General

Gastric Acid–Suppressive Agents Linked to Clostridium difficile Diarrhea Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2-receptor agonists (H2RAs) are associated with increased risk for community-acquired Clostridium difficile–associated disease (CDAD), according to the results of 2 population-based, case-control studies reported in the December 21 issue of JAMA. “Recent reports suggest an increasing occurrence and severity of C. difficile–associated disease,” [...]

In February I linked to a column about a health writer who had had bilateral knee replacement surgery. A health writer gets new knees. This entry has (to date) received 24 comments. Today, in the NY Times, she tells us what happened since then. A Year With My New Knees: Much Pain but Much Gain [...]

A reader sent me this link – You smoke you croak A SICK dad blasted NHS “bullies” yesterday after a hospital consultant refused to treat him unless he stops smoking. Ailing Fred Smith, 60, was told he must quit cigs for at least six months before he even gets an appointment. Fred was referred to [...]

General internists often love mystery stories. When I hear about or care for an interesting patient, I look for colleagues to tell. We love trying to solve the puzzle. Lisa Sanders is a general internist. She regularly tells stories of interesting diagnoses in the New York Times Magazine. Today’s magazine has a real puzzler – [...]