Axillary Thermometer Research Articles

Temperature Measurement Timings and the Fever Detection Rate After Gastrointestinal Surgery: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

Postoperative fever frequently indicates surgical complications and is commonly used to evaluate the efficacy of interventions against surgical stress. However, the presence of circadian rhythms in body temperature may compromise the accurate detection of fever. This study aimed to investigate the detection rate of fever under intermittent measurement. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of patients who underwent nonemergency gastrointestinal surgery between November 2020 and April 2021. Patients' temperature data were continuously collected every 4 seconds using a wireless axillary thermometer, and fever was defined as a temperature exceeding 38 °C within a day. To simulate intermittent measurement in clinical practice, the body temperature at each hour was selected from the continuously collected temperature dataset. Considering that temperatures are measured multiple times per day, all possible measurement plans using intermittent measurement were composed by combining 1-24 time points from the 24-hour daily cycle. Fever was clinically diagnosed based on the temperature readings at the selected time points per day. The fever detection rates for each plan, with varying measurement times, were listed and ranked. Based on the temperature data continuously collected by the thermometer, fever occurred in 60 (40.8%) of the 147 included patients within 3 days after surgery. Of the measurement plans that included 1-24 measurements daily, the fever detection rates ranged from 3.3% (2/60) to 85% (51/60). The highest detection rates and corresponding timings for measurement plans with 1, 2, 3, and 4 measurements daily were 38.3% (23/60; at 8 PM), 56.7% (34/60; at 3 AM and 7 or 8 PM), 65% (39/60; at 3 AM, 8 PM, and 10 or 11 PM), and 70% (42/60; at 12 AM, 3 AM, 8 PM, and 11 PM), respectively; and the lowest detection rates were 3.3% (2/60), 6.7% (4/60), 6.7% (4/60), and 8.3% (5/60), respectively. Although fever within 3 days after surgery was not correlated with an increased incidence of postoperative complications (5/60, 8.3% vs 6/87, 6.9%; P=.76), it was correlated with a longer hospital stay (median 7, IQR 6-9 days vs median 6, IQR 5-7 days; P<.001). The fever detection rate of the intermittent approach is determined by the timing and frequency of measurement. Measuring at randomly selected time points can miss many fever events after gastrointestinal surgery. However, we can improve the fever detection rate by optimizing the timing and frequency of measurement.

Continuous Temperature Telemonitoring of Patients with COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases Treated in Hospital-at-Home: Viture® System Validation.

Body temperature must be monitored in patients receiving Hospital-at-Home (HaH) care for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Continuous temperature telemonitoring (CTT) detects fever and patient deterioration early, facilitating decision-making. We performed a validation clinical study assessing the safety, comfort, and impact on healthcare practice of Viture®, a CTT system, compared with a standard digital axillary thermometer in 208 patients with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases treated in HaH at the Navarra University Hospital (HUN). Overall, 3258 pairs of measurements showed a clinical bias of -0.02 °C with limits of agreement of -0.96/+0.92 °C, a 95% acceptance rate, and a mean absolute deviation of 0.36 (SD 0.30) °C. Viture® detected 3 times more febrile episodes and revealed fever in 50% more patients compared with spot measurements. Febrile episodes were detected 7.23 h (mean) earlier and modified the diagnostic and/or therapeutic approach in 43.2% of patients. Viture® was validated for use in a clinical setting and was more effective in detecting febrile episodes than conventional methods.

Peripartum Torpor: A Chilling Case Report and Review of the Literature

Purpose: To report a rare case of peripartum maternal hypothermia and bradycardia. Methods: Case report. Results: Torpor is a transient state of hibernation with hypothermia and bradycardia. Hypothermia is defined as an abnormally low core body temperature less than 36°C.1 Sinus bradycardia is defined as less than 60 beats/min. While occasionally hypothermia or bradycardia is seen in obstetric patients undergoing vaginal delivery, when combined together, it can be a rare, life-threatening state that requires prompt intervention to prevent adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. A 23 year-old G2P0102 at 33+3 weeks of gestation was admitted to the high risk obstetric service for preterm labor complicated by fetal growth restriction. She had a history of preeclampsia in a previous pregnancy, but otherwise denied any chronic medical problems. Upon arrival, her vital signs showed a temperature of 37°C, a pulse of 53 bpm, and blood pressure of 126/62 mmHg. Her white blood cell count was 12.4 x 109/L and hemoglobin was 11.3 g/dL. She received betamethasone for fetal lung maturity and penicillin for Group B streptococcus prophylaxis. As her cervix continued to dilate, she received an epidural for pain management. Once she was in active labor, she became bradycardic with a pulse in the 30s-40s bpm, as confirmed by EKG. She was completely asymptomatic at this time, and fetal heart tones were reassuring with a baseline between 110’s-130’s bpm. She delivered vaginally with 150 mL of estimated blood loss, and her bradycardia continued postpartum even after the epidural was discontinued. When she complained of feeling cold, multiple attempts with different oral and axillary thermometers could not obtain a reading. She was warmed with forced-air warming blankets, warmed blankets, and hot packs in her groin and axilla. During this time, discussion with the NICU staff revealed that her baby was also hypothermic at 33.3°C and hypoglycemic at 28 mg/dL at birth. Other than feeling cold, the patient continued to be asymptomatic despite hypotension and bradycardia. She appeared somnolent but was responsive to questions. Her uterus was firm with minimal vaginal bleeding and no purulent or foul-smelling vaginal discharge. Repeat laboratory testing revealed a white blood count of 19 x 109/L and lactate was 3.3 mmol/L. Her comprehensive metabolic panel was unremarkable. A chest x-ray was clear. A C-reactive protein was &lt; 0.3 mg/dL and sedimentation rate was 14 mm/h. A rectal continuous thermometer was placed, which eventually recorded a temperature at 33.3°C and upon recheck was 31.7°C. A multidisciplinary team, including Anesthesia, Internal Medicine, and Neurology, evaluated the patient due to concern for a central nervous system insult. She received fluid resuscitation and broad-spectrum antibiotics for sepsis protocol. Due to the concern for potential septic shock, the decision was made to transport her to the Medical ICU for further management. As she was leaving Labor &amp; Delivery, her temperature had increased to 36.9°C and her pulse to 61. Thyroid studies the next day revealed a normal Free T4 of 1.00 ng/dL and a high thyroid stimulating hormone level of 9.55 uIU/mL. However, despite an extensive workup, no clear etiology of her hypothermia and bradycardia was identified. Intervention with fluids and application of forced-air warming system resolved the hypothermia in less than 6 hours without relapse. Antibiotics were discontinued after one day due to low suspicion for systemic infection. She remained vitally stable and was discharged on postpartum day 2 without further complications. Conclusions: Maternal hypothermia is relatively common during cesarean delivery; however, very few cases report maternal hypothermia during vaginal delivery. An English language literature search for maternal hypothermia during vaginal delivery yielded less than 10 case reports – few of which identified a cause of the hypothermia – and none of which reported simultaneous maternal bradycardia. While our case is a very rare presentation and the etiology is still unknown, it highlights the importance of prompt recognition of vital sign derangements in peripartum patients as well as multidisciplinary attention.

Pengaruh Inisiasi Menyusui Dini (IMD) Terhadap Hipotermi Pada Bayi Baru Lahir Peningkatan Produksi ASI Pada Ibu Post Partum

Infant deaths generally occur in the early neonatal period due to hypothermia. The incidence of hypothermia in newborns is quite high, globally ranging from 8.5-52%, an estimated 17 million newborns experience hypothermia in developing countries. The incidence of hypothermia in newborn babies is 92.3%, the infant mortality rate due to hypothermia is 6.3%. One intervention to minimize the incidence of hypothermia in newborn babies is to initiate early breastfeeding. The aim of the research was to determine the effect of early initiation of breastfeeding on hypothermia in newborn babies at the Bakti Timah Karimun Hospital. The research method used a pre-experiment with a one group pretest-posttest design. The sampling technique was purposive sampling with 14 respondents. The measuring instruments in this study were a digital axillary thermometer, standard operating procedures (SOP) for early breastfeeding initiation and observation sheets. Data analysis using paired sample t-test. The results of the paired sample t-test found a p-value = 0.000 (p&lt;0.05), so it can be concluded that there is an influence of early initiation of breastfeeding on hypothermia in newborn babies in the Midwifery Room at Bakti Timah Karimun Hospital. Early initiation of breastfeeding can be used as an intervention for newborns to minimize the incidence of hypothermia

Comparison of the accuracy of digital axillary thermometer (DAT) with infrared forehead skin thermometer (IFST) measurements in healthy newborns

Temperature is an important vital sign. Body temperature is generally measured whenever there is suspicion of fever, but in neonates’ hypothermia is considered even more serious than fever. There are studies in pediatric intensive care units comparing various invasive methods of temperature measurement.This was a cross sectional comparative study conducted in postnatal wards and outpatient department of a teaching hospital. All consecutive 348 healthy term neonates between 0-28 days of life whose parents consented for participation in the study were included. The axillary temp was taken with digital thermometer and forehead temperature were measured by temporal scanner device simultaneously. Doctor and caretaker both took the temperature measurement. Out of total 348 patients 114 (32.7%) were males and 234(67.2%) were females. Mean birth weight was 2800±400 grams. Mean axillary temperature was 98.34±0.81°F, and forehead temperature was 97.81±0.89°F (p=0.44). There was a positive correlation between temperature measured using digital and infrared thermometer (r=0.914, p=0.00). The mean difference was −0.07 with limits of agreement −0.71 to 0.57.Digital axillary temperature was higher and closer to normal than infrared forehead temperature. Temperature readings by forehead infrared thermometry agree well with those by axillary digital thermometry in neonates. Hence both methods of temperature measurement can be used in neonates although Infra-red temporal touch is much easier technique than digital axilla temperature measurement

Optimal diagnostic fever thresholds using non-contact infrared thermometers under COVID-19.

Fever screening is an effective method to detect infectors associated with different variants of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) based on the fact that most infectors with COVID-19 have fever symptoms. Non-contact infrared thermometers (NCITs) are widely used in fever screening. Nevertheless, authoritative data is lacking in defining "fever" at different body surface sites when using NCITs. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal diagnostic threshold for fever screening using NICTs at different body surface sites, to improve the accuracy of fever screening and provide theoretical reference for healthcare policy. Participants (n = 1860) who were outpatients or emergency patients at Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital were recruited for this prospective investigation from March 1 to June 30, 2021. NCITs and mercury axillary thermometers were used to measure neck, temple, forehead and wrist temperatures of all participants. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to reflect the accuracy of NCITs. Linear correlation analysis was used to show the effect of age on body temperature. Multilinear regression analysis was used to explore the association between non-febrile participant's covariates and neck temperature. The mean age of participants was 3.45 ± 2.85 years for children and 28.56 ± 7.25 years for adults. In addition 1,304 (70.1%) participants were children (≤12), and 683 (36.7%) were male. The neck temperature exhibited the highest accuracy among the four sites. Further the optimal fever diagnostic thresholds of NCITs at the four body surface measurement sites were neck (36.75 °C, sensitivity: 0.993, specificity: 0.858); temple (36.55 °C, sensitivity: 0.974, specificity: 0.874); forehead (36.45 °C, sensitivity: 0.961, specificity: 0.813); and wrist (36.15 °C, sensitivity: 0.951, specificity: 0.434). Based on the findings of our study, we recommend 36.15, 36.45, 36.55, and 36.75 °C as the diagnostic thresholds of fever at the wrist, forehead, temple and neck, respectively. Among the four surface sites, neck temperature exhibited the highest accuracy.

Confirmation of human ovulation in assisted reproduction using an adhesive axillary thermometer (femSense®).

Timing for sexual intercourse is important in achieving pregnancy in natural menstrual cycles. Different methods of detecting the fertile window have been invented, among them luteinization hormone (LH) to predict ovulation and biphasic body basal temperature (BBT) to confirm ovulation retrospectively. The gold standard to detect ovulation in gynecology practice remains transvaginal ultrasonography in combination with serum progesterone. In this study we evaluated a wearable temperature sensing patch (femSense®) using continuous body temperature measurement to confirm ovulation and determine the end of the fertile window. 96 participants received the femSense® system consisting of an adhesive axillary thermometer patch and a smartphone application, where patients were asked to document information about their previous 3 cycles. Based on the participants data, the app predicted the cycle length and the estimated day of ovulation. From these predictions, the most probable fertile window and the day for applying the patch were derived. Participants applied and activated the femSense® patch on the calculated date, from which the patch continuously recorded their body temperature throughout a period of up to 7 days to confirm ovulation. Patients documented their daily urinary LH test positivity, and a transvaginal ultrasound was performed on day cycle day 7, 10, 12 and 14/15 to investigate the growth of one dominant follicle. If a follicle reached 15 mm in diameter, an ultrasound examination was carried out every day consecutively until ovulation. On the day ovulation was detected, serum progesterone was measured to confirm the results of the ultrasound. The performance of femSense® was evaluated by comparing the day of ovulation confirmation with the results of ovulation prediction (LH test) and detection (transvaginal ultrasound). The femSense® system confirmed ovulation occurrence in 60 cases (81.1%) compared to 48 predicted cases (64.9%) with the LH test (p = 0.041). Subgroup analysis revealed a positive trend for the femSense® system of specific ovulation confirmation within the fertile window of 24 h after ovulation in 42 of 74 cases (56.8%). Cycle length, therapy method or infertility reason of the patient did not influence accuracy of the femSense® system. The femSense® system poses a promising alternative to the traditional BBT method and is a valuable surrogate marker to transvaginal ultrasound for confirmation of ovulation.

Validation of a Prediction Model for Intraoperative Hypothermia in Patients Receiving General Anesthesia.

Objectives There have been no fully validated tools for the rapid identification of surgical patients at risk of intraoperative hypothermia. The objective of this study was to validate the performance of a previously established prediction model in estimating the risk of intraoperative hypothermia in a prospective cohort. Methods In this observational study, consecutive adults scheduled for elective surgery under general anesthesia were enrolled prospectively at a tertiary hospital between September 4, 2020, and December 28, 2020. An intraoperative hypothermia risk score was calculated by a mobile application of the prediction model. A wireless axillary thermometer was used to continuously measure perioperative core temperature as the reference standard. The discrimination and calibration of the model were assessed, using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, and Brier score. Results Among 227 participants, 99 (43.6%) developed intraoperative hypothermia, and 10 (4.6%) received intraoperative active warming with forced-air warming. The model had an AUC of 0.700 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.632–0.768) in the overall cohort with adequate calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow χ2 = 13.8, P=0.087; Brier score = 0.33 [95% CI, 0.29–0.37]). We categorized the risk scores into low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk groups, in which the incidence of intraoperative hypothermia was 23.0% (95% CI, 12.4–33.5), 43.4% (95% CI, 33.7–53.2), and 62.7% (95% CI, 51.5–74.3), respectively (P for trend <0.001). Conclusions The intraoperative hypothermia prediction model demonstrated possibly helpful discrimination and adequate calibration in our prospective validation. These findings suggest that the risk screening model could facilitate future perioperative temperature management.

Reliability of Non-Contact Infrared Thermometers for Fever Screening Under COVID-19.

PurposeFever is one of the most typical clinical symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and non-contact infrared thermometers (NCITs) are commonly used to screen for fever. However, there is a lack of authoritative data to define a “fever” when an NCIT is used and previous studies have shown that NCIT readings fluctuate widely depending on ambient temperatures and the body surface site screened. The aim of this study was to establish cut-off points for normal temperatures of different body sites (neck, forehead, temples, and wrist) and investigate the accuracy of NCITs at various ambient temperatures to improve the standardization and accuracy of fever screening.Patients and MethodsA prospective investigation was conducted among 904 participants in the outpatient and emergency departments of Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Central Hospital. Body temperature was measured using NCITs and mercury axillary thermometers. A receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the accuracy of body temperature detection at the four body surface sites. Data on participant characteristics were also collected.ResultsAmong the four surface sites, the neck temperature detection group had the highest accuracy. When the neck temperature was 37.35°C as the optimum fever diagnostic threshold, the sensitivity was 0.866. The optimum fever diagnostic thresholds for forehead, temporal, and wrist temperature were 36.65°C, 36.65°C, and 36.75°C, respectively. Moreover, triple neck temperature detection had the highest sensitivity, up to 0.998, whereas the sensitivity of triple wrist temperature detections was 0.949. Notably, the accuracy of NCITs significantly reduced when the temperature was lower than 18°C.ConclusionNeck temperature had the highest accuracy among the four NCIT temperature measurement sites, with an optimum fever diagnostic threshold of 37.35°C. Considering the findings reported in our study, we recommend triple neck temperature detection with NCITs as the fever screening standard for COVID-19.

Comparison of Axillary Digital and Infrared Forehead Thermometer

Introduction: Although digital thermometers have made the temperature recording easy, quick and safe, with the risk of mercury completely excluded, there is still a risk of transmission of infection from one individual to another. Infrared thermometers offer a non-touch, rapid and convenient method of temperature recording, with virtually no risk of disease transmission. We conducted a study to assess and compare temperature recordings from an infrared forehead thermometer and axillary digital thermometer during fever, and once the fever subsides. Methods: Hundred patients attending the out-patient department of Department of Pediatrics at Dr.B.R Ambedkar medical college and hospital from September 2019 to December 2019, or those admitted in the wards with a complaint of fever were screened using two techniques – Axillary temperature recording using a digital thermometer and a forehead temperature was recorded using a non-contact infrared forehead thermometer. Patients were given antipyretics to treat the fever and temperature was again recorded once the fever subsided using the same method. Two medical personnel were trained to screen and record the respective findings from each method and they were blinded from the other outcome of other recording. Results: The mean IFR temperature measured in the febrile phase was 100.85 (± 0.76), which was significantly higher than the mean AD temperature, 100.21 (± 0.74). (p-value &lt;.0001). In the afebrile phase as well, the mean IFR temperature was significantly higher than the mean AD temperature. Conclusion: IFR thermometers do provide an advantage of no-touch technique over the digital thermometer. However, as the results showed a weak correlation between IFR and axillary digital recordings, it is suggested that IFR thermometers be used for screening of children for fever as it decreases the contact and reduces the infection.

Investigation of Non-invasive Continuous Body Temperature Measurements in a Clinical Setting Using an Adhesive Axillary Thermometer (SteadyTemp®).

Since the human body reacts to a variety of different diseases with elevated body temperature, measurement of body temperature remains relevant in clinical practice. The absolute temperature value for fever definition is still arbitrary and depends on the measuring site, as well as underlying disease and individual factors. Hence, a simple threshold for fever definition is outdated and a definition which relies on the relative changes in the individual seems reasonable as it takes these individual factors into account. In this prospective multicentric study we validate an adhesive axillary thermometer (SteadyTemp®) which allows continuous non-invasive temperature measurements. It consists of a patch to measure temperature and a smartphone application to process and visualize gathered data. This article provides information of the new diagnostic possibilities when using this wearable device and where it could be beneficial. Furthermore, it discusses how to interpret the generated data and when it is not practical to use, based on its characteristics and physiological phenomena.

Measuring temperature in children, conveniently and accurately: a comparative study on different modalities of thermometry

Background: Fever is one of the most common complaints in children in day-to-day practice. The pattern and grade of fever provide some evidence in determining the etiology of fever. Equally important is the identification and documentation of hypothermia in neonates. Hence there is need for an accurate thermometry mode, which should also be convenient to use in children.Methods: This was a cross-sectional observation study on all the neonates and children satisfying the inclusion criteria. Infrared forehead thermometer and digital axillary thermometer were used to record temperature and compared with Infrared tympanic temperature which was taken as gold standard.Results: A total of 240 neonates and children were evaluated. Strong positive correlation was observed between Means of Forehead Thermometer (FT) and Ear Thermometer (ET) with correlation coefficient of 0.777 and p value &lt;0.001. Similar correlation was also observed with Axillary Temperature (AT) with correlation coefficient of 0.944 and p&lt;0.001.Conclusions: Non-contact Infrared thermometer may be used in neonates and children without causing discomfort. It gives instant and comparable readings which are especially significant in the current coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic setting.

Utility of thermal image scanning in screening for febrile patients in cold climates

BackgroundInfrared thermography (IRT) for fever screening systems was introduced in not only general hospitals, but also orthopedic hospitals as a countermeasure against the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Despite the widespread use of IRT, various results have shown low and high efficacies, so the utility of IRT is controversial, especially in cold climates. The aims of this study were to investigate the utility of IRT in screening for fever in a cold climate and to devise suitable fever screening in orthopedic surgery for COVID-19. MethodsA total of 390 orthopedic surgery patients were enrolled to the outdoor group and 210 hospital staff members were enrolled to the indoor group. Thermographic temperature at the front of the face in the outdoor group was immediately measured after entering our hospital from a cold outdoor environment. Measurements for the indoor group were made after staying in the hospital (environmental temperature, 28 °C) for at least 5 h. Body temperature was then measured using an axillary thermometer >15 min later in both groups. ResultsIn the outdoor group, mean thermographic temperature was significantly lower than axillary temperature and IRT could not detect febrile patients with axillary temperatures >37.0 °C. Mean thermographic temperature was significantly lower in the outdoor group than in the indoor group. Sensitivity was 11.5% for the outdoor group, lower than that for the indoor group. ConclusionsWe verified that IRT was not accurate in a cold climate. IRT is inadequate as a screening method to accurately detect febrile individuals, so we believe that stricter countermeasures for second screening need to be employed to prevent nosocomial infections and disease clusters of COVID-19, even in orthopedic hospitals.

Evaluating the interchangeability of infrared and digital devices with the traditional mercury thermometer in hospitalized pediatric patients: an observational study

Gradual replacement of the mercury thermometers with alternative devices is ongoing around the world in a bid to protect human health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. However, to reduce the risks of misdiagnosis, unnecessary treatments, and omission of care in pediatric populations, more evidence on the reliability of alternative thermometers is needed. The aim of this comparative observational study was to detect any differences in temperature measurements between the use of the axillary mercury thermometer and the alternative techniques. Temperature values in degree Celsius (°C) were measured in a group of Albanian children aged up to 14 years using mercury and digital axillary thermometers, as well as forehead and tympanic infrared thermometers. The digital axillary device, compared with the mercury one, showed no clinically significant difference in the mean values (− 0.04 ± 0.29 °C) and the narrowest 95% level of agreement (+ 0.53 °C to − 0.62 °C) in the paired comparisons. For cut-off point of 37.5 °C, the digital axillary thermometer showed the highest levels of sensitivity (72.5%) and specificity (99.1%) in detecting fever. This study indicates that the digital axillary thermometer may be the better option since it adequately balances accuracy, safety, and children’s comfort.

The Accuracy of a Wireless Axillary Thermometer for Core Temperature Monitoring in Pediatric Patients Having Noncardiac Surgery: An Observational Study

PurposeA wireless and wearable axillary thermometer (iThermonitor) has been validated for perioperative core temperature monitoring in adults. The purpose of this study was to evaluate its accuracy in pediatrics having non–cardiac surgery. DesignProspective observational study. MethodsFrom January 2019 to December 2019, 70 children aged younger than 14 years undergoing surgery in a tertiary hospital were selected. Pairs of esophageal temperatures (TEso), rectal temperatures (TRec), and axillary temperatures monitored by the iThermonitor (TiTh) were collected every 5 min during surgery. Taking TEso as reference, the bias between TEso and TiTh and the proportion of bias within ±0.5°C were calculated. Bland-Altman method was used to analyze the 95% of limits of agreement (LOA) between TiTh and TEso. The same analyses were done for TRec. FindingsA total of 2232 pairs of temperatures were collected. The bias (mean ± SD) between TiTh and TEso was -0.07 °C ± 0.25°C, and 95% LOA was -0.07°C ± 0.50°C. The proportion of bias within ±0.5°C accounted for 96% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 92-98%). Higher bias and 95% LOA, and lower proportion of bias within ± 0.5°C were found between TRec and TEso than those between TiTh and TEso. ConclusionDuring pediatric non–cardiac surgery, axillary temperature derived from iThermonitor is in good agreement with esophageal temperature and can be used as an alternative to core temperature.

Clinical accuracy of non-contact forehead infrared thermometer and infrared tympanic thermometer in postoperative adult patients: A comparative study.

Core temperature monitoring is important for the assessment and prevention of possible postoperative complications. The aim of the present study was to examine the agreement between the core temperature values and the forehead, tympanic membrane and axillary values in postoperative adult patients in clinical practice. The study measured the core temperature of 65 patients undergoing scheduled abdominal surgery using SpotOn™ and compared these with those obtained using non-contact forehead infrared, infrared tympanic and axillary thermometers. Correlation and Bland-Altman analyses were conducted for these comparisons. All temperatures were recorded at 4h intervals after postoperative arrival to the ward. Forehead temperature recordings showed a good correlation with the core temperature with excellent accuracy and was comparable to the tympanic temperature. Both forehead and tympanic thermometers can rapidly and effectively measure the core temperature during early postoperative period. Considering patients' safety, non-contact forehead infrared thermometers may be useful for postoperative monitoring.

Clinical Efficiency of Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer over Axillary Digital Thermometer and Mercury in Glass Thermometer with Paracetamol

Fever is defined as rise in normal body temperature above 98.6°F. Clinical thermometer is a medical instrument for measuring human body temperature. The traditionally used mercury in glass thermometer was replaced by digital thermometer due to mercury toxicity. Non-contact infra-red thermometer is a non-invasive thermometer used for un-cooperative pediatric patients. The objective of this study is to determine the clinical efficiency of non-contact infrared thermometer over axillary digital thermometer and mercury in glass thermometer over a range of body temperature by using paracetamol in febrile patients. This descriptive hospital based cross sectional study was conducted from 5th December 2019 till 23rd August 2020 after ethical approval from Institutional Review Committee of Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital. Mercury in glass thermometer, axillary digital thermometer and non-contact infrared thermometer were used to measure body temperature in febrile patient. Body temperature was re-measured one hour after administration of paracetamol. Data was entered and analyzed with statistical package for social sciences version 16. Axillary digital thermometer has high predictability in the upper body temperature range (in febrile state) but its predictability is low in lower body temperature range (our normal body temperature). Non-contact infrared thermometer in comparison with axillary digital thermometer has lower predictability in both upper and lower body temperature range. Clinical efficiency of non-contact infrared thermometer is less than that of axillary digital thermometer and mercury in glass thermometer in febrile patients.

Parents\u2019 concerns and beliefs about temperature measurement in children: a qualitative study

BackgroundNearly 40% of parents with children aged 6 to 17 months consult a healthcare professional when their child has a high temperature. Clinical guidelines recommend temperature measurement in these children, but little is known about parents’ experiences of and beliefs about temperature measurement. This study aimed to explore parents’ concerns and beliefs about temperature measurement in children.MethodsSemi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted from May 2017 to June 2018 with 21 parents of children aged 4 months to 5.5 years, who were purposively sampled from the METRIC study (a method comparison study comparing non-contact infrared thermometers to axillary and tympanic thermometers in acutely ill children). Data analysis followed a thematic approach.ResultsParents described the importance of being able to detect fever, in particular high fevers, and how this then influenced their actions. The concept of “accuracy” was valued by parents but the aspects of performance which were felt to reflect accuracy varied. Parents used numerical values of temperature in four main ways: determining precision of the thermometer on repeat measures, detecting a “bad” fever, as an indication to administer antipyretics, or monitoring response to treatment. Family and social networks, the internet, and medical professionals and resources, were all key sources of advice for parents regarding fever, and guiding thermometer choice.ConclusionsTemperature measurement in children has diagnostic value but can either empower, or cause anxiety and practical challenges for parents. This represents an opportunity for both improved communication between parents and healthcare professionals, and technological development, to support parents to manage febrile illness with greater confidence in the home.

The comparison and diagnostic accuracy of different types of thermometers.

Fever is one of the leading causes of hospital admissions in children. Although there are many ways to measure body temperature, the optimal method and the anatomic site are still controversial. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of new methods of measuring body temperature and to compare the accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of these methods. The body temperatures of the patients who were hospitalized as inpatients or who presented to the emergency room as outpatients between November 2014- March 2015 were measured and recorded. Mercury and digital axillary measurements, tympanic, temporal artery and non-contact skin temperatures were measured. Measurements were compared with each other. According to our results temperature tends to increase over time for up to 8 minutes after placement when using axillary thermometers. Non-contact skin thermometers should be used only for follow-up of patients with fever, because of their low sensitivity and low negative predictivity. At the first examination, tympanic thermometers and axillary thermometers may be preferable for the diagnosis of fever. According to our results, using non-contact thermometers seems feasible and logical during the follow-up ofpatients with fever, but not in cases whose exact body temperature should be known. For the first examination of the patient to diagnose fever, tympanic thermometers and axillary thermometers may be preferable. Future studies are warranted to expose the optimum way of measuring body temperature in children.

Use of non-contact infrared thermometers in rehabilitation patients: a randomized controlled study.

ObjectiveIn this randomized controlled study, we aimed to determine whether non-contact infrared thermometers (NCITs) are more time-efficient and create less patient distress than mercury axillary thermometers (MATs) and infrared tympanic thermometers (ITTs).MethodsForty-five rehabilitation inpatients were randomly assigned to one of three groups (NCIT, MAT, and ITT). Time required to measure body temperature with an NCIT, MAT, and ITT was recorded. We examined associations between time required to take patients’ temperature and measuring device used. Patient distress experienced during temperature measurement using the three thermometers was recorded.ResultsA significantly longer average time was required to measure temperatures using the MAT (mean 43.17, standard deviation [SD] 8.39) than the ITT (mean 13.74, SD 1.63) and NCIT (mean 12.13, SD 1.18). The thermometer used influenced the time required to measure body temperature (t = 33.99). There were significant differences among groups (NCIT vs. ITT, NCIT vs. MAT, and ITT vs. MAT) regarding patient distress among the different thermometers. Most distress arose owing to needing help from others, sleep disruption, and boredom.ConclusionThe NCIT has clinically relevant advantages over the ITT and MAT in measuring body temperature among rehabilitation patients, including saving nurses’ time and avoiding unnecessary patient distress.Clinical trial registration number (http://www.chictr.org.cn): ChiCTR1800019756.