Nita Shrikant Kulkarni, MD
News
High-Dose Barium Enemas Prevent Recurrent Diverticular Bleeding
April 13, 2015
Clinical question Does barium impaction therapy using high-dose barium enemas prevent recurrent diverticular bleeding? Bottom line This small study demonstrates that barium impaction therapy using high-dose barium enemas is safe and effective at reducing the rate of recurrent diverticular bleed
News
Steroids May Benefit Patients With Severe CAP and High CRP Levels
April 13, 2015
Clinical question: Do steroids improve outcomes in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia and a high inflammatory response? Bottom line In patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) who have elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), a short course of methylprednisolone
News
2011 Resident Work Hour Reforms Had No Effect on Mortality or Readmissions
March 9, 2015
Clinical question Did the 2011 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education resident work hour reforms affect patient outcomes? Bottom line Resident work hour reforms were proposed by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to reduce resident fatigue (and thus p
News
Chlorhexidine Bathing Does Not Reduce Nosocomial Infections
March 9, 2015
Clinical question: For critically ill patients, does daily bathing with chlorhexidine reduce health care–associated infections? Bottom line These results show that daily chlorhexidine bathing does not significantly affect the incidence of health care–associated infections.
News
Procalcitonin-Based Algorithm Does Not Reduce Antibiotic Use in the ICU
February 10, 2015
Clinical question Can a procalcitonin-based algorithm reduce antibiotic use in critically ill patients? Bottom line A procalcitonin-based algorithm using a 0.1 ng/mL cutoff does not significantly decrease the duration of antibiotic treatment in critically ill patients nor does it reduce length
News
Early Tube Feeding Does Not Improve Outcomes in Acute Pancreatitis
February 10, 2015
Clinical question Does early nasoenteric feeding decrease the rate of infections or death in patients hospitalized with severe acute pancreatitis? Bottom line In patients with severe acute pancreatitis, early nasoenteric feeding initiated within 24 hours of presentation, as compared
News
Intermittent PPI = Continuous-Infusion PPI for High-Risk Bleeding Ulcers
January 7, 2015
Clinical question Is intermittent proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy comparable with continuous-infusion PPI for the treatment of patients with high-risk bleeding ulcers who have undergone endoscopic therapy? Bottom line For patients with high-risk bleeding ulcers who have been treated endosco
News
PEG Better and Faster than Lactulose for Initial Treatment of Hepatic Encephalopathy
January 7, 2015
Clinical question Is polyethylene glycol 3350-electrolyte solution an effective treatment for hospitalized patients with acute hepatic encephalopathy? Bottom line Polyethylene glycol 3350-electrolyte solution (PEG) is a safe and effective therapy for the initial treatment of acute hepatic encep
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News
No Survival Benefit With Early Goal-Directed Therapy for Septic Shock
December 10, 2014
Clinical question For patients presenting with early septic shock, does early goal-directed therapy reduce mortality? Bottom line As compared with usual resuscitation care, early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) using central venous monitoring does not improve mortality in patients presenting t
News
Lower Transfusion Threshold for Sepsis Equals Fewer Transfusions, No Effect on Mortality
December 10, 2014
Clinical question Does a lower transfusion threshold for critically ill patients with septic shock affect outcomes? Bottom line Using a lower threshold for transfusion for patients with septic shock in the intensive care unit (ICU) decreases the number of transfusions received without affec
