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60-Second Soapbox: New podcast series featuring Drs. Lin, Riddell, Shaikh

aliem_soapboxWe are excited to announce our new podcast series, 60-Second Soapbox! Each episode, one lucky individual gets exactly 1 whole minute to present their rant-of-choice to the world. Any topic is on the table – clinical, academic, economic, or whatever else may interest an EM-centric audience. Don’t worry if your are microphone-shy. We will carefully remix your audio to add an extra splash of drama and excitement. Even more exciting, participants get to challenge 3 of their peers to stand on a soapbox of their own!

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By |2026-06-16T16:07:47-07:00Jul 29, 2015|60-Second Soapbox, Genitourinary, Infectious Disease, Medical Education, Podcasts, Trauma|
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Blast From the Past: Occult Sepsis, Lactic Acid, and Mortality

Occult Sepsis, Lactic Acid, & Mortality-3Severe sepsis and septic shock affect millions of patients worldwide and have high rates of morbidity and mortality as well as high resource utilization. The way we manage sepsis has changed quite a bit since the Rivers et al randomized controlled trial of early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) 1 , which had an absolute decrease in mortality from 46% with “usual care” to 31% with EGDT. What we now know is that a proactive approach to septic patients will result in lower mortality rates and better outcomes (i.e. early identification, early intravenous fluids, and early antibiotics). Patients with sepsis are still missed despite the fact that we understand the benefits to morbidity and mortality with early recognition. In this blast from the past study from 2007, Howell et al 2 answered the important question of does elevated lactic acid simply reflect a patient’s hemodynamic status or can it independently predict 28 day in-hospital mortality after controlling for other potential confounders in patients with sepsis. (more…)

By |2016-11-11T19:37:14-08:00Jun 29, 2015|Critical Care/ Resus, Expert Peer Reviewed (Clinical), Infectious Disease|
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Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim for Skin and Soft Tissue Infections: 1 or 2 Tablets BID?

bactrimThe 2014 Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Skin and Soft Tissue Infections (SSTI) recommend sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (SMX-TMP) for purulent infections where methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a likely pathogen. 1 But, what dose of SMX-TMP should we be prescribing? Both the SSTI and MRSA guidelines say 1-2 double strength tablets twice a day. 1,2  So, which is it, 1 tablet or 2?

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By |2016-11-11T19:36:10-08:00Feb 16, 2015|Infectious Disease, Tox & Medications|
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Sepsis in Older Adults: The Presentation May Be Subtle

sepsis260% of patients in the United States who develop severe sepsis are older adults (age 65 and over) [1], and the mortality of severe sepsis increases steadily with age to nearly 40% in those over 85 [2]. There are many factors that make older adults more susceptible to sepsis, and that can also make sepsis more difficult to detect. Here are some tips to help explain why this is, and how you can identify it sooner.

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By |2017-07-21T09:52:48-07:00Feb 5, 2015|Geriatrics, Infectious Disease|
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PV Card: Skin and Soft Tissue Ultrasound

Abscess Ultrasound

We know that ultrasonography can be used to identify soft tissue infections. But what exactly are the distinguishing features between cellulitis and abscess? Is that a foreign body? Should I put a scalpel to this soft tissue infection? This PV card, written by Drs. Alissa Genthon, Patricia Henwood, and Mike Stone, serves as a great reference card for you at the bedside.

PV Card: Skin and Soft Tissue Ultrasound


Go to ALiEM (PV) Cards for more resources.

By |2021-10-06T10:01:10-07:00Jan 7, 2015|ALiEM Cards, Dermatology, Infectious Disease, Ultrasound|
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