Susan Meadows, MLS

Article

Should patients with acute DVT limit activity?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: January 1, 2010

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: PROBABLY NOT. Ambulation, combined with compression of the affected extremity, appears to be safe for medically stable patie...

Article

When should COX-2 selective NSAIDs be used for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: March 1, 2006

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are as effective as acetaminophen and nons...

Article

What are effective therapies for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: February 1, 2005

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Oral metronidazole and oral vancomycin are equally effective treatments for Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD)...

Article

Does neonatal circumcision decrease morbidity?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: January 1, 2005

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Evidence suggests that neonatal circumcision decreases the incidence of childhood urinary tract infections, phimosis, paraph...

Article

For knee pain, how predictive is physical examination for meniscal injury?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: November 1, 2004

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: No single clinical examination element, or combination of such elements, reliably detects meniscal injury. The McMurray test...

Article

Does acyclovir help herpes simplex virus cold sores if treatment is delayed?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: November 1, 2004

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: When herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 lesions are in the papule or vesicle stage, there is no benefit to starting oral acyc...

Article

Do acetaminophen and an NSAID combined relieve osteoarthritis pain better than either alone?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: June 1, 2004

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Combining nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen for short courses provides more relief of pain in ...

Article

Should home apnea monitoring be recommended to prevent SIDS?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: May 1, 2004

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: While home apnea monitoring may find an increased incidence of apnea and bradycardia in preterm infants compared with term i...

Article

What is the prognosis of postherpetic neuralgia?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: June 1, 2003

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Postherpetic neuralgia occurs rarely among patients aged <50 years with herpes zoster. The incidence, duration, and sever...

Article

Are drug therapies effective in treating Bell’s palsy?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: February 1, 2003

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Early use of corticosteroid therapy results in less autonomic synkinesis and possibly improved rates of recovery in adults (...

Article

When should patients with asymptomatic aortic stenosis be evaluated for valve replacement?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: September 1, 2002

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: For patients whose echocardiograms show advanced calcification of the aortic valves, a jet velocity of > 4.0 m/s, or a pr...

Article

What is the best therapy for constipation in infants?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: August 1, 2002

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The best treatment for minor, self-limited constipation (infant dyschezia) may be observation and parental education about i...

Article

What levels of cholesterol should be treated for primary prevention?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: May 1, 2002

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: The levels of cholesterol that should be treated for primary prevention are based on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LD...

Article

When should acute nonvenereal conjunctivitis be treated with topical antibiotics?

Author:: Susan Meadows, MLS

Publish date: April 1, 2002

EVIDENCE-BASED ANSWER: Children with suspected or culture-proven acute nonvenereal bacterial conjunctivitis should be treated with topical antibiot...