All articles by chris cox
chris cox
Urine test could detect blood clots
In October 2013, a study in the journal ACS Nano revealed that a simple urine test could detect dangerous blood clots.
Silicon membrane could help miniaturise diagnostic devices
Miniaturisation is critical in the diagnostic market, particularly as laboratory-scale processes are shrunk onto automated chip systems. That said, there are challenges en route such as the need for miniaturised electro-osmotic pumps (EOPs).
Global lab automation market poised to grow
The worldwide lab automation market is expected to reach $4.2 billion by 2017, according to a new report by Research and Markets.
Better allergy detection from Siemens
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics has announced improvements to its allergy-detecting systems, IMMULITE 2000 and IMMULITE 2000 XPi.
The jury’s out on new TB test
There is a new diagnostic test for tuberculosis, but, while it’s faster and more accurate than older methods, it may not make any difference to treatment outcomes, according to an early trial.
Obesity: a weighty issue
With 25% of the UK population now clinically obese, the burden of obesity on the NHS is growing larger. So how can the medical community tackle the hefty problem of expanding waistlines? NHS nurse consultant Debbie Cook and Professor David Haslam of the National Obesity Forum examine the causes, treatments and dire consequences – social, financial and physiological – of this problem.
Gone viral: controlling Clostridium difficile
With thousands of people dying from hospital-acquired infections every year, Nic Paton speaks to Dr Ruth M Carrico, associate professor with the University of Louisville School of Medicine, division of infectious diseases, about the prevalence of Clostridium difficile infections and how to reduce it.
At least one of these patients is infected
Healthcare-associated infections have been around ever since patients were first hospitalised; however, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control’s ‘Point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in European acute care hospitals 2011–2012’ supports the belief that they are now more prevalent than ever. Centre director Dr Marc Sprenger answers Practical Patient Care’s questions.
Take the pressure off: proper patient positioning
Any surgical operation comes with many risks, but the most overlooked are those complications that arise from improper positioning of the patient. From pressure sores due to poor mattress support through to nerve damage as a result of use of the wrong type of stirrup, such injuries must be prevented. Patient positioning and pressure management expert Dan Allen tells Nic Paton about the consequences and treatment of these issues.
Hypodermoclysis: trust in the old ways
Hypodermoclysis, a subtype of subcutaneous infusion, is a well-established method of fluid delivery, having been in use for over 100 years. Despite its documented benefits and some clinical care professionals strongly advocating its use, it has fallen out of favour in many quarters. Practical Patient Care speaks to palliative care nurse Cathy Mouchebeuf about the advantages of hypodermoclysis and why it should be used more often.