Make the Diagnosis: More than Skin Deep?
Presentation A 39-year-old man went to urgent care complaining of red, blanching patches in a linear configuration on his lower leg. The area was tender to the touch and edematous compared to his other leg. He was also running a slight fever. Although he was typically physically well, he was recently hospitalized with an infection […]
2020 Was Not a Good Year for Infection Control
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in acute care hospitals soared during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, potentially erasing years of progress in combating these infections, researchers said. Significant increases in the national standardized infection ratios for central line-associated bloodstream infections, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, ventilator-associated events, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia were noted in 2020 over […]
FDA Panel Nearly Unanimous on Liver Transplant Perfusion Device
TransMedics’ Organ Care System liver perfusion device got near unanimous support for an indication in liver transplantation by an FDA advisory committee. The agency’s Gastroenterology and Urology Devices Panel voted 14-0 in favor of both efficacy and safety, supporting an indication for the resuscitation, preservation, and assessment of liver allografts from donors after brain death […]
Obamacare Marketplace Sign-ups Pass 2 Million, Likely Pushing Down Uninsured Rate
More than 2 million people have signed up for insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s online marketplaces since Feb. 15, taking advantage of the Biden administration’s extended period for open enrollment that began on that day, the Department of Health and Human Services announced on Wednesday. That figure means total marketplace enrollment is probably at an […]
What to Do When It’s Time to Let Go … of the Specialist
So, how do we get our colleagues to let go, to stop taking care of our patients? Seems like a funny thing to ask. Don’t get me wrong, we need our specialist colleagues; we value the care they provide and their expertise and assistance. We in primary care would probably be pretty much lost without […]
How Is Meningitis Diagnosed and Treated? Symptoms & Signs
The treatment and care will depend on the type of meningitis the patient has and how unwell the patient is. If the doctor suspects you have meningitis, you will be hospitalized immediately for proper testing and to manage the illness. These tests include Blood tests: A complete blood count, blood urea, and creatinine levels, blood […]