Annals of internal medicine
-
Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
A comparison of the effect of universal use of gloves and gowns with that of glove use alone on acquisition of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a medical intensive care unit.
To determine the efficacy of the use of gloves and gowns compared with that of the use of gloves alone for the prevention of nosocomial transmission of vancomycin-resistant enterococci. ⋯ Universal use of gloves and gowns was no better than universal use of gloves only in preventing rectal colonization by vancomycin-resistant enterococci in a medical intensive care unit of a hospital in which vancomycin-resistant enterococci are endemic. Because the use of gowns and gloves together may be associated with better compliance and may help prevent transmission of other infectious agents, this finding may not be applicable to outbreaks caused by single strains or hospitals in which the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci is low.
-
Cardiac complications after noncardiac surgery are a serious cause of illness and death. Echocardiography is being used before noncardiac surgery to assess risk for cardiac complications, but its role remains undefined. ⋯ The data did not support the use of transthoracic echocardiography for the assessment of cardiac risk before noncardiac surgery. Echocardiographic measurements had limited prognostic value and suboptimal operating characteristics.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Acyclovir with and without prednisone for the treatment of herpes zoster. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Collaborative Antiviral Study Group.
To determine the effect of acyclovir and prednisone treatment of herpes zoster on chronic pain and quality-of-life outcomes. ⋯ In relatively healthy persons older than 50 years of age who have localized herpes zoster, combined acyclovir and prednisone therapy can improve quality of life.