A Call for Fresh Airway Management Standards

Anesthesiology News recently reported on a study that promoted the LMA in prone position to "avoid intubation, reduce use of relaxants and minimize airway trauma." This study reflects increasing confusion in a complex... read more

A Call for Fresh Airway Management Standards

Perceived safety and value of inpatient "very important person" services

Providing care to "very important person" (VIP) patients can pose unique moral and value-based challenges for providers. No studies have examined VIP services in the inpatient setting. Through a multi-institutional... read more

Perceived safety and value of inpatient "very important person" services

Ultra-Short-Course Antibiotics for Patients With Suspected Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia but Minimal and Stable Ventilator Settings

Many patients started on antibiotics for possible ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) do not have pneumonia. Patients with minimal and stable ventilator settings may be suitable candidates for early antibiotic discontinuation.... read more

Ultra-Short-Course Antibiotics for Patients With Suspected Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia but Minimal and Stable Ventilator Settings

World's most threatening superbugs ranked in new list

The World Health Organization has drawn up a list of the drug-resistant bacteria that pose the biggest threat to human health. Top of the list are gram-negative bugs, such as E. coli, which can cause lethal bloodstream infections... read more

World's most threatening superbugs ranked in new list

Sepsis Readmissions Compared With Other Medical Conditions

This study uses data from a US readmissions database to assess whether sepsis hospitalizations account for a higher proportion of unplanned 30-day readmissions than hospitalizations for acute myocardial infarction, heart... read more

Sepsis Readmissions Compared With Other Medical Conditions

New Infection Data and Sepsis-Guideline Critique at SCCM

The potential of probiotics to reduce nosocomial infections and ventilator-associated pneumonia in the critically ill and the latest data on readmissions will be among the major research advances presented here at the Society... read more

New Infection Data and Sepsis-Guideline Critique at SCCM

Best Conditions for Legionella Growth

Researchers have identified the optimal conditions for the growth of Legionella which causes a very serious, often deadly, type of pneumonia, Legionnaires' disease. Inspired by a number of large Legionnaires' outbreaks,... read more

Best Conditions for Legionella Growth

The CAPCRI study on Semi-recumbent positioning

The CAPCRI study(3) conducted by Mireia Llaurado and her team had three aims: to evaluate real semi-recumbent position compliance and degree of head-of-bed elevation in Spanish intensive care units, to describe the relationship... read more

The CAPCRI study on Semi-recumbent positioning

Therapy Implications for Immunomodulation After Ischemic Stroke

Despite significant advances towards a better understanding of the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke-induced immunosuppression and SAP in recent years, many unanswered questions remain. The true incidence and outcomes of... read more

Therapy Implications for Immunomodulation After Ischemic Stroke

The role of POC Diagnostics in Combatting Antibiotic Resistance

During the winter months, patients frequently present with respiratory symptoms like coughing, sneezing and fever that could be caused by one of several bacterial and viral infections including influenza, respiratory syncytial... read more

The role of POC Diagnostics in Combatting Antibiotic Resistance

Pneumonia Rates Linked to Hospital Ventilators Have Not Dropped, Says Study

Contrary to data published by the CDC, a study led by a UConn Health researcher concluded that ventilator-associated pneumonia is still a significant risk to patients.... read more

Pneumonia Rates Linked to Hospital Ventilators Have Not Dropped, Says Study

A Simple Breath Test Can Spot Pneumonia And Lower Antibiotic Overuse

A simple test could be all physicians need to determine if they need to prescribe antibiotics.... read more

A Simple Breath Test Can Spot Pneumonia And Lower Antibiotic Overuse

Polly Wanna Fever? Man’s Rare Infection Linked to Parrots

In the journal BMJ Case Reports, doctors describe the case of a 61-year old man with a number of pet birds who was diagnosed with parrot fever.... read more

Polly Wanna Fever? Man’s Rare Infection Linked to Parrots

Unnecessary Antibiotics Still Prescribed for Community-Acquired Pneumonia Due to Difficulties Identifying Resistant Strains

Unnecessary Prescription of Antibiotics Still Prevalent Due to Difficulties in Identifying Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Community-acquired Pneumonia. Researchers examined the true prevalence of methicillin (antibiotic)-resistant... read more

Unnecessary Antibiotics Still Prescribed for Community-Acquired Pneumonia Due to Difficulties Identifying Resistant Strains

OCT may speed detection of pneumonia-related bacteria in ICU patients

The ability to better detect and assess bacteria linked to a form of pneumonia prevalent in hospital intensive care units (ICUs) could soon become possible, according to research reported in the latest issue of the Journal... read more

OCT may speed detection of pneumonia-related bacteria in ICU patients

Community-acquired pneumonia related to intracellular pathogens

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality worldwide; the annual incidence of CAP among adults in Europe has ranged from 1.5 to 1.7 per 1000 population.... read more

Community-acquired pneumonia related to intracellular pathogens

Driving Risk Factors Behind Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Ventilators that help patients breathe can be life-saving devices; however, they also have the power to cause deadly ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).... read more

Driving Risk Factors Behind Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia

Few ICU Patients with Pneumonia Tested for Virus Infections

Researchers investigated the clinical practices of testing for respiratory virus infections in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with suspected community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) and... read more

Few ICU Patients with Pneumonia Tested for Virus Infections

What Is Walking Pneumonia, and How Is It Different Than Regular Pneumonia?

Walking pneumonia may sound scary, but it just means a mild case of pneumonia - the patient is "walking" around instead of lying in bed or in a hospital. Hillary Clinton is just one of an estimated 4 to 5 million... read more

What Is Walking Pneumonia, and How Is It Different Than Regular Pneumonia?