• Articles

    Common Questions About Clostridium difficile Infection

    BRADFORD T. WINSLOW, MARY ONYSKO, KATHLEEN A. THOMPSON, KATHARINE CALDWELL, GORDON H. EHLERS

    Clostridium difficile infection is a common cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. The most practical testing options are rapid testing with nucleic acid amplification or enzyme immunoassays to detect toxin, or a two-step strategy. Treatment includes discontinuing the...

    Intrauterine Devices: An Update

    JULIA HARDEMAN, BARRY D. WEISS

    Intrauterine devices are highly effective, well tolerated, and appropriate for most women, including nulliparous women, adolescents, and women who are breastfeeding. As with other forms of contraception, there are side effects that should be discussed with the patient. Other...

    Detecting Elder Abuse and Neglect: Assessment and Intervention

    ROBERT M. HOOVER, MICHOL POLSON

    Elder mistreatment includes intentional or neglectful acts by a caregiver or trusted person that harm a vulnerable older person. Although the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force found insufficient evidence that screening reduces harm, physicians in most states have...

    AAFP News Now: AFP Edition

    AAFP News: AFP Edition

    CMS Grants Physicians One-Month Extension on Meaningful Use Deadline | CMS Announces Updated Schedule for Sunshine Act Reporting | Physician Groups Urge Clinicians to Strongly Recommend HPV Vaccination | HHS Rule Expands Patient Access to Laboratory Test Results

    Editorials

    Optimal Use of IUDs: Why Aren't We There Yet?

    JULIE MONACO, ADAM ZOLOTOR

    IUDs are safe and effective. Physicians with an understanding of IUD procedures and of their benefits and risks are more likely to appropriately counsel their patients.

    Implementing AHRQ Effective Health Care Reviews

    Preventing Recurrent Nephrolithiasis in Adults

    JANELLE GUIRGUIS-BLAKE

    What are the potential benefits and adverse effects associated with dietary and pharmacologic interventions to prevent recurrence of kidney stones in adults 18 years and older?

    FPIN's Clinical Inquiries

    Surgical Treatment for Asymptomatic Cholelithiasis

    MARTHA ILLIGE, ANDREW MEYER, FRAN KOVACH

    Surgery should not be offered to patients with asymptomatic cholelithiasis. Cholecystectomy may be beneficial for patients who are at high risk of biliary cancer, infection, or other complications, including younger patients and those with choledocholithiasis, sickle cell...

    Clinical Evidence Handbook

    Tinnitus

    JULIAN SAVAGE, ANGUS WADDELL

    What are the effects of treatments for chronic tinnitus?

    Photo Quiz

    An Acute Vesiculobullous Rash on the Face

    ROBERT T. BRODELL, LAURA BUKAVINA

    Photo Quiz presents readers with a clinical challenge based on a photograph or other image.

    AFP Journal Club

    PPIs, Childhood Asthma, and the Problem of Therapeutic Creep

    ROBERT DACHS, JILL ENDRES, MARK A. GRABER

    The use of a therapy in patients one would intuitively think might benefit, but in whom no benefit has been documented, is called therapeutic creep. The use of proton pump inhibitors for poorly controlled asthma is an example of this phenomenon.

    POEMs

    Impact of Bracing in Adolescents with Idiopathic Scoliosis

    LAUREN S. HUGHES, MARK H. EBELL

    When compared with observation, bracing significantly slows progression of high-risk curves to the surgery threshold (Cobb angle greater than 50 degrees), with a number needed to treat (NNT) of 4 in the randomized portion of the trial. This benefit is greater with more daily...

    Practice Guidelines

    ACG Releases Guideline on Diagnosis and Management of Celiac Disease

    CARRIE ARMSTRONG

    There has been a substantial increase in the prevalence of celiac disease over the past 50 years, and in the rate of diagnosis over the past decade. Despite this, it remains underdiagnosed in the United States. The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) has released...

    Letters to the Editor

    Identifying Erythema Migrans Rash in Patients with Lyme Disease

    Corrections

    Corrections



    Disclosure

    All editors in a position to control content for this activity, AFP journal, are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships. View disclosures.


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