Papers by Filippo Festini
Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 2010
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Pediatric Pulmonology, 2003
Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 2011
Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 2007
European Respiratory Journal, 2005
In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients early antibiotic treatment of lung infection has been shown to l... more In cystic fibrosis (CF) patients early antibiotic treatment of lung infection has been shown to lead to Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradication. The present study determined: 1) the time period from eradication to new P. aeruginosa acquisition; 2) P. aeruginosa re-growth and new acquisition; and 3) the impact of eradication therapy on lung function, antimicrobial resistance, emergence of other pathogens and treatment costs.
Chest, 2006
We read with interest the article by Stephenson and colleagues 1 regarding the prevalence of vert... more We read with interest the article by Stephenson and colleagues 1 regarding the prevalence of vertebral fractures in adults with cystic fibrosis and their relationship to bone mineral density (BMD), and we would like to add some comments based on our clinical ...
Journal of Hospital Infection, 2006
BMC Infectious Diseases, 2010
Background: Few data are available on the incidence of nosocomial Rotavirus infections (NRVI) in ... more Background: Few data are available on the incidence of nosocomial Rotavirus infections (NRVI) in pediatric hospitals and on their economic impact. The goals of this study were: to evaluate the incidence of NRVI in various Italian pediatric wards during the course of two peak RV seasons; to investigate possible risk factors for NRVI; to estimate the costs caused by NRVI.
Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 2006
American Journal of Infection Control, 2010
Although maintaining a distance of 1 m between persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) is a universal r... more Although maintaining a distance of 1 m between persons with cystic fibrosis (CF) is a universal recommendation to prevent respiratory cross-infections such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, evidence supporting this preventive measure is scarce. Examining 336 samples from 42 patients with CF collected experimentally from sterile surfaces after speaking and coughing, we found that transmission of P aeruginosa beyond 1 m is possible during both talking and coughing, although the probability is low (1.7%).
Journal of Pediatrics, 2004
Journal of Cystic Fibrosis, 2004
Cystic fibrosis (CF) may strongly condition the life of affected people. CF may be associated wit... more Cystic fibrosis (CF) may strongly condition the life of affected people. CF may be associated with relevant painful conditions caused by complications of the illness and also by therapy itself, which may represent an additional load of suffering. This study was aimed at evaluating the prevalence of pain symptoms in adult CF patients, if they are noticed and treated, and the influence of pain symptoms on patients' life. Using a questionnaire, we examined 239 adults with CF (17% of the whole Italian adult CF population). We found a high prevalence of painful episodes among CF adult patients, as for both intensity and frequency. In a 2 months period 32.6% of patients experienced episodes of pain described as intense to severe, and 29.7% had more than 10 occurrences of pain in the same location. Headache, gastric pain and backache were the most frequently reported kind of pain. 59.8% of subjects perceived pain episodes as the cause of unfavorable effects on their life. Only 42.6% of those with pain asked a CF center physician for help and another 3.5% a general practitioner. Painful symptoms can be the cause of a worsening of the quality of life for adults with CF; the relevance of pain in CF adult patients may often be underestimated; the assessment of pain should be routinely performed as a part of care in CF centers.
Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 2009
Purpose: Immigration and multiculturalism are relatively recent in Italian society, and social ad... more Purpose: Immigration and multiculturalism are relatively recent in Italian society, and social adaptation to this new reality is still ongoing. Immigrants to Italy mainly come from China, Albania, Northern Africa, and Eastern Europe. Because no study about this topic was found, our goal was to investigate attitudes and problems encountered by Italian nurses in a paediatric setting with regard to nursing care of children and their families from other countries.Design and Methods: Exploratory study. An anonymous 11-item “ad hoc” questionnaire was distributed to 201 ward nurses of the Meyer Paediatric Hospital, Florence, Italy in May 2007.Findings: In all, 129 nurses (64.1%) answered the questionnaire; 78.3% reported having experienced some difficulties in providing care to foreign children and their families. The language barrier was reported as the most important, although more than two-thirds of nurses speak a language in addition to Italian. About half of the nurses encountered problems in care because of different nutrition and personal hygiene customs of patients and their families. Religious and spiritual practices were perceived as a problem by only a minority of nurses. Almost half of the nurses reported having been involved in care situations wherein they felt embarrassed or disapproval concerning the behaviour of parents of foreign children. This included discomfort about different views concerning the social role of women. Nurses also perceived in foreign parents opinions different from their own about the role of nurses (10%) and attitudes of children toward pain associated with medical procedures (45%).Conclusions: This is the first study we know about regarding attitudes of Italian nurses toward multicultural care. Effective communication is the main aspect of delivering culturally competent care. Language as a means of communication is paramount for an effective nurse-patient relationship without which nursing care is unsatisfactory. Our study indicates the importance of teaching transcultural nursing, cultural diversity, and culturally competent nursing care in university and continuing professional education programs for Italian nurses and nursing students.Clinical Relevance: This study indicates the strengths and weaknesses of Italian nurses in managing the care of non-Italian children and their families; and the need for a background of transcultural nursing and theory.
Pediatric Pulmonology, 2008
BackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening genetic disease in the Western... more BackgroundCystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening genetic disease in the Western world. Its incidence varies between 1:4,000 and 1:2,500 among Europeans. No data are available on the incidence of CF among Albanians, mainly due to difficulties of the local health system.Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common life-threatening genetic disease in the Western world. Its incidence varies between 1:4,000 and 1:2,500 among Europeans. No data are available on the incidence of CF among Albanians, mainly due to difficulties of the local health system.GoalsTo estimate the incidence of CF and the prevalence of healthy carrier status among Albanian ethnic people; to evaluate the incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns.To estimate the incidence of CF and the prevalence of healthy carrier status among Albanian ethnic people; to evaluate the incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns.MethodsWe used the database of the newborn screening of Tuscany, Italy for the period 1991–2005. Children born to both Albanian parents in Tuscany were identified and incidences were calculated.We used the database of the newborn screening of Tuscany, Italy for the period 1991–2005. Children born to both Albanian parents in Tuscany were identified and incidences were calculated.ResultsThe incidence of CF among Albanians (1/555, 99% CI: 1/2,980–1/306) was significantly higher than the rest of the Tuscan population (1/4,101, 99% CI: 1/5,564–1/3,248). The prevalence of CF carrier status among Albanians living in Tuscany is estimated to be 1/12 (99%CI 1/27–1/9) while in the rest of the Tuscan population it is 1/32 (99%CI 1/37–1/28). The incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns (1/55 99%CI: 1/74–1/44) was significantly higher than in the rest of the population (1/84, 99%CI 1/88–1/82).The incidence of CF among Albanians (1/555, 99% CI: 1/2,980–1/306) was significantly higher than the rest of the Tuscan population (1/4,101, 99% CI: 1/5,564–1/3,248). The prevalence of CF carrier status among Albanians living in Tuscany is estimated to be 1/12 (99%CI 1/27–1/9) while in the rest of the Tuscan population it is 1/32 (99%CI 1/37–1/28). The incidence of hypertrypsinaemia at birth among Albanian newborns (1/55 99%CI: 1/74–1/44) was significantly higher than in the rest of the population (1/84, 99%CI 1/88–1/82).ConclusionThe incidence of CF among Albanians is considerably higher than expected. Albanian people have a risk to give birth to children with CF higher than the rest of Europeans. The implementation of a newborn screening program in Albania, together with a CF follow up program is highly advisable. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1124–1129. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.The incidence of CF among Albanians is considerably higher than expected. Albanian people have a risk to give birth to children with CF higher than the rest of Europeans. The implementation of a newborn screening program in Albania, together with a CF follow up program is highly advisable. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2008; 43:1124–1129. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Pediatric Pulmonology, 2008
Pediatric Pulmonology, 2007
Acquisition of respiratory pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is associated with incre... more Acquisition of respiratory pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). Research on the prevalence of these pathogens on environmental surfaces of a CF Center is scanty, and so far no study has determined what risk CF patients have of coming in contact with them during their visits to the CF Center. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of some respiratory pathogens in samples taken systematically during a 4-year period from inanimate surfaces and sinks in a CF Outpatient Clinic, and to estimate the risk that a non-PA colonized CF patient has of contact with PA when visiting the CF Center. Microbiological samples were taken and cultured from the inanimate surfaces and sinks of the Outpatient clinic of a CF Center once a month from 2001 to 2005. Four hundred and sixty environmental specimens were collected: 36.3% were positive for respiratory pathogens (23% of rooms' inert surfaces, 49.5% of sinks). Achromobacter xylosoxidans was found in 0.8% of surface samples. PA was isolated in 22.8% samples. The estimated risk for each non-colonized patient of coming in contact with PA on the surfaces in the Clinic at each visit was 5.4‰ (CI95% 0.9–30.1). Genotyping of a sample of environmental PA strains revealed a genetic relation between environmental and clinical isolates in most cases. Micro-organisms relevant for CF patients can be found on inanimate surfaces of a CF Center, although the risk for patients of coming in contact with PA during their visits to the CF center seems low. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2007; 42:779–784. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Archives of Disease in Childhood, 2008
Archives of Disease in Childhood-fetal and Neonatal Edition, 2004
Journal of Maternal-fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 2004
To provide centiles for birth weight (BW) according to gestational age (GA) and sex for infants b... more To provide centiles for birth weight (BW) according to gestational age (GA) and sex for infants born in Italy. We used records of the whole neonatal population of Tuscany, a region in Italy, from July 1991 to June 2002 as resulting from the database of the cystic fibrosis neonatal screening program (n=290129). We excluded as unlikely for GA those BW that were more than two interquartile ranges above the 75th centile or below the 25th centile for each GA and gender group. We present the 3rd, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 97th centiles of BW for GA from the 24th to 43rd week of gestation for male and female Italian neonates, as both tables and smoothed curves. The large size of the examined population allows us to provide up-to-date, reliable BW for GA centiles for Italian newborns, especially for lower GAs.
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Papers by Filippo Festini