Infectious Disease
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Ginkgo Benefits for Tinnitus?
Twelve weeks of twice-daily Ginkgo biloba extract improved symptoms as effectively as pentoxifylline in 200 adults with chronic tinnitus.
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Effects of Probiotics on Cognition and Fall Risk in Patients With Cirrhosis
Patients with cirrhosis and mild cognitive impairment and falls were randomized to a probiotic formulation vs. placebo. Probiotic treatment improved cognitive outcomes and reduced the risk of falls.
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Is It Safe to Stop Digoxin for Heart Failure?
In a large older patient heart failure with reduced ejection fraction hospitalizations database, the outcome of withdrawing digoxin vs. continuing digoxin was examined at 30 days and up to four years of follow-up. Withdrawing preadmission digoxin in hospital resulted in higher mortality at 30 days and more readmissions at six months, one year, and four years.
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Infectious Disease Alert Updates
Smarter Use of PICC Lines; Urine Cultures: A Gateway to Antibiotic Overuse; How Can Vancomycin Dosing Be Improved?
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2019 Community Acquired Pneumonia in Adults Guideline — Not Much New Under the Sun
The 2019 guideline differs from the 2007 version to only a limited extent.
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Staphylococcus aureus Bacteriuria: What Is the Significance?
In a retrospective study from Canada, researchers reported several risk factors for serious Staphylococcus aureus infections, including bacteremia and vertebral osteomyelitis, in patients with S. aureus bacteriuria.
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Community-Acquired Pneumonia: Sputum Gram Stains Are Helpful After All!
Researchers analyzed the diagnostic accuracy and yield of sputum Gram stain (SGS) in community-acquired pneumonia across 24 studies of 4,533 adult patients in a meta-analysis. SGS was specific for the diagnosis of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae infection.
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Strep Testing — We Can Do Better
Testing for streptococcal pharyngitis in children younger than 3 years of age is rarely helpful and results in unnecessary costs. Quality improvement efforts can be effective in systematically reducing non-indicated testing.
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Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the United States — Not a Happy Picture
Since achieving historic lows, the rates of many sexually transmitted infections has been increasing in the United States. The problem is highlighted by the continued emergence of antibiotic resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae.
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When Will the Next Emerging Infection Hit?
While infection preventionists get caught up in day-to-day concerns of a multifaceted job, there is always the threat of an emerging infection one plane ride away from virtually anywhere on the globe.