Intra-abdominal%20infections Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

Introduction

In hospital setting, it is the 2nd most common cause of infection that leads to severe sepsis and mortality

Pathophysiology

Occur due to disruption of the normal anatomic barrier
- Hollow viscera is where common disruptions occur, which allows intraluminal bacteria to invade and proliferate in the usually sterile area (eg peritoneal cavity or retroperitoneum)

Risk Factors

Parameters Predictive of Severe/High-Risk Intra-abdominal Infections (IAI)

Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation-II (APACHE-II) scores ≥15
Advanced age
Delay of >24 hours in initial intervention
Severe illness
Poor nutritional status or low albumin levels
Degree of peritoneal involvement or presence of diffuse peritonitis
Significant cardiovascular disease or presence of other comorbidities and degree of organ dysfunction
Inability to achieve adequate source control
Immunocompromised patients (with cancer, inflammatory disease, or posttransplant)
Inadequate debridement or control of infection with drainage
≥5 days hospital stay before the operation and ≥2 days preoperative antimicrobial treatment

Long COVID: What we have learned so far

Prof. Ghassan Dbaibo, 27 Apr 2023

The WHO defines long COVID as a condition that occurs 3 months from COVID-19 onset, whose symptoms last ≥2 months and cannot be attributed to an alternative diagnosis. In an interview with MIMS Doctor, Professor Ghassan Dbaibo of the Center for Infectious Diseases, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon, describes the evolving attitudes towards long COVID among healthcare professionals (HCPs), some unexpected predisposing factors, potential biological mechanisms behind prolonged symptom duration and shares data on vaccination’s protective effects against long COVID.

Apixaban may be the DOAC of choice for AF patients at risk for GI bleeding

Dr. Teo Wee Siong, 21 Jan 2023

While current guidelines recommend using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) over warfarin in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), there is a lack of head-to-head trial data to guide the choice of DOAC. Esteemed expert Dr Teo Wee Siong, Consultant Cardiologist & Cardiac Electrophysiologist from Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, Singapore, reviewed the latest data on the comparative effectiveness and safety of DOACs in AF, provided valuable insights on considerations for the selection of DOACs, and shared his clinical experience with apixaban (Eliquis, Pfizer).

The gold standard amino acid formula for infants with cow’s milk allergy

24 Jul 2019

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common forms of childhood food allergy, affecting 2% to 3% of infants in the first year of life.¹ Although more prevalent in formula-fed infants, exclusively breast-fed infants can also develop CMA due to exposure to cow’s milk protein via the maternal diet.^2,3 In general, up to 80% to 90% of children with CMA develop tolerance by three years of age.²