Evidence-Based Medicine in Point-of-Care Testing

EBM offers fact-based support for medical decision-making, reducing subjectivity and practice variability

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. It is the integration of best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values. Best research evidence includes both clinically relevant studies and research in the basic sciences.

It is important that the practice of POCT is evidence-based. EBM offers fact-based support for medical decision-making, reducing subjectivity and practice variability. It is also important to separate the facts from conjecture when implementing and utilizing POCT devices, and to define the mechanisms and strategies for optimizing health outcomes.

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The Importance of Evidence-Based Medicine in Point-of-Care Testing

Source: Alere

CRE may be spreading more widely than previously thought

One family of superbugs, known as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae or CRE, may be spreading more widely than previously thought, according to a study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. In fact, transmission of these bacteria person-to-person may be occurring without symptoms, say the researchers, from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Broad Institute.

CRE, which tend to spread in hospitals and long-term care facilities, cause an estimated 9,300 infections and 600 deaths each year in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Drug-resistant superbug may be craftier, more widespread

Cource: CNN

New antibiotic for multidrug resistant gonorrhoeae

Scientists at the University of York have harnessed the therapeutic effects of carbon monoxide-releasing molecules to develop a new antibiotic which could be used to treat the sexually transmitted infection gonorrhoea.

The scientists found that Neisseria gonorrhoeae is more sensitive to CO-based toxicity than other model bacterial pathogens, and may serve as a viable candidate for antimicrobial therapy using CO-RMs. The CO molecule works by binding to the bacteria, preventing them from producing energy.

Professor Fairlamb added: "We think our study is an important breakthrough. It isn't the final drug yet but it is pretty close to it." "People might perceive Neisseria gonorrhoeae as a trivial bacterial infection, but the disease is becoming more dangerous and resistant to antibiotics."

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Scientists develop new antibiotic for gonorrhea

Source: Science Daily

Southeast Asian ovalocytosis

A 52-year-old Malaysian man, a 24-year-old sub-Saharan woman, and a 28-year-old Madagascan woman (who was heterozygous for hemoglobin S) were admitted to North Hospital in Marseilles, France. Blood tests using an Advia2120i hematology analyzer (Siemens) showed no or mild anemia (109-150 g/L), normal or high mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (339-364 g/L), and borderline or slightly high red cell distribution width (15%-19.2%).

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Incidental finding of 3 Southeast Asian ovalocytosis cases by attentive examination of blood smears

Source: Blood Journal

Webinar: Urine sediment microscopy

Webinar 11 January 2017: Comparing automated microscopy data to manual review

In this webinar, Dr. Michael Samoszuk will discuss the correlation between images of urine sediment particles captured on the iRICELL3000 and images viewed manually under the microscope using actual patient samples. Attendees will learn how these images compare and how automated microscopy helps to reduce user subjectivity in microscopy by standardizing the process.

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Webinar: Comparing Automated Microscopy Data to Manual Review

Source: Beckman Coulter, Inc.

Chemistry Graffiti

Wonderful street art in Sardinia

Vaccine-induced macrophages survive chemotherapy

Vaccine-induced macrophages open a new realm of study into remodeling the immune system to reduce the risk of infections during cancer treatment.

Chemotherapy wipes out cancerous cells and dividing normal cells alike, often particularly damaging those in bone marrow that produce white blood cells. As a patient’s immune system is weakened, even minor infections can become life-threatening. Researchers are exploring ways to circumvent this problem by “remodeling” the immune system prior to chemotherapy.

Unlike other immune cells, these vaccine-induced macrophages from a mouse’s lung manage to withstand chemotherapy treatment.

The future plan is to induce lung tissue [immune] remodeling to compensate for bone marrow suppression after chemotherapy.” Immunology researcher Sandro Vento of Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan pointed out in an email to The Scientist that the animal-model work is only preliminary.

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Newly Found White Blood Cell Withstands Chemotherapy

Source: The Scientist Magazine®