Hospital Medicine Alert – December 1, 2015
December 1, 2015
View Issues
-
To Cut Or Not To Cut
ABSTRACT & COMMENTARY: Here are the benefits and the downsides of doing an early cholecystectomy.
-
Efficacy and Safety of Very Early Mobilization After Onset of Acute Stroke
SYNOPSIS: The higher dose, very early (within 24 hours) mobilization protocol was associated with a reduction in the odds of a favorable outcome at 3 months after stroke occurrence. -
Clostridium difficile Infection — Back to the Future
SYNOPSIS: This study provides strong evidence that the diagnosis of Clostridium difficile infection (as opposed to colonization) should be made on the basis of evidence of toxin production, not the mere presence of the organism as detected by glutamate dehydrogenase testing or the presence of toxin genes.
-
Acetaminophen for Fever in the ICU
SYNOPSIS: Seven hundred ICU patients with fever and known or suspected infection were randomly assigned to receive acetaminophen 1 g IV or placebo every 6 hours until ICU discharge, resolution of fever, cessation of antimicrobial therapy, or death. Early administration of acetaminophen did not affect number of ICU-free days.
-
Beta-blocker Dose More Important Than Heart Rate in Systolic Heart Failure
Beta-blockers reduce both morbidity and mortality in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.