The American journal of the medical sciences
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Review Case Reports
COVID-19-Associated Suspected Myocarditis as the Etiology for Recurrent and Protracted Fever in an Otherwise Healthy Adult.
Current reports concerning cardiac involvement in the novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) mostly document acute myocardial injury at presentation. Here, we present a healthy young male, with presumed acute myocarditis, presenting 20 days after initial diagnosis of COVID-19 - and after a clinical, and apparent laboratory, resolution of the original episode. His sole substantial clinical finding upon admission was fever, which was followed by a witnessed elevation in troponin-I.
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Aspergillus species are ubiquitous in the environment. Aspergillosis is acquired by inhalation of Aspergillus spores. In normal hosts, spore inhalation rarely causes lung disease. ⋯ Chronic pulmonary Aspergillosis affects patients with chronic structural lung disease such as COPD or previous mycobacterial lung disease, but without other significant immunocompromise. Aspergillus bronchitis affects patients with bronchial disease such as bronchiectasis. Allergic bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis affects patients with bronchial asthma or cystic fibrosis, and is due to an allergic response to Aspergillus.
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Central catheter infections are of concern in patients on hemodialysis because of the high risk of catheter-related bloodstream infections, sepsis, and death. Adequate nursing is critical for the prevention of such infections. This study aimed to use the PDCA (plan-do-check-act) method to reduce the incidence of central venous catheter infection using management in the maintenance of central venous catheter in patients on hemodialysis, compared with routine care. ⋯ This pilot study suggests that the PDCA cycle model can effectively reduce the incidence of central venous catheter-related infections and improve satisfaction and quality of life in patients on hemodialysis.
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Currently, most available data on the medication adherence of patients with chronic heart failure are based on indirect methods. We examined the level of adherence to medical therapy using a direct method - serum drug level testing. ⋯ A significant proportion of outpatients with chronic heart failure were non-adherent to treatment when assessed by a direct method of serum drug level testing. Non-adherence was more likely in younger patients.