Trend of hospital utilization for encephalitis.

SUMMARYEncephalitis generally results in a serious illness requiring hospitalization. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of hospitalization for encephalitis in Italy, taking into account the geographical distribution, aetiology, seasonality and evolution of hospitalization rates over recent years. The mean hospitalization rate was 5·88/100 000. For most of these hospitalizations (n=13 119, 55·6%), no specific cause of encephalitis was reported. The most common aetiological category was 'viral', which accounted for 40·1% (n=4205) of such hospitalizations (rate 1·05/100 000). Within this category, herpes virus was the leading causative agent (n=1579, 0·39/100 000). This report highlights a significant increase of 'viral encephalitis not otherwise specified' (ICD-9 code 049·9)vs. a reduction of all other causes. A seasonal pattern was noted in people aged ⩾65 years in this group. Specific surveillance of encephalitis without known origin should be reinforced in order to identify the potential role of emerging pathogens and to design preventive interventions

Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis: improved compliance and impact on infection rates.

SUMMARYThe aims of this study were to determine adherence to the perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) protocol used at a large Italian teaching hospital during a 6-year period, to assess the variables associated with inappropriate administration, and to measure the impact on surgical site infection (SSI) rates. There were 28 621 patients surveyed of which 74·6% received PAP. An improvement in adherence to the PAP protocol was registered for 58·8% of patients. Significant risk factors were an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ⩾2 [odds ratios (OR) from 1·28 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1·19–1·37) to 1·87 (95% CI 1·43–2·44)], prolonged duration of surgery (OR 1·68, 95% CI 1·56–1·82) and urgent surgery (OR 2·16, 95% CI 1·96–2·37). During the study period, a significant reduction in SSIs rates was detected. We concluded that the global reduction of inadequate PAP administration signifies the efficacy of a multidisciplinary quality improvement initiative on antimicrobial utilization, and this is supported by the observed reduction of the SSI rate

Attitudes of Healthcare Workers toward Influenza Vaccination in the COVID-19 Era

none8Sani, Tommaso; Morelli, Ilaria; Sarti, Donatella; Tassinari, Giovanni; Capalbo, Maria; Espinosa, Emma; Gasperini, Beatrice; Prospero, EmiliaSani, Tommaso; Morelli, Ilaria; Sarti, Donatella; Tassinari, Giovanni; Capalbo, Maria; Espinosa, Emma; Gasperini, Beatrice; Prospero, Emili

Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis in the Marches region (Italy): 1997–2007

BACKGROUND: The last case of poliomyelitis due to transmission of indigenous wild poliovirus occurred in Italy in 1982, however, it is important to guarantee a high quality surveillance as there is a risk of importation of cases from areas where polio is endemic. Stopping poliovirus transmission is pursued through a combination of high infant immunization coverage and surveillance for wild poliovirus through reporting and laboratory testing of all cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) among children under fifteen years of age. The aim of this study was to describe and to evaluate 11 years of active surveillance in the Marches (Italy) in terms of: incidence, aetiology and clinical manifestation of AFP cases. METHODS: The active Acute Flaccid Paralysis surveillance has been carried out in the Marches region since February 1997 by the Chair of Hygiene which established a regional hospital network. Active surveillance involves 15 hospital centres. RESULTS: In the considered period, 0-15 years population varied between 187,051 in 1997 to 201,625 in 2007, so the number of AFP expected cases is 2 per year. From February 1997 to October 2007, 27 cases were found with rates of 1.0/100,000 in 1997; 2.0/100,000 in 1998; 1.0/100,000 in 1999; 0.5/100,000 in 2000; 2.5/100,000 in 2001; 1.0/100,000 in 2002; 0 in 2003; 0.5/100,000 in 2004; 1.5/100,000 in 2005; 2.0/100,000 in 2006; 1.5/100,000 in 2007. In 29.6% of cases two stool samples were collected in 14 days from the symptoms onset. The 60-days follow-up is available for 23 out of 27 cases reported. In 44.5% of cases the definite diagnosis was Guillain Barrè syndrome. CONCLUSION: In general, the surveillance activity is satisfactory even if in presence of some criticalities in biological samples collection. The continuation of surveillance, in addition to the maintenance of current levels of performance, will tend to a further and more detailed sensitization of all workers involved, in order to obtain spontaneous and prompt reporting, and to achieve the optimal standards recommended by the WHO both in the collection of biological samples and the availability of 60 days follow-up, with the goal of eradicating polio from all countries

New market labor and obesity: A nation-wide Italian cross-sectional study

Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of obesity among different types of employment status in the Italian working population, and to examine associated risk factors. Material and Methods: Cross-sectional survey of 36 814 people that declared to have been occupied with the same type of contract for at least 5 years was analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were built considering workers’ sex, age, education, family body mass index (BMI) category, leisure time and occupational physical activity, weight control habits, smoking habit, use of drugs, number of working hours per week, and type of working contract. Results: After adjusting for covariates, the importance of temporary-employment was confirmed by multivariate analysis, with odds ratio (OR) = 1.32 for obesity (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07–1.63) with respect to employed persons; the association was even more important in workers occupied for more than 40 h/week (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.07–2.66); moreover, shiftwork was confirmed as a risk factor for obesity in workers (OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.94–1.2). Dealing with different occupational group, some categories were associated with obesity; in particular, this phenomenon involved people employed in agriculture (OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.22–1.7), transportation (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.26–1.85), and public administration (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.1–1.55). Conclusions: Our analysis suggest that obesity is strongly correlated with temporary employment. Maybe the way out this pathway to obesity in the future might be working better, choosing organizational flexibility rather than fixed term. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(6):903–91

Influenza vaccine uptake among community-dwelling Italian elderly: results from a large cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Flu vaccination significantly reduces the risk of serious complications like hospitalization and death among community-dwelling older people, therefore vaccination programmes targeting this population group represent a common policy in developed Countries. Among the determinants of vaccine uptake in older age, a growing literature suggests that social relations can play a major role.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Drawing on the socio-behavioral model of Andersen-Newman - which distinguishes predictors of health care use in predisposing characteristics, enabling resources and need factors - we analyzed through multilevel regressions the determinants of influenza immunization in a sample of 25,183 elderly reached by a nationally representative Italian survey.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Being over 85-year old (OR = 1.99; 95% CI 1.77 - 2.21) and suffering from a severe chronic disease (OR = 2.06; 95% CI 1.90 - 2.24) are the strongest determinants of vaccine uptake. Being unmarried (OR = 0.81; 95% CI 0.74 - 0.87) and living in larger households (OR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.74 - 0.87) are risk factors for lower immunization rates. Conversely, relying on neighbors' support (OR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.02 - 1.16) or on privately paid home help (OR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.08 - 1.30) is associated with a higher likelihood of vaccine uptake.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Even after adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and need factors, social support, measured as the availability of assistance from partners, neighbors and home helpers, significantly increases the odds of influenza vaccine use among older Italians.</p

“YO QUIERO VER A SIBIPIRUNA CRECER”. RODA DE SAMBA EN RED / “I want to see Sibipiruna growing”. Roda de samba networked

Este trabajo se propone explorar la construcción sociotécnica del samba de roda, desde el punto de partida del afecto, constitutivo del espacio potencial (Winnicott: 1971) que propicia la creatividad individual y colectiva y amplificación de las experiencias. Durante  2012 realicé una estancia académica en la Universidade Estadual de Campinas, San Pablo, Brasil. Allí abordé un estudio etnográfico sobre un grupo de sambistas que desarrollan un proyecto de roda de samba abierta. Este está conformado por una reunión mensual, presencial, en ella los músicos forman una rueda abierta e invitan a participar a los concurrentes, y por una cotidianeidad online. Esta roda se constituye  cada primer domingo del mes, y cada día, online, interactuando, generando vínculos a partir de las experiencias vividas en los diferentes ámbitos.   Palabras clave: Samba de roda, Afecto, Creatividad, Red      Abstract This work proposes to explore the sociotechnical construction of roda de samba (round of people doing samba), from the starting point of affect. Affect constitutes potential spaces (Winnicott: 1971) that encourages individual and collective creativity and amplifies experience. I have been in São Paulo, Brasil in 2012, doing an academic stay at Universidade Estadual de Campinas. There I conducted an ethnographic research about a group of sambistas that develop an open roda de samba project. This project is made up of a monthly meeting in which musicians form an open round of people. It is also constituted by an everyday online contact through sociotechnical platforms. This group of samba become round every first Sunday of month in the meeting, and online every day. Keywords: samba de roda, affection, creativity, network </p