News
Increase in Broad-Spectrum Antibiotics Disproportionate to Rate of Resistant Organisms
March 28, 2016
Clinical question: Have healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) guidelines improved treatment accuracy? Background: Guidelines released in 2005 call for the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics for patients presenting with pneumonia who have had recent healthcare exposure.
News
SHM’s Twitter Contest Encourages Appropriate Antibiotic Prescribing
March 14, 2016
When developing the “Fight the Resistance” campaign last year, the SHM team knew that antibiotic resistance would continue to be one of the most high-profile medical concerns heading into 2016.
News
HM16 Session Analysis: Infectious Disease Emergencies: Three Diagnoses You Can’t Afford to Miss
March 8, 2016
Presenter: Jim Pile, MD, Cleveland Clinic Summary: The following three infectious diagnoses are relatively uncommon but important not to miss as they are associated with high mortality, especially when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.
News
Hospitalist Cynthia Cheung, MD, Joins Hospital Committee, Promotes Antibiotic Stewardship
February 3, 2016
Each year in the United States, at least 2 million people become infected with bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics, and at least 23,000 people die as a result of these infections.
News
Hospitalists Can Lend Expertise, Join SHM’s Campaign to Improve Antibiotic Stewardship
December 22, 2015
The CDC estimates that drug-resistant bacteria cause approximately 23,000 deaths and about two million illnesses each year in the U.S.1 Such unfavorable statistics encouraged the White House to convene a forum on antibiotic resistance in June 2015.
News
Clinical Care Pathway for Cellulitis Can Help Reduce Antibiotic Use, Cost
November 4, 2015
Clinical question: How would an evidence-based clinical pathway for cellulitis affect process metrics, patient outcomes, and clinical cost? Background: Cellulitis is a common hospital problem, but its evaluation and treatment vary widely.
News
Joint Commission Resource Educates Patients, Hospitalists about Antibiotics
October 6, 2015
The Joint Commission has launched a new online resource for patients and hospitalists to help change mindsets and start conversations about proper antibiotic usage. The SpeakUp: Antibiotics campaign is a package of free materials, including an infographic illustrating which illnesses may require
News
Antibiotic Therapy, Appendectomy for Uncomplicated Acute Appendicitis
October 6, 2015
Clinical question: Is antibiotic therapy noninferior to appendectomy for treatment of uncomplicated acute appendicitis? Background: Previous randomized clinical trials have compared antibiotic therapy versus appendectomy for the treatment of uncomplicated, acute appendicitis.
News
Antibiotic Stewardship and Hospitalists: How to Educate Patients on Antibiotics
July 29, 2015
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on SHM’s official blog, “The Hospital Leader,” in June 2015. “Tell me what you know about antibiotics.” That’s the discussion I start with hospitalized patients all the time, right after they ask me to prescribe antibiotics for their simple cough
News
Avoid Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole for Severe MRSA Infections
July 9, 2015
Clinical question: Is trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole equivalent to vancomycin for the treatment of severe infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus? Bottom line: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) did not achieve noninferiority as compared with vancomycin for the treatmen