The Medical journal of Australia
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To develop evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of proximal femoral fractures to optimise functional outcome while minimising length of stay in hospital. ⋯ Randomised controlled trial evidence (NHMRC Levels I and II) exists for many, but not all, aspects of hip fracture treatment. There is a need for changes to be made to some aspects of practice in accordance with evidence-based guidelines.
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To determine the prevalence of bacteraemia in young febrile children presenting to a paediatric emergency department. ⋯ Most urban Australian children aged 3-36 months presenting to a paediatric emergency department with temperature > or = 39 degrees C without a clinical focus have a viral infection. However, 3%-4% have occult bacteraemia. Neither clinical features nor high WCC counts reliably identify these patients. As empiric antibiotics may contribute to increasing antibiotic resistance and have not been shown to prevent the rare complication of meningitis, we believe that close contact and regular review of these patients is preferable to empiric antibiotic therapy.
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Comparative Study
Outcomes of an educational-outreach service for community medical practitioners: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Exploration of longer-term outcomes of an ongoing educational-outreach service for community doctors. ⋯ A continuing education and support service for community medical practitioners which uses principally academic detailing methods in its contact with doctors has contributed to sustained changes in prescribed NSAID use over a five-year period. A focus on risk-minimisation in prescribing of NSAIDs appears to have contributed to reductions in hospitalisations for GI adverse events.