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Sleep disordered breathing occurs in most acute stroke patients and may contribute to morbidity
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Preliminary data indicate that the prevalence of influenza A (H1N1) virus strains resistant to the antiviral medication oseltamivir is high. Therefore, interim guidelines issued by the CDC are to use zanamivir or a combination of oseltamivir and rimantidine if influenza A (H1N1) infection is suspected.
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Nucleic acid amplification (NAA) testing should be performed on at least one respiratory specimen from each patient with signs and symptoms of pulmonary TB for whom a diagnosis of TB is being considered but has not yet been established, and for whom the test result would alter case management or TB control activities.
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With the largest cohort and longest follow-up yet reported, this prospective single-center study found that implementing a rapid response team reduced codes outside the ICU but had no effect on either hospital-wide code rates or overall patient mortality.
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This open-label, multicenter trial showed that treatment of MRSA ventilator-associated pneumonia with linezolid was associated with non-statistically significant improvements in microbiologic cure, clinical cure, survival, duration of mechanical ventilation, and ICU length of stay when compared to therapy with vancomycin.
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In this large epidemiology study using a previous survey and 2004 Medicare data focusing on serious infections in the ICU, hospitals with dedicated ICU clinical pharmacists had lower ICU mortality rates, shorter ICU stays, and reduced charges.
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Optimal management of transmural myocardial infarction (MI) depends on rapid reperfusion of the occluded infarct artery. Therefore, accurate early diagnosis is the cornerstone of initial patient assessment in the emergency department.
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The ACC/AHA guidelines recommend perioperative beta blockers for those already on them, patients undergoing vascular surgery, or those having intermediate- to high-risk surgery with established coronary heart disease, or at high risk of having it. However, recent studies have shown no beneficial effect of perioperative beta blockers and potential for harm.
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This article originally appeared in the November 29, 2014, issue of Internal Medicine Alert. It was edited by Stephen A. Brunton, MD, and peer reviewed by Gerald Roberts, MD. Dr. Brunton is Adjunct Clinical Professor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Dr. Roberts is Senior Attending Physician, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, NS/LIJ Health Care System, New Hyde Park, NY.
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Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is common in both the general population, as well as in patients with cryptogenic stroke, with an estimated prevalence somewhere between 15-35%. Recurrent neurovascular events, both recurrent ischemic stroke as well as transient ischemic attacks, are frequent in these patients, but it is not clear whether patients with PFOs have an increased rate of recurrent events compared to those patients who do not have PFOs.
