Southern medical journal
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Southern medical journal · May 2015
Impact of trainees on length of stay in the emergency department at an Academic Medical Center.
Emergency department (ED) overcrowding remains a growing concern despite continued efforts by hospitals to improve efficiency while also maintaining quality of care and medical education. The purpose of this study was to examine whether the total number of trainees rotating in the ED affects length of stay (LOS). ⋯ Findings from this study suggest that ED LOS is unaffected by the presence or total number of trainees (medical students, postgraduate year-1 students/interns, and nurse practitioners) rotating in the ED. Further research is needed to examine what, if any, adjustments are being made to accommodate trainees and whether the quality of education suffers when the trainee-to-attending ratio is high.
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Southern medical journal · May 2015
Pediatric Staphylococcus aureus Infections: Impact of Methicillin Resistance at a Canadian Center.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causes a wide spectrum of potentially serious infections in children. This study describes the evolving experience with S. aureus infections at a Canadian tertiary pediatric care center serving a wide geographic area. ⋯ MRSA contributed to a significant proportion of S. aureus infections at a large Canadian tertiary care center. Ample opportunities exist to develop stewardship protocols, especially for the management of soft tissue infections in outpatients.
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Southern medical journal · May 2015
Assessment of appropriate antibiotic prescribing for urinary tract infections in an internal medicine clinic.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections encountered in ambulatory care and inpatient settings. Although these infections are common, not all patients are prescribed an appropriate antibiotic or duration of therapy. The primary objective of this analysis was to evaluate the appropriateness of antibiotic selection and duration of therapy for patients in an adult internal medicine clinic diagnosed as having a UTI. ⋯ Receiving an adequate antibiotic regimen for a UTI is important to prevent treatment failure and the emergence of resistant organisms. Overall, the studied antibiotic regimens prescribed for various UTIs diagnosed in the clinic did not align with the IDSA recommendations.