Clin Med
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Up to 4% of inpatients are in hospital solely to receive intravenous antimicrobial therapy. Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) offers the opportunity for improved efficiency and patient choice through early discharge from hospital or admission avoidance, while maintaining quality of care. OPAT aligns well with key priorities in the new NHS and in this article I explore how new developments in the national healthcare context might be exploited to promote the ongoing evolution of OPAT in the UK.
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Case Reports
Lesson of the month. (1). What lies beneath the surface? Diagnosis. Churg-Strauss syndrome.
This reports describes the development of a rash in a 43-year-old man with asthma, who was admitted to the respiratory clinic with dyspnoea, leucocytosis and a productive cough. His symptoms progressed and he was admitted to the high-dependency unit for respiratory support. ⋯ The key message from this particular case was the importance of early diagnosis of Churg-Strauss syndrome, in which a rash is combined with marked peripheral eosinophilia and signs of respiratory distress. Early intervention will reduce the risks of morbidity and mortality in patients with this rare, life-threatening syndrome.
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This column explores the links and synergies between medicine and literature. What roles can literature play in reflecting and influencing good practice, and what sorts of images of doctoring are to be found in drama, poetry, fiction, biography, electronic fora and film? The editors would be pleased to receive short papers, ranging from 500–1,000 words, on relevant topics. Those interested in contributing should email brian.hurwitz@kcl.ac.uk or neil.vickers@kcl.ac.uk