May 28, 2025

Hello, my name is…
A recent study revealed how patients would like their doctors to introduce themselves.
A helping hand for hospitalists
One program created a new physician role to support other colleagues in their daily tasks.
Mortality in CAP lower with azithromycin than doxycycline, matched analysis finds
Overall, community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) patients who received azithromycin or doxycycline had similar adjusted mortality rates, but in a subset who were matched one-to-one, azithromycin was associated with better survival, a retrospective study found.
Iloprost does not improve outcomes in septic shock with persistent hypoperfusion
There was no difference in the number of days alive without use of mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, or renal replacement therapy between patients who were randomized to IV iloprost and those who received a placebo, and adverse events were higher with the drug, a trial found.
No difference in time to extubation with propofol, dexmedetomidine, or clonidine
Mechanically ventilated patients who were randomized to dexmedetomidine or clonidine were not extubated any sooner than those who received standard sedation with propofol, but they did have higher rates of severe bradycardia, according to a trial in the United Kingdom.
High or low potassium associated with higher risk of in-hospital cardiac arrest
Patients with severe hyperkalemia and in-hospital cardiac arrest had lower odds of return of spontaneous circulation and 30-day or one-year survival compared to those with normal potassium levels. Hypokalemia was not associated with risk of these outcomes.
Take a quiz about the May 21 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.