Background: Antibiotics targeted against C. difficile bacteria are necessary, but insufficient, to achieve a durable clinical response because they have no effect on C. difficile spores that germinate within a disrupted microbiome. ECOSPOR-III evaluated SER-109, an investigational, biologically-derived microbiome therapeutic of purified Firmicute spores for treatment of recurrent CDI. Methods: Adults ≥18 years with recurrent […]

Background: With the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the need for telemedicine is growing rapidly worldwide. The development and improvement of remote physical examination systems, especially remote cardiopulmonary auscultation are required to facilitate telemedicine. A system combining an electronic stethoscope and Bluetooth connectivity is a promising option for remote auscultation in hospitals and clinics. However, the […]

Background: Therapeutic paracentesis is a common procedure performed to relieve symptoms of ascites most commonly from cirrhosis, heart failure or malignancy. Previous studies have shown that acute kidney injury (AKI) is common after paracentesis and portends a poor prognosis, although these studies have excluded patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Experiences in our hospital […]

Background: Readmission among Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) inpatients is common, as is opioid use. Opioid use for IBD has been associated with an increased risk of infection and death, but inconsistently with readmissions. Increasingly, cannabis is viewed as a potentially safer alternative to opioids, though with limited study of potential adverse outcomes such as hospital […]

Background: Antibiotics targeted against C. difficile bacteria are necessary, but insufficient, to achieve a durable clinical response because they have no effect on C. difficile spores that germinate within a disrupted microbiome. ECOSPOR-III evaluated SER-109, an investigational, biologically-derived microbiome therapeutic of purified Firmicute spores for treatment of recurrent CDI. Methods: Adults ≥18 years with recurrent […]