Hospital Medicine Alert – January 1, 2011

January 1, 2011

• Acetaminophen Toxicity

  Acetaminophen (known as paracetamol outside the United States) is the most commonly used analgesic in the world, usually considered to be safe and benign.

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• Can We Diagnose C. difficile Diarrhea with One Sample and One Test?

  Clinicians who send samples to the 95% of U.S. laboratories that test for Clostridium difficile infection using an enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) for toxins A and B are often frustrated by a negative laboratory result that doesn't fit their clinical impression or their olfactory suspicions.

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• Public Reporting of Central-line Infections Called into Question

  Central line-associated infections, particularly bloodstream infections (BSI), remain a huge issue in our technological age.

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• Intravenous Peramivir for Seasonal Influenza

  Outpatients with uncomplicated seasonal influenza were treated with single doses of IV peramivir 300 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg, or placebo. Peramivir significantly reduced the time to alleviation of symptoms at both doses compared with placebo. Peramivir was well-tolerated, and side effects were comparable to placebo.

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• QI Process Promotes Early Mobilization of ICU Patients

  Using a quality improvement (QI) process, ICU delirium, physical rehabilitation, and functional mobility were significantly improved and associated with a decreased length of stay.

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