Ann Marie Kumfer

Dr. Ann Marie Kumfer, a North Carolina hospitalist, and Dr. Kuchal Agadi, an internal medicine resident, delve into a complex case of a ventilated young man suffering from fever and empyema. Ann Marie shares insights on assessing infection sources in nonverbal patients, while Kuchal presents alarming lab results such as severe anemia and loculated effusion. The duo discusses the challenges of antibiotic stewardship and the importance of timely drainage in empyema management, revealing final microbiology findings like Achromobacter and Pseudomonas.

Kassidy Lovins, a third‑year med student who presented the case, and Dr. Ann Marie Kumfer, a cardiologist and clinical educator, walk through a 35‑year‑old with fevers, diffuse myalgias, and profound weakness. They explore infection versus inflammatory causes, evolving cardiac findings with pericardial effusion and purulent pericarditis, and the diagnostic clues that reveal an underlying immunodeficiency.