With health care workers in the bulls eye of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), hospitals preparedness was recently tested by the first two U.S. cases in Indiana and Florida. The real-world situation revealed one critical element of a response plan: Communication.
Ascites, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, hepatic encephalopathy and bacterial infections are common complications experienced by patients with cirrhosis. Traditionally, when a cirrhotic patient experiences one of these complications and develops worsening liver function, he or she is diagnosed with acute on chronic liver failure.
In an earlier study of early decompressive hemicraniectomy for large middle cerebral artery strokes, the same investigators demonstrated reduced mortality without increasing the risk of very severe disability among patients ≤ 60 years of age.
After pelvic floor reconstructive surgery, antibiotic prophylaxis with daily nitrofurantoin during postoperative catheterization does not decrease risk of urinary tract infection.
