Exclusive oral antibiotic treatment for hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia: a post-hoc analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to assess the efficacy of different ways of administration and types of beta-lactams for hospitalized community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Methods: In this post-hoc analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCT) on patients hospitalized for CAP (pneumonia short treatment trial) comparing 3-day vs. 8-day durations of beta-lactams, which concluded to non-inferiority, we included patients who received either amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC) or third-generation cephalosporin (3GC) regimens, and exclusively either intravenous or oral treatment for the first 3 days (followed by either 5 days of oral placebo or AMC according to randomization).

Factors Associated With Treatment Failure in Moderately Severe Community-Acquired Pneumonia: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Failure of treatment is the most serious complication in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

Objective: To assess the potential risk factors for treatment failure in clinically stable patients with CAP.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This secondary analysis assesses data from a randomized clinical trial on CAP (Pneumonia Short Treatment [PTC] trial) conducted from December 19, 2013, to February 1, 2018.

Evaluating clinical outcomes of routinely delivered task-shared care for depression in rural Haiti.

Background: There is a growing literature in support of the effectiveness of task-shared mental health interventions in resource-limited settings globally. However, despite evidence that effect sizes are greater in research studies than actual care, the literature is sparse on the impact of such interventions as delivered in routine care. In this paper, we examine the clinical outcomes of routine depression care in a task-shared mental health system established in rural Haiti by the international health care organization Partners In Health, in collaboration with the Haitian Ministry of Health, following the 2010 earthquake.

Discontinuing β-lactam treatment after 3 days for patients with community-acquired pneumonia in non-critical care wards (PTC): a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial.

Background: Shortening the duration of antibiotic therapy for patients admitted to hospital with community-acquired pneumonia should help reduce antibiotic consumption and thus bacterial resistance, adverse events, and related costs. We aimed to assess the need for an additional 5-day course of β-lactam therapy among patients with community-acquired pneumonia who were stable after 3 days of treatment.

Methods: We did this double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority trial (the Pneumonia Short Treatment [PTC]) in 16 centres in France.

Decreased levels of procoagulant phospholipids in bleeding patients treated by vitamin K antagonists.

International Normalized Ratio (INR) is currently used to monitor vitamin K antagonist therapy, and the bleeding incidence becomes exponential for INR>4.5. Inversely, more than 50% of patients with a supratherapeutic INR are asymptomatic.

Efficacy of AccuVein to facilitate peripheral intravenous placement in adults presenting to an emergency department: a randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: In the emergency department (ED), intravenous (IV) catheter placement is one of the most frequent interventions and may be a real challenge in some conditions. Improvement of the success rate with new technology represents a great opportunity. This randomized controlled trial aimed to show the superiority of AccuVein to cannulate veins in adults compared to routine care.

Performance evaluation of a noninvasive hemoglobin monitoring device.

Study Objective: Hemoglobin measurement is a routine procedure, and a noninvasive point-of-care device may increase the quality of care. The aim of the present study is to compare hemoglobin concentration values obtained with a portable totally noninvasive device, the Masimo Labs Radical-7 Pulse CO-Oximeter, with the results obtained by the ADVIA 2120 in the laboratory.

Methods: This was a prospective monocentric open trial enrolling patients consulting in the emergency department of a university hospital from June 16 to December 17, 2009.

Esophageal function and Sjögren's syndrome.

The frequency and characteristics of esophageal dysmotility in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are as controversial as their related symptoms. We evaluated esophageal function and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in 21 SS patients using manometry and 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring. All patients complained of xerostomia, 33% of dysphagia, and 62% of heartburn.