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Copyright of Épidémiologie et Santé Animale is the property of Association pour l'Etude de l'Epidemiologie des Maladies Animales (AEEMA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

[Display omitted] Infectious complications are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Specific infection control practices targeting this patient population are widely endorsed, but little guidance exists on how to implement and monitor compliance with these practices. At our institution, we increased compliance with infection control measures by using a bundled neutropenic precaution (NP) audit and feedback tool. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Jehovah's Witnesses are members of a religion that prohibits them from accepting blood product transfusions. This refusal makes them a particularly compelling population in the context of hematologic malignancies and stem cell transplantation, because blood product transfusions are a mainstay of supportive treatment. OBJECTIVES: This article presents preventive and supportive measures allowing Jehovah's Witness patients the opportunity to receive a stem cell transplantation without blood product transfusions. METHODS: A literature review was done that included evidence focusing on optimizing hematopoiesis, blood loss prevention, alterations in chemotherapy regimens, and implications for nursing practice. FINDINGS: With proper preventive and supportive care measures, Jehovah's Witness patients can receive stem cell transplantations for hematologic malignancies without blood product transfusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with myeloma are at risk for serious and life-threatening thromboembolic events because of their disease, individual risk factors, and antimyeloma or other medications. The International Myeloma Foundation's Nurse Leadership Board developed this consensus statement for assessment and prevention of thromboembolic events. Prophylactic measures are categorized as mechanical, regimen related, and antithrombotic drug, based on individual and myeloma-related risk factors. Aspirin is suggested for patients with no or one risk factor, low-molecular-weight heparin or full-dose warfarin for patients with two or more risk factors, and low-molecular-weight heparin or full-dose warfarin for all patients with therapy-related risks, including high-dose dexamethasone, doxorubicin, or multiagent chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infections cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. Nursing practices exist that are proven to reduce infections in this population, however compliance with them is not routinely monitored. A quality improvement project was designed to monitor compliance with established Neutropenic Precautions (NP-bundle) for inpatient neutropenic cancer patients on an Oncology Unit from July 2015 through September 2018. A novel auditing tool was developed which included a patient interview, observation, and evaluation of the environment. Audits were scored by the infection preventionist IP) for compliance. The project was organized into four time-periods: Baseline period: All audits performed by IP to determine feasibility and areas of focus. Phase I was educating staff and fixing gaps discovered in the baseline period. Unit nurses trained to perform all audits. Phase II, unit leadership engagement and enforcement of mandatory number of audits to add accountability of auditing frequency. Phase III was the Sustainment period with reduction in unit leadership involvement. Audit scores significantly increased between baseline period (mean= 60%) and Phase I (mean= 82%, p<0.0001 by t-test). Engagement of leadership during Phase II was associated with significant increases in both the number of audits performed as well as mean audit score (97%, p<0.001). The largest improvements were observed in patient knowledge around proper bathing product use, increasing from 20% at baseline to 94%; and patient-reported Hand Hygiene compliance, increasing from 0% to 97%. During Phase III (sustainment), audit volume declined though mean audit scores remained high (98%). We developed a novel tool to assess compliance with key elements of neutropenic precautions. Education and peer auditing was associated with improved compliance. Engagement of unit leadership and increasing audit volume correlated with further improvement with compliance, which was sustainable with less direct leadership involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the study of the urban heat island (UHI) in Echirolles and Grenoble (France, the eastern part of the alpine arc), two temperature measurement networks have been deployed. The aim is to measure the temperature gradients associated with the UHI in summer. A total of 62 measurement points has been installed in the various neighborhoods on 3-meter-high streetlights, starting in summer 2019. The preliminary classification of the different neighborhood typologies according to ``Local Climate Zone'' guided the choice of location for the temperature sensors. These urban observations respond to a dual challenge: firstly, to observe temperature located in complex topographical situations with valleys, and secondly, to observe the urban climate in neighborhoods where social considerations are important. Municipalities of Echirolles and Grenoble were involved in the investigation. The ADEME-funded (The French Agency for Ecological Transition) CASSANDRE research program analyzes and processes these observations to study the vulnerability of inhabitants to heat waves and more generally to summer heat stress., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a relapsing disease for many patients with multiple myeloma. At relapse, patients have many options for treatment once disease has progressed. Advanced practitioners are well suited to set expectations for ongoing therapy and underscore the importance of continued disease monitoring. Criteria for relapsed myeloma rely on biomarker and radiologic imaging, as well as physical exam and awareness of new bone pain or changes in physiologic function. The treatment of patients with relapsed MM requires a personalized approach and considers patient desires in regard to aggressiveness of therapy and willingness to participate in a clinical trial. The prognosis of patients with relapsed MM depends upon disease characteristics at baseline or throughout, as patients may acquire adverse cytogenetic abnormalities through various lines of treatment. Empowering patients to understand their diagnosis, interpret labs, and take an active role in treatment selection through shared decision-making can improve patients' quality of life and enhance adherence., Competing Interests: Dr. Faiman has served as a consultant for Bristol-Myers Squibb, GSK, Janssen, Karyopharm, Legend Biotech, Oncopeptides, Sanofi, and Takeda. Dr. Noonan and Ms. Rome have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (© 2022 Harborside™.)

The availability of a wide variety of treatments for multiple myeloma allows healthcare providers to tailor treatments to individual patient needs, and has enabled prolonged survival of patients with the disease. Improved understanding of the disease, its treatment options, and potential side effects of therapy has provided unique opportunities for oncology nurses to employ preventive approaches, care strategies, and patient and family education and support over time. Because therapies have been developed that prolong the survival time, people with multiple myeloma are in the position of living with the disease for many years. Additional challenges are presented as healthcare providers develop wellness and quality of life plans of care in the setting of multiple myeloma survivorship. This article will explore the diagnosis, treatment planning, and clinical management of patients with multiple myeloma.