JOURNAL CLUB: Patient Perception of Radiology and Radiologists: A Survey Analysis of Academic and Community Institutions.

Objective: The objective of the present study is to evaluate patient understanding of radiology and radiologists and to assess patient interest in direct consultation with a radiologist.

Materials And Methods: A total of 1976 adult radiology outpatients at both a university and a nearby community hospital were surveyed. After an initial survey was administered, educational material with an attached follow-up survey was distributed to the patients.

Spinal and paraspinal fungal infections associated with contaminated methylprednisolone injections.

Background: A nationwide outbreak of fungal infections was traced to injection of Exserohilum-contaminated methylprednisolone. We describe our experience with patients who developed spinal or paraspinal infection after injection of contaminated methylprednisolone.

Methods: Data were assembled from the Michigan Department of Community Health, electronic medical records, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports.

Magnetic resonance imaging screening to identify spinal and paraspinal infections associated with injections of contaminated methylprednisolone acetate.

Importance: Injection of contaminated methylprednisolone has resulted in an unprecedented nationwide outbreak of Exserohilum rostratum fungal infections, manifested initially as meningitis and/or basilar stroke. Insidious onset of spinal or paraspinal infection at the injection site has been increasingly reported and is occurring months after receipt of injection with the contaminated drug. The clinical findings are often subtle and similar to those that led the patient to undergo the methylprednisolone injection.