News: Health-care workers don't know how much blood to collect
An anonymous survey of 360 health-care employees working at an urban tertiary care facility reveals that the vast majority have no idea that at least 10 mL of blood per culture is necessary for an optimal yeild of organisms.
An anonymous survey of 360 health-care employees working at an urban tertiary care facility and qualified to collect blood cultures reveals that the vast majority have no idea that at least 10 mL of blood per culture is necessary for an optimal yield of organisms.
In fact, the survey found that 79% of respondents thought that less than 10 mL was sufficient for culture, almost half (44%) answered that less than 5 mL was enough, and a full one fifth (21%) answered that 1 mL or less was all that was required for testing.
In a breakdown by profession, 90% of nurses, 97% of technicians, and 55% of physicians thought less than 10 mL was sufficient. And 52% of nurses, 63% of technicians, and 26% of physicians thought that less than 5 mL was all that was required.
Donnino MW, Goyal N, Terlecki TM, et al. Inadequate blood volume collected for culture: a survey of health care professionals. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007;82:1069-1072.
Hormone therapy safety: Study finds potential benefits for senior women
April 24th 2024A recent large-scale study challenged age-related concerns, suggesting hormone therapy may offer safety and even benefits for menopausal women aged over 65 years, aligning with The Menopause Society's 2022 Position Statement.
Read More
Hyperoxygenation use not linked to neonatal outcomes
April 23rd 2024Recent research evaluated the impact of maternal hyperoxygenation on neonatal Apgar scores, revealing no significant enhancement in outcomes among women with pathologic fetal heart rate tracing and suggesting limited efficacy of hyperoxygenation therapy in this context.
Read More
Study finds antihypertensive treatment reduces uterine fibroids risk
April 23rd 2024A recent study revealed that patients with untreated or new-onset hypertension face elevated chances of uterine fibroid diagnosis, underscoring the potential of antihypertensive therapy in mitigating this risk among midlife individuals.
Read More
