Annals of emergency medicine
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India is the second most populous country in the world, with a population approaching 1 billion people. The development of emergency medicine is still in its earliest stages because the Medical Council of India (MCI) does not yet recogonize the specialty. Recent developments may cause the MCI to reconsider specialty status for emergency medicine as an academic discipline.
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Comparative Study
Do advanced cardiac life support drugs increase resuscitation rates from in-hospital cardiac arrest? The OTAC Study Group.
The benefit of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) medications during cardiac resuscitation is uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of these medications increased resuscitation from in-hospital cardiac arrest. ⋯ We found no association between standard ACLS medications and improved resuscitation from in-hospital cardiac arrest. Randomized clinical trials are needed to determine whether other therapies can improve resuscitation from cardiac arrest when compared with the presently used ACLS drugs.
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Comparative Study
Demonstration of the feasibility of emergency department immunization against influenza and pneumococcus.
To demonstrate the feasibility of systematic immunization against influenza and pneumococcus in a public emergency department. ⋯ Systematic immunization against influenza and pneumococcus is both needed and feasible in a public ED. "Buy-in" by nurses is variable. Increased staffing alone does not improve immunization rates.
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The emergence of vancomycin-resistant organisms is a major problem at many hospitals. Vancomycin use is associated with development of resistance. The objective of this study was to determine the appropriateness of vancomycin use in the emergency department. In addition, we sought to determine whether appropriateness of vancomycin use increased after the publication of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for prudent vancomycin use. ⋯ Overall vancomycin use rose each year despite an increase in the proportion with appropriate use. However, inappropriate use remained common. Emergency physicians and consultants should become familiar with national and local guidelines for prudent vancomycin use.