March 29, 2021

Infectious disease

Antibiotic Use in Acute Upper Respiratory Tract Infections – 12/27/2022 -We use too many antibiotics in an unnecessary fashion. One recent study of 15,000 patients treated with antibiotics found that 41% of the time, there was no indication for their use. Major groups recommend holding off on antibiotic use for mild to moderate sinusitis unless symptoms last for 10 or more days, or symptoms worsen after an initial period of improvement.

Note that 10% of the population report a penicillin allergy, though <1% actually have a confirmed penicillin allergy. Also, antibiotics are not typically helpful to treat laryngitis.

Appropriate Use of Short-Course Antibiotics in Common Infections: Best Practice Advice from the American College of Physicians

A Treacherous Course

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea – 11/10/2021

Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment – 04/20/2022

Clinical Practice Guideline by the Infectious Diseases Society of America: 2021 Focused Update Guidelines on Management of Clostridium difficile infection in Adults – 08/15/2022- Patients with severe disease (defined as WBC level > 15,000 or cr > 1.5) should ideally be treated with fidaxomicin. Alternatively, oral vancomycin can be used. The antibiotic associated with causing the infection should ideally be stopped.

Hard to Swallow – 10/08/2021

HIV infection in Adults: Initial Management 

HIV Infection-Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment 

How Would You Treat This Patient Hospitalized with Community-Acquired Pneumonia? – 12/17/2021

Human Papillomavirus: Screening, Testing, and Prevention

Human Papillomavirus: Screening, Testing, and Prevention – 09/03/2021

Latent Tuberculosis Infection – 12/17/2021 

Take a Bite out of Cellulitis with Dr. Boghuma Titanji