1,722,257 research outputs found
HCV infection is a risk factor for gallstone disease in liver cirrhosis: an Italian epidemiological survey.
No full textChronic Hepatitis B Infection in Italy, New Features of an Old Disease: Approaching the Universal Prevalence of HBeAg Negative Cases and the Eradication of Hepatitis D Infection.
No full textCharacteristics of HCV positive subjects referring to hospitals in Italy: a multicentre prevalence study on 6,999 cases
No full textIn 2001, 6 999 anti-HCV positive subjects referred to 79 Italian hospital in a 6 months enrolment period were evaluated. Of them, 5 632 (80.5%) tested anti-HCV positive alone, 1 163 (16.6%) reported also an excessive alcohol intake, and 204 (2.9%) were also HBsAg positive. Normal biochemistry was observed in 7.8% of cases, chronic hepatitis in 67.9% of cases, liver cirrhosis in 18.9% of cases, and hepatocellular carcinoma in 3.6% cases. HCV positive subjects with excessive alcohol intake were statistically significantly younger, of male sex, and having more severe liver disease than those without excessive alcohol intake. Adjusting for the confounding effect of age and sex by multiple logistic regression analysis, HCV positive chronic hepatitis cases drinking more than four alcoholic drinks daily were 2.2-fold (CI 95% = 1.3-4.0) more likely to progress to liver cirrhosis than teetotallers. These findings indicate that nearly a quarter of HCV positive subjects referred to hospitals in Italy have a severe liver disease causing a remarkable impact on the national health system. Excessive alcohol intake in HCV chronic hepatitis cases increases the risk of progression to liver cirrhosis
Chronic hepatitis B in Italy: new features of an old disease--approaching the universal prevalence of hepatitis B e antigen-negative cases and the eradication of hepatitis D infection.
No full textPhilanthropy in Italy Revisited:Post-Reformation British Perceptions of Italian Hospitals.
No full textA look back at my 1981 article about what English travellers said about Italian hospitals between the 16th and 19th centuries and the impact it has made in the history of medicine and philanthropy
Prevalence and patterns of antibiotic prescribing in Italian hospitals.
No full textUse of antimicrobial drugs is associated with the emergence of resistant bacteria, increasing hospital expenditures and requires an assessment of appropriateness. The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and patterns of antibiotic prescribing and expenditures in Italian hospitals. A prevalence survey was performed in 15 Italian hospitals. Data on antimicrobial use and expenditures in the year 2000 and 1-day point prevalence information on antibiotic prescription, type and sources of infections and expenditures were obtained through a review of pharmacy records and charts of 2,165 inpatients. 45.5% of the patients surveyed were receiving at least one antibiotic: 148 for hospital-acquired infections (HAI), 262 for community-acquired infections (CAI). No active infection was recorded for 575 patients (58.4%). 57.3% of prescriptions for HAI and 65.9% for CAI were based on empiric and presumptive criteria, while 39% of HAI and 15.8% of CAI were oriented by microbiology and susceptibility testing results. Guidelines were followed in choosing the antimicrobial drugs for 22.8% of therapeutic and 46.8% of prophylactic courses. High rates of antibiotic usage were observed in Italian hospitals. Areas for improvement, both for the use of diagnostic resources and the prescribing habits, were identified. The 1-day prevalence survey of antimicrobial use may be a tool of feedback to prescribers for more appropriate drug selection
Prevalence and patterns of antibiotic prescribing in Italian Hospitals
No full textUse of antimicrobial drugs is associated with the emergence of resistant bacteria, increasing hospital expenditures and requires an assessment of appropriateness. The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and patterns of antibiotic prescribing and expenditures in Italian hospitals. A prevalence survey was performed in 15 Italian hospitals. Data on antimicrobial use and expenditures in the year 2000 and 1-day point prevalence information on antibiotic prescription, type and sources of infections and expenditures were obtained through a review of pharmacy records and charts of 2,165 inpatients. 45.5% of the patients surveyed were receiving at Least one antibiotic: 148 for hospital-acquired infections (HAI), 262 for community-acquired infections (CAI). No active infection was recorded for 575 patients (58.4%). 57.3% of prescriptions for HAI and 65.9% for CAI were based on empiric and presumptive criteria, while 39% of HAI and 15.8% of CAI were oriented by microbiology and susceptibility testing results. Guidelines were followed in choosing the antimicrobial drugs for 22.8% of therapeutic and 46.8% of prophylactic courses. High rates of antibiotic usage were observed in Italian hospitals. Areas for improvement, both for the use of diagnostic resources and the prescribing habits, were identified. The 1-day prevalence survey of antimicrobial use may be a tool of feedback to prescribers for more appropriate drug selection
The aetiology of chronic hepatitis in Italy: results from a multicentre national study
No full textBackground: No recent national-level data on the aetiology of chronic hepatitis are available in Italy. Aim: To evaluate the current aetiology of chronic hepatitis in Italy. Patients: A total of 6210 chronic hepatitis patients (both prevalence and incident cases) consecutively admitted to 79 hospitals located throughout Italy were enrolled over a 6-month period in 2001. The hospitals were randomly selected through systematic cluster sampling. Results: The main agent associated with chronic hepatitis was hepatitis C virus, which was found in 76.5% of the patients (in 62.6% it was the only aetiologic factor). Hepatitis B surface antigen was present in the serum of 12.2% of the cases (in 9.2% it was the only aetiologic factor). Hepatitis B e antigen and hepatitis Delta were detected in 16.6% and 7.0%, respectively, of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients. A history of alcohol abuse was found in 19.2% of the cases (5.5% without viral infection). Autoimmune hepatitis and inborn metabolic disorders were extremely rare. The prevalence of hepatitis C virus-related cases was significantly lower in incident cases, compared to prevalent cases (55.1% versus 65.0%; p < 0.01). The mean alanine aminotransferase level was significantly higher in hepatitis B surface antigen-positive patients, compared to hepatitis B surface antigen-negative patients. The histology was less severe in non-viral-related cases. Conclusions: Hepatitis C virus is the most important pathogenic factor for chronic hepatitis in Italy; however, the comparison between prevalent and incident cases suggests that this infection will play a less important role in the future. A comparison with previous reports shows that both hepatitis B virus-related and hepatitis Delta virus-related cases are decreasing
Corporate brand communication in Italian Hospitals: is time ripe?
No full textPurpose – Corporate brand communication is a lever to support reputation and ultimately competition between organizations in any business. A brand embodies tangible and intangible qualities that create value; it influences both how an organization functions and how it is perceived, internally and externally.
What about hospitals? A brand could create and foster relationships, and can forge long-term emotional bonds with patients and other stakeholders. Is time ripe in Italy?
Approach – Case studies research design to gain a picture of corporate brand communication in some Italian hospitals.
Findings – If and how brand can simplify decision making, represent an assurance of quality, and offer a relevant, different, and credible choice among competing offerings in Italy.
Research implications –The paper is to be considered a starting point for a wider investigation on this topic.
Practical implications or applications – The way of brand communication is implemented in some Italian hospitals. Useful for managers and practitioners who want to go through innovation in hospital communication management
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