Internal and emergency medicine
-
The aim of this study was to explore the role of lung ultrasound (LUS) in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection and to verify its utility in the prediction of lung disease's severity and outcome. Fifty-three consecutive patients presenting to the Emergency Department of Santa Maria delle Grazie Hospital with high suspicion of SARS-CoV-2 infection underwent diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 on samples obtained from nasopharyngeal swab as well as complete proper diagnostic work-up that included clinical evaluation, laboratory tests, blood gas analyses, chest CT and LUS. A semiquantitative analysis of B-lines distribution was performed to calculate the LUS score. ⋯ None of these parameters was predictive of mortality. LUS is a useful tool for the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 infection and for the evaluation of the disease severity, but does not predict mortality. Further studies with repeated evaluations of LUS score are needed to further explore the role of LUS in the assessment of severity in SARS-CoV-2 disease and in the monitoring of the response to treatments.
-
Letter Biography Historical Article
"A hundred years since the birth of Rosalind Elsie Franklin, a brilliant and gifted scientist".
-
Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Short vs long-course antibiotic therapy in pyelonephritis: a comparison of systematic reviews and guidelines for the SIMI choosing wisely campaign.
The Italian Society of Internal Medicine (SIMI) Choosing Wisely Campaign has recently proposed, among its five items, to reduce the prescription of long-term intravenous antibiotics if not indicated. The aim of our study was to assess the available evidences on optimal duration of antibiotic treatment in pyelonephritis through a systematic review of secondary studies. ⋯ Short-course antibiotic treatment is at least as effective as longer courses for both microbiological and clinical success in the treatment of acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis.