Tag: infection
Defining Sepsis on the Wards: Comparing Two Sepsis Definitions
Sepsis is defined as a dysregulated host response to infection, resulting in acute organ dysfunction. Although the condition has been thoroughly studied in the intensive care unit (ICU), accurate data collection outside of... read more
What Is PICS and How Does it Affect Patients and Families
Every year, about 6 million people are admitted to intensive care units with a life-threatening illness. As medical technology advances, more people survive conditions that once would have been fatal. However, about half... read more
Importance of Second Antibiotic Doses in ED Sepsis Patients
Most studies evaluating early antibiotic administration in sepsis patients focus on timing of the first dose. We highlight many of these studies in our recent review article on Appropriate Antibiotic Therapy in Emergency... read more
Is Fever the Normal Temperature of Sepsis
We know that hypothermia in sepsis is associated with increased mortality but other than that we tend to see fever in sepsis as something bad. We tend to perceive sepsis patients as more sick the more the temperature is elevated.... read more
Should We Manage All Septic Patients Based on a Single Definition?
It is indisputable from the biological and clinical perspectives that not all cases of sepsis are the same. On the contrary, most have great many differences, that is, different portals of entry, clinical manifestations,... read more
ECMO for Severe Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use, as a rescue therapy, was associated with lower mortality in MERS patients with refractory hypoxemia. The results of this, largest to date, support the use of ECMO as a rescue... read more
Diagnostic Stewardship for Healthcare-Associated Infections
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and unnecessary cost. The financial stakes of HAIs for hospitals were underscored in 2008 when the Centers... read more
I survived sepsis eight times. But can care workers spot this deadly illness?
Care staff are increasingly likely to see sepsis, but there is no standard training to make them aware of the symptoms to look out for in clients. There is a golden hour for the treatment of sepsis, when someone can be saved... read more
Sepsis Early Warning Score Adopted in UK
Every NHS hospital trust in England will be asked to adopt a new clinical system for assessing acutely ill patients. The National Early Warning Score (NEWS), developed by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in 2012, has... read more
New Infection Prevention Research Grant Award
The SHEA Education and Research Foundation (SHEAERF), in collaboration with the SHEA Research Committee, is seeking bright and dedicated early investigators within 5 years of completion of training (MPH, PhD, PharmD, or MD)... read more
Surviving Sepsis
This audio documentary takes a glimpse into the lives of those that have survived the unimaginable.... read more
Healthcare Utilization and Infection in the Week Prior to Sepsis Hospitalization
Over 45% of sepsis patients had clinician-based encounters in the week prior to hospitalization with an increasing frequency of diagnoses for acute infection and antibiotic use in the outpatient setting. These presepsis encounters... read more
Probiotics Offer Powerful Protection Against Sepsis in Infants
Sepsis can occur in just about anyone, including infants. Recent research shows feeding newborns probiotics (healthy bacteria) significantly lowers the child's risk of developing sepsis. The study involved infants in rural... read more
Enhancing Recovery From Sepsis
Survival from sepsis has improved in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of patients who have survived sepsis treatment. Current sepsis guidelines do not provide guidance on posthospital care or recovery. In the... read more
Urine Test Developed to Test for Tuberculosis
An international team of researchers has developed a urine test that can be used to detect tuberculosis (TB) in human patients. Alessandra Luchini and her team have developed a urine test for TB that gives results in 12 hours.... read more
Effect of Antibiotic Prophylaxis on Surgical Site Infections Following Removal of Orthopedic Implants
In this randomized clinical trial that included 470 patients who were undergoing surgery for removal of orthopedic implants used for treatment of below-the-knee fractures, surgical site infection occurred in 12.9% of patients... read more
Your plumber offers a money-back guarantee. Should your doctor?
One recommendation is that patients shouldn't have to pay for their care if they experience certain avoidable complications up to 90 days after surgery. A participating hospital would guarantee its work, or patients would... read more