A Novel Pretreatment Regimen for Breakthrough Radiocontrast Media Anaphylaxis in Cardiac Patients.

Background: Radiocontrast media allergy is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition. This creates a clinical dilemma for cardiac patients who require urgent interventions with radiocontrast media. Several pretreatment regimens have been suggested for patients with prior immediate hypersensitivity reactions to radiocontrast media.

Deficits in allergy knowledge among physicians at academic medical centers.

Background: Allergic conditions have high prevalence in the general population. Misconceptions regarding the diagnosis and management of allergic disease among physicians can lead to suboptimal clinical care.

Objective: To determine the extent of allergy-related knowledge deficits among physicians.

Prasugrel as a safe alternative for clopidogrel-induced polyarthralgias.

Clopidogrel is an oral thienopyridine that has been shown to reduce the risk of vascular death in patients with acute coronary syndrome, ischemic stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. The drug is associated with rare adverse effects such as thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura, acute hepatotoxicity, and neutropenia. Only six cases have been reported that link acute arthritis with the use of clopidogrel.

Otolaryngologic community-acquired MRSA infections in a suburban private practice.

A retrospective review was conducted of all cases of head and neck community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) infections seen in the senior author's suburban private practice during a 12-month period. An office and hospital chart review was performed for all patients identified with culture-positive CA-MRSA infections. Several parameters were evaluated, including site of infection, prior therapy, imaging, comorbid disease, culture and sensitivities, surgical and medical management, and long-term results.