"Delirium Day": A nationwide point prevalence study of delirium in older hospitalized patients using an easy standardized diagnostic tool

Background: To date, delirium prevalence in adult acute hospital populations has been estimated generally from pooled findings of single-center studies and/or among specific patient populations. Furthermore, the number of participants in these studies has not exceeded a few hundred. To overcome these limitations, we have determined, in a multicenter study, the prevalence of delirium over a single day among a large population of patients admitted to acute and rehabilitation hospital wards in Italy. Methods: This is a point prevalence study (called "Delirium Day") including 1867 older patients (aged 65 years or more) across 108 acute and 12 rehabilitation wards in Italian hospitals. Delirium was assessed on the same day in all patients using the 4AT, a validated and briefly administered tool which does not require training. We also collected data regarding motoric subtypes of delirium, functional and nutritional status, dementia, comorbidity, medications, feeding tubes, peripheral venous and urinary catheters, and physical restraints. Results: The mean sample age was 82.0 \ub1 7.5 years (58 % female). Overall, 429 patients (22.9 %) had delirium. Hypoactive was the commonest subtype (132/344 patients, 38.5 %), followed by mixed, hyperactive, and nonmotoric delirium. The prevalence was highest in Neurology (28.5 %) and Geriatrics (24.7 %), lowest in Rehabilitation (14.0 %), and intermediate in Orthopedic (20.6 %) and Internal Medicine wards (21.4 %). In a multivariable logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05), Activities of Daily Living dependence (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.12-1.27), dementia (OR 3.25, 95 % CI 2.41-4.38), malnutrition (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), and use of antipsychotics (OR 2.03, 95 % CI 1.45-2.82), feeding tubes (OR 2.51, 95 % CI 1.11-5.66), peripheral venous catheters (OR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.06-1.87), urinary catheters (OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.30-2.29), and physical restraints (OR 1.84, 95 % CI 1.40-2.40) were associated with delirium. Admission to Neurology wards was also associated with delirium (OR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), while admission to other settings was not. Conclusions: Delirium occurred in more than one out of five patients in acute and rehabilitation hospital wards. Prevalence was highest in Neurology and lowest in Rehabilitation divisions. The "Delirium Day" project might become a useful method to assess delirium across hospital settings and a benchmarking platform for future surveys

Pathogenesis-targeted preventive strategies for multidrug resistant ventilator-associated pneumonia: a narrative review

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most common hospital-acquired infection in the intensive care unit (ICU), accounting for relevant morbidity and mortality among critically ill patients, especially when caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) organisms. The rising problem of MDR etiologies, which has led to a reduction in treatment options, have increased clinician’s attention to the employment of effective prevention strategies. In this narrative review we summarized the evidence resulting from 27 original articles that were identified through a systematic database search of the last 15 years, focusing on several pathogenesis-targeted strategies which could help preventing MDR-VAP. Oral hygiene with Chlorhexidine (CHX), CHX body washing, selective oral decontamination (SOD) and/or digestive decontamination (SDD), multiple decontamination regimens, probiotics, subglottic secretions drainage (SSD), special cuff material and shape, silver-coated endotracheal tubes (ETTs), universal use of gloves and contact isolation, alcohol-based hand gel, vaporized hydrogen peroxide, and bundles of care have been addressed. The most convincing evidence came from interventions directly addressed against the key factors of MDR-VAP pathogenesis, especially when they are jointly implemented into bundles. Further research, however, is warranted to identify the most effective combination

Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block for closed loop ileostomy repair in severe COPD: a case report

Background and objectives: Ultrasound-guided thoracic paravertebral block is usually considered a good alternative to epidural thoracic for anesthesia and pain control in thoracic and breast surgery. Furthermore it has also been used during abdominal surgery lately, especially hepatic and renal surgery. However, its role is poorly defined in this context. The purpose of this report was to highlight the role of thoracic paravertebral block in providing effective anesthesia and analgesia during both the abdominal surgical intervention and pain control in post-operative period, avoiding possible complications which general anesthesia may arise, which are fairly common in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and similar comorbidities. Case report: The authors present a case of abdominal surgery successfully performed on a woman affected by severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring closed loop ileostomy repair performed with ultrasound guided thoracic paravertebral block without any complications. Conclusions: Thoracic paravertebral block may be a safe anesthetic method for abdominal surgery in those patients who would undergo potential severe complications by using general anesthesia. Resumo: Justificativa e objetivos: O bloqueio paravertebral torácico guiado por ultrassom é geralmente considerado uma boa alternativa à anestesia peridural torácica para o controle da dor em cirurgia torácica e mamária. Além disso, ultimamente o bloqueio paravertebral torácico tem sido usado durante cirurgias abdominais, especialmente hepática e renal. No entanto, seu papel está mal definido nesse contexto. O objetivo deste relato foi destacar o papel do bloqueio paravertebral torácico em fornecer anestesia e analgesia efetiva tanto na intervenção cirúrgica abdominal quanto no controle da dor pós-operatória, evitando as possíveis complicações que podem surgir da anestesia geral, bastante comuns em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e comorbidades similares. Relato de caso: Apresentamos um caso de cirurgia abdominal realizada com sucesso em uma mulher com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica grave que precisou de correção de ileostomia em alça, realizada com bloqueio paravertebral torácico guiado por ultrassom sem complicações. Conclusões: O bloqueio paravertebral torácico pode ser um método anestésico seguro para cirurgia abdominal em pacientes que poderiam apresentar complicações possivelmente graves com o uso de anestesia geral. Keywords: Ultrasound-guided TPVB, Abdominal surgery, COPD, Acute pain analgesia, Palavras-chave: TPVB guiado por ultrassom, Cirurgia abdominal, DPOC, Analgesia de dor agud

"Delirium Day": A nationwide point prevalence study of delirium in older hospitalized patients using an easy standardized diagnostic tool

Background: To date, delirium prevalence in adult acute hospital populations has been estimated generally from pooled findings of single-center studies and/or among specific patient populations. Furthermore, the number of participants in these studies has not exceeded a few hundred. To overcome these limitations, we have determined, in a multicenter study, the prevalence of delirium over a single day among a large population of patients admitted to acute and rehabilitation hospital wards in Italy. Methods: This is a point prevalence study (called "Delirium Day") including 1867 older patients (aged 65 years or more) across 108 acute and 12 rehabilitation wards in Italian hospitals. Delirium was assessed on the same day in all patients using the 4AT, a validated and briefly administered tool which does not require training. We also collected data regarding motoric subtypes of delirium, functional and nutritional status, dementia, comorbidity, medications, feeding tubes, peripheral venous and urinary catheters, and physical restraints. Results: The mean sample age was 82.0 ± 7.5 years (58 % female). Overall, 429 patients (22.9 %) had delirium. Hypoactive was the commonest subtype (132/344 patients, 38.5 %), followed by mixed, hyperactive, and nonmotoric delirium. The prevalence was highest in Neurology (28.5 %) and Geriatrics (24.7 %), lowest in Rehabilitation (14.0 %), and intermediate in Orthopedic (20.6 %) and Internal Medicine wards (21.4 %). In a multivariable logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05), Activities of Daily Living dependence (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.12-1.27), dementia (OR 3.25, 95 % CI 2.41-4.38), malnutrition (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), and use of antipsychotics (OR 2.03, 95 % CI 1.45-2.82), feeding tubes (OR 2.51, 95 % CI 1.11-5.66), peripheral venous catheters (OR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.06-1.87), urinary catheters (OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.30-2.29), and physical restraints (OR 1.84, 95 % CI 1.40-2.40) were associated with delirium. Admission to Neurology wards was also associated with delirium (OR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), while admission to other settings was not. Conclusions: Delirium occurred in more than one out of five patients in acute and rehabilitation hospital wards. Prevalence was highest in Neurology and lowest in Rehabilitation divisions. The "Delirium Day" project might become a useful method to assess delirium across hospital settings and a benchmarking platform for future surveys

MERCATI & COMPETITIVITÀ. The Journal of the Italian Marketing Association

Nata per merito della Società Italiana di Marketing questa Rivista vuole innanzitutto costituire una sede privilegiata della sua politica culturale e scientifica. Ciò tramite l’attivazione di tutte quelle sinergie e collaborazioni che possano garantirci di farne una rivista espressione del meglio di ciò che in Italia, e non solo, si produce in fatto di conoscenza e applicazioni del marketing. È ambizione della Rivista acquisire oltre che contributi delle migliori Scuole di marketing italiane anche un crescente numero di lavori di ricerca sviluppatisi in campo internazionale grazie a collaborazioni scientifiche ed editoriali con alcuni dei centri di eccellenza esistenti in Europa, negli Stati Uniti ed in prospettiva nel mondo asiatico. Il confronto tra diverse Scuole di marketing è assai opportuno in una fase in cui i paradigmi tradizionali e più consolidati del marketing management di origine anglosassone sono messi in discussione da nuovi modelli e prospettive di analisi e di gestione del mercato. Da tempo in Italia si sono sviluppate correnti di pensiero che si discostano dagli approcci più ortodossi e numerosi sono i contributi che, seppure ancora con una certa frammentazione, cercano di proporre e di sviluppare prospettive se non alternative almeno integrative e complementari a quelle più consolidate (il marketing relazionale, il marketing digitale, il co-operative marketing). In considerazione di tali aspetti la Rivista vuole essere un momento di aggregazione e di confronto sia tra studiosi sia tra questi e figure del mondo professionale e manageriale. Pur nascendo dall’interno di un’associazione scientifico-culturale la Rivista non è destinata a rimanere un campo di interessi e di contributi riservato. L’impegno è piuttosto quello di offrire per il suo tramite una visione aggiornata e scientificamente fondata dei campi e degli strumenti della scienza e delle tecniche del marketing, a beneficio di un più vasto e composito pubblico di autori e lettori. La "domanda di marketing" sta crescendo ovunque, nelle scuole e nelle università, nelle imprese e nel terzo settore del non profit, nella consulenza e nelle istituzioni pubbliche nazionali e locali. Non sempre a questa maggiore domanda corrisponde un’adeguata crescita dell’offerta di competenze e skills professionali, creando così disallineamenti e divari tra domanda e offerta. Non solo, ma spesso appare diffuso un "concetto di marketing" distorto e parziale nel quale vengono fatte convergere unicamente attività di comunicazione e di vendita, trascurandosi, per non dire ignorandosi, l’essenza e l’eterogeneità della cultura e delle attività di marketing management che investono una pluralità di processi di comprensione, generazione e trasmissione di ciò che è valore per il cliente. Anche in considerazione di ciò la Rivista vuole rispondere offrendo contributi preziosi per l’elevazione e l’aggiornamento culturale e scientifico di coloro che intendono occuparsi di marketing in modo specialistico e professionale, nella scuola e nell’università così come nel mondo produttivo e istituzionale