Blastomycosis Awareness: A Crucial Reminder Amidst the Fifth Pneumonia Episode.

Blastomycosis is a rare fungal infection endemic to North America and parts of Africa. It can be challenging to diagnose until it reaches a critical stage. We present a blastomycosis case in Alabama, emphasizing the importance of early recognition and management.

Evaluating the Impact of a Pharmacist-Led Antimicrobial Stewardship Intervention at Discharge in a Community, Nonteaching Hospital.

Introduction: Approximately 30% to 50% of hospital discharge antimicrobials are inappropriate. Limited data exist on approaches to improve antimicrobial prescribing practices at the time of discharge from a community hospital. : To assess the impact of a comprehensive pharmacist-led antimicrobial stewardship intervention at discharge.

Time to Guideline-Based Empiric Antibiotic Therapy in the Treatment of Pneumonia in a Community Hospital: A Retrospective Review.

Purpose: The 2005 American Thoracic Society/Infectious Diseases Society of America (ATS/IDSA) guidelines for hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and health care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) stress the importance of initiating prompt appropriate empiric antibiotic therapy. This study's purpose was to determine the percentage of patients with HAP, VAP, and HCAP who received guideline-based empiric antibiotic therapy and to determine the average time to receipt of an appropriate empiric regimen.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of adults with HAP, VAP, or HCAP was conducted at a community hospital in suburban Birmingham, Alabama.