Archive

Tag: Infectious Disease

The Pneumonia Short Treatment Trial: Antibiotic Treatment for 3 days vs 8 days

Background: In 2019 the World Health Organization listed “Antimicrobial Resistance” as a top 10 threat to global health. This was echoed in a 2021 document. [WHO 2019, WHO 2021] The classic medical teaching regarding antimicrobial therapy pushed for longer treatment …

Read More
Infectious DiseaseThoracic and Respiratory

COVID-19 Update: The ChAdOx1 (AstraZeneca) COVID-19 Vaccine

Background Information: With rising cases, an increasing death toll, and a significant strain on hospital systems globally, the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have no end in sight. The aggressive pursuit of a vaccine has led to multiple clinical trials starting before …

Read More
Infectious Disease

HiTEMP: Procalcitonin-Guided Antibiotic Therapy in the ED

Background: With CMS core measures requiring timely use of antibiotics in patients with fever and suspected sepsis, many patients receive antibiotics up front that may ultimately end up having another non-bacterial etiology as the cause of their fever.  On the one …

Read More
Infectious Disease

ANDROMEDA-SHOCK: Peripheral Perfusion vs Serum Lactate in Septic Shock

Background: Based on the Surviving Sepsis Campaign, hemodynamic resuscitation of sepsis patients is done by repeating serum lactic acid levels every 2 – 4 hours until normalization. The issue with this strategy is that there are other things that may elevate …

Read More
Infectious Disease

The CENSER Trial: Early Norepinephrine in Septic Shock

Background: Standard management of septic shock has included, IV fluids until optimal intravascular volume is achieved, appropriate early antibiotics, and source control.  Typically, only after all these measures have been undertaken is vasopressor infusion initiated if a MAP of ≥65mmHg is …

Read More
Infectious Disease

Sponsored