Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization of hospitalized patients is associated with higher readmission rates and increased morbidity. Depending on the mechanisms of transmission, numerous potential control interventions exist to reduce the burden of disease. These interventions include decolonization, improving hand-washing adherence, and enhanced environment cleaning. To evaluate the impact of various types of control, [...]

Background: Curbing antibiotic overutilization has become a priority in hospitals attempting to address the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.  One strategy being endorsed by Antibiotic Stewardship Programs is the adoption of an “antibiotic timeout,” during which the pharmacist reviews the appropriateness of the regimen every 72 hours.  We elected to challenge hospitalists to perform a [...]

Case Presentation: A 58-year-old man from Thailand presented to the emergency department with a one month history of night sweats, penile pain, swelling, and scrotal wound drainage. Five months prior, he had traveled to India for a semi-rigid penile implant. After a diagnosis of “urethral tuberculosis” in Thailand, he began RIPE therapy (rifampin, isoniazid/pyridoxine, pyrazinamide, [...]

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 [...]