ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis is a highly infectious respiratory disease due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb). The most common manifestation of MTb is pulmonary tuberculosis, but some patients can present with extrapulmonary manifestations as their initial presentation. Tuberculous pleurisy and pleural effusion are among the most common extrapulmonary manifestations of MTb. The treatment of pleural MTb is the same as the treatment for pulmonary disease, with a four-drug regimen with rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol (RIPE) under directly observed therapy (DOT). Drainage of the pleural effusion is usually not recommended in tuberculosis pleural effusion. We present a case of a complex, loculated pleural effusion due to MTb in an otherwise healthy middle-aged male who responded rapidly and completely to an early, short course of intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator and dornase alfa (TPA/DNase) therapy.
ABSTRACT
Clostridioides difficile colitis is an inflammation of the colon due to toxins produced by a gram-positive bacterium called Clostridioides difficile (also known as Clostridium difficile). Clostridioides difficile colitis is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality in elderly patients. The infection develops because of the disruption of the microbiome that usually suppresses the overgrowth of Clostridioides difficile. Testing for Clostridium difficile infection is routinely recommended in patients with at least three loose bowel movements in a day. We present an unusual case of a 74-year-old woman on chronic opioids who presented with a three-day history of lower abdominal pain, constipation, hematochezia, with no diarrhea. Radiologic imaging showed evidence of colitis, and the patient was found to have Clostridium difficile colitis.
ABSTRACT
Cognitive biases, such as the availability heuristic or availability bias, can inadvertently affect patient outcomes. These biases may be magnified during times of heightened awareness of a particular disease. Failure to identify cognitive biases when managing patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic can delay the institution of the right treatment option and result in poor health outcomes. We present a case of delayed diagnosis of Legionella pneumonia due to COVID-19-related availability bias. We discuss some methods to mitigate the effects of this bias and the importance of challenging trainees to recognize these pitfalls in medical training.
