ORCID Profile
0000-0002-3967-0234
Current Organisations
University of KwaZulu-Natal
,
Durban University of Technology
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Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-03-2022
DOI: 10.1186/S13017-022-00420-4
Abstract: The objectives of the study were to investigate the organizational characteristics of acute care facilities worldwide in preventing and managing infections in surgery assess participants’ perception regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, antibiotic prescribing practices, and source control describe awareness about the global burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and IPC measures and determine the role of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic on said awareness. A cross-sectional web-based survey was conducted contacting 1432 health care workers (HCWs) belonging to a mailing list provided by the Global Alliance for Infections in Surgery. The self-administered questionnaire was developed by a multidisciplinary team. The survey was open from May 22, 2021, and June 22, 2021. Three reminders were sent, after 7, 14, and 21 days. Three hundred four respondents from 72 countries returned a questionnaire, with an overall response rate of 21.2%. Respectively, 90.4% and 68.8% of participants stated their hospital had a multidisciplinary IPC team or a multidisciplinary antimicrobial stewardship team. Local protocols for antimicrobial therapy of surgical infections and protocols for surgical antibiotic prophylaxis were present in 76.6% and 90.8% of hospitals, respectively. In 23.4% and 24.0% of hospitals no surveillance systems for surgical site infections and no monitoring systems of used antimicrobials were implemented. Patient and family involvement in IPC management was considered to be slightly or not important in their hospital by the majority of respondents (65.1%). Awareness of the global burden of AMR among HCWs was considered very important or important by 54.6% of participants. The COVID-19 pandemic was considered by 80.3% of respondents as a very important or important factor in raising HCWs awareness of the IPC programs in their hospital. Based on the survey results, the authors developed 15 statements for several questions regarding the prevention and management of infections in surgery. The statements may be the starting point for designing future evidence-based recommendations. Adequacy of prevention and management of infections in acute care facilities depends on HCWs behaviours and on the organizational characteristics of acute health care facilities to support best practices and promote behavioural change. Patient involvement in the implementation of IPC is still little considered. A debate on how operationalising a fundamental change to IPC, from being solely the HCWs responsibility to one that involves a collaborative relationship between HCWs and patients, should be opened.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-01-2018
Publisher: Mary Ann Liebert Inc
Date: 11-2017
DOI: 10.1089/SUR.2017.219
Abstract: This declaration, signed by an interdisciplinary task force of 234 experts from 83 different countries with different backgrounds, highlights the threat posed by antimicrobial resistance and the need for appropriate use of antibiotic agents and antifungal agents in hospitals worldwide especially focusing on surgical infections. As such, it is our intent to raise awareness among healthcare workers and improve antimicrobial prescribing. To facilitate its dissemination, the declaration was translated in different languages.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-02-2012
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-05-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S13017-020-00313-4
Abstract: Acute colonic erticulitis is one of the most common clinical conditions encountered by surgeons in the acute setting. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts from the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) updated its guidelines for management of acute left-sided colonic erticulitis (ALCD) according to the most recent available literature. The update includes recent changes introduced in the management of ALCD. The new update has been further integrated with advances in acute right-sided colonic erticulitis (ARCD) that is more common than ALCD in select regions of the world.
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 28-10-2021
DOI: 10.1136/ARCHDISCHILD-2020-319428
Abstract: Snakebite in children can often be severe or potentially fatal, owing to the lower volume of distribution relative to the amount of venom injected, and there is potential for long-term sequelae. In the second of a two paper series, we describe the pathophysiology of snakebite envenoming including the local and systemic effects. We also describe the diagnosis and management of snakebite envenoming including prehospital first aid and definitive medical and surgical care.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.INJURY.2015.08.020
Abstract: In response to the ongoing excessive burden of trauma in South Africa the Data Management and Epidemiology Units of the Department of Health in conjunction with a group of trauma specialists developed a number of trauma data variables for inclusion on the routine District Health Information System (DHIS). The aim of this study is to describe the process followed and review the 2012-2014 data. The variables collected included: total patient numbers assessed in the emergency room with a diagnosis of trauma the mechanisms of trauma (blunt assault, motor vehicle accident, pedestrian vehicle accident, stab, gunshot wound, other) any trauma patient admitted to a health facility ward/ICU for longer than 12h and whether the patient required transfer to a higher centre of care. All trauma deaths in hospital were recorded. The severity of trauma was measured using the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) classification of blue code (dead), red code (stretcher case with deranged physiology), yellow code (stretcher case with normal physiology) and green code (able to walk with normal physiology. The DHIS trauma data from April 2012 to March 2014 was reviewed. There were 197,219 emergency room visits for trauma in KZN in the 2013/2014 financial year. This constitutes 27.0% of all emergency room visits. The ratio of intentional to non-intentional injury is 45:55. There were 18,716 admissions to public sector hospitals for trauma in KZN in the 2013/2014 financial year. This constitutes 2.4% of all admissions in the province. There were 1045 inpatient deaths due to trauma in the same period, constituting 2.5% of all inpatient deaths. The overall rate of trauma in KZN was 17 per 1000 population. The adapted DHIS has successfully collected essential data that quantify the hospital burden of trauma in KZN province. This has provided the most complete overview of the burden of trauma in the Province. These trauma indicators should remain a permanent part of the DHIS to allow planners to track the trauma epidemic and to institute informed management strategies.
Location: South Africa
No related grants have been discovered for Timothy Hardcastle.