Implementation of vancomycin AUC/MIC dosing vs traditional trough dosing and incidence of acute kidney injury at a rural community hospital.

Purpose: Vancomycin treats methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in hospitalized patients, yet nephrotoxicity is a major risk. Dosing based on the ratio of vancomycin 24-hour area under the curve to minimum inhibitory concentration (AUC/MIC) is preferred over a trough-only vancomycin dosing approach to minimize the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). This study compares the safety of AUC/MIC-guided and trough-only vancomycin dosing at a 255-bed hospital.

Common musculoskeletal disorders in women.

Women are prone to certain orthopedic conditions and may present to their primary care physician for treatment. An appreciation of the physiological and anatomical differences between women and men and the musculoskeletal conditions that commonly affect active women can aid the physician in diagnosis and treatment. We discuss common musculoskeletal conditions of active women including those affecting the low back, knee, shoulder, and foot.

Farm-related limb amputations in children.

The purpose of this study was to review results for children sustaining traumatic farm-related limb amputations. Farm machinery accidents were responsible for 12 limb amputations among 260 consecutive childhood traumatic amputations. All amputations resulted in open, grade III-C fractures.