Military medicine
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Nosocomial infections are frequent in patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Leukemoid reaction, defined as >50,000 white blood cells (WBCs) per microliter, has been associated with infections in some populations. As ECMO is associated with significant inflammation activation between the patient's immune system and the circuit components, it is hypothesized that leukemoid reactions may have low specificity for identifying new infections in patients receiving ECMO. ⋯ Leukemoid reactions occur infrequently in patients receiving ECMO and are generally multifactorial. In this cohort, leukemoid reactions rarely occurred in the setting of a new infection and suggest low utility to starting or broadening antimicrobials for these patients. Future studies identifying useful infectious markers are needed for patients receiving ECMO.
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Current literature supports a multidisciplinary approach to penicillin allergy delabeling. Our study aims to review the success rate of penicillin challenges performed at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Allergy Clinic and assess the reaction rate associated with a direct oral challenge in low-risk patients. ⋯ Given the low rate of adverse events in this study, expansion of penicillin delabeling in the primary care setting should be considered in patients deemed to be at low risk. It is important for allergists to empower and educate their peers and push forward a movement to create a multidisciplinary approach to penicillin delabeling.
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Military-civilian partnerships (MCP) provide a bidirectional exchange of information and trauma best practices. In 2021, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and the U.S. Navy signed a 3-year memorandum of understanding to embed active duty trauma providers into the Trauma Division to facilitate the training and sustainment of combat casualty care (CCC) skills. To date, there is little evidence to demonstrate the efficacy of military-civilian partnerships in maintaining combat casualty readiness in non-physician trauma providers. ⋯ Military-civilian partnerships support CCC readiness. The data presented and the continuation of mapping personnel's clinical experience to military CPGs can gauge readiness in non-physician trauma providers. Notably, several skills in each category were identified as opportunities to modify the clinical exposure of the military provider. These findings indicate that modifications in clinical assignments could enhance active duty combat casualty readiness in these critical skills.
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Stroke is a significant health burden for veterans and the fifth leading cause of death for women. Compared to civilian women, women veterans have significant multimorbid physical and mental health conditions contributing to their stroke risk. This scoping review aimed to synthesize evidence on the stroke risk factors specific to U.S. women veterans and identify any association between risk factors and a delay in prevention and treatment for women veterans. ⋯ Empirical literature on this matter is lacking. Examining and understanding the differences in sex, gender, and veteran status, and their association with stroke risk, is warranted. Screening women veterans for post-traumatic stress disorder and for stroke early, at 30 years of age, is recommended.