Risk factors for radiation exposure in newly diagnosed IBD patients.

Purpose: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be exposed to high doses of diagnostic radiation. The purpose of this study is to identify subsets of this population at risk for significant radiation exposure.

Methods: This HIPAA compliant, IRB approved study consists of 336 patients (237 adult and 99 pediatric) within the Ocean State Crohn's & Colitis Area Registry (OSCCAR).

Corticosteroid Use in a Prospective, Community-Based Cohort of Newly Diagnosed Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

Background: Systemic corticosteroids (CS) are a mainstay of treatment for patients with newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previous population-based studies report CS exposure rates range from 39 to 75 % within the first year of diagnosis with surgical resection rates as high as 13-18 % in the same time frame. These reports represent an older cohort of patients enrolled over prolonged periods of time and do not necessarily reflect current treatment approaches.

Testing for Clostridium difficile in patients newly diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease in a community setting.

Background: The incidence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing, and CDI has a negative impact on IBD outcomes with both increased morbidity and mortality. Data are lacking regarding the rate of appropriate testing for CDI at the time of diagnosis.

Methods: We sought to determine the rate of CDI testing and CDI positivity at diagnosis of IBD using data collected through the Ocean State Crohn's and Colitis Area Registry (OSCCAR), a prospective cohort of patients with newly diagnosed IBD.

Prospective, multicenter study of ventricular assist device infections.

Background: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) improve survival and quality of life in patients with advanced heart failure, but their use is frequently complicated by infection. There are limited data on the microbiology and epidemiology of these infections.

Methods And Results: One hundred fifty patients scheduled for VAD implantation were enrolled (2006-2008) at 11 US cardiac centers and followed prospectively until transplantation, explantation for recovery, death, or for 1 year.

Staphylococcus epidermidis colonization is highly clonal across US cardiac centers.

Background: Little is known about the clonality of Staphylococcus epidermidis in the United States, although it is the predominant pathogen in infections involving prosthetic materials, including ventricular assist devices (VADs).

Methods: Seventy-five VAD recipients at 4 geographically diverse US cardiac centers were prospectively followed up to 1 year of VAD support. The anterior nares, sternum, and (future) driveline exit site were cultured for S.