Clinical medicine (London, England)
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Antibiotic-associated diarrhoea is among the most common adverse events related to antibiotic use. Most cases are mild, but Clostridium difficile infection causes a spectrum of disease, ranging from occasional diarrhoea to colitis, toxic megacolon, and potentially death. Recent developments in our understanding of the biology of the gut microbiota have provided new insights into the pathogenesis of these conditions, and have revealed a role for manipulation of the gut microbiota as a novel therapeutic approach. This review will give an overview of the assessment of these conditions, before focusing on the rapidly developing area of their treatment.
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Over the last decade there has been increasing interest and enthusiasm in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) as an aide to traditional examination techniques in assessing acutely unwell adult patients. However, it currently remains the domain of a relatively small handful of physicians within the UK. ⋯ This review article aims to explore some of the evidence base behind POCUS for a number of medical pathologies, and where possible compare it to evidenced traditional examination techniques. We discuss the issues around training in bedside ultrasound and recommend a push to integrate POCUS training into internal medicine curricula and support trainers to comprehensively deliver this.
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Intravenous fluids are commonly prescribed but uncertainty remains about how to assess when fluids are required and how much to give, particularly in our multimorbid, polymedicated and ageing population. Furthermore, studies have noted that fluid resuscitation can be harmful even if clinical evidence of hypervolaemia is not present. Two recent guidelines have acknowledged a limited evidence base to guide fluid assessment. ⋯ However, the means of defining fluid responsiveness and its ability to identify patients who would benefit from fluid resuscitation is currently unclear. This review discusses the current guidelines about, and the evidence base for the provision of, intravenous fluids in the acutely unwell medical patient. It highlights how little evidence is available to guide medical practice.
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Hepatitis B virus reactivation (HBVr) is emerging as an important clinical entity, with the advent of highly potent immunosuppression licensed for use as the treatment of a widening range of clinical indications. HBVr can lead to severe acute liver failure and death. Risk can be minimised through appropriate screening, monitoring and antiviral prophylaxis. ⋯ Risk stratification should then be performed on the basis of characteristics of the -underlying disease, markers of viral activity and the potency of proposed immunosuppression. In this review, we summarise the most recent recommendations from the relevant international societies. We also provide suggestions on how a robust multidisciplinary service can be delivered to prevent HBVr in UK clinical practice through optimisation of resources and introduction of checkpoints to prevent the inappropriate administration of immunosuppression to those at significant risk of HBVr.