A programme to standardise catheterisation practice was introduced in Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust in 2016, with the aim of reducing the incidence of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). The initiative involved the use of a catheterisation pack (Bard®Tray). Within the first year following its introduction, the CAUTI rate had been reduced from 13.3% to 2.1% (between July 2016 and June 2017), which is a reduction of more than 80%. Standardisation has also brought cost savings for the Trust of about £33 000 a year. The Trust has maintained its standardisation approach and CAUTI rates remain at around 2%.
Oviducts are lined by smooth muscle which displays rhythmic electrical pacemaker activity that is coupled to mechanical contractions. These contractions, along with cilia beating and epithelial secretions aid the propulsion of the ova to the site of fertilization. Following fertilization, smooth muscle contractions and epithelial secretions are thought to be responsible for the transport of the zygote to the uterus. The contractile activity of oviductal smooth muscle is therefore vital for normal fertility however, it is not understood how these contractions direct ova movement. Aims: (i) examine the cellular mechanisms underlying oviduct smooth muscle excitability; (ii) evaluate whether specialized interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC)‐like cells are responsible for oviduct excitability and (iii) determine the disruption in pacemaker function during inflammation. Results: ICC are responsible for generating pacemaker activity that underlies contractile activity of the oviduct. ICC are disrupted and pacemaker activity damaged by inflammation of the reproductive tract, leading to loss of spontaneous smooth muscle contractions, thus providing an explanation why inflammation can cause tubal infertility. Conclusions: The findings reveal the origin of spontaneous contractions in the oviduct that is necessary for egg and embryonic transport. Grant support was obtained from NIH DK57236 and PHS AI49354.
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.