Research and Application of Bedside Rhetorical Teaching Method in Teaching Nursing Interns

Objective:To observe and analyze the application of the bedside rhetorical teaching method in teaching nursing interns.Methods:A total of 64 nursing interns in the gastroenterology department of our hospital from July 2022 to May 2023 were randomly divided into two groups,32 cases in the control group and 32 cases in the intervention group.The control group was given conventional teaching methods,and the intervention group was given the bedside rhetorical teaching method on the basis of the conventional teaching.The differences in the methods of teaching between the two groups were compared after the end of the internship,and there was a statistically significant difference with P<0.05.Results:The scores of the interns in the intervention group were significantly better than those of the control group in theoretical knowledge,communication skills,and case analysis items(P<0.05).Conclusion:The bedside rhetorical teaching method transforms classroom education into bedside teaching,which enables the interns to apply the theoretical knowledge to clinical practice,and has a higher improvement in the three aspects of disease knowledge,communication skills,and case analysis,cultivates the interns’comprehensive clinical skills,and lays a good foundation for the future entry into the nursing field.

Bedside ultrasound in the diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is the most common liver disease in the United States.While the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases guidelines define NAFLD as hepatic steatosis detected either on histology or imaging without a secondary cause of abnormal hepatic fat accumulation,no imaging modality is recommended as standard of care for screening or diagnosis.Bedside ultrasound has been evaluated as a non-invasive method of diagnosing NAFLD with the presence of characteristic sonographic findings.Prior studies suggest characteristic sonographic findings for NAFLD include bright hepatic echoes,increased hepatorenal echogenicity,vascular blurring of portal or hepatic vein and subcutaneous tissue thickness.These sonographic characteristics have not been shown to aid bedside clinicians easily identify potential cases of NAFLD.While sonographic findings such as attenuation of image,diffuse echogenicity,uniform heterogeneous liver,thick subcutaneous depth,and enlarged liver filling of the entire field could be identifiedby clinicians from bedside ultrasound.The accessibility,ease of use,and low-side effect profile of ultrasound make bedside ultrasound an appealing imaging modality in the detection of hepatic steatosis.When used with appropriate clinical risk factors and steatosis involves greater than 33%of the liver,ultrasound can reliably diagnose NAFLD.Despite the ability of ultrasound in detecting moderate hepatic steatosis,it cannot replace liver biopsy in staging the degree of fibrosis.The purpose of this review is to examine the diagnostic accuracy,utility,and limitations of ultrasound in the diagnosis of NAFLD and its potential use by clinicians in routine practices.

Application of scoring systems with point-of-care ultrasonography for bedside diagnosis of appendicitis

BACKGROUND: Appendicitis is a common disease requiring surgery. Bedside ultrasound(BUS) is a core technique for emergency medicine(EM). The Alvarado score is a well-studied diagnostic tool for appendicitis. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between patients' symptoms, Alvarado score and ultrasound(US) findings, as performed by emergency physicians(EPs) and radiologists, of patients with suspected appendicitis.METHODS: Three EM specialists underwent the BUS course and core course for appendicitis assessment. Patients suspected of having appendicitis were selected and their Alvarado and modif ied(m) Alvarado scores calculated. The specialists performed the BUS. Then, patients were given a formal US and surgery consultation if necessary. Preliminary diagnoses, admission or discharge from the emergency department(ED) and fi nal diagnosis were documented. The patients were also followed up after discharge from the hospital.RESULTS: The determined cut-off value was 2 for Alvarado and 3 for m Alvarado scores. The sensitivities of the two scores were 100%. Each score was used to rule out appendicitis. The results of EP-performed BUS were as follows: accuracy 70%, sensitivity 0.733, specifi city 0.673, + LR 2.24, and – LR 0.40(95%CI). Radiologists were better than EPs at diagnosing appendicitis and radiologists and EPs were equally strong at ruling out appendicitis by US. When US was combined with Alvarado and m Alvarado scores, EP US+Alvarado/m Alvarado scores ≤3 and radiology US+Alvarado/m Alvarado scores ≤4 perfectly ruled out appendicitis.CONCLUSION: BUS performed by EPs is moderately useful in detecting appendicitis. Combined with scoring systems, BUS may be a perfect tool for ruling out decisions in EDs.

A feasibility study to determine if minimally trained medical students can identify markers of chronic parasitic infection using bedside ultrasound in rural Tanzania

BACKGROUND: Parasitic infections pose a significant health risk in developing nations and are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the Republic of Tanzania, the CDC estimates that 51.5% of the population is infected with one or more intestinal parasites. If diagnosed early, the consequences of chronic parasitic infection can potentially be avoided.METHODS: Six first-year medical students were recruited to enroll patients in the study. They underwent ten hours of formal, hands-on, ultrasound which included basic cardiac, hepatobiliary, renal, pulmonary and FAST scan ultrasound. A World Health Organization protocol with published grading scales was adapted and used to assess for pathology in each patient's liver, bladder, kidneys, and spleen.RESULTS: A total of 59 patients were enrolled in the study. Students reported a sensitivity of 96% and specificity of 100% for the presence of a dome shaped bladder, a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for bladder thickening, a sensitivity and specificity of 100% for portal hypertension and ascites. The sensitivity was 81% with a specificity of 100% for presence of portal vein distention. The sensitivity was 100% with a specificity of 90% for dilated bowel.CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound has shown a promise at helping to identify pathology in rural communities with limited resources such as Tanzania. Our data suggest that minimally trained first year medical students are able to perform basic ultrasound scans that can identify ultrasonographic markers of parasitic infections.

The Observation on Risk of Ventilator Failure Weaning by Ultrasound bedside Monitoring of Inferior Vena Cava and Lung B Line

Objective: This study was designed to investigate risk of ventilator weaning by ultrasound bedside monitoring of the width of inferior vena cava (IVC) and the number of lung B-lines (B-lines). Methods: This study was conducted on 106 patients from January 2019 to January 2020 who had mechanical ventilation for more than 48 hours in an emergency care unit. They were clinically stable and had the criteria for weaning from the ventilator. Before Spontaneous Breathing Test (SBT) and 30 min or 120 min after SBT, the width of IVC and the number of B-lines in patients were monitored via bedside ultrasound. There were 87 cases of successful weaning as a control group and 19 cases of ventilator failure weaning as a study group. Changes of the width of IVC and the number of B-lines were compared in the different stages of SBT. Results: A total of 106 patients were included in this study. There were 87 cases of ventilator successful weaning and 19 cases failure weaning. The weaning success rate was 82.08%. The width of IVC and the number of B-lines in the study group were higher than those in the control group in same stage of SBT, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05), and which increased significantly with time. There was no significant difference in the width of IVC and the number of B-lines on the different stage of SBT in the control group (P > 0.05), and significant difference in the study group. Conclusion: The width of IVC and the number of B-lines monitored by bedside ultrasound can assess the risk of ventilator weaning, it may be caused by cardiopulmonary interaction.

Value of Real-Time Bedside Ultrasonography in the Etiologic Diagnosis of Acute Dyspnea

Objective: To explore the value of real-time bedside ultrasonography in the etiologic diagnosis of acute dyspnea. Methods: Sixty-two patients with acute dyspnea who were treated in our hospital from January 2016 to December 2020 were randomly selected and their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. All patients were randomly divided into a control group for routine examinations (n = 31) and an observation group for real-time beside ultrasonography (n = 31). The costs of medical examinations, examination duration, and diagnostic results of severe pneumonia, acute cardiogenic pulmonary edema, pulmonary embolism, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pneumothorax (including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy) of the two groups of patients were compared and analyzed. Results: Compared with the control group, the observation group had significantly shorter examinations (P < 0.05). Although the cost of medical examinations of the observation group tended to be higher, the difference between groups was not significant (P > 0.05). Moreover, there were no significant differences in left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, or brain natriuretic peptide between the two groups (P > 0.05). Comparison of the etiologic diagnosis results between the two groups showed that the observation group had significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy for various causes compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Real-time bedside ultrasonography for the etiologic diagnosis of patients with acute dyspnea was quicker and had higher diagnostic accuracy;thus providing accurate guidance for the disease treatment, and having a higher promotional value in clinical practice compared with routine examinations.

The Role of Bedside Troponin T Test for Identification of High Risk Patients With Acute Chest Pain

Objectives Evaluation of patients with acute chest pain when they admitted is time-consuming. We prospectively investigated the role of bedside troponin T test for predicting the risk of death and acute heart failure of patients with acute chest pain.Methods and Results 502 consecutive patients with chest pain for less than 24 hours were determined by troponin T test at bedside and quantitative troponin I test in lab. For bedside troponin T tests, there were 160 patients in positive and 323 in negative. During 30 days of followed-up. Myocardial infarction evolved in 139 patients among 160 patients in positive troponin T test, only 7 patients in negative one. Acute heart failure occurred in 51 patients among the positive group, but 37 occurred it at negative group. The odds ratio of acute heart failure of positive group vs. negative group was 3.6. Patients died 39 in positive group, 15 in negative group, the all-cause death odds ratio of positive group vs. negative group was 6.7; 31 patients died with cardiac event in positive group, 5 in negative group only. Conclusions Bedside Troponin T test is a powerful and independent predictor of death and acute heart failure for patients with acute chest pain.

Potential effects of aerosol generation and transmission during bedside endoscope cleaning

Airborne transmission is among the most frequent types of nosocomial infection.Recent years have witnessed frequent outbreaks of airborne diseases,such as severe acute respiratory syndrome(SARS)in 2002,Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS)in 2012,and coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),with the latter being on the rampage since the end of 2019 and bringing the effect of aerosols on health back to the fore(Gralton et al.,2011;Wang et al.,2021).An increasing number of studies have shown that certain highly transmissible pathogens can maintain long-term stability and efficiently spread through aerosols(Leung,2021;Lv et al.,2021).As reported previously,influenza viruses that can spread efficiently through aerosols remain stable for a longer period compared to those that cannot.The World Health Organization(WHO)has stated that aerosol-generating procedures(AGPs)play an important role in aerosol transmission in hospitals(Calderwood et al.,2021).AGPs,referring to medical procedures that produce aerosols,including dental procedures,endotracheal intubation,sputum aspiration,and laparoscopic surgeries,have been reported to be significantly associated with an increased risk of nosocomial infection among medical personnel(Hamilton,2021).

Management of renal replacement therapy among adults in French intensive care units: A bedside practice evaluation

Background:This study aimed to investigate renal replacement therapy (RRT) practices in a representative nationwide sample of French intensive care units (ICUs).Methods:From July 1 to October 5 2021, 67 French ICUs provided data regarding their ICU and RRT implementation. We used an online questionnaire to record general data about each participating ICU, including the type of hospital, number of beds, staff ratios, and RRT implementation. Each center then prospectively recorded RRT parameters from 5 consecutive acute kidney injury (AKI) patients, namely the indication, type of dialysis catheter used, type of catheter lock used, type of RRT (continuous or intermittent), the RRT parameters initially prescribed (dose, blood flow, and duration), and the anticoagulant agent used for the circuit.Results:A total of 303 patients from 67 ICUs were analyzed. Main indications for RRT were oligo-anuria (57.4%), metabolic acidosis (52.1%), and increased plasma urea levels (47.9%). The commonest insertion site was the right internal jugular (45.2%). In 71.0% of cases, the dialysis catheter was inserted by a resident. Ultrasound guidance was used in 97.0% and isovolumic connection in 90.1%. Citrate, unfractionated heparin, and saline were used as catheter locks in 46.9%, 24.1%, and 21.1% of cases, respectively.Conclusions:Practices in French ICUs are largely compliant with current national guidelines and international literature. The findings should be interpreted in light of the limitations inherent to this type of study.

Seeing beneath the surface:Harnessing point-of-care ultrasound for internal jugular vein evaluation

Point-of-care ultrasound(POCUS)of the internal jugular vein(IJV)offers a noninvasive means of estimating right atrial pressure(RAP),especially in cases where the inferior vena cava is inaccessible or unreliable due to conditions such as liver disease or abdominal surgery.While many clinicians are familiar with visually assessing jugular venous pressure through the internal jugular vein,this method lacks sensitivity.The utilization of POCUS significantly enhances the visualization of the vein,leading to a more accurate identification.It has been demonstrated that combining IJV POCUS with physical examination enhances the specificity of RAP estimation.This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the various sonographic techniques available for estimating RAP from the internal jugular vein,drawing upon existing data.

Point-of-care ultrasound in nephrology:A private practice viewpoint

Point-of-care ultrasound(POCUS)is a limited ultrasound examination performed by the clinician at the bedside,emerging as a complement to physical examination across various medical specialties.In the field of nephrology,its integration has been gradual,primarily limited to guiding procedures like temporary dialysis catheter placement or,in some cases,diagnostic kidney ultrasounds.In reality,the assessment of hemodynamic status at the bedside holds immense value for nephrologists,yet there exists limited awareness among practitioners regarding its implementation.While there is a growing trend towards incorporating multiorgan POCUS training in fellowship programs,private practice nephrologists remain relatively uninformed.This discussion explores the untapped potential of POCUS as a valuable diagnostic tool in everyday nephrology practice,demonstrating its effectiveness in diverse clinical settings,ranging from medical wards to outpatient dialysis units.Additionally,we delve into the challenges hindering its widespread adoption and consider the future trajectory of this innovative approach.

Sound waves and solutions:Point-of-care ultrasonography for acute kidney injury in cirrhosis

This article delves into the intricate challenges of acute kidney injury(AKI)in cirrhosis,a condition fraught with high morbidity and mortality.The complexities arise from distinguishing between various causes of AKI,particularly hemodynamic AKI,in cirrhotic patients,who experience hemodynamic changes due to portal hypertension.The term"hepatocardiorenal syndrome"is introduced to encapsulate the intricate interplay among the liver,heart,and kidneys.The narrative emphasizes the often-overlooked aspect of cardiac function in AKI assessments in cirrhosis,unveiling the prevalence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy marked by impaired diastolic function.The conventional empiric approach involving volume expansion and vasopressors for hepatorenal syndrome is critically analyzed,highlighting potential risks and variable patient responses.We advocate for a nuanced algorithm for AKI evaluation in cirrhosis,prominently featuring point-of-care ultrasonography(POCUS).POCUS applications encompass assessing fluid tolerance,detecting venous congestion,and evaluating cardiac function.

Clinical value of bedside abdominal sonography performed by certified sonographer in emergency evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma

Purpose:To investigate the accuracy and efficiency of bedside ultrasonography application performed by certified sonographer in emergency patients with blunt abdominal trauma.Methods:The study was carried out from 2017 to 2019.Findings in operations or on computed tomography(CT)were used as references to evaluate the accuracy of bedside abdominal ultrasonography.The time needed for bedside abdominal ultrasonography or CT examination was collected separately to evaluate the efficiency of bedside abdominal ultrasonography application.Results:Bedside abdominal ultrasonography was performed in 106 patients with blunt abdominal trauma,of which 71 critical patients received surgery.The overall diagnostic accordance rate was 88.68%.The diagnostic accordance rate for liver injury,spleen injury,kidney injury,gut perforation,retroperitoneal hematoma and multiple abdominal organ injury were 100%,94.73%,94.12%,20.00%,100%and 81.48%,respectively.Among the 71 critical patients,the diagnostic accordance rate was 94.37%,in which the diagnostic accordance rate for liver injury,spleen injury,kidney injury,gut perforation and multiple abdominal organ injury were 100%,100%,100%,20.00%and 100%.The mean time for imaging examination of bedside abdominal ultrasonography was longer than that for CT scan(4.45±1.63 vs.2.38±1.19)min;however,the mean waiting time before examination(7.37±2.01 vs.16.42±6.37)min,the time to make a diagnostic report(6.42±3.35 vs.36.26±13.33)min,and the overall time(17.24±2.33 vs.55.06±6.96)min were shorter for bedside abdominal ultrasonography than for CT scan.Conclusion:Bedside ultrasonography application provides both efficiency and reliability for the assessment of blunt abdominal trauma.Especially for patients with free peritoneal effusion and critical patients,bedside ultrasonography has been proved obvious advantageous.However,for negative bedside ultrasonography patients with blunt abdominal trauma,we recommend further abdominal CT scan or serial ultrasonography scans subsequently.

Red cell distribution width: A predictor of the severity of hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND Compared with patients with other causes of acute pancreatitis,those with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis(HTG-AP)are more likely to develop persistent organ failure(POF).Therefore,recognizing the individuals at risk of developing POF early in the HTG-AP process is a vital for improving outcomes.Bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis(BISAP),a simple parameter that is obtained 24 h after admission,is an ideal index to predict HTG-AP severity;however,the suboptimal sensitivity limits its clinical application.Hence,current clinical scoring systems and biochemical parameters are not sufficient for predicting HTG-AP severity.AIM To elucidate the early predictive value of red cell distribution width(RDW)for POF in HTG-AP.METHODS In total,102 patients with HTG-AP were retrospectively enrolled.Demographic and clinical data,including RDW,were collected from all patients on admission.RESULTS Based on the Revised Atlanta Classification,37(33%)of 102 patients with HTG-AP were diagnosed with POF.On admission,RDW was significantly higher in patients with HTG-AP and POF than in those without POF(14.4%vs 12.5%,P<0.001).The receiver operating characteristic curve demonstrated a good discrim-inative power of RDW for POF with a cutoff of 13.1%,where the area under the curve(AUC),sensitivity,and specificity were 0.85,82.4%,and 77.9%,respectively.When the RDW was≥13.1%and one point was added to the original BISAP to obtain a new BISAP score,we achieved a higher AUC,sensitivity,and specificity of 0.89,91.2%,and 67.6%,respectively.CONCLUSION RDW is a promising predictor of POF in patients with HTG-AP,and the addition of RDW can promote the sensitivity of BISAP.

Role of endoscopy in acute gastrointestinal bleeding in real clinical practice:An evidence-based review

Although upper gastrointestinal bleeding is usually segregated from lower gastrointestinal bleeding, and guidelines for gastrointestinal bleeding are divided into two separate sections, they may not be distinguished from each other in clinical practice. Most patients are first observed with signs of bleeding such as hematemesis, melena, and hematochezia. When a patient with these symptoms presents to the emergency room, endoscopic diagnosis and treatment are considered together with appropriate initial resuscitation. Especially, in cases of variceal bleeding, it is important for the prognosis that the endoscopy is performed immediately after the patient stabilizes. In cases of suspected lower gastrointestinal bleeding, full colonoscopy after bowel preparation is effective in distinguishing the cause of the bleeding and treating with hemostasis. The therapeutic aspect of endoscopy, using the mechanical method alone or injection with a certain modality rather than injection alone, can increase the success rate of bleeding control. Therefore, it is important to consider the origin of bleeding and how to approach it. In this article, we aim to review the role of endoscopy in diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis in patients with acute gastrointestinal bleeding in a real clinical setting.

Clinical significance of melatonin concentrations in predicting the severity of acute pancreatitis

AIM: To assess the value of plasma melatonin in predicting acute pancreatitis when combined with the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation?II?(APACHEII) and bedside index for severity in acute pancreatitis (BISAP) scoring systems.METHODS: APACHEII and BISAP scores were calculated for 55 patients with acute physiology (AP) in the first 24 h of admission to the hospital. Additionally, morning (6:00 AM) serum melatonin concentrations were measured on the first day after admission. According to the diagnosis and treatment guidelines for acute pancreatitis in China, 42 patients suffered mild AP (MAP). The other 13 patients developed severe AP (SAP). A total of 45 healthy volunteers were used in this study as controls. The ability of melatonin and the APACHEII and BISAP scoring systems to predict SAP was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The optimal melatonin cutoff concentration for SAP patients, based on the ROC curve, was used to classify the patients into either a high concentration group (34 cases) or a low concentration group (21 cases). Differences in the incidence of high scores, according to the APACHEII and BISAP scoring systems, were compared between the two groups.RESULTS: The MAP patients had increased melatonin levels compared to the SAP (38.34 ng/L vs 26.77 ng/L) (P = 0.021) and control patients (38.34 ng/L vs 30.73 ng/L) (P = 0.003). There was no significant difference inmelatoninconcentrations between the SAP group and the control group. The accuracy of determining SAP based on the melatonin level, the APACHEII score and the BISAP score was 0.758, 0.872, and 0.906, respectively, according to the ROC curve. A melatonin concentration ≤ 28.74 ng/L was associated with an increased risk of developing SAP. The incidence of high scores (≥ 3) using the BISAP system was significantly higher in patients with low melatonin concentration (≤ 28.74 ng/L) compared to patients with high melatonin concentration (> 28.74 ng/L) (42.9% vs 14.7%, P = 0.02). The incidence of high APACHEII scores (≥ 10) between the two groups was not significantly different.CONCLUSION: The melatonin concentration is closely related to the severity of AP and the BISAP score. Therefore, we can evaluate the severity of disease by measuring the levels of serum melatonin.

Practical strategies for increasing efficiency and effectiveness in critical care education

Technological advances and evolving demands inmedical care have led to challenges in ensuring adequate training for providers of critical care. Reliance on the traditional experience-based training model alone is insufficient for ensuring quality and safety in patient care. This article provides a brief overview of the existing educational practice within the critical care environment. Challenges to education within common daily activities of critical care practice are reviewed. Some practical evidence-based educational approaches are then described which can be incorporated into the daily practice of critical care without disrupting workflow or compromising the quality of patient care. It is hoped that such approaches for improving the efficiency and efficacy of critical care education will be integrated into training programs.

Near-infrared spectroscopy(NIRS)as a useful tool to evaluate the treatment efficacy of positive airways pressure therapy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS):A pilot study

In obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSA)the periodic reduction or cessation of breathing dueto narrowing or occlusion of the upper airway during slep leads to an impaired cerebral vascularautoregulation that is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk,including stroke.Con-tinuous positive airways pressure(CPAP)therapy at night is the most effective treatment forOSA and has been shown to reduce the cardiovascular risk in OSA patients.However,there is nosuitable bedside monitoring method evaluating the recovery of cerebral hemodynamics duringCPAP therapy.Near-infrared spectroscopy(NiRS)is idelly suited for non-invasive monitoringthe cerebral hemodynamics during sleep due to its properties of local measurement,totally sa feapplication and good tolerance to motion.In this pilot study,we monitored cerebral hemody-namics during standard CPAP therapy at night in thre patients with severe OSA using NIRS.We found periodic oscllations in HbO2,HHb,tisue oxygenation index(TO1)and blood volume(BV)associa ted with periodic apnea events without CPAP in all OSA patients.These osillationswere eliminated under the optimal CPAP pressures in all patients.These results sugg ested thatthe recovery of cerebral hemodynamics impaired by apnea events can be evaluated by bedsideNIRS measurements in real time during ll night CPAP therapy.NIRS is a usefi bedsidemonitoring tool to evaluate the treatment elicacy of CPAP therapy in patients with OSA.

Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis:risk factors and causative organisms

Objective:To determine the prevalent pathogens responsible for spontaneous bacterial peritonitis(SBP) and their sensitivity pattern,to test the efficiency of different culture techniques in microbial isolation,and to study the diagnostic predictors of such cases.Methods:One hundred eight SBP episodes from 92 adult patients were compared to 88 cirrhotic ascites patients cross - matched with age and sex without SBP.Ascitic fluid was subjected to cytological,biochemical examination and culture on both conventional and blood culture bottles at the bedside for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing.Results:The prevalence of SBP was 25.02%.Logistic regression analysis revealed that;previous SBP episode,low ascitic fluid protein levels, high serum creatinine and low serum albumin levels were the independent significant predictors of SBP.About forty - five per cent of SBP episodes were detected by conventional culture compared to 73.15%by modified technique with a significant difference.Gram - negative bacteria were the cause of SBP in 46(58.23%) culture positive episodes.Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were the most commonly detected organisms. Resistance to different antibiotics was high.Conclusion:Culture of ascitic fluid in blood culture bottles at bedside increases the sensitivity of SBP detection.There is a recent increase in Gram - positive pathogen with emergence of multidrug resistance.These recent changes may have an impact on guidelines for management and treatment of SBP in our locality.

Approaches to Improving Nursing Handoffs in Surgical Wards

Objective: To propose approaches to improve nursing handoffs for surgical patients, including standardization. Background: Handoffs, or the transfer of accountability and patient information, can generate potential risks for patient safety. Standardization has been proposed to help improve handoffs. Methods: After observing 333 nursing handoffs in the surgical wards of our institution, we conducted a thematic content analysis, comparing and contrasting the observations. Results: Handoff processes, including the use of support tools, varied among the observations. Common themes in the handoff content suggested possibilities of standardization. About half of the 51 interruptions occurring during the observed handoffs were by healthcare professionals. Conclusions: Standardization to improve handoffs should address both the content and the process. Interruptions were common and should be avoided whenever possible. Future studies should also consider the use of mobile applications to support handoffs and clinical documentation.