Keratolysis Associated with Methamphetamine Use - Incidental Diagnosis of Corneal Melt in a Patient with Acute Methamphetamine Intoxication.

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old male presented to the emergency department with methamphetamine-induced agitation. Physical exam showed clouding of the left cornea, with gelatinous appearance and associated conjunctivitis, consistent with corneal melt, or keratolysis.

Discussion: Keratolysis is dissolution of the corneal stroma that can lead to corneal ulceration and vision loss.

Performance of PCR/Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry on Whole Blood for Detection of Bloodstream Microorganisms in Patients with Suspected Sepsis.

Blood culture (BC) often fails to detect bloodstream microorganisms in sepsis. However, molecular diagnostics hold great potential. The molecular method PCR/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS) can detect DNA from hundreds of different microorganisms in whole blood.

Paraspinal Abscess in a Two-year-old Female.

A paraspinal abscess is an uncommon condition frequently diagnosed late due to equivocal symptoms, which can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. Commonly associated risk factors include prior invasive spinal procedures, diabetes mellitus, trauma, chronic steroid use, malnutrition, intravenous drug use and an immunocompromised state. Pediatric paraspinal abscesses are not well documented in the literature.