Paravertebral Abscess Secondary to Vertebral Osteomyelitis in an Intravenous Drug User.

Hematogenous pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis (VO) is a rare and often fatal complication of osteomyelitis that can affect individuals with underlying medical conditions, hospital-acquired infections, and intravenous (IV) drug abuse. Pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis can present with generalized back pain, pyrexia, motor weakness, and neurologic deficits. The enigmatic presentation of this condition often results in delays in diagnosis and an increase in mortality.

Impact of Acute Kidney Injury on Mortality of Patients Hospitalized for Complications of Cirrhosis.

Background/aims: The mortality of hospitalized patients for complications of cirrhosis is very high. We examined the independent predictors of mortality, particularly the impact of increments in creatinine, in 339 consecutive patients (636 admissions) who were admitted for complications of cirrhosis.

Methods: Clinical characteristics, biochemical parameters including serum creatinine levels at various time intervals, and mortality data were recorded for all admissions.

Hospital-associated venous thromboembolism in children: incidence and clinical characteristics.

Objective: To determine incidence and clinical characteristics of hospital-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pediatric patients.

Study Design: A retrospective analysis of patients with hospital-associated VTE at the Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1994 to 2009 was performed. Clinical characteristics of patients aged 21 years and younger who developed VTE symptoms after 2 days of hospitalization or <90 days after hospital discharge were examined.