http://hdl.handle.net/10147/47785 Search the Channel search http://www.lenus.ie/hse/simple-search http://hdl.handle.net/10147/207009 Title: Communicable disease update ; vol.11 (1), February 2012<br/><br/>Authors: Health Service Executive (HSE) South East. Department of Public Health; Health Service Executive (HSE) South East. Department of Public Health Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/205336 Title: Health professionals provide feedback on a national pandemic flu website in Ireland.<br/><br/>Authors: Cooney, Fionnuala; Thornton, Lelia; Igoe, Derval; O’Flanagan, Darina<br/><br/>Description: Health professionals in Ireland were surveyed about their views on the information provided on pandemic flu on the website of Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) during the pandemic period in 2009. Respondents reported a high frequency of use of the HPSC website, with 69% of respondents using it at least once weekly during the pandemic period. The website was well regarded, with 70 – 80% of respondents rating its general aspects as either excellent or very good. There were differences in the ratings according to respondents’ area of work, with those in public health being the most satisfied, whilst those working in primary care being least so. The main difficulties with the website related to some aspects of the website layout and updating of information. The main areas for action for HPSC include: review of website functionality; establishment of user-feedback mechanisms and improvement in the co-ordination of national information resources. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/205309 Title: Blood-borne virus transmission in healthcare settings in Ireland: review of patient notification exercises 1997-2011.<br/><br/>Authors: Donohue, S; Thornton, L; Kelleher, K<br/><br/>Abstract: A review of patient notification exercises (PNEs) carried out in Ireland between 1997 and 2011 to investigate potential exposure to blood-borne viruses (BBVs) in healthcare settings was undertaken to inform future policy and practice. A questionnaire was sent to key informants in the health services to identify all relevant PNEs. Structured interviews were conducted with key investigators, and available documentation was examined. Ten BBV-related PNEs were identified. Despite testing over 2000 patients, only one case of transmission was found. However, in-depth local investigations before undertaking the PNEs identified six cases of healthcare-associated transmission. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/197281 Title: Infectious disease bulletin winter 2011<br/><br/>Authors: Health Service Executive (HSE), Departmet of Public Health, HSE East Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/192393 Title: Guidelines for the prevention of catheter-associated urinary tract infection<br/><br/>Authors: SARI; Health Service Executive (HSE) Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/190270 Title: Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival in rural Northwest Ireland: 17 years' experience.<br/><br/>Authors: Masterson, Siobhán; Wright, Peter; Dowling, John; Swann, David; Bury, Gerard; Murphy, Andrew<br/><br/>Abstract: SAVES, the name used to describe a register of survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), was established in rural Northwest Ireland in 1992. From 1992 to 2008, 80 survivors were identified (population 239,000 (2006)). Most incidents were witnessed (69/70) and all were in shockable rhythm at the time of first rhythm analysis (66/66). Of 66 patients who could be traced, 46 were alive in December 2008. Average survival rates appeared to increase over the lifetime of the database. SAVES has also contributed to the development of a national OHCA register. Thu, 28 Apr 2011 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/190151 Title: Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and resource implications of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in intensive care units in Ireland.<br/><br/>Authors: Nicolay, Nathalie; Callaghan, Michael A; Domegan, Lisa M; Oza, Ajay N; Marsh, Brian J; Flanagan, Paula C; Igoe, Derval M; O'Donnell, Joan M; O'Flanagan, Darina M; O'Hora, Aidan P<br/><br/>Abstract: To describe the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients in Ireland with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection, and to provide a dynamic assessment of the burden of such cases on Irish intensive care units.; Multicentre prospective observational study of all adult patients admitted to any of the 30 ICUs in the Republic of Ireland between 15 July 2009 and 30 May 2010.; Patient demographics, clinical characteristics and ICU mortality; ICU admissions, bed-days, bed occupancy rates and distribution.; Seventy-seven adult patients with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection were admitted to 27 of 30 Irish ICUs. The median age was 43 years (IQR, 30-56 years); 67 patients (88%) were aged under 65; 39 (51%) were male. Sixty-two patients (82%) had comorbid conditions, including obesity (36%), respiratory disease (34%) and malignancy or immunosuppression (20%). Eight (11%) were pregnant, and 27 (36%) were smokers. Sixty-seven patients were mechanically ventilated, 24 (32%) required renal replacement therapy, 39 (51%) received vasopressors and four (5%) received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Of 14 patients (18%) who died in the ICU, two had no pre-existing comorbidities. The ICU admission rate of patients with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection was 22.5/million population. A total of 1882 ICU bed-days (557.5 bed-days/million adult population) were consumed, equating to a 3.9% bed occupancy rate, with a peak of 14.0% in October 2009. Median length of stay was 12 days (IQR, 7-34 days).; The 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic was a significant burden on Irish ICUs, predominantly affecting the tertiary centres. The demographics and clinical characteristics were similar to those described in the southern hemisphere, suggesting such data may inform future resource planning for similar threats. Sun, 28 Nov 2010 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/189007 Title: A cost-utility analysis of adding a bivalent or quadrivalent HPV vaccine to the Irish cervical screening programme.<br/><br/>Authors: Dee, Anne; Howell, Fenton<br/><br/>Abstract: Cervical cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, and in Ireland it is the ninth most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Almost 100% of these cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Two newly developed vaccines against HPV infection have become available. This study is a cost-utility analysis of the HPV vaccine in Ireland, and it compares the cost-effectiveness profiles of the two vaccines.; A cost-utility analysis of the HPV vaccine in Ireland was performed using a Markov model. A cohort of screened and vaccinated women was compared with an unvaccinated screened cohort, and both cohorts were followed over their lifetimes. The model looked at uptake of services related to HPV disease in both cohorts. Outcomes were measured in quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Extensive sensitivity analysis was done.; For the base case analysis, the model showed that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for quadrivalent HPV vaccination would be 25,349 euros/QALY and 30,460 euros/QALY for the bivalent vaccine. The ICER for the quadrivalent vaccine ranged from 2877 euros to 36,548 euros, and for the bivalent from 3399 euros to 45,237 euros. At current prices, the bivalent vaccine would need to be 22% cheaper than the quadrivalent vaccine in order to have equivalent cost effectiveness.; HPV vaccination has the potential to be very cost effective in Ireland. The quadrivalent vaccine is more cost effective than the bivalent vaccine. Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/188911 Title: Communicable disease update ; November 2011<br/><br/>Authors: Health Service Executive (HSE) South East. Department of Public Health Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:58:59 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10147/146377 Title: A budget impact analysis of natalizumab use in Ireland.<br/><br/>Authors: Dee, A; Hutchinson, M; De La Harpe, D<br/><br/>Abstract: BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis is the commonest cause of disability in young Irish adults. Natalizumab reduces disability progression in those patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis who are suitable for it. First line disease modifying therapies are given in the community and are paid for by the hi-tech drug scheme. Natalizumab is given in hospital and is paid for from the hospital's budget. Access to natalizumab has been problematic in some Irish hospitals. A budget impact analysis was performed to look at the overall cost to the Health Service Executive of giving natalizumab. METHODS: A budget impact analysis was performed from the perspective of the Health Service Executive comparing the use of natalizumab with first line disease modifying therapies for 2009-2011. RESULTS: The study showed that currently, the use of natalizumab is likely to be cost saving to the Health Service Executive overall, because some of the costs for natalizumab are borne by private insurers, whereas, all of the costs of disease modifying therapies are borne by the Health Service Executive. CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of natalizumab is cost saving, current funding arrangements in the Health Service Executive do not allow for the transfer of money saved from drugs paid for in the hi-tech scheme, to hospitals who are supplying alternative treatments. Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:58:59 GMT