The American journal of the medical sciences
-
Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) facilitates early patient discharge, but readmissions prior to completion of therapy may offset its advantages. The objective of this study was to evaluate unplanned readmissions of patients undergoing OPAT at our institution and to identify risk factors. We hypothesized that host factors were most relevant. ⋯ Unplanned hospital readmissions were frequent and due to very heterogeneous causes. Diabetic foot infection, selected comorbidities, and discharge on opioids were identified as independent risk factors. In the efforts to decrease readmissions among patients receiving outpatient parenteral antimicrobial a focus on these high-risk groups is a priority.
-
Previous studies have revealed the disadvantages of traditional methods for the diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusions (TPEs) and have created interest in exploring other effective biomarkers. Many studies have focused on the correlation between pulmonary diseases and serum creatinine (Cr), a representative biomarker of renal function, but little is known about the direct relationship between Cr and TPE. Our study aimed to explore whether Cr can act as a biomarker for the diagnosis of TPE and to evaluate the correlation between Cr and TPE. ⋯ Cr has the potential for the diagnosis of TPE to some extent though its accuracy is not as good as that of ADA. Further studies are necessary for Cr to be applied in clinical practice for the diagnosis of TPE.
-
The incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in young patients is increasing. While race-related differences in clinical characteristics and outcomes for older AMI patients have been well-studied, such differences in young patients are unknown. ⋯ In conclusion, our data provide important, not previously described information on race-related differences in history, presentation, clinical and angiographic features and outcomes in AAs compared with Caucasians younger than 50 with AMI. These findings may have implications for tailoring specific preventive strategies to decrease the incidence of AMI and its associated adverse events in both racial groups.