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Acute Q fever may progress to endocarditis in patients with clinically silent valvulopathy. Those at risk require either extended antibiotic prophylaxis or close serological follow-up. All patients with acute Q fever should undergo transthoracic echocardiography, or in some instances transesophageal echocardiography, to exclude occult valvular abnormalities.
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Antibody testing successfully identified 7 patients whose encephalitis was due to the free-living amoeba, Balamuthia mandrillaris, a pathogen that should be suspected in individuals with soil contact, high CSF protein, and mass-like or ring-enhancing brain lesions.
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Overall, clopidogrel plus aspirin was not significantly more effective than aspirin alone in reducing the rate of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death from cardiovascular disease.
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As the FDA continues to debate whether to approve Barr Laboratories' Plan B emergency contraception for over-the-counter sales, states are actively looking at whether pharmacists should have the right to refuse to dispense a medication on religious or moral grounds.
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A University of Iowa/Department of Veterans Affairs review of previously published studies found that getting hospital-based pharmacists out from behind the counter to work directly with inpatients and health care teams reduced medication errors and problems.
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Cigna Pharmacy Management has launched new preventive prescription drug plan options intended to promote medication compliance by providing a higher level of benefits coverage to employees who need certain medications to prevent illness or address specified chronic health care conditions.
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William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, MI, one of the nation's leading hospitals, has purchased pharmacy robotic technology from ForHealth Technologies, Inc., to improve medication administration and efficiency.
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Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin say a multidisciplinary clinical approach to caring for obese patients with metabolic syndrome could swiftly and significantly lower their heart disease risk.
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The University of Pennsylvania health system is developing a new policy aimed at ending the drug company practice of gaining access to doctors by giving gifts such as meals and merchandise. As of July 1, the system is prohibiting physicians from accepting gifts and meals from drug company representatives on hospital premises.
