FEATURE ARTICLES

Women with long term conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome are often left feeling abandoned and alone. Our healthcare system could do so much more to recognise – and therefore mitigate – their suffering. Dr. Anne Connolly discusses the latest advances in diagnosis and the need for better guidance.

Walter Danker & Gerard Llanos discuss the burden of surgical bleeding, the importance of haemostatic agents and how management of surgical bleeding can be improved.

Dr. Jonathan Byrne, UK Lead of the UK’s Valve for Life programme and a Consultant Cardiologist at King’s College Hospital, warns that heart disease is frequently underestimated and misdiagnosed in women. In this article, he highlights the key issues and the gender disparities in UK heart care services.

There is a need for targeted, fast and reliable diagnostics at the point of patient care to identify curable precancerous disease stages that enable timely treatment and better patient outcomes for patients with gastric cancer. Dr. Cinzia Papadia, a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Barts Health NHS Trust and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Queen Mary University of London, discusses the use of a first-line case selection tool for gastric cancer risk.

More than 39 million deaths from antibiotic-resistant infections are predicted between now and 2050, according to the latest analysis. This month, World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week seeks to raise awareness of this existential threat to humankind. So, what action must be taken on a national and global level?

Peter Søgaard considers how digital technology could be harnessed to reduce admissions and improve rehabilitation, with the aim of providing improved patient care and reduced pressures on the acute sector.

Gloves are commonly over-used in healthcare settings, and an incorrect choice of gloves can result in important consequences, such as increased risk of cross-transmission, exposure of healthcare providers to increased risk, or increased cost and waste. Jon Otter highlights some key considerations and best practice to ensure optimum safety.

Dr. Tim Sandle discusses some of the common issues encountered in the sterilisation of surgical instruments, using autoclave technologies. He argues that to make a thorough evaluation of sterilisation, reliance cannot be restricted to chemical or biological indicators, and a complete understanding of hazards and physical operating parameters is required.

The biggest changes in decades, affecting the decontamination sector, will be revealed and explored at this year’s IDSc annual conference – from the latest plans for registration to a new competency framework. IDSc Chair, Trevor Garcia explains why attending this year’s event is so important.

Experts at the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) conference discussed the scale of the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis, hidden ways in which healthcare is contributing to the problem, and actions that could be taken. Louise Frampton reports on the issues raised, as part of CSJ’s focus on World AMR Awareness Week, taking place 18-24 November.

Examination gloves are a critical tool in mitigating the risk of healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and preventing cross-contamination. ARKA highlights the latest insights into the vital role they have in maximising safety.

Kate Woodhead considers the actions needed to tackle an uneven playing field in health and to shift the emphasis on to prevention. She looks at some of the key ambitions that have been outlined by NHSE, the Government and Integrated Care Boards, to tackle health inequalities.

Daan Hoek examines the impact of UV-C light technology in ultrasound probe reprocessing, focusing on how it enhances patient and staff safety. He explains how it contributes to more effective infection control measures, while providing a balance between compliance and sustainability.

Despite the well-documented relationship between microbiological air quality and deep infection rates in joint replacement surgery, routine monitoring of operating theatres during use is still not standard practice. Wan Li Low provides an insight into a pilot study and national audit on air quality in operating theatres, and considers the best approach to drive improvement.

Sandra Quinn, Project Lead for Surgical Site Infection Surveillance, at the York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, examines the rise in Caesarean births, why Caesarean section SSIs are common, and considers some measures which could help reduce infection rates.

There is an increasing focus on the need to address the infection risk posed by bioaerosols in healthcare settings. Sanathoi Bachaspatimayum looks at how hospitals can balance infection prevention and sustainability, using effective air filtration.

Global Clinical Engineering Day is a worldwide celebration which recognises the contributions of clinical engineers to healthcare and is celebrated on 21 October. In this Q&A, the Chair of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine (IPEM) Clinical Engineering Special Interest Group, Dr. Victoria Kidgell, shares her insights.

Value-based healthcare in the NHS aims to reduce unwarranted variations, improve patient outcomes, optimise resource use and allocation, and minimise costs. Mary Muir provides an insight into the key considerations required to ensure equitable and sustainable healthcare, while improving the experience and outcomes for patients.

Martha Mackenzie looks at the history of point of care testing in women’s health and how diagnostics continues to advance and evolve to meet the needs of the female population.

What will the future hold for robotic-assisted surgery; how is the robotic landscape evolving; and what technologies are coming to the fore? CSJ takes a look at current trends and some of the latest developments in the sector.