-
Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a common opportunistic infection (OI) in AIDS patients. Laboratory diagnosis of this life-threatening infection is based primarily upon identifying P. jirovecii cysts in respiratory secretions, a technique that is variably sensitive and requires adequate patient effort (for induced sputum examination) or an invasive test (bronchoscopy); both are quite operator dependent.
-
-
By 2007, the prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistance among N. gonorrhoeae had become so widespread in the United States that the CDC recommended against use of drugs of that class in the treatment of gonorrhea.
-
The United States Perinatal HIV Surveillance Project tracks HIV-infected pregnant women in care in 15 locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico.
-
A consortium of 10 pediatric hospitals in Bangladesh, Egypt, Malawi, Pakistan, and Vietnam was assembled by the World Health Organization CSF5 study group with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development to compare 5 days vs. 10 days of therapy with ceftriaxone.
-
Vitamin D deficiency was found to be present in almost all patients entering with acute myocardial infarctions in a 20-hospital multicenter study.
-
Family history of cancer changes significantly between the ages of 30 and 50 years. Therefore, it is recommended that family history should be updated at least every 5 to 10 years to appropriately inform recommendations for cancer screening.
-
-
It comes as no surprise that when patients do not take their blood pressure (BP) medication, a lapse in BP control is anticipated. On the other hand, when a patient presents with an elevated BP and acknowledges omitted doses, it is difficult to be sure whether the observed elevation in BP is solely due to recent omissions, an underlying worsening of BP (requiring an augmentation rather than just simple restoration of treatment), rebound BP elevation, or some combination of these elements.
-
A systematic review covering 48 years gives pregabalin (Lyrica) Level A evidence for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy. Gabapentin, sodium valproate, amitriptyline, venlafaxine, and duloxetine may be as effective but only receive a Level B recommendation based on the quality of the studies.