Infectious Diseases

Lactobacillus GG may decrease risk of nosocomial respiratory and GI infections in hospitalized children

July 01, 2010

Measures commonly used to prevent nosocomial infections (e.g., hand hygiene) are not completely effective.

Las Vegas physician indicted following hepatitis outbreak

Ann W. Latner, JD June 15, 2010

The outbreak was caused by the reuse of syringes and endoscopy scopes.

Homeopathic flu remedy

May 19, 2010

Take oscillococcinum at the first sign of a cold or flu.

Severe muscle spasms and jaw stiffness after stepping on a nail

April 01, 2010

The symptoms began 10 days after the accident. Steroids provided no relief,  and diagnostic tests were inconclusive.

Evidence for oseltamivir reducing influenza duration still intact but evidence about reducing complications questioned

March 25, 2010

No statistically significant benefit for oseltamivir for reducing complications was found based on a meta-analysis of three trials.

Chlorhexidine-alcohol scrub may prevent surgical site infections better than povidone-iodine

March 25, 2010

Surgeries included colorectal, small intestinal, gastroesophageal, biliary, thoracic, gynecologic, or urologic procedures.

Improved pre-injection skin prep

March 18, 2010

Is one pre-injection skin prep better than others?

Breach in protocol ends in suit

By Ann W. Latner, JD February 12, 2010

Physicians fail to follow the clinic's rules, which appear unrealistic in retrospect, regarding PA supervision.

Hepatitis C: The Silent Epidemic

Kristin Faress Deutsch, FNP January 22, 2010

Four million people in the United States are infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Many have had the virus for decades, without any symptoms, unknowingly passing it on to others.

Severe neck pain in a very sick patient

Ashok Vaghjimal, MD January 22, 2010

It was a typical Friday afternoon, and I was about to leave the hospital when a senior medical resident asked me to see Mrs. J , who had just been admitted to the floor from the emergency department.

Eye pain ends in loss of vision

David S. Starr, MD, JD January 21, 2010

What was thought to be a detached retina turns out to be an ocular infection that leaves the patient severely impaired.

Fever and abdominal pain in a middle-aged man with HIV

Ashok Vaghjimal, MD January 21, 2010

Susceptible to a wide variety of pathogens, the patient had symptoms of an acute infection.

Lung infiltrates complicate a common rash

Case and Analysis by Kirk M. Chan-Tack, MD, and Edward Adelstein, MD January 20, 2010

The vesicular rash spread rapidly from the face and mouth to cover the chest, back, arms, legs, and feet.

Practice protocol under fire

David S. Starr, MD, JD January 19, 2010

A clinician's technique is questioned when a patient's elbow becomes infected after blood work.

When bronchitis takes a turn for the worse

Kimberly A. Hardin, MD January 14, 2010

A change in cough, sputum, or dyspnea can signal an acute exacerbation. Here's what you can do to help keep the situation under control.

Zinc

Sherril Sego, MSN, FNP September 28, 2009

Do we finally have a cure for the common cold? The manufacturers of zinc preparations think so, but the data remain inconsistent.

Managing patients infected with H. pylori

Carl Sherman August 31, 2009

Effective treatment may ease the pain of peptic ulcer disease and gastritis, prevent progression of gastric malignancy, and ease iron deficiency anemia.

CDC issues recommendations on swine flu vaccination

July 31, 2009

The CDC has developed recommendations on who should receive the vaccine when it becomes available and determined who should be prioritized if the vaccine is initially available in extremely limited quantities.

New-onset neck and shoulder pain in an arthritis patient

Yvonne Dunn, MD, and Michelle Mizrachi, MD July 07, 2009

A UTI triggers complications in a patient with two forms of arthritis.

Impetigo: Taking on a common skin infection

Lauren Zajac, MHS, PA-C, and Abby Jacobson, MS, PA-C July 02, 2009

Seen frequently in children, this skin disease can affect patients of all ages. Knowing the proper therapy and how to prevent dissemination is crucial.