Background: Approximately 5-10% of the US population reports a Penicillin (PCN) allergy. Only 1 in 10 of these patients are found to have a positive reaction to PCN. This label comes at a grave cost, with higher incidences of multidrug-resistant nosocomial infections reported among these patients. With the lack of novel antibiotics and the alarming [...]

Background: Approximately 5-10% of the US population reports a Penicillin (PCN) allergy. Only 1 in 10 of these patients are found to have a positive reaction to PCN. This label comes at a grave cost, with higher incidences of multidrug-resistant nosocomial infections reported among these patients. With the lack of novel antibiotics and the alarming [...]

Background: Studies indicate that physicians do not clean their stethoscopes regularly, and stethoscope surfaces become contaminated with bacteria. Neither the frequency with which stethoscopes deserve cleaning nor simple, practical cleaning approaches have been well-established for hospitalists or other inpatient clinicians. Our aim was to determine bacterial contamination of stethoscopes directly from a hospital doctor’s white [...]

Case Presentation: A 63- year-old man with a history of seizures, hepatitis C infection and multiple spinal fusion surgeries presented to the emergency room (ER) for the evaluation of back pain. Back pain was said to have commenced 3 days prior to presentation. Pain was mainly located in the lumbar region, dull in nature, rated [...]

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 [...]