Pathological and ecological host consequences of infection by an introduced fish parasite

The infection consequences of the introduced cestode fish parasite Bothriocephalus acheilognathi were studied in a cohort of wild, young-of-the-year common carp Cyprinus carpio that lacked co-evolution with the parasite. Within the cohort, parasite prevalence was 42% and parasite burdens were up to 12% body weight. Pathological changes within the intestinal tract of parasitized carp included distension of the gut wall, epithelial compression and degeneration, pressure necrosis and varied inflammatory changes. These were most pronounced in regions containing the largest proportion of mature proglottids. Although the body lengths of parasitized and non-parasitized fish were not significantly different, parasitized fish were of lower body condition and reduced weight compared to non-parasitized conspecifics. Stable isotope analysis (δ15N and δ13C) revealed trophic impacts associated with infection, particularly for δ15N where values for parasitized fish were significantly reduced as their parasite burden increased. In a controlled aquarium environment where the fish were fed ad libitum on an identical food source, there was no significant difference in values of δ15N and δ13C between parasitized and non-parasitized fish. The growth consequences remained, however, with parasitized fish growing significantly slower than non-parasitized fish, with their feeding rate (items s−1) also significantly lower. Thus, infection by an introduced parasite had multiple pathological, ecological and trophic impacts on a host with no experience of the parasite

Análise de causa raiz: avaliação de erros de medicação em um hospital universitário Análisis de causa raíz: evaluación de errores de medicación en un hospital universitario Root cause analysis: evaluation of medication errors at a university hospital

Os objetivos deste estudo foram identificar e analisar os tipos de erros de medicação observados nas doses de medicamentos que foram preparadas e administradas de forma diferente daquelas prescritas. Estudo descritivo, utilizando o método de análise de causa raiz, que realizou uma análise secundária de dados de um estudo já existente. No estudo, 74 erros de medicação foram identificados, durante o preparo e a administração de medicamentos pela equipe de enfermagem. Erros de dose (24,3%), erros de horário (22,9%) e medicamentos não autorizados (13,5%) foram os mais frequentes. Assim, a análise de causa raiz foi realizada, identificando múltiplos fatores que contribuíram para a ocorrência dos erros, e estratégias e recomendações foram apresentadas para evitá-los.<br>Los objetivos de este estudio consistieron en identificar y analizar los tipos de errores de medicación observados en las dosis de medicamentos que fueron preparadas y administradas de modo diferente respecto del cual fueron prescriptas. El estudio fue de carácter descriptivo, se utilizó el método de análisis de causa raíz, efectuado en forma secundaria sobre los resultados de un estudio ya existente. En el estudio, 74 errores de medicación fueron identificados durante la preparación y la administración de medicamentos por parte del equipo de Enfermería. Errores de dosis (24,3%), errores de horario (22,9%) y medicamentos no autorizados (13,5%) fueron los más frecuentes. Así, el análisis de causa raíz fue realizado, identificándose múltiples factores que contribuyeron para la ocurrencia de los errores. Fueron presentadas estrategias y recomendaciones para evitarlos.<br>The objectives of this study were to identify and analyze the types of medication errors observed in doses prepared and administered differently from those prescribed. It is a descriptive study using the root cause analysis method, in which a secondary analysis of data from a previously existing investigation was performed. In the study, 74 medication errors were identified during medication preparation and administration by the nursing staff. Dose errors (24.3%), schedule errors (22.9%) and unauthorized medication administration errors (13.5%) were the most frequent. Hence, medication errors were identified, and root cause analysis was performed, leading to the identification of multiple factors that contributed to error occurrence. Strategies and recommendations were presented for the prevention of errors