Role of body temperature in diagnosing bacterial infection in nursing home residents.

Objectives: To provide empirically based recommendations for incorporating body temperature into clinical decision-making regarding diagnosing infection in nursing home (NH) residents.

Design: Retrospective.

Setting: Twelve North Carolina NHs.

Does adherence to the Loeb minimum criteria reduce antibiotic prescribing rates in nursing homes?

Objectives: The Loeb minimum criteria (LMC), developed by a 2001 consensus conference, are minimum standards for initiation of antibiotics in long term care settings, intended to reduce inappropriate prescribing. This study examined the relationship between nursing home prescriber adherence to the LMC and antibiotic prescribing rates, overall and for each of three specific conditions (urinary tract infections, respiratory infections, and skin and soft tissue infections).

Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis at the resident-day level.

Military report more complementary and alternative medicine use than civilians.

Objectives: The study objective was to estimate complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among active duty military and compare data with civilian use.

Design: A global survey on CAM use in the 12 previous months was conducted. Final participants (16,146) were stratified by gender, service, region, and pay grade.

Use of dietary supplements among active-duty US Army soldiers.

Background: US Army soldiers engage in strenuous activities and must maintain fitness and body weight to retain their jobs. Anecdotal reports suggest that the use of dietary supplements (DSs) by soldiers may reflect their unique occupational requirements and the complexity of their job and family responsibilities.

Objective: We assessed the use of DSs by soldiers.

Disability in elderly people with multiple sclerosis: An analysis of baseline data from the Sonya Slifka Longitudinal Multiple Sclerosis Study.

This study compares the demographic, clinical, and health care characteristics of 2,156 persons over and under age 65 who are participants in the Sonya Slifka Longitudinal Multiple Sclerosis Study and examines the effects of current age, age at diagnosis, course, and duration of illness on disability-related outcomes. Compared to younger MS patients, significantly higher percentages of older patients lived alone, had lower incomes, and were severely disabled; 85% needed help with activities of daily living and 40% received home care services. Almost all older patients had health insurance, 75% had prescription drug coverage, and few reported difficulty accessing general medical and specialized MS care; perceptions of health status and quality of life were relatively positive.