Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Psychiatric Re-hospitalizations

Segregated individuals with mental disorders, families without support or guidance concerning disease and treatment, and unprepared professionals are some of the factors that can contribute to re-hospitalizations. This study identifies sociodemographic variables, clinical conditions, diagnoses and treatments in order to identify their relationship with psychiatric re-hospitalizations. This is an exploratory and descriptive study. A form was used to search data in patients' files from 2006 and 2007 in a regional psychiatric facility. A total of 681 re-hospitalizations were identified, the majority due to treatment abandonment. Length of hospitalization was higher for women between 40 and 49 years of age. Positive associations of sociodemographic data with previous hospitalizations were found, such as type of discharge, and physical and mental condition, which is in accordance with the literature. Readmissions are associated with sociodemographic and clinical indicators. These findings can guide care and public policies regarding mental health.Algunos de los factores que pueden contribuir para las reinternaciones psiquiátricas son los trastornos mentales que ocurren en familias sin apoyo u orientación acerca de la enfermedad y tratamientos y, por causa de profesionales mal preparados. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar las variables sociodemográficos, las condiciones clínicas, los diagnósticos médicos, los tratamientos y su relación con las reinternaciones psiquiátricas. Se trata de un estudio exploratorio y descriptivo, en el cual se utilizó un guía para recolectar datos en los registros médicos de 2006 y 2007, en un hospital psiquiátrico regional. Fueron identificadas 681 reinternaciones, la mayoría por abandono de tratamiento. El tiempo de permanencia en la internación fue mayor para la mujeres que tenían de 40 a 49 años. Se encontró asociaciones positivas de los datos sociodemográficos con internaciones anteriores, tipo de alta, estado físico y mental, los cuales están de acuerdo con otros datos de la literatura. Se concluye que las reinternaciones están asociadas con indicadores sociodemográficos y clínicos; conocimiento que puede ser utilizado en las políticas públicas en salud mental sobre el cuidado.Portadores de transtorno mental discriminados, famílias sem apoio e orientação sobre a doença e tratamentos e profissionais despreparados são alguns dos fatores que podem contribuir para as reinternações. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar as variáveis sociodemográficas, as condições clínicas, o diagnóstico médico e tratamento, buscando sua relação com as reinternações psiquiátricas. A metodologia usada aqui foi exploratório-descritiva. Utilizou-se roteiro para levantamento dos dados nos prontuários, de 2006 e 2007, num hospital psiquiátrico regional. Foram encontradas 681 reinternações, a maioria por abandono de tratamento. O tempo de permanência na internação é maior nas mulheres de 40 a 49 anos. Este estudo mostrou, também, associações positivas dos dados sociodemográficos com internações anteriores, tipo de alta, estado físico e mental, os quais estão de acordo com outros dados da literatura. Conclui-se que há associações das reinternações com indicadores sociodemográficos e clínicos que podem direcionar o cuidado e políticas públicas na saúde mental

Production, characterization, and application of antibodies against heat-labile type-I toxin for detection of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are responsible for significant rates of morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in developing countries. The majority of clinical and public health laboratories are capable of isolating and identifying Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 from stool samples, but ETEC cannot be identified by routine methods. The method most often used to identify ETEC is polymerase chain reaction for heat-stable and heat-labile enterotoxin genes, and subsequent serotyping, but most clinical and public health laboratories do not have the capacity or resources to perform these tests. In this study, polyclonal rabbit and monoclonal mouse IgG2b antibodies against ETEC heat-labile toxin-I (LT) were characterized and the potential applicability of a capture assay was analyzed. IgG-enriched fractions from rabbit polyclonal and the IgG2b monoclonal antibodies recognized LT in a conformational shape and they were excellent tools for detection of LT-producing strains. These findings indicate that the capture immunoassay could be used as a diagnostic assay of ETEC LT-producing strains in routine diagnosis and in epidemiological studies of diarrhea in developing countries as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay techniques remain as effective and economical choice for the detection of specific pathogen antigens in cultures