Colbenson, Gretchen A.

Background Patients with substance use disorder (SUD) have high rates of hospitalization, readmission, and prolonged lengths of stay. Objectives To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact of addiction consult services in the inpatient setting for patients with SUD. Methods Five databases were systematically searched from their earliest available records through January 2025. Two authors independently screened articles, extracted data, and assessed the quality of each study with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized clinical trials. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were calculated for dichotomous outcomes, and mean differences were calculated for continuous outcomes. Results The search retrieved 20 studies that met inclusion criteria. The intervention for all studies was an addiction medicine consult, but the definition of this consult varied. The meta-analysis did not detect statistically significant differences in hospital length of stay, hospital readmission, or emergency department visits at 1 year among patients who received the consult compared with those who did not; however, many of these outcomes were likely underpowered. However, addiction medicine consults significantly improved the odds of inpatient initiation of medication for SUD (OR, 7.30; 95% CI, 3.30-16.13; P <.001) and postdischarge SUD treatment linkage and adherence (OR, 3.31; 95% CI, 2.06-5.32; P <.001). Conclusion Inpatient addiction consult services are associated with increased inpatient initiation of medication for SUD treatment and postdischarge treatment linkage and adherence. No clear association was identified between the consult and readmissions, emergency department utilization, or length of stay.

We present a case of a woman who had progressive shortness of breath and wheezing with a mild restrictive pulmonary function pattern. She was initially diagnosed with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis on the basis of peripheral eosinophilia, bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia (47%) and surgical lung biopsy findings. Six months following her diagnosis, the patient returned because of persistent symptoms, and a second review of the lung biopsy revealed thrombotic lesions in the pulmonary vessels with polarisable foreign body materials, associated giant cell reactions and numerous eosinophil infiltrates, consistent with intravenous drug abuse. Further investigation showed that she had a history of intravenous heroin overdose, and the diagnosis of excipient lung disease was made. This case highlights the importance of expert pathological, radiological and clinical review of complex presentations and the need for a thorough medication and drug use history review.

Background Health care professionals working in intensive care units report a high degree of burnout, but this topic has not been extensively studied from an interdisciplinary perspective. Objective To characterize experiences of burnout among members of interprofessional intensive care unit teams and identify possible contributing factors. Methods This qualitative study involved interviews of registered nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians, pharmacists, and a personal care assistant working in multiple intensive care units of a single academic medical center to assess work stressors. Results Team composition was a factor in burnout, particularly when nonphysician team members felt that their opinions were not valued despite the institution’s emphasis on a multidisciplinary team-based model of care. This was especially true when roles were not well defined at the outset of a code situation. Members of nearly all disciplines stated that there was not enough time in a day to complete all the required tasks. Conclusions Multiple factors contribute to work-related stress and burnout across different professions in the intensive care unit. Improved communication and increased receptivity to diverse opinions among members of the multidisciplinary team may help reduce stress.

INTRODUCTION: Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) is a DNA virus that leads to two clinical syndromes: varicella (primary) and herpes zoster or shingles (secondary). Disseminated infection is most common in immunocompromised hosts and can lead to multi-organ involvement including hepatitis, pneumonitis, encephalitis and others. Here, we describe a case of a young woman with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and primary varicella infection leading to VZV hepatitis. CASE DESCRIPTION/METHODS: A 35-year-old woman presented with a 1-week history of fevers, right upper quadrant and epigastric pain, and a non-pruritic, non-painful rash. Her past medical history was significant for a diagnosis of HIV 5 years prior, not currently on treatment. Upon presentation, vital signs were within normal limits except for a fever of 38.8°C. Physical examination was notable for multiple crusted erosions and papules present on her face, trunk and extremities (Figures 1 and 2). Laboratory evaluation was notable for alanine aminotransferase level 291 U/L, aspartate aminotransferase level 260 U/L, alkaline phosphatase level 135 U/L, total bilirubin 0.4 mg/dL, leukocytes 8 × 10 9 /L, and platelet count 132 × 10 9 /L. CD4 count was 118 cells/mcL and HIV-1 RNA 4,120,000 copies/mL. Computed tomography abdomen/pelvis demonstrated diffuse heterogeneity of the hepatic parenchyma (Figure 3). She underwent liver biopsy and pathology demonstrated hepatic parenchyma with portal and lobular inflammation but no necrosis. VZV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the liver and facial lesion swab returned positive. She was treated with 4 days of IV acyclovir with improvement in her fevers and transaminitis and then transitioned to oral valacyclovir. HAART was also initiated two days after the start of IV acyclovir. DISCUSSION: The differential for fever and widespread rash in an immunocompromised individual is broad, and includes disseminated herpes simplex virus, VZV, secondary syphilis, disseminated gonococcal infection, parvovirus, cryptococcosis and others. While uncomplicated VZV can be treated with supportive care or oral antivirals, such as acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir, an immunocompromised host with disseminated VZV should typically be admitted to the hospital for intravenous acyclovir. Biopsy proven VZV hepatitis is rare and is associated with a high mortality. Notably, our patient's VZV IgM and IgG were negative, indicating the need for a high degree of suspicion if the clinical scenario is consistent with VZV.

INTRODUCTION: Microscopic colitis (MC) is a common cause of chronic watery diarrhea. Cross-sectional studies have suggested that patients with MC have a lower incidence of colon polyps compared to those without MC. However, existing literature is limited by a lack of longitudinal follow-up and the use of average-risk patients, rather than those with chronic diarrhea as controls. We aimed to further explore the association between MC and colon adenomas. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients that underwent colonoscopy at Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) or Columbia University Medical Center (New York, NY) between 7/1/2006 and 12/31/2016. Consecutive cases with MC were identified using pathology databases at each center. Controls had chronic diarrhea, underwent colonoscopy, and did not have MC on biopsy. Cases and controls were matched 1:2 by age (±3 years), sex, and date of index colonoscopy (±6 months). Data was collected on demographics, tobacco and alcohol use, personal and family history of colon neoplasia, and presence of adenomas at the index or follow-up colonoscopies. RESULTS: The study included 376 patients with MC and 752 non-MC patients with chronic diarrhea. The median (range) age of patients was 64 (21, 88) years and 72% were female. Duration of follow-up was not significantly different between the 2 groups (total person years: cases 577, controls 972; P = 0.99) and 51 subjects had a new adenoma on follow-up. There were no significant differences in age, sex, alcohol use, family history of colon neoplasia, and personal history of inflammatory bowel disease between cases and controls. Patients with MC were more likely to be current tobacco users (10% vs. 6%, P = 0.02) and less likely to have a history of prior colon neoplasia (9% vs. 17%, P < 0.001). Patients with MC were significantly less likely to have colon adenomas at the time of their index colonoscopy (5% vs. 12%; odds ratio 0.36; 95% CI 0.21, 0.60; P < 0.001) after adjusting for tobacco use and history of prior lesions. However, when followed over time, there was no significant association between MC and risk of colon adenomas (Figure 1, P = 0.45) after adjusting for tobacco use, history of prior lesions, and presence of adenoma at index colonoscopy. CONCLUSION: Patients with MC are less likely to have colon adenomas at their index colonoscopy compared to those with chronic diarrhea without MC. However, when followed longitudinally, there appears to be no significant association between MC and risk of colon adenomas.