Clin Med
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Case Reports
Misdiagnosis: analysis based on case record review with proposals aimed to improve diagnostic processes.
Diagnostic error underlies about 10% of adverse events occurring in hospital practice. However, there have been very few studies considering means of improving the mechanisms of diagnosis. As a result, misdiagnosis has been described as 'the next frontier for patient safety'. ⋯ These observations led to the proposal of a clinical assessment with a method designed to encourage analytical reasoning. In addition, minor defects in standard practice are shown to adversely influence diagnosis. The findings of this study offer possible means of improving the quality of diagnosis and subsequent patient care, and perhaps pave the way for prospective studies.
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The incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is rapidly increasing across the globe. Tuberculosis (TB), meanwhile, remains a significant problem in low and middle income countries fuelled by high rates of HIV/AIDS. This article explores the long recognised but underappreciated connection between the two, revealing that DM makes a substantial contribution to the burden of incident TB around the world and may also worsen TB severity and treatment outcome. The dual management of the diseases may be challenging but must be addressed, both in low and high income settings, because the rising worldwide diabetes burden poses a threat to global TB control.