Comprehensive therapy
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Guidelines for assessment of head injuries and prevention of serious deficits depend on clinical assessment. These cost effective interventions are supplemented by imaging studies when findings warrant.
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Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, despite effective therapies. Guidelines for CAP management vary widely in their approach. Resistance of S pneumoniae to penicillins and other antibiotics has prompted evaluation of the new fluoroquinolones.
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Sterile pyuria is not an uncommon laboratory finding. This article explores the major causes of sterile pyuria, including infectious, systemic, structural and physiologic, and drug-related causes. It also discusses the differential diagnosis of eosinophiluria and the basic workup of sterile pyuria.
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Low back pain is commonly seen in the primary care setting. Although the majority of patients have a benign etiology for their symptoms, one must approach these patients in a systematic fashion, looking for "red flags" of serious disease.
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Major epidemiological changes have altered the empiric therapy of patients with bacterial meningitis, a disease with significant morbidity and mortality. We offer recommendations for empiric management decisions and specific antibiotic choices for patients with bacterial meningitis.