nan Gualano

Use of self-medication among adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUNDnWe performed a systematic review and proportion meta-analysis in order to investigate the prevalence and the adverse effects of the self-medication among the teenagers.nnnMETHODSnWe selected observational studies published from January 1990 until January 2014 that examined the use of self-medication in the adolescents (aged from 13 to 18 years). Keywords used on PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge and Scopus were self medication, adolescent*, self prescription, over the counter preparations and self administration.nnnRESULTSnFinally, 15 articles met the inclusion criteria, for a total of 143 213 subjects involved. Overall, 50% of adolescents use to take drugs without consulting a physician. Further analyses stratified by number of drugs used demonstrated that in the studies reporting that adolescents use more than one type of drug the prevalence rises up to 63%. Only one study reported the possible adverse effects related to the inappropriate use of drugs, which were experienced by 31.1% of the females and 19.6% of the males.nnnCONCLUSIONSnSelf-medication use among adolescents is a widespread phenomenon. It would be advisable to give more attention on this public health concern and to promote initiatives, such as mass media campaigns and governmental actions, in order to make the citizens more aware to the risks related to the consumption of drugs without medical consultation. Further studies on adverse effects are urgently needed.

Microbiological contamination of radiological equipment

Background: Important changes have occurred in radiological departments (RDs) over the past 30 years. The procedures have become more complex and the number of patients has increased. This scenario could have important implications for public health and infection control but, to date, the scientific literature has dealt little with matters relating to microbiological monitoring in RDs. Purpose: To examine the level of microbiological contamination in the main RDs of Turin, a city in northern Italy, in order to analyze the presence of a possible biological risk. Material and Methods: We analyzed data from 12 RDs. Samples were taken from X-ray tubes, control panels, radiographic cassettes, and imaging plates. We used the French guidelines “Standards NF S 90--351” in order to obtain the threshold values of reference. Through a questionnaire we investigated the use of personal protective equipment by the chiefs of the RDs. Results: We found values out of limits in 41.7% of the X-ray tubes sampled, in 91.7% of the control panels and imaging plates, while only 8% of the radiographic cassettes were contaminated. A total of 58.3% of RDs reported values above the threshold for three out of four samples. In 16.7% of the RDs only one surface presented acceptable values. Conclusion: Healthcare-associated infections are a cogent issue for the RDs, and knowledge of how to prevent them is increasingly required by health professionals. This study is meant to be a first analysis of the issue that highlights the need of further investigations, maybe with a more detailed monitoring through the characterization of the microbial species involved. Moreover, the development of shared and maybe official standards for the evaluation of microbiological contamination in RDs is strongly suggested.

PIN82 THE APPLICATION OF HEALTH TECNOLOGY ASSESSMENT ON THE NEW PNEUMOCOCCAL NON-TYPEABLE HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE PROTEIN D CONJUGATE VACCINE IN ITALY

with penumococci, several boundaries and weaknesses in modeling occur: only steady state analysis possible; no dynamic implementation of herd immunity and replacement effects; and no influence of changing demographic structure over time Therefore a comparable ODE system was implemented and extended by population dynamics and splitting the pneumococcal serotypes in groups depending on their behavior depending on immunization. RESULTS: For standard immunization program implementation as advocated by EPAR/EMEA it was possible to reproduce the behaviour of the Markovian-Model with the ODE approach resulting in equivalent outcomes for validation. Using ODE approach extensions the influence of population dynamic effects with and without immunization is compared in detail. Using the mathematical theory for ODEs stability and uniqueness of the implemented approach was shown. CONCLUSIONS: The Markovian model can accurately describe the infection with pneumococcal bacteria if proper data exists and if there is no need to use dynamic effects or feedbackloops. The ODE model offers possibilities to implement additional dynamic methods, which is essential to gather the real world dynamics.