The Journal of family practice
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Comparative Study
The appropriateness of early discharge of hospitalized children with suspected sepsis.
Febrile children with suspected sepsis are often hospitalized and empirically treated with parenteral antibiotics pending results of bacterial cultures. The question of just how long such children should be observed and treated following initial negative culture reports has not been adequately addressed. This study was designed to determine the appropriateness of discharging hospitalized culture-negative children with suspected sepsis at the end of 48 hours. ⋯ Although our study data suggest that culture-negative children hospitalized for suspected sepsis who meet the criteria for normal clinical assessment can be safely discharged at 48 hours, a stronger statistical validation of this approach can be made if a larger sample size is studied.
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This study investigated Massachusetts family physicians' current care and referral practices with respect to HIV/AIDS patients and examined actors that might influence family physicians in referring these patients to specialists. Educational opportunities for physicians with regard to HIV were also examined. ⋯ Family physicians are increasingly seeing HIV/AIDS patients in their offices. The majority are continually caring for these patients, either by themselves or co-managing their care with a specialist. Local CME programs relying on colleagues and community resources to discuss management of these patients may be one of the best ways of ensuring that increasing numbers of family physicians obtain the appropriate knowledge to care for these patients within their own communities.