The Journal of infection
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The Journal of infection · Feb 2011
Multicenter StudyEvaluation of the compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B infection in Italy.
To evaluate the compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B infection in Italy, including HBsAg screening of pregnant women and immunization of newborns to infected mothers. ⋯ In this study compliance with the protocol for preventing perinatal hepatitis B was very good. Further efforts are needed to improve adherence to prenatal screening in public hospitals, in hospital located in southern Italy and among foreign women. HBV spread in Italy is progressively declining, also involving immigrant population.
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The Journal of infection · Feb 2011
Multicenter StudyEpidemiology, microbiology and outcomes of healthcare-associated and community-acquired bacteremia: a multicenter cohort study.
Classically, infections have been considered either nosocomial or community-acquired. Healthcare-associated infection represents a new classification intended to capture patients who have infection onset outside the hospital, but who, nonetheless, have interactions with the healthcare system. Regarding bloodstream infection (BSI), little data exist differentiating healthcare-associated bacteremia (HCAB) from community-acquired bacteremia (CAB). We studied the epidemiology and outcomes associated with HCAB. ⋯ HCAB accounts for a substantial proportion of all patients with BSIs admitted to the hospital. HCAB is associated with a higher mortality rate than CAB. Physicians should recognize that HCAB is responsible for many BSIs presenting to the hospital and may represent a distinct clinical group from CAB.
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The Journal of infection · Jun 2009
Multicenter StudyCommunity-acquired pneumonia in patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
The purpose of this study was to analyse the possible differences, especially those regarding mortality, between patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the risk factors related to mortality in the COPD group. ⋯ COPD was an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with CAP. Hypoxemia and hypercapnia are associated with mortality in patients with CAP with and without COPD. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and PaCO(2) value could be useful prognostic factors and should be incorporated in risk stratification in patients with CAP.
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The Journal of infection · Feb 2009
Multicenter StudyImpact of inappropriate empirical therapy for sepsis due to health care-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
We investigated the influence of empirical therapy on the mortality of patients with health care-associated (HCA) sepsis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in a multicenter cohort, and the variables associated with inappropriate empirical therapy. ⋯ Inappropriate empirical therapy was independently associated with increased mortality in this multicenter cohort. Clinicians should be aware of the need to consider coverage against MRSA more frequently.