The evolving story of sodium in heart failure
Traditional practice has been to restrict sodium, but recent research shows some patients may actually benefit from salt supplements.
Building trust with video transitions
Predischarge video calls with hospitalists, patients, and their primary care physicians were feasible and improved patient trust, a pilot showed.
RRT activation outside the ICU did not improve sepsis survival
Patients who developed sepsis on the general wards had similar in-hospital mortality rates regardless of whether they were transferred to the ICU as a result of rapid response team (RRT) activation or not, a Japanese study found.
Empirical antifungal treatment linked with reduced IAPA rates in critically ill patients
After 30 days, influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (IAPA) incidence was 7.7% in the treatment group and 20.4% in the nontreatment group, but there were no between-group differences in mortality, a multicenter study found.
Reversal of subtherapeutic warfarin does not affect ICH outcomes, study finds
Patients with intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and an international normalized ratio of 1.5 to 1.9 had similar functional outcomes at discharge whether warfarin anticoagulation was reversed or not, according to an analysis of data from Get With The Guidelines–Stroke.
Incidence of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales rose 69% from 2019 to 2023, CDC analysis finds
The study also found an increasing diversity of carbapenemases, which can complicate treatment, as the majority of newly approved antimicrobial agents target specific carbapenemase classes, the authors said.
Take a quiz about the Sept. 17 issue!
Every week, ACP Hospitalist posts a question about the previous week's issue. See how well you remember what you've read compared to other readers.
Nitrous oxide misuse no laughing matter
A clinical toxicologist offers advice for hospitalists on managing patients admitted for nitrous oxide misuse.
Anemia
The distinctions among acute or chronic blood loss anemia, iron deficiency anemia, and hemorrhage are crucial for correct coding and diagnosis-related group assignment.
Medicare Advantage driving increases in long hospital stays
Patients on Medicare Advantage being discharged to skilled nursing facilities saw a particularly large increase in their risk of an extended hospital stay, according to the comparison of length of stay under Medicare Advantage versus traditional Medicare in 2017 to 2023.
Different pulse oximeters provide different readings on same patients, study finds
Tested on patients using noninvasive ventilation or continuous positive airway pressure during sleep, a transcutaneous oxycapnograph with a probe on an earlobe, a pulse oximeter with a finger probe, and a pulse oximeter with a ring probe provided substantially different results.
VA physicians report better work-life balance than private-sector peers, survey shows
A survey of more than 600 physicians found that those working at Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals reported lower odds of malpractice concerns and medical records issues than their private-sector peers, but rates of burnout between the groups were not significantly different.
Lower oxygenation targets for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure may worsen pulmonary outcomes
ICU patients had similar cognitive impairment but worse pulmonary diffusion capacity at one-year follow-up if they were assigned a target of 60 mm Hg versus 90 mm Hg for partial pressure of arterial oxygen, a Danish study found.
Hospitalists dip into DKA
Protocols using subcutaneous insulin have brought diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) into the domain of hospitalists.
Opioids get new labels
The FDA also announced an official end to the nationwide shortage of sodium chloride 0.9% injection products, among other actions.
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