A review suggests that rather than focusing on hand-hygiene compliance, hospitals should consider using targeted cleaning to decrease methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus contamination and transmission. Medscape Medical News
The avian influenza pandemic threat requires clinicians to apply knowledge of disease epidemiology, treatment, and infection control. This activity reviews the data and guidelines to improve outcomes. Medscape Infectious Diseases
A study shows reduced lung function in children with prolonged breast-feeding by mothers with asthma and atopy vs offspring of mothers without asthma and atopy. Medscape Medical News
Hemoglobin A1c should remain the gold standard. We should refine it to incorporate sensible assumptions about the correlation between successive data values. Medscape General Medicine
Blood pressure, in combination with other monitoring, helps detect 93% of adverse events occurring under anaesthesia. Continuting Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain
The first comprehensive, prospective study of percutaneous dilational tracheostomy (PDT) in patients with severe liver diseases indicates that the procedure is safe when performed by an experienced operator, even in patients with refractory coagulopathy. Reuters Health Information
Results suggest that the association between transfusion and dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury needs additional study in critically ill patients. Medscape Medical News
Research summaries include the use of supplemental nurses, ICUs and end-of-life care, school nurses, menopause, and falls in elderly women. Medscape Nurses
Caffeine therapy for apnea of prematurity in very low birth weight infants improves survival without neurodevelopmental disability, a new study suggests. Medscape Medical News
