Internal Medicine Alert – March 30, 2012
March 30, 2012
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To ED or Not to ED
Elderly nursing home patients who were sent to an emergency department for evaluation were 2-4 times more likely than patients who remained at the nursing home to develop an acute respiratory or gastrointestinal infection within the next week. -
Effect of Elevated Blood Pressure on Lifetime Risk for Cardiovascular Disease
Individuals who experienced increases in blood pressure in middle age have an associated higher remaining lifetime risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD), especially if untreated. Decreases in an elevated blood pressure in middle age will result in a significant lowering of the remaining lifetime risk for CVD. -
Where's the Beef?
These studies support inclusion of beef in heart-healthy diets. -
Patients Placed in Contact Isolation Are at Increased Risk for Delirium
This retrospective study of all non-psychiatric patients admitted to an academic medical center found that although those placed in contact isolation from the time of admission had no increased risk for delirium, patients moved into isolation after admission were twice as likely to develop delirium during the hospital stay. -
Ivermectin Lotion 0.5% (Sklice)
A new topical preparation for the treatment of head lice has been approved by the FDA. Ivermectin is a macrocyclic lactone antibiotic that has been used orally both on and off label for head lice since 2001. This new formulation is a topical lotion (oral invermectin is not approved in the United States). It is manufactured by DPT Laboratories and is distributed by Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., as Sklice. -
Clinical Briefs By Louis Kuritzky, MD
In its most recent guidance regarding colon cancer screening (CCS), the American Cancer Society iterated a new position on choice of tests, basically stating that "the best test is the test you can get done."