Search

Background. Little is known about the impact of extrinsic factors on pressure ulcer risk. The objective of this study was to determine whether risk of pressure ulcers early in the hospital stay is associated with extrinsic factors such as longer emergency department (ED) stays, night or weekend admission, potentially immobilizing procedures and medications, and admission to an intensive care unit (ICU). Methods. A nested case--control study was performed in two teaching hospitals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Participants were medical patients age [greater than or equal to] 65 years admitted through the ED. Cases (n = 195) had [greater than or equal to] 1 possibly or definitely hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. Three controls per case were sampled randomly from among noncases at the same hospital in the same month (n = 597). Pressure ulcer status was determined by a research nurse on the third day of hospitalization. Pressure ulcers were classified as preexisting, possibly hospital-acquired, or definitely hospital-acquired. Information on extrinsic factors was obtained by chart review. Results. The odds of pressure ulcers were twice as high for those with an ICU stay as for those without (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-3.5). The aOR was 0.6 (95% CI, 0.3-0.9) for use of any potentially immobilizing medications during the early inpatient period. Conclusions. Many of the procedures experienced by patients m the ED and early in the inpatient stay do not confer excess pressure ulcer risk. Having an ICU stay is associated with a doubling of risk. This finding emphasizes the importance of developing and evaluating interventions to prevent pressure ulcers among patients in the ICU. Key Words: Pressure ulcers--Intensive Care Unit--Hospital patients--Risk factors.

Byline: Susan Y. Quan, BS (Johns Hopkins Wound Center and Department of Dermatology, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, susie@jhmi.edu); Gerald S. Lazarus, MD (Johns Hopkins Wound Center and [...]

Background. Pressure ulcers among elderly hospital patients diminish quality of life and increase the cost of hospital care. Evidence suggests that pressure ulcers can arise after only a few hours of immobility. The goals of this study were to estimate the incidence of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers in the first 2 days of the hospital stay and to identify patient characteristics associated with higher incidence. Methods. A prospective cohort study was performed between 1998 and 2001. A total of 3233 patients 65 years old or older admitted through the Emergency Department to the inpatient Medical Service at two study hospitals were examined by a research nurse on the third day of hospitalization. Pressure ulcers were ascertained using standard criteria and were classified as either preexisting, possibly hospital-acquired, or definitely hospital-acquired. Results. There were 201 patients with one or more possibly or definitely hospital-acquired pressure ulcers for a cumulative incidence of 6.2% (95% confidence interval, 5.4%-7.1%). Most of the pressure ulcers were stage 2, and the majority were in the sacral area or on the heels. In multivariable analysis, pressure ulcer incidence was significantly associated with increasing age, male gender, dry skin, urinary and fecal incontinence, difficulty turning in bed, nursing home residence prior to admission, recent hospitalization, and poor nutritional status. Conclusions. A small but significant proportion of elderly emergently admitted hospital patients acquire pressure ulcers soon after their admission. New models of care may be required to ensure that preventive interventions are provided very early in the elderly person's hospital stay.

Abstract We report the in vitro inhibition of Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) by a bacteriocin-like inhibitory substance (BLIS-like substance) produced by Streptococcus salivarius (S. salivarius). Bacteriocins are proteinaceous substances produced [...]

Background Patients with pruritus have been shown to have an increased incidence of certain subtypes of malignancy. Objective To assess predictors of malignancy in patients with chronic pruritus without prior dermatologic diagnoses. Methods Case-control study of 398 patients with chronic pruritus who developed a malignancy were compared with 8346 patients with chronic pruritus who did not develop a malignancy. Primary outcomes were odds of developing incident malignancy. Results Age greater than 60 years (OR 4.04, 95% CI 3.08, 5.31), male sex (OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.13, 1.71) and liver disease (OR 2.37, 95% CI 1.00, 5.65) were predictors of malignancy development in patients with chronic pruritus and non-diseased skin. In an exploratory analysis with multiple imputation via chained equations, age greater than 60 years (OR 4.13, 95% CI 3.15, 5.42), male sex (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.02, 1.55), and current or prior smoking (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.42, 2.88) were predictors of malignancy development in patients with chronic pruritus and non-diseased skin. Limitations Potential for misclassification and detection biases. Missing data. Conclusions and relevance In patients with chronic pruritus without concomitant dermatologic diagnoses, older age, male sex, liver disease and tobacco abuse increase the odds of an underlying malignancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]