Pelvic examination added little to clinical judgment when evaluating for sexually transmitted infections in young women.

These are the top articles from 2018.

Topical antibiotic use for bacterial conjunctivitis was associated with improved rate of clinical cure compared to placebo. For early and late clinical cure with topical antibiotics, the NNT was 9 and 11, respectively.

In premenopausal women with recurrent cystitis, drinking more water on a daily basis can reduce episodes of cystitis.

Probiotics decrease the risk of C. difficile infection in adults and children taking antibiotics and may reduce overall adverse events like cramping, nausea, or diarrhea.

There was no difference between a regular medical mask and N-95 mask worn by healthcare workers in preventing influenza or any other respiratory infection.

Adults with cough <3weeks or 3-8 weeks with post-tussive vomiting or whooping should be treated for pertussis; those with fever or without paroxysmal cough should be considered to have an alternate diagnosis. Children with <4 weeks of cough and post-tussive vomiting may have pertussis, but it was much less clear than in adults.

It took an extra 67 seconds when not prescribing an antibiotic to patients with acute respiratory infection compared to visits in which an antibiotic was prescribed.

Highly resistant, extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae in the urine are becoming increasingly common in unexpected patients in the ED.

Specific emergency department variables are strongly predictive of infants with bronchiolitis requiring escalated care.