Is 5 days of oral fluoroquinolone enough for acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis? The DTP randomized trial.

The treatment duration of acute uncomplicated pyelonephritis (AUP) is still under debate. As shortening treatment duration could be a means to reduce antimicrobial resistance, we aimed to establish whether 5 days of antibiotic treatment is non-inferior to 10 days in patients with AUP. We performed an open-label prospective randomized trial comparing 5 days to 10 days of fluoroquinolone treatment for AUP.

Variability of intensive care admission decisions for the very elderly.

Unlabelled: Although increasing numbers of very elderly patients are requiring intensive care, few large sample studies have investigated ICU admission of very elderly patients. Data on pre triage by physicians from other specialities is limited. This observational cohort study aims at examining inter-hospital variability of ICU admission rates and its association with patients' outcomes.

Accuracy of C-reactive protein, procalcitonin, and mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide to guide site of care of community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: The use at bedside of C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT) or mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) has been advocated to help management of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in emergency medicine.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of CRP, PCT, and ANP measures in assisting emergency physicians deciding hospital admission for CAP with low risk of complication.

Design: Multicenter, prospective, observational study with blind evaluation.

Offline exhaled nitric oxide in emergency department and subsequent acute asthma control.

Background: Few studies have evaluated exhaled NO measurement during acute asthma.

Objectives: To evaluate exhaled NO fraction (FE(NO)) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) time-courses during acute asthma treatment (beta 2-agonist plus systemic steroid) and to assess whether FE(NO) time-course predicts subsequent asthma control.

Methods: Sixty-five asthmatic patients (mean +/- SD, 34 +/- 10 years) were prospectively enrolled in three Emergency Departments.

Risk factors for heat related death during the August 2003 heat wave in Paris, France, in patients evaluated at the emergency department of the Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou.

Objectives: This study sought to determine the risk factors for short term mortality in the victims of the heat wave of August 2003 in France from among patients evaluated in our emergency department (ED). It was hypothesised that age, temperature, and some long term therapies and pre-existing pathologies were factors associated with short term mortality.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a seven day period.