GROUP-A BETA HEMOLYTIC STREP (GABHS) PHARYNGITIS

Photo Credit: Dr. James Heilman from Wikipedia

PHARYNGITIS

: MC caused (30-60%) by viral infection in adults – rhinovirus

: caused by bacterial infection in adults in only in 5-10% - GABHS

: accounts for 30-40% of case in children

: prevents rheumatic fever – by starting antibiotics 10 days after onset of symptoms

: SORE THROAT from Epstein-Barr virus (82%) – found in pxs with Infectious Mononucleosis –

• Tx mostly consist of

1. Supportive care

2. Rest

3. Antipyretics

4. Analgesics

 

GABHS-PHARYNGITIS

: MC pathogen responsible for most case of bacterial pharyingitis – BUT accounts only 10% of adult cases

            : Symptoms – usually rapid onset:

- Severe sore throat

- Odynophagia

- Cervical lymphadenopathy

- Fever

- Chills

- Malaise

- Headache

- Mild neck stiffness

- Anorexia

UPDATE on the Status of COVID-19 VACCINES

With the advent of fast-paced technology and media reports, we can surmise that with the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of a vaccine can also be at a record speed but reading an article by Dr. Sanjay Gupta at CNN, this reality is grim so far regarding COVID-19 Vaccine Development.

1 Revealing Point: According to the Milken Institute, although there are 254 treatments and 172 vaccines currently in development to fight COVID-19, so far, there is only 1 PUBLISHED STUDY of a vaccine which is trialed in Humans. Other vaccines/treatment in development are either press-releases or pre-print reports.

Photo Credit: European Pharmaceutical Review

For those who have no idea on the significance of a Published Study on vaccine development or any other thing basically is this - published studies are subjected to peer review, which by essence brings down the expertise of most if not all of the science disciplines to screen this studies and POINT SOME POTENTIAL ERRORS of the study that may be unintentional and also makes the study and eventually the science or the vaccine BETTER.

Bakit Nga Ba Tinutubo ang Pasyente? (Indications for Intubation for the Layperson)

By: Viktoria Ines Matibag, MD

Siguro naman nakakita na kayo ng mga pasyenteng nakatubo sa mga drama. Maraming maling konsepto na tinuturo katulad na lamang ng: 

1. Nagtutubo lamang ang pasyente kapag wala nang pulso, 
2. Hindi nakakapag salita ang may tubo dahil nga nasa daluyan ito ng hangin,
3. Hindi makakahinga ang pasyente kapag may tubo.

Translation: Don't mistake medical drama series in TV for the real thing. Often times, there are specific important details that is missed out in TV that if you missed it out in real life could result to patients getting harmed. These are the common misconceptions about Intubation: 

1. We only intubate patient if they are already dead or has no pulse 
2. The patient can't express himself if a patient is intubated 
3. The patient can't breathe if he/she is intubated because a TUBE is inserted down his THROAT!

The Art of Expectations in the Emergency Room

This article caught my attention as an intern once relayed to me his experience in the Emergency Room wherein the patient, after all that had been done for them, complained and maligned the interns and the staff of the ER. As unfair as it may seem, the disconnect between patient's expectations against hospital protocol may well be the very reason of this incidences. Or I may be wrong... nevertheless, this article is worth reading...


The Art of (Emergency) Medicine

Jeffrey Wonoprabowo, Medical Student

I had seen the patient. I had come up with my assessment and plan. I discussed it with a senior resident and now it was time to present it to the attending. As I wrapped up what I thought was a fairly decent patient presentation, my attending asked me what the patient wanted. I stammered. What the patient wanted? Wasn’t that obvious? They come in to the Emergency Department with a chief complaint and we’re supposed to fix it. Right?

2010 AHA Guidelines: The ABCs of CPR Rearranged to "CAB"

October 20, 2010 — Chest compressions should be the first step in addressing cardiac arrest. Therefore, the American Heart Association (AHA) now recommends that the A-B-Cs (Airway-Breathing-Compressions) of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) be changed to C-A-B (Compressions-Airway-Breathing).

The changes were documented in the 2010 American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care, published in the November 2 supplemental issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, and represent an update to previous guidelines issued in 2005.

"The 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR and ECC [Emergency Cardiovascular Care] are based on the most current and comprehensive review of resuscitation literature ever published," note the authors in the executive summary. The new research includes information from "356 resuscitation experts from 29 countries who reviewed, analyzed, evaluated, debated, and discussed research and hypotheses through in-person meetings, teleconferences, and online sessions ('webinars') during the 36-month period before the 2010 Consensus Conference."

2010 New Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Guidelines