Internal Medicine Alert – December 30, 2020
December 30, 2020
View Archives Issues
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Managing Appendicitis Medically
A multicenter, randomized trial showed that 10 days of antibiotics results in comparable outcomes as surgery. Three in 10 patients treated with antibiotics required surgery within 90 days.
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Healthcare Personnel COVID-19 Hospitalizations and Vaccine Prioritization
During the period of study, 5.9% of individuals hospitalized for COVID-19-related reasons were healthcare providers (HCP), with approximately one-third involving HCP who were not expected to directly contact patients.
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The Effect of Age on Cholesterol-Lowering Therapy
Investigators analyzed data on the effect of age on cardiovascular (CV) outcomes and LDL cholesterol-lowering by alirocumab vs. placebo in recent acute coronary syndrome patients. They found alirocumab can lower the rate of CV events regardless of age — and produce more absolute benefit with age.
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Antibiotics for Traveler’s Diarrhea
International travel carries a risk of colonization by antimicrobial-resistant intestinal flora. Using quinolone, but not a macrolide, during travel further increases the risk of acquisition of extended-spectrum, beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae.
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Multiple Sclerosis and Vascular Disease
Researchers evaluated the presence and pathological significance of extracranial systemic and cerebral small vessel disease in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls. MS patients exhibited less systemic vascular disease and more small vessel disease in the brain vs. controls.
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Casirivimab + Imdevimab Injection
Casirivimab/imdevimab should be used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and patients ≥ 12 years of age weighing at least 40 kg who have tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.