ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the appropriateness of piperacillin/tazobactam (Tazocin®; Pfizer, New York, NY) usage in our hospital.Subjects and methodsThis retrospective study was designed to involve all patients admitted to Hamad General Hospital and prescribed piperacillin/tazobactam as an empiric therapy from January 1 to March 31, 2008. The medical records of such patients were retrospectively reviewed and studied.ResultsDuring this period, 610 prescriptions were ordered for 596 patients. The main indication for initiation of Tazocin was sepsis (207/610; 34%). The overall rate of appropriateness of empirical therapy was 348/610 (57%). Most of the inappropriate prescriptions were in cases of aspiration pneumonia and abdominal infections, with inappropriate prescriptions found mostly in surgical wards (86%) and the surgical intensive care unit (66.7%). Septic work-up results showed positive cultures in 57% (345/610) of cases. There were 198/254 prescriptions (78%) where antibiotics were changed according to the sensitivity data to narrow-spectrum antimicrobials. In 56/254 (22%) cases, pathogens were susceptible to narrow-spectrum antibiotics even though piperacillin/tazobactam was continued.ConclusionOur study showed that there was an injudicious use of piperacillin/tazobactam at our hospital, evidenced by the significant number of inappropriate empiric prescriptions and inappropriate drug modifications, based on the results of microbial cultures and antibiograms.
Incidence of CP remains low and, regardless of the subtype, clinical outcomes are better than those seen with other gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas. The presence of diarrhea at presentation and the finding of curved or spiral gram-negative bacilli in the Gram smear of peritoneal dialysis effluent should make one think of CP. The use of appropriate microbiology techniques in this situation will increase the isolation of this organism.
Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) is a well‐known complication of beta thalassemia major and frequently occurs in typical sites such as liver or spleen. However, when presenting in unusual sites as sacrum, other diagnosis should be excluded by histopathology prior to deciding on treatment plan.
A 50-year-old previously healthy male presented with fever and cough for seven days, positive for COVID-19, and was admitted to Hazm Meberik General Hospital and treated as a case of severe COVID-19 pneumonia. After improvement, he was transferred to a quarantine facility, and he later developed bilateral hemopneumothorax requiring bilateral chest tubes. Highresolution CT showed bilateral emphysematous bullous disease. Tuberculosis workup was negative, and alpha 1 anti-trypsin levels were normal. Repeated Chest X-ray showed improvement and chest tubes were removed. The patient was discharged with follow-up with the thoracic surgery clinic.
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