Background: Certain infections, such as mucormycosis and Fournier gangrene, were initially linked to diabetes via case reports (1). Subsequent studies using electronic health record (EHR) data and frequentist methods have provided new insights, including increased mortality among patients with diabetes and infections (2). However, infection risk among patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 [...]

Background: Central line-associated blood stream infections (CLABSIs) are a substantial source of morbidity and mortality. A previous meta-analysis of 1,976 CLABSI cases showed an odds ratio for in-hospital death of 2.75 (CI 1.86-4.07).[1] CLABSIs have also been associated with higher hospital costs and longer length of stay (LOS).[2] Methods: Data was collected from all CLABSI [...]

Background: Patients with substance use disorders (SUDs) are at high risk for blood borne viruses (BBV) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).1 Syphilis infections, in particular, have dramatically increased over the past decade. More patients with syphilis infections are reporting injection drug use.2 Hospitalization is considered a “reachable moment” for this vulnerable patient population.3 Yet, screening [...]

Case Presentation: A 24-year-old Hispanic male with morbid obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and class IV/V lupus nephritis on immunosuppressive therapy presented with a one-week history of progressive pain, erythema, and swelling in the lower abdomen and extremities. Symptoms included fever, shortness of breath, and diarrhea. Physical examination revealed a tender, erythematous rash with violaceous discoloration over [...]

Case Presentation: A 38-year-old woman with no significant past medical history presented with fever, diffuse rash, and hypoesthesia. One year prior, the patient developed flesh-colored patches on her abdomen and raised lesions under her left arm. A biopsy revealed cutaneous nontuberculous mycobacterial infection with 4+ acid fast bacilli (AFB) stain, but AFB cultures were negative. [...]

Case Presentation: A 77-year-old male with a PMH of atrial fibrillation, coronary artery disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidemia presented for a mechanical fall. He endorsed generalized malaise, subjective fevers, chills and fatigue days prior to the event. He denied any headache, cough or shortness of breath. On physical exam, he was febrile and [...]

Case Presentation: A 76-year-old female noted left fourth- and fifth-digit pain on day 12 receiving trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) and linezolid for purulent collections of Nocardia abscessus complex in the right gluteal and paraspinal muscles. She had a medical history of atrial fibrillation on apixaban, heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, and a history of deceased donor [...]

Case Presentation: A 47-year-old body builder with a history of anabolic steroid use, five recent subcutaneous infections thought to be due to non-sterile street drugs, and recent development of CKD 2 was admitted for left lateral thigh cellulitis and mild AKI. Following IV antibiotic initiation, patient reported worsening leg pain. MRI of the leg identified [...]

Case Presentation: This case report outlines the case of a 76 year-old male who presented with bacterial meningitis secondary to an infected intrathecal baclofen pump, but initial lumbar puncture cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) did not demonstrate pleocytosis. Patient endorsed worsening headache, vomiting, and bilateral lower extremity weakness 6 days prior to admission. He was immediately started [...]

Case Presentation: A 75-year-old woman presented to our hospital with general fatigue as her chief complaint. She had experienced fatigue for four days prior to admission and developed a fever three days earlier, prompting her to visit a prior doctor. Initial blood tests revealed leukopenia, and she was prescribed antibiotics and antipyretics. However, as the [...]