Structural competency in pre-health and health professional learning: A scoping review.

Structural competency training provides guidance to healthcare providers on recognizing and addressing structural factors leading to health inequities. To inform the evidence-based progression of structural competency curriculum development, this study was designed to map the current state of the literature on structural competency training with pre-health students, healthcare professional students, and/or healthcare professionals. We performed a scoping review and identified peer-reviewed, primary research articles assessing structural competency training interventions. The category of learners, timing of the structural competency training, types of teaching and learning activities used, instruments used to measure training outcomes, and evaluation criteria were examined. Eleven (n = 11) articles met inclusion criteria, addressing all training levels, and largely focused on medical education. Active learning strategies and researcher-developed instruments to measure training outcomes were most used. Evaluation criteria largely focused on trainees' affective reactions, utility assessments, and direct measure of the trainee learning. We suggest designing interprofessional structural competency education with an emphasis on active learning strategies and standardized training curricula. Evaluation instruments integrated at different points in the health professional learning trajectory are important for evidence-based progression in curriculum development focused on achieving structural competency.

An insidious Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans infection of an ascending aortic endovascular graft.

While HACEK group organisms cause only 1-3% of infective endocarditis (IE) cases, their insidious and varied clinical presentations make for difficult and often delayed diagnoses. We present a 65-year-old male with persistent exertional dyspnea, hemoptysis, and weight loss who was diagnosed with a HACEK aortic graft infection and IE.

Streptococcus intermedius lung infection masquerading as malignancy.

Streptococcus intermedius can cause aggressive infections. One such example as reported in this case is lung abscess which may be mistaken as malignancy on lung imaging.

Integrative Review of Mental Health and Feeding Styles in Parents of Bottle-Fed Infants.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature regarding the relationship between symptoms of anxiety and depression and feeding styles in parents of bottle-fed infants. DATA SOURCES: We conducted literature searches in PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO. STUDY SELECTION: We used Covidence systematic review management software during the selection process to allow for full blinding of decisions by team members. Articles were eligible for inclusion if they were reports of primary research, written in English, and focused on the relationship between symptoms of anxiety or depression and feeding styles in parents of term, bottle-fed infants younger than 12 months of age. We placed no restriction on date of publication because of the sparse amount of published literature on this topic. We identified a total of 1,882 articles. After removing duplicates, we screened 988 articles and retained six articles that met criteria for our review. DATA EXTRACTION: We used Whittemore and Knafl's integrative review methodology to guide data extraction and reporting. We extracted relevant data from all primary data sources and compiled the data into a matrix. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute Checklist for Analytical Cross Sectional Studies to assess the quality of the studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: Using an a priori coding scheme, we summarized the data using categorization of established parental feeding styles in infancy applicable to bottle-feeding. We synthesized the data into two broad categories: responsive and nonresponsive feeding styles. CONCLUSION: Although research on the topic is limited, our findings suggest that symptoms of postpartum depression may be associated with nonresponsive feeding styles in parents of bottle-fed infants. We suggest several areas for future research and recommend increased emotional and feeding support in practice for parents of bottle-feeding infants.

Capnocytophaga aortitis: A dog's gift to its owner.

We present a case of Capnocytophaga aortitis in an 82-year-old male with fever, weakness, confusion, and back pain. Diagnosis was established following a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm and subsequent blood culture growth of Capnocytophaga species. He was treated with endovascular aortic repair in addition to a six-week course of ceftriaxone followed by long-term antibiotic suppression with amoxicillin-clavulanate. Capnocytophaga aortitis is exceedingly rare and poorly described in current literature.

Weeding Out the Culprit: Cannabinoid-Associated Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

We describe a case of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) in a 32-year-old female who initially presented with a several-day history of worsening rash. Diagnosis of cannabinoid-associated SJS was established following skin biopsy and detailed history-taking of medication and other recreational drug usages. The patient was treated with pain management, antihistamines, and topical steroids with no complications following discharge. There currently exists limited literature describing SJS due to recreational drug usage.

Difficulty in diagnosis and management of musculoskeletal nontuberculous mycobacterial infections.

We describe two cases of musculoskeletal nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection resulting in undesirable outcomes. These organisms can be difficult to identify and treat, potentially leading to significant morbidity. NTM should remain on the differential for culture negative bone and joint infections, especially with a prior surgical history or environmentally-acquired injuries.

Sources of Vaccine Hesitancy: Pregnancy, Infertility, Minority Concerns, and General Skepticism.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic continues to evolve, with variants of concern and new surges of COVID-19 noted over the past months. The limited data and evolving recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy have led to some understandable hesitancy among pregnant individuals. On social media, misinformation and unfounded claims linking COVID-19 vaccines to infertility are widespread, leading to vaccine skepticism among many men and women of reproductive age. The disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, coupled with the unfortunate and troubled history of abuses of African Americans by the biomedical research community in the US, has also led to hesitancy and skepticism about the COVID-19 vaccines among some of our most vulnerable. The complex nature of vaccine hesitancy is evidenced by further divides between different demographic, political, age, geographical, and socioeconomic groups. Better understanding of these concerns is important in the individualized approaches to each patient.

Acute Salmonella typhimurium Aneurysmal Aortitis With Bacteremia, Pneumonia, and Thoracic Aortic Dissection in an Elderly Male.

Nontyphoidal Salmonellae (NTS) often cause self-limiting gastroenteritis in adults, known as salmonellosis. Salmonellosis has remained controlled in the United States due to intensive measures. Infrequently, these patients develop bacteremia and local or disseminated infections after salmonellosis. NTS endovascular infections are frequent in patients with immunosuppression, indwelling prosthetic vascular grafts, atherosclerotic vascular disease, or aortic aneurysms. NTS endovascular infections are uncommon in immunocompetent adults. Similarly, other focal extraintestinal infections such as pneumonia are also rare. A PubMed review of the medical literature reveals few cases in healthy adults with bacteremia, pneumonia, and acute infectious thoracic aortitis with dissection due to Salmonella typhimurium. We present an elderly White male with salmonellosis followed by S. typhimurium bacteremia with pneumonia and an acute thoracic aortic dissection three weeks later. He was treated successfully with endovascular repair and antibiotics.

Herpes Simplex Virus-2 Meningoencephalitis With Abducens Nerve Palsy With Literature Review.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV), a human alpha herpes virus, is responsible for most infections caused by herpes viruses worldwide. Among the herpes simplex viruses, both HSV 1 and 2 cause significant morbidity. HSV-2 accounts for most genital infections with extragenital complications involving the groin, thigh, or other pelvic areas. HSV-2 is the leading viral cause of sexually transmitted diseases. Viral dissemination via the blood or the cutaneous route during primary infection can affect joints, liver, lungs, spinal cord, and brain. HSV-2, by nature of its higher reactivation frequency, leads to clinical reactivation or subclinical shedding, resulting in increased transmission risk during unprotected sexual encounters. HSV-2 reactivation can result in lesions involving the fingers, skin, eyes, brain, and visceral organs such as the esophagus, lung, and liver. Ocular involvement results in keratitis, blepharitis, conjunctivitis, and rarely necrotizing retinitis. Oculomotor cranial nerve involvement by HSV is a rare entity even in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Clinical features associated with reactivation are seen in primary infections, especially in children and adolescents. A medical literature search resulted in a few cases caused by a varicella-zoster virus but none by HSV. Here we describe a young female with a newly diagnosed meningoencephalitis and abducens nerve palsy (first case) due to a primary HSV infection. She came to the emergency department with headache, confusion, abnormal behavior and later developed diplopia as an inpatient. She was treated successfully with two weeks of acyclovir.

Prepatellar Bursitis with Abscess due to Corynebacterium ulcerans.

Corynebacteria are ubiquitous and reside as skin and mucosa commensals in animals. They are considered contaminants in clinical specimens, but significant clinical data points to their virulence and pathogenic potential over the last two decades. Corynebacteria can cause both community-acquired and nosocomial infections. Corynebacterium diphtheriae (C. diphtheriae) responsible for diphtheria has declined over the previous two decades with an increase in a similar clinical syndrome by Corynebacterium ulcerans (C. ulcerans) in Europe. As per recent studies, C. ulcerans shares similar virulence factors with C. diphtheriae. C. ulcerans has been implicated in airway infections, skin and soft tissue infections, lymphadenitis, wound infections, and rarely necrotizing fasciitis. Pet or farm animals have been the source of these infections to humans, as per recent reports. Strains can be either toxigenic or nontoxigenic. Due to recent advances, methods to characterize strains have become easier with mass spectrometry. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing is a must for definite treatment as C. ulcerans can be resistant to first-line antibiotic therapy. If resources are available, it is prudent to find if there is any toxin production. Here, we describe a rural farmer in central Missouri presenting with acute-onset right knee pain diagnosed with right prepatellar bursitis with abscess due to C. ulcerans infection. He recovered with surgical debridement and antimicrobial therapy. This is the first case of C. ulcerans causing prepatellar bursitis with an abscess as per medical literature review.

A rare case of osteomyelitis and tenosynovitis in secondary syphilis.

We describe a case of secondary syphilis presenting with osteomyelitis and tenosynovitis of the thumb. With appropriate therapy, the patient's symptoms resolved and seroreversion occurred. MRI showed improvement with treatment. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and appropriate therapy in this unusual presentation of syphilis.