Cellulitis is common, but treating with the appropriate antibiotic can be tricky. This post details management tips and tricks in choosing the right antibiotic for the job.

What do you think of with the patient presenting with fever, headache, and focal neurologic signs? Meningitis? Encephalitis? What about brain abscess? This post is filled with pearls and pitfalls on the pathogenesis, presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of brain abscess.

Pneumonia is an illness frequently seen in our emergency departments. But, are all presentations actually pneumonia? Are we missing other illnesses that present similarly to pneumonia? Which ones pose significant morbidity and mortality risk to our patients? What clues are out there that will aid us in making an alternative and critical diagnosis?

Bacteremia affects 200,000 patients per year, with the potential of causing significant mortality. Blood cultures are considered the most sensitive method for detecting bacteremia and are commonly obtained in patients with fever, chills, leukocytosis, focal infections, sepsis, or suspected endocarditis. However, what is the literature behind obtaining cultures in the ED?

Acute mastoiditis is a common complication of acute otitis media. Diagnosis includes clinical evidence of mastoid inflammation and may necessitate further imaging to exclude other complications. IV antibiotics and a surgical consult are required.

The new, updated sepsis definitions have been released. What are the changes, and what should you know?

Cholangitis should be considered in patients with undifferentiated sepsis. Ruling in or out the diagnosis of cholangitis is no longer based on clinical exam alone. The addition of imaging and bloodwork to the clinical exam are much more reliable. Resuscitation, antibiotics and consultation for early biliary decompression are the mainstays of cholangitis treatment.

We have dealt with Ebola, Dengue, and Chikungunya. Introducing the new kid on the block: Zika Virus.