Variations in Neisseria meningitidis carriage by socioeconomic status: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Deprivation is associated with an increased risk of invasive Neisseria meningitidis disease, but little is known about the relationship between deprivation and asymptomatic carriage of N. meningitidis. This analysis was conducted to examine the relationship between meningococcal carriage and deprivation.

METHODS

As part of a rapid meningococcal carriage prevalence study conducted in West Cumbria to investigate an apparent cluster of invasive meningococcal disease, data were collected on lifestyle and social factors, including area-level indicators of socioeconomic status, to identify factors associated with meningococcal carriage.

RESULTS

In a multivariable log binomial regression model adjusted for age, lower socioeconomic status was significantly associated with higher prevalence of meningococcal carriage. A 1-unit increase in Index of Multiple Deprivation (2010) score was associated with a 1.7% increase in meningococcal carriage prevalence (95% confidence interval 0.3-3.0%). Age was the only significant predictor of carriage of Neisseria lactamica.

CONCLUSIONS

Living in a deprived area is associated with increased carriage of Group B meningococcus. Deprivation is an important factor to consider in the evaluation of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the introduction of new meningococcal B vaccines and the development and implementation of immunization policies. Further work is required to understand whether deprivation has an effect on meningococcal carriage through other factors such as smoking.

How death anxiety impacts nurses' caring for patients at the end of life: a review of literature

Nurses are frequently exposed to dying patients and death in the course of their work. This experience makes individuals conscious of their own mortality, often giving rise to anxiety and unease. Nurses who have a strong anxiety about death may be less comfortable providing nursing care for patients at the end of their life. This paper explores the literature on death anxiety and nurses’ attitudes to determine whether fear of death impacts on nurses’ caring for dying patients. Fifteen quantitative studies published between 1990 and 2012 exploring nurses’ own attitudes towards death were critically reviewed. Three key themes identified were: i). nurses’ level of death anxiety; ii). death anxiety and attitudes towards caring for the dying, and iii). death education was necessary for such emotional work. Based on quantitative surveys using valid instruments, results suggested that the level of death anxiety of nurses working in hospitals in general, oncology, renal, hospice care or in community services was not high. Some studies showed an inverse association between nurses’ attitude towards death and their attitude towards caring for dying patients. Younger nurses consistently reported stronger fear of death and more negative attitudes towards end-of-life patient care. Nurses need to be aware of their own beliefs. Studies from several countries showed that a worksite death education program could reduce death anxiety. This offers potential for improving nurses’ caring for patients at the end of their life.

Assessment of cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the membership examination of the Royal College of Physicians

The poor performance of doctors in cardiopulmonary resuscitation has been described in several studies. The problem has been addressed in the last few years by simplifying treatment algorithms, establishing standards of competence, and creating a training framework. Resuscitation skills are also assessed during formal examinations such as those for the membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP(UK)). In 1994 and 1996, we assessed the resuscitation skills of the candidates at our centre during the short-case section of the MRCP examination. With the correct preparation, there was no difficulty in carrying out detailed assessment of basic life support, defibrillation and advanced life support. This assessment was carried out separately from that of the examiners and did not interfere with the running of the short cases. The resuscitation skills of this small sample of an important group of doctors in training grades were unsatisfactory, and we suggest that more should be done to raise standards.