Intradural Abscess of the Thoracic and Lumbar Spine.

Spinal abscesses are normally confined to the epidural space. Due to the anatomical seclusion of the intradural space, it is rare for the infection to spread to the area or for the cause to be idiopathic, iatrogenic in nature, or due to another phenomenon. We report a case of a 45-year-old male who was found to have a rare intradural spinal abscess two days post-laminectomy for severe central canal stenosis.

Adjunctive extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal in refractory status asthmaticus.

Status asthmaticus (SA) is a life-threatening disorder. Severe respiratory failure may require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Previous reports have demonstrated utility of ECMO in SA in various patients with varying success.

Seek and you shall find: prevalence of Clostridium difficile in Wuhan, China.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is one of the leading health care acquired-infections in the United States, but much of the epidemiology and burden of disease is unknown in China. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and possible risk factors of CDI among hospitalized patients with diarrhea in Wuhan, China. The overall prevalence of CDI was 28% (31/111).

Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The utility of procalcitonin to manage patients with infections is unclear. A systematic review of comparative studies using procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy in patients with infections was performed.

Methods: Randomized, controlled trials comparing procalcitonin-guided initiation, intensification, or discontinuation of antibiotic therapy to clinically guided therapy were included.