A large outbreak of Clostridium difficile‐associated disease with an unexpected proportion of deaths and colectomies at a teaching hospital following increased Fluoroquinolone use

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fluoroquinolones have not been frequently implicated as a cause of Clostridium difficile outbreaks. Nosocornial C. difficile infections increased from 2.7 to 6.8 cases per 1,000 discharges (P < .001). During the first 2 years of the outbreak, there were 253 nosocomial C difficile infections; of these, 26 resulted in colectomy and 18 resulted in death. We conducted an investigation of a large C. difficile outbreak in our hospital to identify risk factors and characterize the outbreak

Pathology Case Study: Pain, Swelling and Decreased Function of Left Knee

This clinical microbiology case study is provided by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology is an excellent resource for students and instructors in the health science fields. This case involves an elderly male patient with swelling, pain and decreased function of his prosthetic knee. A detailed history of the patient, histology findings, culture, and molecular identification are all provided to aid in the understanding of the patientâs diagnosis. The official final diagnosis is accompanied by a discussion of the contributing doctorâs findings and a list of references. This is an excellent resource for students in the health sciences to familiarize themselves with using patient history and laboratory results to diagnose patientâs conditions

Pathology Case Study: Diarrhea and Urinary Frequency

This is a case study presented by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology, which describes a 42-year-old African male who presented to the emergency department with &quot;intermittent fevers, up to 104 degrees, occasional chills, night sweats and rigors, periods of diarrhea, dysuria, and generalized malaise.&quot; Visitors are given patient history, admission and laboratory data, along with radiology, microscopic, and microbiological findings, including images, and are given the opportunity to diagnose the patient. A &quot;Final Diagnosis&quot; section provides a discussion of the findings as well as references. This is an excellent resource for students in the health sciences to familiarize themselves with using patient history and laboratory results to diagnose disease. It is also a helpful site for educators to use to introduce or test student learning in clinical microbiology

Pathology Case Study: Fevers

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's Department of Pathology has compiled a series of case studies to help both students and instructors in the health sciences field. In this case, a 68-year-old male patient experiencing fevers, chills, an associated non-productive cough, and weight loss was admitted to the hospital for examination. The âGross Description,â âMicroscopic Description,â and â Microbiologyâ sections provide key information and images that contributed to the patientâs diagnosis. Clicking on the âFinal Diagnosisâ provides a thorough explanation of the diagnosis and treatment from the contributing doctors

Pathology Case Study: Postoperative Abdominal Discomfort

This is a clinical microbiology case study presented by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology in which a 22 year old male is experiencing postoperative abdominal discomfort. Visitors are given both the microscopic and gross descriptions, including images, and are given the opportunity to diagnose the patient. This is an excellent resource for students in the health sciences to familiarize themselves with using laboratory results to diagnose. It is also a helpful site for educators to use to introduce or test student learning in clinical microbiology and related medicine

Pathology Case Study: Dizziness and Headache

This is a case study presented by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology in which a woman experienced reduced mental capacity in the weeks following a cold. Visitors are given both the microscopic and gross descriptions, including images, and are given the opportunity to diagnose the patient. This is an excellent resource for students in the health sciences to familiarize themselves with using patient history and laboratory results to diagnose disease. It is also a helpful site for educators to use to introduce or test student learning in clinical microbiology

Pathology Case Study: Fever and a Hilar Pulmonary Mass

This is a case study presented by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology in which a 37-year-old man has a recurring fever and swelling in his legs. Visitors are given the gross and microscopic descriptions, radiological results, including images, and are given the opportunity to diagnose the patient. This is an excellent resource for students in the health sciences to familiarize themselves with using patient history and laboratory results to diagnose disease. It is also a helpful site for educators to use to introduce or test student learning in pathology and clinical microbiology

Pathology Case Study: Permanent Intravascular Catheter

This is a case study presented by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology in which a 33-year-old man diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia has developed a fever following chemotherapy and stem cell transplant. Visitors are given the patient's gram stain, cultures, biochemical profile, and susceptibility, including images, and are given the opportunity to diagnose the patient. This is an excellent resource for students in the health sciences to familiarize themselves with using patient history and laboratory results to diagnose disease. It is also a helpful site for educators to use to introduce or test student learning in pathology and clinical microbiology

Pathology Case Study: Oligoarthritis and Localized Swellings

This is a case study presented by the University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology in which a 75-year-old man has been admitted to the hospital with chest pain radiating to his left arm, elbow, and wrist. Visitors are given the clinical history and radiology findings, including images, and are given the opportunity to diagnose the patient. This is an excellent resource for students in the health sciences to familiarize themselves with using patient history and laboratory results to diagnose disease. It is also a helpful site for educators to use to introduce or test student learning in pathology and clinical microbiology