Efficiency of antibacterial suture material in cardiac surgery: A double-blind randomized prospective study

&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Objective:&lt;/b&gt; Postoperative surgical site infections (SSI) still greatly affect mortality and morbidity in cardiovascular surgery. SSI may be related to the suture material. In this prospective, randomized, controlled, and double-blinded study, the effect of antibacterial suture material on SSI in cardiac surgical patients was investigated.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Methods:&lt;/b&gt; We randomly allocated 510 patients into 2 groups. Antibacterial suture materials were used for wound closure in 170 patients (triclosan-coated suture group), and routine suture materials were used in 340 patients (noncoated suture group). All patients were evaluated for SSI on days 10, 20, and 30 following cardiac surgery.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Results:&lt;/b&gt; Preoperative risk factors and laboratory findings were comparable for the 2 groups. Sternal infection occurred in 4 (2.4%) of the patients in the triclosan-coated suture group and in 3.5% of the noncoated suture group (P &gt; .05). Leg wound infection occurred in 5 (3.5%) of the patients in the triclosan-coated suture group and in 3.8% of the noncoated suture group (P &gt; .05). Only diabetes mellitus was an independent predictor of SSI.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/b&gt; Both noncoated and triclosan-coated suture materials are safe. Larger studies may be needed to show the benefit and cost-effectiveness, if any, of triclosan-coated materials over noncoated materials.&lt;/p&gt;</jats:p

Quality of life in women with breast cancer in Turkey

Purpose: To determine quality of life (QoL) of Turkish women with breast cancer, and to examine whether QoL was related to sociodemographic or clinical variables

Physician-nurse attitudes toward collaboration in Istanbul's public hospitals

The need for greater collaboration between nurses and physicians in clinical practice is essential to improve patient care and worker satisfaction. This study used t-tests and logistic regression to test four research hypotheses concerning attitudes toward physician-nurse collaboration in Istanbul, Turkey. The study found that nurses express more positive attitudes toward collaboration than physicians. Noteworthy was the finding that male physicians expressed more positive attitudes toward collaboration than female physicians. Residents and those employed in secondary institutions were also more likely to express more positive attitudes toward collaboration than permanent physicians and those employed in tertiary hospitals. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Physician-nurse attitudes toward collaboration in Istanbul's public hospitals

The need for greater collaboration between nurses and physicians in clinical practice is essential to improve patient care and worker satisfaction. This study used t-tests and logistic regression to test four research hypotheses concerning attitudes toward physician-nurse collaboration in Istanbul, Turkey. The study found that nurses express more positive attitudes toward collaboration than physicians. Noteworthy was the finding that male physicians expressed more positive attitudes toward collaboration than female physicians. Residents and those employed in secondary institutions were also more likely to express more positive attitudes toward collaboration than permanent physicians and those employed in tertiary hospitals. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved