Internal medicine journal
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2025
Bacteraemia over 4 years in a Greater Western Sydney Metropolitan Local Health District: a retrospective descriptive study.
Bacteraemia is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Understanding local patterns of bacteraemia including pathogen distribution, infection source, clinical speciality team burden, susceptibility data and mortality rates can inform empiric antibiotic choices, prevention approaches and education strategies. ⋯ This study provides valuable insight into the local epidemiology of bacteraemia, which will allow for targeted prevention, management and educational strategies to improve outcomes.
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2025
Characteristics of paracetamol poisoning in a local health network and consistency of hospital management with national guidelines.
The management of paracetamol poisoning in our local health network and consistency with national guidelines is unclear. We conducted a 4-month retrospective study of all paracetamol poisonings identified in two South Australian hospitals. ⋯ Although most were managed in accordance with national guidelines, there were deficiencies in documentation of the poisoning details and patient weight as well as cases of underdosing of the antidote. Quality improvement initiatives are needed.
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Internal medicine journal · Jan 2025
Impact of Karnofsky performance status on outcomes of patients with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis: a propensity-matched analysis.
Severity scores, including the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) and discriminant function score, guide the treatment of patients with severe alcohol-associated hepatitis (AH). We aimed to investigate the impact of functional status on outcomes of patients with AH. ⋯ KPS is an important determinant of outcomes in patients with AH, including survival, recompensation, response to corticosteroids and complications.
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There continues to be significant interest from both clinicians and patients in using faecal transplantation, as the integral role of the gut microbiome is increasingly recognised in various disease conditions, both within and beyond the gut. This Clinical Perspectives article provides an overview of existing literature, factors limiting the use of faecal microbial transplantation in clinical practice and exciting new advancements on the horizon.