Issue 66 – October 2014

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Long-acting injectable paliperidone compared with haloperidol for maintenance treatment of schizophrenia
A US randomised controlled trial in adults with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder reports that the long-acting injectable antipsychotics paliperidone palmitate and haloperidol decanoate have comparable efficacy and tolerability.

Sources of Clostridium difficile infection
A gene sequencing study of faecal samples from inpatients with Clostridium difficile infection in Oxford finds that almost half had acquired infection from sources other than another symptomatic patient.

Natural history and management of sigmoid diverticulitis
A systematic review indicates that the risk of recurrence is low in patients with uncomplicated sigmoid diverticulitis and most cases can be managed without antibiotics or surgery.

Effects of a patient handover intervention on rates of medical errors and preventable adverse events
A prospective intervention study in 2 hospital paediatric units in the USA finds that a bundle of measures to improve handover of patients between junior doctors reduces the rates of medical errors and preventable adverse events.

Day-patient treatment after short inpatient care versus continued inpatient care in young people with anorexia nervosa
A randomised controlled trial in Germany finds that day-patient treatment after short inpatient care in young people with anorexia nervosa seems no less effective than continued inpatient care for weight gain and maintenance in the 12 months after admission.

Evidence Updates
NICE has recently published Evidence Updates on:

• Infection
• Crohn’s disease