Conference Pearls August 4, 2021

Necrotizing Fasciitis: Dr. Lehnig, MD 
Diagnosis: Surgical Exploration CT 90% vs. MRI 86% sensitivityTreatment: “Early Surgical Debridement” Antibiotic Regimen: carbapenam or Zosyn +Vanc, dapto, or linezolid +clindamycin for antitoxin effects

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS): Dr. Edwards, MD 
Mostly less than 5 yo; if in adults typically immunocompromised Clinical Exam: +Nikolsky’s sign and will spare mucosal surfaces; + fever typically Diagnosis: Clinical Exam; look for other infections that precipitated the infection. Treatment and Disposition: Typically burn unit admission, Antibiotic Regimen: Typically MSSA but if there are risk factors for MRSA use coverage for MRSA. 

EMTALA : Dr. Royalty, MD 

Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act#1: Medical Screening Exam (Everyone gets this no questions asked)#2: If you ID an emergency condition, you must treat and stabilize this, if hospital can’t manage, must get accepting physician to transfer to higher level of care#3: If OSF needs to transfer patient because of lack of ability to care for patient, facility is required to accept patient despite ability to pay, etc. Transfers: All pertinent records and imaging should accompany patient or be sent electronically ASAP. 

Decisional Capacity: Dr. Yff, MD
Informed Consent: understand treatment, potential risks and benefits, and reasonable alternatives

4 Components: relevant info, appreciation of consequences (insight), reasoning of choice & 
communicating a choice.
Estimated, 48% of patients hospitalized are not capable of making decisions in a hospital setting MacCAT-T: decisional tool to evaluate capacity. 

Treatment of Non-Emergent Hyperglycemia in the ED: Sue McGowan, APRN 
Diagnosis: Glucose >126 fasting, a1c over 6.5%, and Random BG >200 + symptoms Targets for Diabetes: Premeal BG 80-130, post prandial <180, a1c <7Treatment: Diet and exercise-> Metformin if renal function adequate and no GI intolerance (500mg BID)-> a1c 8.5% (ADA recommends 2nd agent-> a1c 9% (see ADA guidelines)-> a1c Long Acting: 24 hour coverage “peak less”; glargine,basaglar, detemir, degludec (each vial has 30 days 300U)NPH/Intermed acting: onset 1-3 and peak 6-12 hours (NPH and 70:30 insulin very cheap) Rapid Acting: 5-10 min onset peaks1-2 hours (the “logs” and apidra and fiaspInitiating Insulin: basal or NPH 10U/day or 0.1-0.2 U/kg/day goal <130 before breakfast (titrate ever 3 days by increasing 2 U to hit morning goal)Glucose tabs=fastest method to correct hypoglycemia OOH (OTC and cheap)Send prescription for glucagon for 2ndary person to admin for rescue. Diabetes Supplies: glucometer, test strips, lancets, and needles for insulin. Diabetic NP: 10am-6:30pm ULH consult via cerner.

Electrical Injuries: Dr. Leavitt, MD 
Low voltage <600V (most household circuits around 120V)High Voltage 600V<Peds: chewing on electrical cords, must admit these, delayed necrosis of S. labial A. Lighting Injuries: Initiate CPR immediately if pulseless; ruptured TMs, A/C worse than D/C injuries