatment. CSOM cures occurred in 64% (CIP, 76.4%; FGD, 51.8%), with a significantly higher rate in the ciprofloxacin group (P = 0.009, absolute difference of 24.6% [95% CI, 15.8%-33.4%]). TM perforation size and the level of hearing impairment did not change. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common bacterial pathogen (in 47.6%), while respiratory pathogens were rare (in 5.7%). CONCLUSIONS Twice-daily ear cleaning and topical ciprofloxacin is effective at community-level in achieving cure for CSOM. Healthcare providers to Aboriginal children with CSOM should be given special access to provide ototopical ciprofloxacin as first-line treatment.
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Efficacy and tolerability of once-daily oral therapy with telithromycin compared with trovafloxacin for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia in adults.
Pullman, J, Champlin, J, Vrooman, PS
International journal of clinical practice. 2003;(5):377-84
Abstract
A randomised, double-blind study of adults with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) resulted in clinical cure rates of 90.0% for telithromycin and 94.2% for trovafloxacin. Bacteriological eradication rates were also comparable for both treatments. All high-risk patients (i.e. > or = 65 years old [n=25], Pneumonia Severity Index score > or = 111 [n=16], pneumococcal bacteraemia [n=4]) were clinically cured. In infections caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila (Chlamydia) pneumoniae, clinical cure rates were 93.3% (14/15) for telithromycin and 100% (16/16) for trovafloxacin. Possibly drug-related, treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were considered mild and occurred in 47.2% of telithromycin and 33.0% of trovafloxacin patients. The most frequently reported, possibly drug-related, TEAEs were diarrhoea and nausea for telithromycin and diarrhoea and headache for trovafloxacin. Serious TEAEs occurred in 1.9% of telithromycin and 1.8% of trovafloxacin subjects and were considered not drug related. No deaths occurred during the study. Telithromycin and trovafloxacin were safe and comparable in efficacy in these patients with CAP.