The Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery appreciates the great effort of the task force who derived and validated the Sepsis-3 definitions and considers the new definitions an important step forward in the evolution of our understanding of sepsis. Nevertheless, more than a year after their publication, we have a few concerns regarding the use of the Sepsis-3 definitions.
BackgroundAntimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) have been promoted to optimize antimicrobial usage and patient outcomes, and to reduce the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. However, the best strategies for an ASP are not definitively established and are likely to vary based on local culture, policy, and routine clinical practice, and probably limited resources in middle-income countries. The aim of this study is to evaluate structures and resources of antimicrobial stewardship teams (ASTs) in surgical departments from different regions of the world.MethodsA cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted in 2016 on 173 physicians who participated in the AGORA (Antimicrobials: A Global Alliance for Optimizing their Rational Use in Intra-Abdominal Infections) project and on 658 international experts in the fields of ASPs, infection control, and infections in surgery.ResultsThe response rate was 19.4%. One hundred fifty-six (98.7%) participants stated their hospital had a multidisciplinary AST. The median number of physicians working inside the team was five [interquartile range 4–6]. An infectious disease specialist, a microbiologist and an infection control specialist were, respectively, present in 80.1, 76.3, and 67.9% of the ASTs. A surgeon was a component in 59.0% of cases and was significantly more likely to be present in university hospitals (89.5%, p < 0.05) compared to community teaching (83.3%) and community hospitals (66.7%). Protocols for pre-operative prophylaxis and for antimicrobial treatment of surgical infections were respectively implemented in 96.2 and 82.3% of the hospitals. The majority of the surgical departments implemented both persuasive and restrictive interventions (72.8%). The most common types of interventions in surgical departments were dissemination of educational materials (62.5%), expert approval (61.0%), audit and feedback (55.1%), educational outreach (53.7%), and compulsory order forms (51.5%).ConclusionThe survey showed a heterogeneous organization of ASPs worldwide, demonstrating the necessity of a multidisciplinary and collaborative approach in the battle against antimicrobial resistance in surgical infections, and the importance of educational efforts towards this goal.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13017-017-0145-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
This declaration, signed by an interdisciplinary task force of 234 experts from 83 different countries with different backgrounds, highlights the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance and the need for appropriate use of antibiotic agents and antifungal agents in hospitals worldwide especially focusing on surgical infections. As such, it is our intent to raise awareness among healthcare workers and improve antimicrobial prescribing. To facilitate its dissemination, the declaration was translated in different languages.
Transfusion of platelets, red blood cells, or both is usually necessary immediately after splenic artery ligature in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura who undergo splenectomy. Purpose: To investigate whether preoperative embolization of the splenic artery reduced the need for transfusion of platelets, red blood cells, or both. Methods: Twentyseven consecutive patients that underwent splenectomy for purpura between October 1999 and March 2006 performed by the same surgical team were enrolled. The fi rst 17 patients did not undergo embolization and were compared with the next 10 patients, who composed the embolization group. Results: The platelet count in the embolization group rose from a mean 7000 u/μl before to 75000 u/μl after the procedure. There was no need for platelet or red blood cell transfusion in the embolization group; in the group without preoperative embolization, 11 patients (p=0.001) required platelet transfusion and 8 (p=0.01), red blood cell transfusion. Conclusion: Embolization of the splenic artery before splenectomy is a safe method to avoid blood transfusions in patients with ITP. Key words: Purpura Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic. Embolization, Therapeutic. Splenectomy. RESUMOA transfusão de plaquetas e ou hemácias geralmente é realizada em pacientes submetidos a esplenectomia por Purpura Trombocitopênia Imune (PTI). Objetivo: Investigar se a embolização pré-operatória da artéria esplênica é efi caz na redução da necessidade de transfusão de hemácias ou plaquetas. Métodos: Vinte e sete pacientes foram submetidos a esplenectomia por PTI de Outubro de 1999 a Março de 2006 pela mesma equipe cirúrgica. Os primeiros 17 pacientes não foram submetidos a embolização e foram comparados com os outros 10 individuos nos quais a embolização foi realizada. Resultados: A contagem de plaquetas no grupo em que a embolização foi realizada subiu de uma média de 7000u/μl antes do procedimento, para 75000 u/μl após. Não foi necessário transfundir plaquetas ou glóbulos vermelhos no grupo submetido a embolização comparado com 11 pacientes com transfusão de plaquetas (p=0,001) e 8 pacientes com transfusão de hemácias (p=0,01) no grupo sem embolização pré-operatória .Conclusão: A embolização pré-operatória da artéria esplênica é um método seguro e efi caz para evitar o uso de transfusões em esplenectomias por PTI.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.