Breaking a Vital Trust: Posting Photos of Patients on Facebook Among a Sample of Peruvian Medical Students.

Background: The doctor-patient relationship may be affected by the indiscriminate use of social media platforms. The aim of this study was to evaluate the content of the photos posted on medical students' Facebook accounts to determine whether they have posted private patient information and compare this to their self-reported behavior of posting such photos. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of medical students from a Peruvian private university. With their permission, we reviewed their Facebook accounts for the publication of photos or documents that included private patient information (face, name, diagnosis, medical exams). Those who allowed access to their Facebook accounts were also asked to complete an online survey. We assessed variables related to sociodemographic aspects, self reported Facebook use, and what type of private patient information they posted. Results: A total of 160/220 students joined the study, 59% were women, mean age: 20 years. 25.7% self-reported having posted private patient information in their Facebook profiles but we found such information on 33.1% of the students' pages. Of the pages where private patient information was found, in 94% of cases, the patients' faces were identifiable, and in 7.6%, the patients' real names appeared. However, only half of the students believed that the information in their Facebook post might affect or influence the doctor-patient relationship. Association with narcissism, gender, and account privacy was not found. Having uploaded more than 250 photos (OR:2.90; CI95%:1.14-7.39) and posting photos tagged with the location of a hospital (OR:4.02; CI95%:1.36-11.9) were associated with having posted photos containing private patient information. Conclusion: One out of three of medical students posted patients' private information on their personal Facebook profiles. Development, dissemination, and implementation of guidelines related to ethics in social media platforms are needed.

Pylephlebitis: case report and literature review.

We present the case of a 50-year-old man who comes to the emergency department of Dos de Mayo Hospital, Lima, Peru, with fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea and jaundice. An intestinal infection arises as initial diagnosis. He is referred to the area of Internal Medicine where various laboratory tests and imaging studies were conducted, including an abdominal computerized tomography scan. The scan confirmed the diagnosis of pylephlebitis; treatment with antibiotics and anticoagulant therapy was immediately established. Response and evolution were favorable.

Se presenta el caso de un paciente varón de 50 años que acude a la emergencia del Hospital Dos de Mayo, Lima, Perú, por presentar fiebre, dolor abdominal, diarrea e ictericia. Se plantea un cuadro de infección intestinal como diagnóstico inicial. Es derivado al área de Medicina Interna donde se realizan diversos exámenes de laboratorio y auxiliares, dentro de los cuales se indica realizar una tomografía computarizada abdominal. El estudio imagenológico confirmó el diagnóstico de pileflebitis, iniciando tratamiento con antibióticos y anticoagulantes. La respuesta y evolución fueron favorables.