Self-required time and RTW expectations are important prognostic factors in sick listed workers by all types of health conditions certified as non-work-related. Questioning the workers on their perceptions and expectations of RTW during medical visits could help health care professionals to identify individuals at risk of long-term sickness absence and facilitate triage and management of the patient.

Bartonella henselae, an emerging pathogen bacterium, is the main causative agent of the cat scratch disease. While the first clinical descriptions were associated with immunosupressed patients, it is now more frequently observed in patients with normal immune status (endocarditis and bacteremia). Cats were found to be the only known reservoir of B. henselae. In this paper, we report the results obtained in the first study made to investigate the prevalence of B. henselae bacteremia and antibodies in domestic cats in Catalonia, Spain. Serum samples from 115 cats were tested for antibodies to B. henselae by immunofluorescent antibody testing, and 29.6% had a titer >or= 1:64. Seven B. henselae strains were isolated using standard culture techniques and amplification by a polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequencing was performed on the intergenic spacer region between the 16 and 23S ribosomal RNA genes. Of all factors concerning the studied bacteremia rate (age, sex, habitat, presence of antibodies, contact with animals, parasites), only the presence of antibodies to B. henselae was statistically significant.

Return to work after a non-work related sick spell is a complex process, which is influenced by age, sex, economic activities and autonomous community.

This systematic review identified a lack of evidence to support the effectiveness of "very early" (less than 15 days after the start of sickness absence) workplace intervention to reduce sick leave compared to usual care. Lack of consensus on definition of "very early/early" interventions, methodological design of studies, the extent, and timing of usual care provided and variable compliance between groups might explain the absence of demonstrated benefit.

Our findings suggest that companies play an important role in facilitating RTW for workers with long-term non-work-related sick leave episodes.