Internal Medicine
A Placebo-Controlled Trial of Antibiotics for Smaller Skin Abscesses
29 Jun, 2017 | 13:34h | UTCA Placebo-Controlled Trial of Antibiotics for Smaller Skin Abscesses – New England Journal of Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Adding Antibiotics to Incision-and-Drainage of Small Skin Abscesses Helps – Physician’s First Watch (free) AND Antibiotics Improve Short-Term Outcomes for Simple Abscesses – Medscape (free registration required) AND Study finds benefit for antibiotic treatment of simple skin wounds – CIDRAP (free)
The ABCs and Ds of Whether to Get Prostate Cancer Screening
28 Jun, 2017 | 22:43h | UTCThe ABCs and Ds of Whether to Get Prostate Cancer Screening – The New York Times (10 articles per month are free)
See also the new USPSTF guidelines on prostate cancer screening and related commentaries in our April 12 issue (see #1) and in our April 13 issue (see #4)
Balanced point of view regarding prostate cancer screening.
Asthma self-management programmes can reduce unscheduled care
27 Jun, 2017 | 20:39h | UTCAsthma self-management programmes can reduce unscheduled care – NIHR Signal (free)
Original article: Systematic meta-review of supported self-management for asthma: a healthcare perspective – BMC Medicine (free)
Cardiovascular Testing and Clinical Outcomes in Emergency Department Patients With Chest Pain
28 Jun, 2017 | 22:04h | UTCCardiovascular Testing and Clinical Outcomes in Emergency Department Patients With Chest Pain – JAMA Internal Medicine (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Cardiac Tests in ED Patients Not Tied to Better Outcomes – Medscape (free registration required) AND Cardiac Testing for Slight ACS Risk Just Means More Procedures – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Cardiac Testing in Emergency Room Chest Pain Patients – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free)
Contact Precautions for Endemic MRSA and VRE: Time to Retire Legal Mandates
26 Jun, 2017 | 19:41h | UTCViewpoint: Contact Precautions for Endemic MRSA and VRE: Time to Retire Legal Mandates – JAMA (free)
“Contact precautions are easy to use w a single patient, but burdensome when applied to an entire hospital” (RT @JAMA_current see Tweet)
This viewpoint suggests a more selective use of contact precautions for the control of endemic pathogens.
A Meta-analysis of the Impact of Aspirin, Clopidogrel, and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy on Bleeding Complications in Noncardiac Surgery
26 Jun, 2017 | 17:32h | UTCA Meta-analysis of the Impact of Aspirin, Clopidogrel, and Dual Antiplatelet Therapy on Bleeding Complications in Noncardiac Surgery – Annals of Surgery (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Source: EvidenceAlerts (free resource to find articles of interest)
“Antiplatelet therapy at the time of noncardiac surgery confers minimal bleeding risk with no difference in thrombotic complications. In many cases, it is safe to continue antiplatelet therapy in patients with important indications for their use”
Timely Use of Probiotics in Hospitalized Adults Prevents Clostridium difficile Infection
26 Jun, 2017 | 17:52h | UTCSource: EvidenceAlerts (free resource to find articles of interest)
In this meta-analysis including 19 randomized trials, probiotics given within 2 days of the first antibiotic dose (more effective than if started later) reduced the risk of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) by >50% in hospitalized adults. 1 case of CDI would be prevented for every 23−144 patients treated with probiotics when antibiotics are started. “There was no convincing evidence of superior efficacy for any of the tested probiotic formulations, delivery methods (drink or capsule), or probiotic doses”.
Point of view: Generalists key to improved hospital outcomes
26 Jun, 2017 | 17:26h | UTCPoint of view: Generalists key to improved hospital outcomes – MJA Insights (free)
Adult weight management: guidance for commissioners and providers
26 Jun, 2017 | 15:54h | UTCAdult weight management: guidance for commissioners and providers – Public Health England (free video and resources)
Respiratory medicine: Six things physicians and patients should question
26 Jun, 2017 | 15:04h | UTCNew Choosing Wisely Canada List: Respiratory medicine: Six things physicians and patients should question (free) (RT @ChooseWiselyCA see Tweet)
See more on the Choosing Wisely initiative in our April 5 issue, see #6.
Richard Lehman’s journal review, 26 June 2017
26 Jun, 2017 | 13:57h | UTCRichard Lehman’s journal review, 26 June 2017 – The BMJ Blogs (free)
Richard Lehman reviews the latest research in the top medical journals
Heart Rate and Rhythm and the Benefit of Beta-Blockers in Patients With Heart Failure
25 Jun, 2017 | 14:37h | UTCHeart Rate and Rhythm and the Benefit of Beta-Blockers in Patients With Heart Failure – Journal of the American College of Cardiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Do mortality rates differ according to baseline heart rates for those taking beta-blockers? – Cardiovascular Business (free) AND Heart Rate and Rhythm and the Benefit of Beta-Blockers in Patients With Heart Failure – PracticeUpdate (free registration required)
“In HFrEF, beta blockers reduce mortality – but only for those in sinus rhythm says new work in JACC” (RT @JACCJournals see Tweet)
Obesity now kills more people worldwide than car crashes, terror attacks, and Alzheimer’s combined
25 Jun, 2017 | 16:20h | UTCSee original study on the Global Burden of Obesity and related commentaries in our June 13th issue (see #1)
“Five takeaways from a giant study on an epidemic governments can’t ignore”.
Prevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia
25 Jun, 2017 | 15:15h | UTCPrevalence of Axial Spondyloarthritis Among Patients With Fibromyalgia: A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study With Application of the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society Classification Criteria – Arthritis Care & Research (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Does Fibromyalgia Mask Spondyloarthritis? – MedPage Today (free registration required)
Small study (99 patients) showed some patients diagnosed with fibromyalgia have imaging changes suggestive of axial Spondyloarthritis, suggesting that Fibromyalgia may mask an underlying Spondyloarthropathy.
Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder
25 Jun, 2017 | 14:13h | UTCKDIGO 2017 Clinical Practice Guideline Update for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, Prevention, and Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) (free PDF) (RT @goKDIGO see Tweet)
Executive summary: 2017 KDIGO Chronic Kidney Disease–Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) Guideline Update: what’s changed and why it matters (free PDF)
News release and available resources: CKD-Mineral and Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) (free)
Interesting initiative for improving quality and reducing readmissions from skilled nursing facilities
25 Jun, 2017 | 14:24h | UTCNecessity is the mother of invention: an innovative hospitalist-resident initiative for improving quality and reducing readmissions from skilled nursing facilities – Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives (free) (RT @HMVJC see Tweet)
In this model of care, a hospitalist-led team, including the resident on the geriatrics rotation, followed patients discharged from the hospital to the skilled nursing facility, leading to significant decrease in readmission rates.
ACG and CAG Clinical Guideline: Management of Dyspepsia
23 Jun, 2017 | 18:40h | UTCACG and CAG Clinical Guideline: Management of Dyspepsia – American College of Gastroenterology and Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (free PDF)
Topical antimicrobial agents for treating foot ulcers in people with diabetes
25 Jun, 2017 | 13:56h | UTCTopical antimicrobial agents for treating foot ulcers in people with diabetes – Cochrane Library (link to summary – & for full-text)
“Topical antimicrobial dressing may increase foot ulcer healing in people with diabetes” (RT @CochraneUK see Tweet)
Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation
23 Jun, 2017 | 20:38h | UTCReview: Trans-catheter aortic valve implantation: Contemporary practice and the future – Cardiology Journal (free)
Targeted temperature management in the ICU
23 Jun, 2017 | 20:36h | UTC
Spasticity Drug Cuts Alcohol Consumption in High-Risk Drinkers
23 Jun, 2017 | 14:41h | UTCSpasticity Drug Cuts Alcohol Consumption in High-Risk Drinkers – Medscape (free registration required)
Unpublished results, presented at the 13th World Congress of Biological Psychiatry, suggesting baclofen is an effective alternative for high-risk alcohol consumption.
Guided graded exercise self-help as a treatment of fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome
23 Jun, 2017 | 18:33h | UTCInvited commentary: Guided graded exercise self-help as a treatment of fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome (free)
Commentary: Self-help graded exercise programme may curb CFS fatigue – OnMedica (free)
Women and Heart Disease: New Data Reaffirm Lack of Awareness By Women and Physicians
23 Jun, 2017 | 14:37h | UTCKnowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Regarding Cardiovascular Disease in Women: The Women’s Heart Alliance – Journal of the American College of Cardiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentaries: Women and Heart Disease: New Data Reaffirm Lack of Awareness By Women and Physicians – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free) AND Women’s CV Risk Underestimated, Underassessed – MedPage Today (free registration required) AND Greater emphasis on preventing, treating heart disease in women needed – American College of Cardiology, via EurekAlert (free)
Related guidelines: Preventing and Experiencing Ischemic Heart Disease as a Woman: State of the Science: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (free) AND Acute Myocardial Infarction in Women: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association (free)
Women continue to underestimate their risk of cardiovascular disease.
Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Screening in Average-Risk Women
23 Jun, 2017 | 01:44h | UTCCommentary: OB/GYN Group Revises Breast Screening Recommendations for Average-Risk Women Physician’s First Watch (free)
Related guideline with a more conservative approach: Breast Cancer: Screening – U.S.Preventive Services Task Force (free)
Time-to-Furosemide Treatment and Mortality in Acute Heart Failure
23 Jun, 2017 | 01:51h | UTCTime-to-Furosemide Treatment and Mortality in Patients Hospitalized With Acute Heart Failure – Journal of the American College of Cardiology (link to abstract – $ for full-text)
Commentary: Door-to-Furosemide Time in Acute Heart Failure – American College of Cardiology, Latest in Cardiology (free)
“God help us if this sort of observational data leads to “door to furosemide time” being adopted as a quality measure” (RT @adamcifu see Tweet)