Effect on Diabetes Control in a Resident Clinic Following the Integration of a Clinic Pharmacist.

The impact of a pharmacist has been evaluated within the primary care setting but not within a resident-managed internal medicine clinic. This retrospective study found that the integration of a clinical pharmacist within a resident clinic improved the mean HbA1c of a high-risk patient group by 3% in 3 months and 2.6% in 6 months. None of the residents surveyed reported that the presence of a clinical pharmacist hindered their learning experience. The study also found the residents perceived the clinical pharmacist to be helpful with co-management of diabetes. This data supports the addition of a clinical pharmacist into a resident clinic and continues to support the benefits in the primary care setting.

Unilateral diaphragmatic dysfunction following thoracic outlet surgery diagnosed by point-of-care ultrasound.

A patient with recent thoracic outlet decompression surgery presented with acute dyspnea and was found by point-of-care ultrasound to have diaphragm dysfunction. This case highlights an unexpected cause of respiratory complaints in the outpatient setting discovered at the bedside, utilizing point-of-care ultrasound protocol.

A case report on a severely ill COVID-19 patient with rapid clearing of chest infiltrates 43 hours after treatment with multiple modalities.

A 44-year-old COVID-19 positive patient was transferred to our hospital with worsening acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. She was admitted to ICU and was started on high flow oxygen. Her CXR showed worsening bilateral infiltrates. In order to prevent her progression from severe to critical disease, we adopted a multiple modality treatment approach, utilizing clinical judgment and most recent publications. She was treated with antibiotics, convalescent plasma, steroids, hydroxychloroquine and self-proning. After 43 hours, her CXR showed rapid clearing of infiltrates and we could discharge her on day three of hospitalization. Previously reported case series on convalescent plasma showed the number of days taken for significant improvement in chest x-ray varied from 4 to 7 days. The rapidity of improvement in this patient is remarkable and could be due to the multiple modality treatment approach.

Variable urine Histoplasma antigen with volume status.

A patient with progressive disseminated histoplasmosis was noted to have an increase in urine Histoplasma antigen level during monitoring of her disease. The patient revealed she had inadequately hydrated, and her urine volume was low and subjectively concentrated. Following hydration, urine antigen was retested and became undetectable.

Vertical Transmission of Histoplasmosis Associated With Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Therapy.

Therapeutics blocking the activity of tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) are a risk factor for invasive fungal infections; however, infectious risks to infants born to mothers receiving anti-TNF therapy are not well defined. We report a case of vertical transmission of disseminated histoplasmosis in a mother-infant pair exposed to anti-TNF therapy.