Practice 'safe scans': why ultrasound transducer covers should be considered best practice.

Single-injection, ultrasound-guided nerve block procedures involve puncturing the skin in close proximity to an ultrasound transducer, creating a potential vector for transmission of microbial organisms when skin flora and blood come into contact with the probe. Practice patterns regarding disinfection of the transducer and the use of barrier protection are inconsistent, ranging from sterile sleeve probe covers to no cover at all. Although sleeve probe covers are easy and straightforward to use and serve to protect patients, providers and medical equipment, their utilisation remains controversial.

Comorbidities in Childhood Celiac Disease: A Phenome Wide Association Study Using the Electronic Health Record.

Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is associated with a variety of extraintestinal autoimmune and inflammatory findings that manifest clinically as symptoms and comorbidities. Understanding these comorbidities may improve identification of the disease and prevent sequelae. In this study, we use an unbiased electronic health record (EHR)-based Phenome Wide Association Study (PheWAS) method to confirm known comorbidities, discover novel associations and enhance characterization of the clinical presentation of CD in children.