Effect of a standardized pharyngitis treatment protocol on use of antibiotics in a pediatric emergency department.

Background: Pharyngitis is a common complaint in pediatric patients. If clinical parameters are used alone, bacterial pathogens will be wrongly implicated in many cases. A nonstandardized approach to the treatment of children with pharyngitis in an emergency department setting may lead to inappropriate empirical therapy, contribute to increased bacterial resistance, and result in adverse events related to the treatment provided.

The educational experience of pediatric emergency medicine fellows in the use and application of procedural sedation/analgesia.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and educational experience provided to the pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellows in procedural sedation/analgesia during their course of training.

Methods: A nonanonymous survey was completed by the program director of each Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited PEM fellowship program listed in the 2001 to 2002 Graduate Medical Education Directory. Information relating to program demographics, agents available for use in the emergency department (ED), and the educational opportunities offered to trainees was sought.

Contamination rates of blood cultures obtained by dedicated phlebotomy vs intravenous catheter.

Context: Blood culture is the criterion standard for identifying children with bacteremia. However, elevated false-positive rates are common and are associated with substantial health care costs.

Objective: To compare contamination rates in blood culture specimens obtained from separate sites vs through newly inserted intravenous catheters.