Infectious Diseases
- What are the risks to inpatients during hospital construction or renovation?
Risks include mold infection, Legionnaires disease, sleep deprivation, exacerbation of lung disease, and physical injury.
- Mediastinal granuloma due to histoplasmosis in a patient on infliximab
Immunosuppressive drugs can predispose to invasive fungal infection.
- A young man with acute chest pain
A young man presents with severe, pressure-like, midsternal, nonradiating pain, rated 10 on a scale of 10.
- Deciding when a picture is worth a thousand words and several thousand dollars
Physical examination is cheap but not highly reproducible. Imaging is expensive but may be more sensitive and specific.
- When does acute pyelonephritis require imaging?
Imaging is recommended for those at risk of complications.
Infective endocarditis: Beyond the usual testsNewer imaging tests are increasingly used as alternatives or adjuncts to echocardiography for selected patients.
- Do patients on biologic drugs for rheumatic disease need PCP prophylaxis?
Consider it in those with granulomatosis with polyangiitis or pulmonary disease, or those on high-dose steroids.
- The return of measles—an unnecessary sequel
Why are we having such a tough time convincing people to get routine vaccines for themselves and for their kids?
- Disseminated invasive aspergillosis in an immunocompetent patient
The patient, who has COPD, will require lifelong antifungal treatment.
- Measles: A dangerous vaccine-preventable disease returns
Vaccine refusal and global unrest have led to an alarming upswing in measles cases.
