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Whether a bite or sting results in an anaphylactic reaction, impressive
local effects, or a life-threatening systemic reaction, the emergency
physician must be able to institute appropriate and effective
treatment. Emergency physicians also must be able to recognize clinical
envenomation patterns, since some critically ill patients may not be
able to convey the details of the attack. Since all areas of the
country are represented in the envenomation statistics, all emergency
physicians should be familiar with identification and stabilization of
envenomated patients and know what resources are available locally for
further management of these often complicated patients.
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Since 1996, at least 150 children have died as a result of being trapped in hot, parked vehicles. Contrary to what would be expected, these deaths occurred throughout all regions of the United States, making it important for all emergency medicine physicians to be familiar with the resuscitation of a child with a heat-related illness. This article provides an overview of heat-related illnesses in children and prevention and management strategies to facilitate care.
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National patient safety legislation that would encourage the confidential reporting of medical errors is critically needed in todays health care system, urged Dennis OLeary, MD, president of the Joint Commission.
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Synopsis: A patient receiving the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) citalopram developed fatal serotonin syndrome after beginning therapy with linezolid for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection.
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A widespread salmonella outbreak that infected 101 health care workers, patients, and visitors at St. Louis Childrens Hospital may be linked to an asymptomatic worker or a common contaminated food, investigators tell Hospital Infection Control.
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Nosocomial outbreaks of scabies have occurred in a variety of health care settings, including intensive care units, rehabilitation centers, long-term care facilities, hospital wards, a dialysis unit, and a health care laundry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations move to target infection control in surprise inspections next year could actually help ICPs in programs that lack administrative support, observers note.
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Editors note: The Joint Commission has posted pre-publication infection control (IC) standards for 2004 on its web site. After much discussion, the standards appear largely unchanged from 2003.