Original Papers

Tatum et al report that the rate of polypharmacy among patients over 45 years receiving medication was 64.3%.  The authors recommend research into the mechanisms that drive polypharmacy.

P893

M. Corcoran, J. Mereckiene, S. Murchan, M. McElligott, D. O’Flanagan, S. Cotter, R. Cunney, H. Humphreys

Corcoran et al state that since the introduction of PCV7 and PCV13 into the childhood immunisation programme there has been a decline in these serotypes in adults aged 65 years and older.  PCV7 has decreased by 85%.  However the authors report that the number of PPV23-PCV13 and non-vaccine types are rapidly increasing.  Increasing PPV23 uptake could still reduce the burden of disease for this population.

P894

O.F. O’Brien, S. Lee, A. Baby, F.M. McAuliffe, M.F. Higgins

O’Brien et al report that in 2017 a total of 9,020 women attended the out of hours service.  The commonest reason was first trimester bleeding.  The current admission rate is 16%.

P895

 D.P. Joyce, R. Craig, A. Dakin, H. Elsheik, T. Ejaz, S. Mansoor, D.P. Toomey

Joyce et al report that in 2015-2016 there were 2,079 paediatric surgical admissions.  575 were elective and 1504 were emergencies.  Laparoscopic appendicectomy accounted for almost 25% of the procedures undertaken.  Male circumcision was the second commonest procedure, 15.5%.

P896

S.M. McGlacken-Byrne, R. O’Neill, A. Jenkinson, J.F.A. Murphy

McGlacken-Byrne et al a quality initiative programme using continuous glucose monitoring in the newborn.  The process illustrates the efficacy of PDSA cycling in the introduction of new methodologies.

P897

B.P. Finn, J. Trayer, C. Cronin, S.M. O’Connell

Finn et al report 133 cases of paediatric ketoacidosis over a 5 year period.  61% were new cases and 39% were known cases of diabetes.  The precipitating factors were suboptimal control, psychosocial factors, acute illness, and pump failure.

P898