When it rains, it pours. I’m currently taking care of 5 patients who have blood infections from Staphylococcus aureus (commonly referred to as staph). Staph is a topic I did several posts about, in the earlier days of the blog. It remains a very relevant topic, being one of the commonest infectious diseases I get […]
Whatever happened to individual responsibility for health?
I had a patient admitted with his second diabetic foot infection, who was demanding that I treat him with the most powerful antibiotics, and he wanted the surgeon to recommend hyperbaric oxygen therapy. “I want everything done!” he kept saying, “throw the kitchen sink at me!” But yet, for the past 2 years, his diabetes […]
Pneumonia – answers to 7 common questions
As an Infectious Diseases specialist seeing patients in the hospital, I treat patients on a daily basis for pneumonia. It is one of the commonest infectious diseases requiring patients seek medical attention. Simply speaking, pneumonia refers to an infection of the lungs. Any germ can infect the lungs, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even parasites. […]
Healthy diet primer – 4 tips to get you started
Today’s post is not about an infectious disease but about healthy diets. Because healthier ‘bodies’ are better able to resist infection, or fight one that has taken hold, I spend a lot of time discussing diet and lifestyle with patients. Weekly, patients asks me for tips on how they can improve their diet to achieve […]