BACKGROUND There is controversy regarding routine prophylaxis for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients treated via a short leg cast or splint following lower extremity trauma. OBJECTIVES The main aim of this study is to evaluate the incidence of DVT and need for chemoprophylaxis in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS Patients with ankle sprains or stable foot/ankle fractures were entere...

BACKGROUND Malaria case numbers reported in South Africa have reduced considerably over the last decade, necessitating a revision of the national risk map to guide malaria prevention, including the use of chemoprophylaxis. OBJECTIVES To update the national malaria risk map based on recent case data and to consider the implications of the new transmission profile for guiding prophylaxis. MET...

OBJECTIVE To detect tuberculosis (TB) disease or infection among contacts of pulmonary TB patients. METHODS Cross-sectional study in a Primary Healthcare unit in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) with 184 child and adolescent contacts of pulmonary TB patients between March 1995 and March 1997. Subjects underwent clinical evaluation, chest radiographs, and tuberculin skin tests (TST); sputum smears were...

BACKGROUND Chemoprophylaxis for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is considered standard of care after lower but not after upper extremity arthroplasty. Medicare claims data were analyzed to determine the national incidence of symptomatic VTE after shoulder arthroplasty during the index surgical admission and after discharge. METHODS Incidence of VTE was compared between shoulder arthroplasty and ...

BACKGROUND Risk assessment models (RAMs) may allow the clinician to determine need for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis. Individual healthcare facilities often develop their own RAMs. The purpose of this study was to determine: 1.) inter-RAM variability in DVT risk factors and contraindications; 2.) inter-rater variability and inter-RAM variability when applying a RAM to a standard case; ...

The prevention of malaria infections is one of the most important functions that any clinician can perform for those traveling to tropical geographic regions where malaria risks are present. The prophylaxis question has become complicated by continued emergence of chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the recent appearance of Plasmodium vivax resistance, and the availability o...

The status of Dirofilaria immitis infection was assessed in pet dogs of Busan, Korea, and chemoprophylactic effects of microfilaricidal medication were evaluated. A total of 294 pet dogs older than 6 mo were examined, 217 of which had been maintained indoors, and 77 had been kept outdoors. The SnapR kit and direct microscopic examinations of the peripheral blood were used. The mean overall para...