How does a chronic wound change a patient's social life? A European survey on social support and social participation

Chronic wounds can severely limit patient's social life. This cross-sectional study investigated quantitatively social support of patients with chronic wounds, its association with health-related quality of life as well as qualitatively changes in social participation of these patients. Overall, 263 patients from seven countries participated. The most frequent wound class was leg ulcer (49.2%). Results revealed generally high levels of social support (mean global score: 5.5) as measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. However, individuals differed considerably (range 1.0-7.0). All dimensions of social support differed by patients' family and living situations (p < 0.001 to p = 0.040) and were positively correlated with generic health-related quality of life (r = 0.136-0.172). Having children, living with others and being in a relationship were significant predictors of having higher global social support. Patients reported great support from family members. Many participants reported no changes in relationships with friends. Wound care managers took an important role and provided additional emotional support. Patients reported a range of discontinued activities. Despite the high overall level of social support, inter-individual differences should be acknowledged. The importance of family carers should be acknowledged to be able to reduce caregiver burden and to ensure high-qualitative wound care.

Emerging Wake-up Call before next Pandemics as Apart of Medicine and Technology: We terribly need Social and Healthcare Workers

Thousands of healthcare and social workers (HCSW) died or lost their ability to work in their field after Covid pandemics in all three waves, and thousands left their profession due to burnout syndrome. Despite development of vaccines took 6- 18 months and refreshment of old molecules for treatment weeks, many countries paid a very high price for this pandemics not due to lack of medications or ventilator assistance devices but due to the increasing lack of trained HCSW.

Fungal neuroinfections and fungaemia: unexpected increase of mortality from invasive fungal infections in 2005-2011 in comparison to 1989-1998: analysis of 210 cases

OBJECTIVE

In this short communication we compared the data of fungaemia cases in Slovak hospitals from 1989-1998 published in 1999-2000 with data from 2005-2011.

METHODS

Risk factors, etiology and outcome of fungaemia between two periods (1989-1998 vs. 2005-2011) were compared and risk factors for death assessed by univariate analysis (CDC 2006 Statistical Package).

RESULTS

In comparison to 1989-1998 when only amphotericin B and fluconazole has been used (55%), in 2005-2011 only 35.2% patients received FLU, but 26.4% received voriconazole, 22% caspofungin and anidulafungin and about 6.6% lipid formulations of Amphotericin B. In etiology, while in 1989-1998 only 37.1% (115/310) represented non-albicans Candida (NAC) and non-Candida yeasts in 2005-2011 already reached 63.7%. The significant increase of breakthrough fungaemia may be a sign of inappropriate empiric therapy.