Ophthalmology
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To determine the match rate and predictors of matching into an ophthalmology residency. ⋯ Ophthalmology ranks among the most competitive specialties in medicine. Those most likely to match were US seniors who maintained academic excellence beginning in their preclinical years. A finite relationship exists between ranking a greater number of programs and having a greater chance of matching.
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Nonmydriatic fundus photography by non-ophthalmic-trained personnel has recently been shown to be a potential alternative to direct ophthalmoscopy in the emergency department (ED). We evaluated the reliability of a novel quality rating scale and applied this scale to nonmydriatic fundus photographs taken during routine ED patient encounters to determine factors associated with diminished photograph quality. ⋯ Our 5-point scale is a reliable measure of nonmydriatic photograph quality. The region of interest, interphotograph interval, and patient age and race are significant predictors of image quality for nonmydriatic photographs taken by nurse practitioners in the ED. Addressing these factors may have a direct impact on the successful implementation of nonmydriatic fundus photography into the ED.
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To characterize the patient demographics, clinical features, and antibiotic susceptibility of ocular infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), including community-associated (CA) and healthcare-associated (HA) isolates. ⋯ Community-associated MRSA is an important pathogen of ocular infections; CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA ocular infections differ demographically and clinically, but both strains were multi-resistant in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, one of the biggest referral centers in Taiwan. In a country with a high prevalence of MRSA, ophthalmologists should be aware of such epidemiologic information.