Chest
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Patients commonly present to primary care services with upper and lower respiratory tract infections, and guidelines to help physicians investigate and treat acute cough due to suspected pneumonia and influenza are needed. ⋯ For outpatient adults with acute cough due to suspected pneumonia, we suggest the following clinical symptoms and signs are suggestive of pneumonia: cough; dyspnea; pleural pain; sweating, fevers, or shivers; aches and pains; temperature ≥ 38°C; tachypnea; and new and localizing chest examination signs. Those suspected of having pneumonia should undergo chest radiography to improve diagnostic accuracy. Although the measurement of C-reactive protein levels strengthens both the diagnosis and exclusion of pneumonia, there was no added benefit of measuring procalcitonin levels in this setting. We suggest that there is no need for routine microbiological testing. We suggest the use of empiric antibiotics according to local and national guidelines when pneumonia is suspected in settings in which imaging cannot be performed. Where there is no clinical or radiographic evidence of pneumonia, we do not suggest the routine use of antibiotics. There is insufficient evidence to make recommendations for or against specific nonantibiotic, symptomatic therapies. Finally, for outpatient adults with acute cough and suspected influenza, we suggest that initiating antiviral treatment (according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advice) within 48 hours of symptoms could be associated with decreased antibiotic use and hospitalization and improved outcomes.
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Review Meta Analysis
Meta-Analysis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.
The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is controversial. Current guidelines recommend that clinicians use regular antacid treatment, while two recent meta-analyses of antacid therapy in IPF were inconclusive. The objective of this study was to examine the evidence regarding the association between GERD and IPF through a systematic review and a meta-analysis, with special reference to the methodologic quality of the observational studies. ⋯ GERD and IPF may be related, but this association is most likely confounded, especially by smoking. Our confidence in the estimate of association is low because it is exclusively from case-control studies.
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The decision to treat a suspected case of pertussis with antibiotics is usually based on a clinical diagnosis rather than waiting for laboratory confirmation. The current guideline focuses on making the clinical diagnosis of pertussis-associated cough in adults and children. ⋯ In adults with acute (< 3 weeks) or subacute (3-8 weeks) cough, the presence of whooping or posttussive vomiting should rule in a possible diagnosis of pertussis, whereas the lack of a paroxysmal cough or the presence of fever should rule it out. In children with acute (< 4 weeks) cough, posttussive vomiting is suggestive of pertussis but is much less helpful as a clinical diagnostic test. Guideline suggestions are made based upon these findings and conclusions.
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Multicenter Study
Effectiveness of Influenza Vaccination on Hospitalizations and Risk Factors for Severe Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With COPD.
The effectiveness of influenza vaccination in reducing influenza-related hospitalizations among patients with COPD is not well described, and influenza vaccination uptake remains suboptimal. ⋯ Influenza vaccination significantly reduced influenza-related hospitalization among patients with COPD. Initiatives to increase vaccination uptake and early use of antiviral agents among patients with COPD could reduce influenza-related hospitalization and critical illness and improve health-care costs in this vulnerable population.
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As the cost of health care continues to escalate, payers are adapting by moving away from models based on traditional fee-for-service reimbursement to models focused on rewarding care delivery that reduces costs and improves quality. These alternative payment models (APMs) are being introduced by government and commercial payers and will likely become the norm over time. ⋯ For OSA, the approaches that should lead to success include the appropriate use of home sleep apnea testing and automatic positive airway pressure; lower cost providers to manage less complex patients; evolving technologies including cloud-based positive airway pressure adherence monitoring, telemedicine, and Internet-based coaching to improve adherence with treatments; data analytics to better identify high-risk populations and to more appropriately allocate resources; and appropriate referrals of more complex cases to sleep specialists for management. All of these approaches should improve the value of care for payers, providers, and patients while allowing sleep specialists to more appropriately allocate their efforts to overseeing APM program development and administration and allowing them to focus on the management of more complicated patients.