A 21-year-old woman presents to the ED with a history of fever, general malaise, mild diffuse cramping and abdominal pain, and a cough with occasional blood-tinged sputum. She was recently diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, but she is not currently on antiretroviral medications. The patient appears cachectic and fatigued, and she is noted to be tachycardic, febrile, and has mild tachypnea. Diagnostic laboratory studies are conducted, and a chest radiograph and CT scan are taken. What is the diagnosis? eMedicine Case Presentations
How is the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) shifting? Why is the severity of CDI increasing? Gonzalo M. Bearman, MD, MPH, answers these questions in an Expert Interview. Medscape Infectious Diseases
A crossover trial shows that skin-to-skin contact to reduce pain in preterm neonates is effective in infants from 28 weeks of gestation through term. Medscape Medical News
A 33-year-old woman presents to the ED with a severe headache, associated vomiting, blurred vision, and weakness in her left leg. She states that it is the worst headache of her life, and it is worsening despite her use of acetaminophen. She has a 4-year history of oral contraceptive use. Her pupils show a slightly sluggish reaction to light, and bilateral papilledema is noted on the funduscopic examination. A magnetic resonance venogram (MRV) is taken. What is the diagnosis? eMedicine Case Presentations
Although hospital mortality and delays to fibrinolytic reperfusion have improved, over 40% of patients reperfused still receive it outside the time window recommended. European Heart Journal
Epidemiologic and molecular typing studies are needed to document MRSA carriage and infection rates to implement adequate infection control guidelines. Emerging Infectious Diseases
Can use of glucose control protocol lead to decreased median blood glucose levels and to longer periods of normoglycemia in the ICU? American Journal of Critical Care
