Background: There is some observational evidence for the benefit of having an infectious diseases (ID) physician provide consultative support in the care of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). A recent randomized trial was unable to document a similar benefit, although the control group received a concurrent stewardship intervention. We wanted to determine the effect [...]

Background: Sepsis, a dysregulated host immune response to infection leading to life-threatening organ dysfunction[1], is a common, fast-moving condition, and the leading cause of in-hospital death. Most cases develop in the community and present to Emergency Departments (ED)[2], where urgent action is required to prevent resultant morbidity and mortality[3]. However, the presentation of sepsis is [...]

Case Presentation: A 30 year old male with no past medical history presented with progressive shortness of breath and chest pain. He stated that two weeks ago, he removed a wooden splinter from his left finger. The finger then developed swelling and erythema that progressed to painful drainage in association with worsening of presenting symptoms. [...]

Case Presentation: Neisseria meningitidis, a gram-negative diplococcus, is widely known for causing meningitis and septicemia. However, its potential to trigger rare cardiac manifestations, such as pericarditis, often goes unrecognized. These atypical presentations can mimic common cardiovascular emergencies like myocardial infarction or pulmonary embolism, creating significant diagnostic challenges.A 44-year-old male with a history of type 2 [...]

Case Presentation: A 26-year-old male with HbSS sickle cell disease and a history of recurrent hospitalizations for vaso-occlusive crises, requiring a right chest port for pain management and IV fluids, presented with sepsis and an acute vaso-occlusive crisis. Initial infectious workup, including chest X-ray, CT of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis, and urinalysis, was unremarkable. [...]

Case Presentation: A 55-year-old man with a history of obesity, gout, and multiple cervical spine surgeries, including a remote C4 laminectomy, C6-C7 fusion, and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) at C5-C7, presented for a higher level of care due to septic arthritis in his right knee. His medical history also included prolonged courses of [...]

Case Presentation: A 45-year-old female presented with fever, chills, bilateral flank pain radiating anteriorly and intermittent right upper quadrant pain prior to arrival. Medical history included hypertension, stage 3a chronic kidney disease, obesity, uterine fibroids, and treated Helicobacter pylori infection. Her vitals were as follows: 98.6 °F, heart rate 126 beats/minute, respiratory rate 20 breaths/minute, [...]

Case Presentation: Stercoral colitis (SC) is an uncommon yet life-threatening inflammatory condition caused by fecal impaction in the colon, leading to increased intraluminal pressure, ischemia, and inflammation. If untreated, complications such as necrosis, perforation, and sepsis can result in mortality rates as high as 63%. Clostridium species, particularly C. perfringens and C. ramosum, are rare [...]

Case Presentation: 84-year-old female who came to hospital with complaints of mild watery diarrhea, generalized weakness, subjective fevers and chills for 4 days. Patient has PMH hypothyroidism, chronic dysphagia, inclusion body myositis, interstitial lung disease, and pulmonary hypertension. Patient lives alone and due to increasing weakness was brought in by family for further evaluation. In [...]

Case Presentation: An 86-year-old female with advanced dementia presented with a four-day history of worsening encephalopathy and jaundice with associated severely poor oral intake. The patient had progressive weakness, increased work of breathing, and vague abdominal pain. The initial exam demonstrated lower abdominal tenderness to palpation with guarding. She was admitted for septic shock requiring [...]