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Competing Interests: Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt be- steht.

Increased awareness of the rising antimicrobial resistance problem and impending loss of suitable treatment options for infectious diseases have changed patient care. Antimicrobial/antibiotic stewardship (ABS) activities aiming to optimize antimicrobial treatment were specified in international (WHO, ECDC) and national programmes and evidence-based practice guidelines. In Germany, ABS in hospitals is enshrined in the Infection Protection Act §23 and in a national guideline. The position paper presents the goals and tasks of ABS as well as the necessary organisational and staff requirements.Qualified training and education, mandates and support from hospital directors, and the provision of sufficient resources are essential prerequisites for the successful work of the ABS team. The ABS team should work hospital-wide across clinical services. Their main tasks are developing and implementing an ABS programme tailored to local needs and the conditions of the hospital, taking into account anti-infective drug prescribing, the resistance situation and case mix. Their tasks also include drafting and implementing in-house recommendations for diagnosis, prophylaxis and treatment of important infectious diseases. The ABS team should be interdisciplinary and include specially qualified doctors and pharmacists. Doctors commissioned for ABS should support this team and take the department-specific concerns into account. The document specifies a minimum ABS staff of one full-time equivalent (FTE) per 500 beds. Depending on the case mix and specialties, additional staff may be required. It proposes that there should be 0.1 FTE doctors commissioned for ABS per 100 beds.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disorder which affects the respiratory system in the majority of the cases. Symptomatic cardiac manifestations are found in less than 10 % of the affected cohorts and show a large heterogeneity based on the ethnic background. Cardiac sarcoidosis is not only found in patients with rhythmogenic heart disease, such as atrial and ventricular fibrillation but also in all phenotypes of cardiomyopathy. The overall morbidity and mortality caused by cardiac sarcoidosis in Germany remains unclear and large prospective international observational studies.underline the importance of this disease entity. This consensus paper on diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for cardiac sarcoidosis is based on a current literature search and forms an expert opinion statement under the auspices of the German Respiratory Society and the German Cardiac Society. The rationale of this statement is to provide algorithms to facilitate clinical decision-making based on the individual case situation., Competing Interests: Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: Antihormonal and cytotoxic therapy options are available for the therapy of metastasized prostate cancer (mPC). Because no comparative studies are available, especially for castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRCP), it remains unclear which patients will profit best from which therapy., Objectives: Previous data on the sequence of the various therapy options show that correct selection of the first line therapy for mCRPC can have an influence on the prognosis of the patient. In this position paper the various therapy options are critically illustrated and the clinical and pathohistological criteria for selection of the first line therapy of mCRPC are discussed., Results: Molecular markers are an important aid for future patient selection and individualized therapy for optimal use of the available forms of therapy.

In October 2011 the Task Force Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of the Association for Neuropsychopharmacology and Pharmacopsychiatry (AGNP) published an update (Pharmacopsychiatry 2011, 44: 195-235) of the first version of the consensus paper on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) published in 2004. This article summarizes the essential statements to make them accessible to a wider readership in German speaking countries.

Background: Dementia is an increasing challenge for care providers in nursing homes and hospitals. Since the 1980s, special acute care units in nursing homes have developed rapidly. In Germany, the first unit in a hospital opened in 1990. In 2013, there were 22 units., Materials and Methods: In the following paper, the German Geriatric Society ("Deutsche Gesellschaft für Geriatrie e. V.") recommends basic standards for these wards., Results: The basic standards for these wards include the following: a maximum of 20 beds, an area physically separated from the geriatric hospital department, their own dayroom and therapy room, a structured daily routine suitable for patients with dementia, the selection of permanent staff on a voluntary basis, specialized training, extended geriatric assessment, and special consideration of the background and social situation of the patients.

In this first part of a 3-part discussion paper the working group "Qualitative Methods" in the German Network of Health Services Research (DNVF) identifies the potentials and opportunities qualitative research methods provide for health services research. Many research questions relevant for health services research require the use of qualitative methods. However, the potential of and need for qualitative research in health services research has not yet received sufficient attention from funding bodies. We discuss the applicability and importance of qualitative research for the field of health services research. We then move on to describe the key characteristics of qualitative research that need to be taken into account in health services research. We discuss characteristics such as open-ended (qualitative) data, interpretation of meanings, the search for contradictions, closeness to everyday life, openness towards change or modification of the research question and processes in the context of health services research. To ensure a high-quality approach in qualitative methods for the health services research, sufficient competency in methods and appropriate settings that account for the peculiarities of qualitative methods need to be developed. These include an appropriate time frame and sufficient and qualified personnel to conduct qualitative research. Qualitative research is not a research paradigm in itself rather it comprises of many different and diverging approaches. The goal of this paper is to show the diversity of qualitative research methods, its importance for health services research, and to open up the discussion on strategies for integrating qualitative methods into health services research., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

In Germany, there is currently no guideline for pain assessment in elderly people. Pain management in nursing home residents is, however, legally required. For this particular group, especially for people with dementia, suitable interdisciplinary orientations for health care are lacking in Germany. The working group "Pain and Age" of the German Pain Society ("Deutschen Schmerzgesellschaft") in conjunction with the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases ("Deutschen Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen"), Witten, has embarked on the development of interdisciplinary S3-Guideline for "Pain Assessment in Elderly People in Nursing Homes", based on the methodology suggested by the Association of the Scientific Medical Societies ("Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften e. V."), the German Agency for Quality in Medicine ("Ärztliche Zentrum für Qualität in der Medizin"), and that described in the DELBI ("Deutschen Leitlinien-Bewertungsinstrument"). Delegates of the 38 scientific societies and interest groups currently participating can contribute to the contents on three different levels. The present article outlines the methods for developing the guideline.

Background: This is the second part of a 3-part discussion paper by the working group on "Qualitative Methods" in the German network of health services research (DNVF) that shall contribute to the development of a memorandum concerning qualitative health services research. It aims to depict the different types of qualitative research that are conducted in health services research in Germany. In addition, the authors present a specific set of qualitative data collection and analysis tools to demonstrate the potential of qualitative research for health services research. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH - AN OVERVIEW: To give an overview of the types of qualitative research conducted in German health services research, the abstracts of the 8th German Conference on Health Services Research were filtered to identify qualitative or mixed-methods studies. These were then analysed by looking at the context which was studied, who was studied, the aims of the studies, and what type of methods were used. Those methods that were mentioned most often for data collection and analysis are described in detail. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH AT THE CONFERENCE FOR HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH 2009: Approximately a fifth of all abstracts (n=74) had a qualitative (n=47) or a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods (n=27). Research aims included needs assessment (41%), survey development (36%), evaluation (22%), and theorizing (1%). Data collection mostly consisted of one-on-one interviews (n=45) and group discussions (n=29). Qualitative content analysis was named in 35 abstracts, 30 abstracts did not reference their method of analysis. In addition to a quantitative summary of the abstract findings, the diversity of fields addressed by qualitative methods is highlighted., Conclusion: Although drawing conclusions on the use of qualitative methods in German health services research from the analysis of conference abstracts is not possible, the overview we present demonstrates the diversity of methods used for data collection and analysis and showed that a few select methods are extensively used. One of the tasks a memorandum of qualitative health services research should accomplish is to highlight underutilized research methods, which may help to develop the potential of qualitative methodology in German health services research., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

The advances in intensive and critical care medicine have not only improved the prognosis of patients with acute respiratory failure but have also increased the number of ventilator-dependent patients. The continuously increasing number of patients, the differentiation of care-giving institutions and the technical progress make it necessary to re-evaluate the quality of health care in weaning centres and outpatient care of patients on long-term ventilation. Therefore, the German medical associations of pneumology and ventilatory support, "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin e. V." and the "Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Heimbeatmung und Respiratorentwöhnung e. V.", wish to present this actual position paper. However, scientific guidelines are in preparation.

Due to elevated intravesical storage pressures, neurogenic bladder dysfunction carries a high risk of renal damage. Thus, the goals of neurourologic treatment are reduction of intravesical storage pressure and intermittent bladder emptying in order to protect renal function and to achieve continence. If anticholinergic medication is either ineffective or intolerable, several open and controlled studies showed that the injection of botulinum toxin A into the detrusor muscle is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective treatment option. These studies demonstrated an effective reduction of storage pressures and a significant increase in bladder capacity. The effect has been shown to last up to a year. As this treatment is not approved by European administrations, botulinum toxin A treatment fulfills all criteria for "justified off-label use." The reduction of intravesical storage pressure leads to an improvement of life expectancy due to upper urinary tract protection. Furthermore, quality of life can be improved by low incidence of urinary tract infections, secure continence, and physiologic catheterization intervals.

5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) and steroids constitute a cornerstone of medical therapy in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Whereas the efficacy of 5-ASA in Crohn's disease (CD) is equivocal, ulcerative colitis (UC) is the main indication for this drug. In UC, 5-ASA is effective in the treatment of mild to moderate acute disease and in maintenance of remission. Furthermore, 5-ASA topical therapy is an important treatment option in patients with mild to moderate proctitis and/or left-sided UC and shows additive efficacy to oral therapy. From retrospective data a chemo-preventative activity of long-term 5-ASA therapy in UC is delineated. Steroids are treatment of first choice for moderate to severe cases of CD and UC. Budesonide, a modified steroid with less side effects, plays a major role in the treatment of ileocolonic CD +/- involvement of the right colon and is used as treatment of choice in mild-to-moderate cases. In case of acute, severe disease conventional steroids are superior compared to budesonide and therefore budesonide should only be used after considerable improvement of disease activity. The necessity to apply steroids in a given patient represents a negative prognostic indicator for the course of disease and should incite the early introduction of immunosuppressive therapy in this case. Steroids are only effective as short term therapy of IBD and are to be avoided for maintenance treatment. In all cases of steroid therapy an osteoporosis prophylaxis with calcium and vitamin D is recommended. Topical steroid treatment is less effective in left-sided UC compared to 5-ASA.

In Germany, the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) develops recommendations on vaccinations and other measures of specific prophylaxis against communicable diseases. Myths, wrong assumptions, and conspiracy theories are able to disturb the implementation of vaccination recommendations. Evidence and transparency of recommendations are needed to rationalize the discussion.In November 2011, STIKO adopted a new standard operating procedure (SOP) for the development of evidence-based vaccination recommendations. Following guidance provided by the SOP, a number of new vaccination recommendations have been developed since 2011. Furthermore, existing recommendations were revised or extended accordingly. This article provides an overview on the methodology of the SOP, describes experiences made so far, and characterizes future challenges.

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a standardized language of almost 1500 ICF categories for coding information about functioning and contextual factors. Short lists (ICF Core Sets) are helpful tools to support the implementation of the ICF in clinical routine. In this paper we report on the implementation of ICF Core Sets in clinical routine using the "ICF Core Sets for Hand Conditions" and the "Lighthouse Project Hand" as an example. Based on the ICF categories of the "Brief ICF Core Set for Hand Conditions", the ICF-based assessment tool (ICF Hand A ) was developed aiming to guide the assessment and treatment of patients with injuries and diseases located at the hand. The ICF Hand A facilitates the standardized assessment of functioning - taking into consideration of a holistic view of the patients - along the continuum of care ranging from acute care to rehabilitation and return to work. Reference points for the assessment of the ICF Hand A are determined in treatment guidelines for selected injuries and diseases of the hand along with recommendations for acute treatment and care, procedures and interventions of subsequent treatment and rehabilitation. The assessment of the ICF Hand A according to the defined reference points can be done using electronic clinical assessment tools and allows for an automatic generation of a timely medical report of a patient's functioning. In the future, the ICF Hand A can be used to inform the coding of functioning in ICD-11.

Considering the physiological contamination of skin and mucous membranes in the ear, nose, and throat region by facultative pathogen microorganisms, as well as the increase in multidrug resistant organisms (MDRO), it is mandatory that hygienic procedures be observed in ENT institutions, in order to prevent transmission of bacteria and infections in patients. General guidelines for hygiene in otorhinolaryngology are presented based on the recommendations published by the German Commission on Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO). These encompass hand hygiene, surface disinfection, and reprocessing of medical devices. The correct reprocessing of the various components of ENT treatment units (including endoscopes, water bearing systems) is reported. Although law requires and KRINKO recommends that manufacturers of medical devices publish instructions for reprocessing their products, these reprocessing recommendations are often insufficient. Manufacturers should thus be called upon to improve their recommendations. In this paper, the requirements for handling of ENT treatment units are compared with the observations made by the Public Health Department in 7 ENT clinics and 32 ENT practices in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, in 2014.

Background: The primary vasculitides are rare conditions in childhood. The most common disease subtypes are Schönlein-Henoch purpura and Kawasaki's syndrome, which frequently have a self-limiting course. In the majority of vasculitides, the etiology remains unknown. Environmental exposure, including infections, is suspected to trigger an autoinflammatory response in predisposed individuals., Goal: The aim of this review is to present the various aspects of childhood vasculitis., Materials and Methods: Reviews and special original papers on childhood vasculitis, published classification criteria and current therapy guidelines were reviewed and summarized., Results: The classification of vasculitides in childhood has been modified from the previous adult Chapel Hill classification for vasculitides in 2008. Most therapy recommendations for children are adapted from results of studies in adults. This review covers the current classifications, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and therapy recommendations for children., Discussion: Although etiology and pathogenesis of many vasculitides in childhood are still unknown, clarifying diagnostic methods and effective therapeutic options are available. The knowledge about various forms of disease manifestation may contribute to an early diagnosis and timely initiation of treatment, which may prevent devastating irreversible impairment.

Background: In Germany there are 5000 to 7000 new cases of atraumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head in adults per year. It occurs mostly in middle age. An increased frequency of idiopathic cases can be observed. Chemotherapy, corticoids and kidney transplants are frequently associated with the disease. In most cases the disease occurs on both sides. Early diagnosis is of particular importance, since in early stages it is most likely to avoid late damage with joint destruction. Whereas previously the temporary operational joint preservation and subsequent joint replacement were often the only option of treatment, conservative and joint-preserving measures today play an increasing role., Material and Methods: After the AWMF guidelines for S3 guideline clinical questions were formulated. Over the period from 01/01/1970 to 31/05/2013 a literature search was conducted. Systematic reviews, metaanalyses, original papers and clinical trials of all designs were evaluated. There were a total of 3715 references, of which 422 for the assessment regarding SIGN were eligible and finally 180 were in accord with the defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. For the untreated course and the assessment of conservative measures, a total of 42 references was suitable. In formulating the recommendations the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system was used, which distinguishes A "shall", B "should" and 0 "can"., Results and Conclusion: If left untreated, the aFKN within 2 years leads to a subchondral fracture and subsequent collapse. After the diagnosis of femoral head necrosis, the risk of a disease of the opposite side is high within the next 2 years, then unlikely. The sole conservative treatment brings no benefit for the treatment of atraumatic avascular necrosis in the adult. Although it improves function, less pain can be obtained, and surgical intervention can be delayed, the progression is not stopped. Conservative treatment must therefore always be part of the overall treatment. In ARCO stage I to II Iloprost may be considered as a pharmacological approach to reduce the pain and the bone marrow oedema. This also applies to alendronate. Since this is an off-label use, and thus a therapeutic trial, an appropriate patient education must take place. For the use of anticoagulants and statins, there is no recommendation. Also the hyperbaric oxygen therapy, shock waves and pulsating electromagnetic fields or electrical stimulation cannot be recommended., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Introduction: An extensive user survey was conducted in the context of updating the Classification of Therapeutic Procedures (KTL 2015). This paper reflects the results of the user survey and raises critical discussion points., Methods: The user survey was sent to all rehabilitation centers contracted by the German pension insurance as well as professional associations. The user survey was available both as a paper questionnaire and as an online version. The feedback of the user survey provided an important basis for the revision of the KTL., Result: The survey yielded 1,868 suggestions from 360 users. Most of them related to chapters E ("occupational therapy, work therapy, other functional therapy") and C ("information, motivation, training"). The change from German diplomas to the international Bachelor's and Master's degrees, and the inclusion of diagnostic and work-related procedures were the main focus of the user feedback., Conclusion: For the revision of the KTL, the user survey provided valuable information. Only by the inclusion of practitioners can the KTL meet the requirements of realistic and comprehensive acquisition of data on therapeutic procedures also in future., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: Psoriasis is associated with an increased rate of comorbidities, whose early detection has been adopted into the national healthcare goals. To date, agreed recommendations on early detection in the context of routine dermatological care are missing. The objective of this study was the interdisciplinary development of screening algorithms., Methods: The development of the consensus paper was based on a three-step process. First, the National Conference on Healthcare in Psoriasis, convening on behalf of the German Society of Dermatology (DDG) and the Professional Association of German Dermatologists (BVDD), developed a definition of the requirements, areas of application, conception, and methodology of a screening tool. Secondly, based on a literature search, individual working groups compiled evidence for the use of screening parameters. In a third step, an interdisciplinary working group adopted the algorithms in a Delphi consensus process., Results: The associated working groups evaluated more than 2,000 publications on 15 different comorbidities. A screening algorithm was agreed on for the following twelve indications: arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, depression, nicotine abuse, alcohol abuse, chronic inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis arthritis, and malignant lymphoma. In this context, the requirements of everyday dermatological care were addressed in particular., Conclusions: With respect to screening for comorbidities in psoriasis, standardized and consented algorithms are available, which - on national level - may be implemented as a screening tool within the framework of PsoNet - German Psoriasis Networks., (© 2015 Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft (DDG). Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) is a structured and standardized instrument to improve the quality of long-term care. It is based on the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 to generate clinical data for nursing planning. Further practical applications are calculation of the costs of nursing care (using a classification of residents), measurement and transparency of nursing home quality (using quality indicators) and epidemiological surveys (using uniform data from assessments). The RAI is used nationwide in the USA, to some extent in other countries and in Germany predominantly in the context of research. The paper briefly describes the historical development of the different RAI variations (particularly with respect to the MDS), presents the central utilization options and ends with a critical discussion of possibilities and limits of the RAI.

An integral part of the conformity assessment process for medical devices is a clinical evaluation based on clinical data. Particularly in the case of implantable devices and products of risk class III clinical trials must be performed. Since March 2010 applications for the authorization of clinical trials as well as for the waiver of the authorization requirement must be submitted centrally in Germany to the appropriate federal authority, the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM) or the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI). In addition to authorization, approval by the responsible ethics committee is also required under law in order to begin clinical testing of medical devices in Germany. In this paper, the legal framework for the clinical testing of medical devices as well as those involved and possible procedures including evaluation criteria for the initial application of a trial and subsequent amendments are presented in detail. In addition, the reporting requirements for serious adverse events (SAEs) are explained and possible consequences of the evaluation are presented. Finally, a summary of application and registration numbers for all areas of extensive experience of the BfArM as well as requests and guidance for applicants are presented.

Surgical aortic valve replacement is still considered the first-line treatment for patients suffering from severe aortic valve stenosis. In recent years, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has emerged as an alternative for selected high-risk patients. According to the latest results of the German external quality assurance program, mandatory by law, the initially very high mortality and procedural morbidity have now decreased to approximately 6 and 12%, respectively. Especially in Germany, the number of patients treated by TAVI has increased exponentially. In 2013, a total of 10.602 TAVI procedures were performed. TAVI is claimed to be minimally invasive. This is true concerning the access, but it does not describe the genuine complexity of the procedure, defined by the close neighborhood of the aortic valve to delicate intracardiac structures. Hence, significant numbers of life-threatening complications may occur and have been reported. Owing to the complexity of TAVI, there is a unanimous concordance between cardiologists and cardiac surgeons in the Western world demanding a close heart team approach for patient selection, intervention, handling of complications, and pre- as well as postprocedural care, respectively. The prerequisite is that TAVI should not be performed in centers with no cardiac surgery on site. This is emphasized in all international joint guidelines and expert consensus statements. Today, a small number of patients undergo TAVI procedures in German hospitals without a department of cardiac surgery on site. To be noted, most of these hospitals perform less than 20 cases per year. Recently, the German Cardiac Society (DGK) published a position paper supporting this practice pattern. Contrary to this statement and concerned about the safety of patients treated this way, the German Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (DGTHG) still fully endorses the European (ESC/EACTS) and other actual international guidelines and consensus statements. Only the concomitance of departments for cardiac surgery and cardiology on site can provide optimal TAVI care. This commentary by the DGTHG delineates the data and resources upon which its opinion is based., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Clearance monitor systems are used for gross gamma measurements of waste potentially contaminated with radioactivity. These measurements are to make sure that legal requirements, e.g. clearance criteria according to the german radiation protection ordinance, are met. This means that measurement results may overestimate, but must not underestimate the true values. This paper describes a pragmatic way using a calibrated Cs-137 point source to generate a conservative calibration for the clearance monitor system used in the Medizinische Hochschule Hannover (MHH). The most important nuclides used in nuclear medicine are considered. The measurement result reliably overestimates the true value of the activity present in the waste. The calibration is compliant with the demands for conservativity and traceability to national standards., (Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier GmbH.)

Due to economic considerations and thanks to technological advances there is a growing interest in the integration of teleradiological applications into the regular radiological workflow. The legal and technical hurdles which are still to be overcome are being discussed in politics as well as by national and international radiological societies. The European Commission as well as the German Federal Ministry of Health placed a focus on telemedicine with their recent eHealth initiatives. The European Society of Radiology (ESR) recently published a white paper on teleradiology. In Germany §3 section 4 of the Röntgenverordnung (RöV, X-ray regulations) and DIN 6868-159 set a framework in which teleradiology can also be used for primary reads. These possibilities are already being used by various networks and some commercial providers across Germany. With regards to cross-border teleradiology, which currently stands in contrast to the RöV, many issues remain unsolved.

Personal contextual factors play an essential part in the model of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). The WHO has not yet classified personal factors for global use although they impact on the functioning of persons positively or negatively. In 2010, the ICF working group of the German Society of Social Medicine and Prevention (DGSMP) presented a proposal for the classification of personal factors into 72 categories previously arranged in 6 chapters. Now a positioning paper has been added in order to stimulate a discussion about the fourth component of the ICF, to contribute towards a broader and common understanding about the nature of personal factors and to incite a dialogue among all those involved in health care as well as those people with or with-out health problems in order to gain a comprehensive perspective about a person's condition., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Sarcoidosis is a multisystemic granulomatous disorder which affects the respiratory system in the majority of the cases. Cardiac manifestations are found in up to 10 % of the affected cohort and show a large heterogeneity based on the ethnic background. Cardiac sarcoidosis are not only found in patients with rhythmogenic heart disease such as atrial and ventricular fibrillation but also in all phenotypes of cardiomyopathies. The overall morbidity and mortality caused by cardiac sarcoidois in Germany is unclear and no large prospective international studies are published on this topic. This consensus paper on diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms in cardiac sarcoidosis is based on a current literature search and forms a expert opinion statement under the hospices of the "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pneumologie" and "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kardiologie". It is the rationale of this statement to offer algorithms to facilitate clinical decision-making based on the individual case., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Patients with chronic widespread pain often present with musculo-skeletal pain and therefore often initially contact an orthopaedist. For these patients fibromyalgia syndrome is an important differential diagnosis. Recommendations for the diagnosis of and therapy for fibromyalgia syndrome based on the recent German S3 guidelines for fibromyalgia syndrome (AWMF registration number 041/004) are outlined in this paper. These guidelines were developed under the coordination of the German interdisciplinary association for pain management DIVS and two patient support groups. The history of a typical symptom complex and the exclusion of relevant somatic causes for the pain are epecially relevant for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome. Besides the exclusion of relevant orthopaedic causes for the pain, psycho-social aspects should always be evaluated. According to the modified ACR criteria 2010, chronic widespread pain and accompanying sleep disturbances and a physical as well as mental state of exhaustion lead to the diagnosis of fibromyalgia syndrome. It is not mandatory to check tender points (ACR 1990 criteria). A graduated treatment approach depending on the severity level of the fibromyalgia syndrome in the individual patient is recommended. Active treatment options (aerobic training, meditative movement therapies, strength training) should be preferred to any drug therapy in the long-term treatment of fibromyalgia. If indicated, amitryptiline or duloxetine may be used to treat accompanying depressive or generalised anxiety disorder. Muscle relaxant medication, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and strong opioids should be avoided. The multimodal pain therapy considering all psycho-social aspects is a promising treatment option for fibromyalgia syndrome of moderate to high severity., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: Patient education is an essential part in the treatment of coronary heart disease in medical rehabilitation. In the German-speaking area, no standardized and evaluated patient education program for coronary heart disease is available so far. In this paper, we demonstrate the development of a quality assured patient education program based on a health-education program of the German statutory pension insurance scheme., Methods: In a multi-level approach, an existing program was modified concerning treatment evidence, practical guidelines, theories of health and illness behavior and quality criteria for patient education as well as clinical experience and thereafter manualized. In a formative evaluation, feasibility and patient acceptance of this modified program were assessed using evaluation questionnaires of patients and trainers. Afterwards, effects of the patient education program as compared to a traditional education program were assessed on a short-term (at discharge), medium-term (6-month follow-up) and long-term (12-month follow-up) basis in a multicenter quasi-experimental control group study of patients with coronary heart disease (n=434)., Results: Results of the formative evaluation demonstrate an overall good acceptance and a good feasibility of the manualized program. Short-term results show a significant small treatment effect in the primary outcome variable patients' knowledge (p=0.001, η2 =0.028). Furthermore, small effects were also observed among some secondary outcomes, such as attitude towards medication, planning of physical activity, psychological quality of life and satisfaction with the education program., Conclusion: A standardized education program for patients with coronary heart disease has been developed in a systematic process based on established quality standards. Depending on the outstanding medium and long-term effects, the program may be recommended for general use in medical rehabilitation. The manual provides the prerequisites allowing for a successful transfer into clinical practice., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

Background: For expert opinions on mesopic and contrast vision as stipulated in the recent version of the German driving licence regulations (2011), a standardised implementation of the relevant test method is crucial. DIN 58220, part 7, regulates the assessment of mesopic vision and the required parameters of evaluation are guaranteed by the respective test instruments. Because no standard exists for photopic contrast vision, it is recommended that it conform to that of DIN EN ISO 8596 for visual acuity. For test equipment with integrated viewing fields, the application of such tests may not be difficult. But if visual charts are used the question of standardised illumination arises. The present paper investigates this question when using the Mars Letter Contrast Sensitivity Test in the light of the recommendations by the producer to use a desk lamp for illumination., Methods: The Mars Chart was illuminated by three different commercially available desk lights from different directions at a distance of 50 cm, which is the test distance recommended by the producer. The luminance distribution was measured on the chart at twelve equally distributed test points., Results: For all conditions, the asymmetric illumination produced by a single light source leads to an extremely inhomogeneous luminance distribution over the chart. Adherence to the tolerance ranges for brightness, as well as the homogeneity of illumination from such light sources is left to chance and a subjective judgment of both parameters is not adequate., Conclusion: Illumination of the Mars Chart with a desk light only does not necessarily satisfy the requirement of reproducible test conditions that is mandatory for expert evaluations. For comparable test outcomes for contrast vision, illumination devices that produce a uniform illumination should be employed., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

This review is intended to give supportive information for beginners in contact lens fitting who are interested in providing a quality-related service to customers and patients. In Germany the proportion of contact lens wearers is significantly lower than in most other countries; therefore, there is a potentially fast growing market. The aim of this paper is to provide comprehensive guidelines for practitioners to develop and improve contact lens fitting practice and minimize unnecessary or preventable complications. The fundamental requirement for starting in contact lens fitting is to have correct education in the field and for the practice to be appropriately equipped. The key to providing a safe a reliable contact lens fitting practice is to continually update knowledge in the field and to maintain the practice to the highest professional standards.

The growing number of revisions in orthopaedic surgery as well as the multifactorial reasons for implant failure give cause for taking a closer look at the clinical documentation of adverse events. Based on our long-term experience it is our goal to present recommendations for an adequate documentation and filing. In the framework of the introduction of a quality management system (ISO 9001:2008) in our hospital, a process was developed for reportable incidents with medical devices regulating adequate documentation. Therefore, specific forms were developed. The retrievals are stored for subsequent damage analyses and are available for possible legal claims and tracking. A file should be opened for each reportable incident containing information about the event, a copy of the obligatory BfArM report, surgery report, medical device labels, radiographs and photographs. Declarations of agreement as well as handover certificates should be maintained in order to keep record of the retrievals. In order to assure consistent documentation, we recommend use of specific forms as presented in this paper. Identification of risk factors for implant failure and a long-term reduction of damage cases will only be possible under consequent incident reporting and responsible documentation of adverse events. Processing of cases of damage is accelerated and simplified by the presented recommendations and forms. Together with the newly established joint replacement registry, a higher quality of patient treatment and implant safety should be obtained., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

This paper presents the recommendations compiled by the German Electric Response Audiometry Working Group (Arbeitsgruppe Elektrische Reaktions-Audiometrie, AGERA) and the Association of German Audiologists and Neuro-otologists (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutschsprachiger Audiologen und Neurootologen, ADANO) for infants that fail newborn hearing screening (NHS) tests. Outlined are procedures for follow-up diagnosis using objective hearing tests to rule out or confirm a therapeutically relevant auditory defect and assessment of the severity thereof.

This paper summarizes the results of a systematic literature search on three widely used psychosocial interventions for people with severe mental illness: psychoeducation for patients and relatives, social skill training and physical exercise. Based on this evidence, recommendations given in the S3 guidelines on psychosocial therapies in severe mental illness of the German Society for Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Neurology (DGPPN) will be reported. Areas of future research are identified.

Psychiatric care for severe and persistent mentally ill individuals has considerably changed over the last three decades. Striving for improvement in services provision for these patients has led to the emergence of various specialized community services, suited housing and supported work offers. Moreover, community-based treatment is also offered during acute episodes of mental illness. At the same time a range of evidence-based psychotherapeutic approaches targeting treatment needs of people with severe mental illness were developed in a process independent of the rise of community psychiatry. At present, however, a sufficient level of coordination of psychiatric services and integration of evidence-based psychological treatment into psychiatric care has not been achieved. Thus, these issues represent important steps in the further development.This paper discusses recent developments in psychiatric care of people with severe mental illness and reviews the evidence-based psychotherapy approaches suited to fit the needs of patient-centered integrated care.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of hereditary retinal disorders, being one of the most common types of retinal degeneration with a prevalence of 1:4,000. More than 45 genes have so far been associated with RP and defects cause a progressive loss of rod photoreceptor function, followed by cone photoreceptor dysfunction often leading to complete blindness. Enormous progress has been made in research in recent years and the new therapeutic approaches are promising. Furthermore, with the help of improved molecular genetic and functional diagnostic tools an early recognition and differentiation has become possible. However, at present no established therapy is available, therefore, social and professional consequences are essential tasks to deal with. This paper summarizes the basic principles of retinal pathophysiology, clinical findings, diagnostics and therapeutic perspectives, furthermore, the implications for general ophthalmologists are provided.

In Germany, palliative care has developed rapidly since the establishment of the first palliative care unit in 1983. More improvements in patient-centered care are only possible if legal requirements as well as education of physicians, nurses, and other professionals involved in palliative care are adapted to current needs. This paper provides an overview of legal and regulatory requirements including a critical appreciation of their influence on palliative care in Germany. Only recently has medical education in palliative medicine been implemented as an integral part of medical studies at German universities. Starting in 2014, physicians applying for a license to practice medicine will have to provide a certificate of basic training in this field. The challenge in upcoming years will be the establishment and enhancement of comprehensive, standardized, and quality-controlled education at the universities. Only six universities have established chairs for palliative medicine, and it will be essential to not only establish more chairs but also to involve medical students in the development of the education. Only minimal requirements are specified for education of nurses in palliative care in the legislation. However, standardized and quality-controlled advanced training courses are available. This training is frequently requested as a prerequisite for nurses working in palliative care. Only limited education programs exist for other professional groups that are an important part of the palliative care team. In addition to the development of palliative care for inpatients with an increasing number of palliative care units, hospices, and first chairs of palliative medicine, different forms of ambulant palliative care services have been developed. Changes in the legislation have influenced the situation for home care enormously in the last 5 years, also making it more complex. With the Law for the Consolidation of the Competition in Compulsory Health Insurance ("Gesetz zur Stärkung des Wettbewerbs in der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung"), a legal claim for palliative home care has been implemented in the fifth book of the social law in 2007. The ambitious goal of full coverage with comprehensive palliative home care has still not been achieved in most locations. However, after initial negotiation difficulties between palliative care providers and health insurance funds, an increasing number of contracts have been made. As a consequence-in addition to more than 240 palliative care units in Germany-more than one hundred palliative care teams have begun work in the field of specialized palliative home care. Legal regulations for the supply of opioids and other medications for the treatment of patients at home have been adapted recently, thus, facilitating fast and comprehensive medical treatment in emergency situations. Overall, the legislation has been adapted significantly, hence, contributing to improvements for patients requiring palliative care. It remains to be seen whether additional adjustments are required in the future.

Monitoring and quality assurance are gaining in importance for the identification of needs and the effectiveness of prevention and health promotion activities. This paper presents examples of activities of monitoring and quality assurance at the federal level, carried out by the Federal Centre for Health Education and the Robert Koch Institute. Examples include the prevention issues "HIV/AIDS", "nutrition and physical activity" and "child health". They illustrate the roles of epidemiological surveillance, health monitoring, evaluation, and intervention reporting. The Robert Koch Institute and the Federal Centre for Health Education provide complementary information on health and intervention reporting at the federal level. With their reports, they provide essential information for health policy to formulate, to implement and to evaluate evidence-based national health goals and action plans.