Outcomes of patients hospitalized in ward settings for COVID-19 pneumonia with or without early empirical antibiotics.

Background: During the first pandemic of COVID-19, early empirical antibiotic use rates for pneumonia varied widely. The benefit remains hypothetical.

Methods: We assessed the benefit of empirical antibiotic use at admission in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 pneumonia.

Early and short-term intensive management after discharge for patients hospitalized with acute heart failure: a randomized study (ECAD-HF).

Aims: Hospitalization for acute heart failure (HF) is followed by a vulnerable time with increased risk of readmission or death, thus requiring particular attention after discharge. In this study, we examined the impact of intensive, early follow-up among patients at high readmission risk at discharge after treatment for acute HF.

Methods And Results: Hospitalized acute HF patients were included with at least one of the following: previous acute HF < 6 months, systolic blood pressure ≤ 110 mmHg, creatininaemia ≥ 180 µmol/L, or B-type natriuretic peptide ≥ 350 pg/mL or N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide ≥ 2200 pg/mL.

Reliability and Safety of Bedside Blind Bone Biopsy Performed by a Diabetologist for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis.

Objective: Bone biopsy (BB) performed by a surgeon or an interventional radiologist is recommended for suspicion of osteomyelitis underlying diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). To facilitate its practice, we developed a procedure allowing bedside blind bone biopsy (B4) by a diabetologist.

Research Design And Methods: We conducted a three-step observational study consisting of a feasibility and safety phase (phase 1) to assess the success and side effects of B4, a validity phase (phase 2) to compare DFU outcomes between positive (B4+) and negative (B4-) bone cultures, and a performance phase (phase 3) to compare B4 with the conventional surgical or radiological procedure basic bone biopsy (B3).