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Clinical Variables Predict Debridement Failure in Septic Arthritis
July 29, 2015
Clinical question: What risk factors predict septic arthritis surgical debridement failure? Background: Standard treatment of septic arthritis is debridement and antibiotics. Unfortunately, 23%-48% of patients fail single debridement.
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Prednisolone or Pentoxifylline Show No Mortality Benefit in Alcoholic Hepatitis
July 29, 2015
Clinical question: Does administration of prednisolone or pentoxifylline reduce mortality in patients hospitalized with severe alcoholic hepatitis? Background: Alcoholic hepatitis is associated with high mortality.
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Corticosteroids Show Benefit in Community-Acquired Pneumonia
July 29, 2015
Joshua LaBrin, MD, SFHM, Kencee Graves, MD, Karli Edholm, MD, Devin Horton, MD, and Katie Lappe, MD; Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City
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Standard Discharge Communication Process Improves Verbal Handoffs between Hospitalists, PCPs
July 29, 2015
Clinical question: Can a standardized discharge communication process, coupled with an electronic health record (EHR) system, improve the proportion of completed verbal handoffs from in-hospital physicians to PCPs within 24 hours of patient discharge? Background: Discharge from the hospital setti
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Nomogram Predicts Post-Operative Readmission
July 29, 2015
Clinical question: Can a nomogram accurately predict a patient’s risk of post-operative 30-day readmission? Background: Medicare and Medicaid have implemented penalties for hospitals with high readmission rates.
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Antiepileptic Drugs Reduce Risk of Recurrent Unprovoked Seizures
July 29, 2015
Clinical question: What are the updated recommendations for treating first unprovoked seizure in adults? Background: Approximately 150,000 adults present with an unprovoked first seizure in the U.S. annually, and these events are associated with physical and psychological trauma.
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PPI Usage with SBP Prophylaxis Predicts Recurrent Infections in Cirrhosis
July 29, 2015
Clinical question: What are the risk factors for development of a recurrent infection in cirrhotic patients hospitalized with an initial infection? Background: Infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cirrhosis.
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Nontoxigenic C. diff Spores May Decrease Rates of Recurrent CDI
July 29, 2015
Clinical question: Is treatment with nontoxigenic C. diff strain M-3 (NTCD-M3) safe and effective in preventing recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (CDI)? Background: C. diff is the most commonly identified healthcare pathogen, and CDI has a 25%-30% recurrence rate. Not all C.
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Retrievable IVC Plus Anticoagulation Does Not Reduce Risk of Recurrent Pulmonary Embolism
July 29, 2015
Clinical question: Does a retrievable inferior vena cava (IVC) filter in addition to anticoagulation in patients with an acute pulmonary embolism (PE) decrease the risk of recurrent PE? Background: Inferior vena cava placement has increased dramatically over the last three decades.
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PHM15: Evidence-Based Diagnostic Evaluation of Infants Presenting with an Apparent Life Threatening Event
July 29, 2015
Summary: Presenters of the PHM15 session "Evidence Based Diagnostic Evaluation of Infants Presenting with an Apparent Life Threatening Event" discussed four main diagnostic categories for ALTEs: cardiac, infectious, non-accidental trauma/neurologic, and gastrointestinal.