Disruption of the microbiota across multiple body sites in critically ill children

Microbiota in critically ill children differs sharply from the microbiota of healthy children and adults. Acknowledgement of dysbiosis associated with critical illness could provide opportunities to modulate the microbiota... read more

Disruption of the microbiota across multiple body sites in critically ill children

New Blood Draw Protocol can reduce risks for pediatric patients

Researchers report that implementing a checklist-style set of procedures appears to cut almost in half the number of potentially unnecessary blood culture draws in critically ill children without endangering doctors'... read more

New Blood Draw Protocol can reduce risks for pediatric patients

Outsourced Hospital Cleaning linked to MRSA

Analysis of English NHS hospitals suggests that employing private as opposed to in-house cleaners is a false economy. While it may reduce costs, it could also raise risk of infection by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus... read more

Outsourced Hospital Cleaning linked to MRSA

Think Sepsis and Act Fast

New attention to sepsis including revised definitions, updated guidelines, and new CMS reporting requirements aims to save lives through prevention and prompt and effective management of infections. CDC released a new Vital... read more

Think Sepsis and Act Fast

Blood culture decision algorithm tied to PICU admissions

A standardized approach to blood cultures in the pediatric ICU successfully reduced collections from central venous catheters, investigators at a single center reported, with no subsequent uptick in adverse events.... read more

Blood culture decision algorithm tied to PICU admissions

Three-year mortality in 30 day survivors of critical care with AKI

Acute kidney injury was not an independent risk factor for 3-year mortality among 30-day survivors. Increased 3-year mortality among patients with AKI who survive critical illness may not be related to AKI per se, but rather... read more

Three-year mortality in 30 day survivors of critical care with AKI

Wires and Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters

An increasing number of patients are being admitted to critical care units with multiple chronic medical conditions. In some of these patients, intravenous access is a challenge. With a concern for indwelling catheter infections,... read more

Sepsis on the Wards Manuscript Available Open Access

Surviving Sepsis Campaign supporter, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, recently funded open access with its Sepsis on the Wards grant for original research.... read more

Sepsis on the Wards Manuscript Available Open Access

Plasma cytokine levels predict response to corticosteroids in septic shock

Plasma concentration of selected cytokines is a potential predictive biomarker to identify septic shock patients that may benefit from treatment with corticosteroids.... read more

Plasma cytokine levels predict response to corticosteroids in septic shock

Sepsis-3 definitions predict ICU mortality in a low-middle-income country

The medical records of 957 patients were retrieved from a prospectively collected database. Serum lactate improved accuracy for values higher than 4 mmol/L in the no-dysfunction and septic shock groups.... read more

Sepsis-3 definitions predict ICU mortality in a low-middle-income country

Impact of a high loading dose of amikacin in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

With a loading dose of 30 mg/kg of amikacin, concentration was potentially suboptimal. The pharmacodynamic target (60 mg/L < C max < 80 mg/L) recommended by French guidelines was reached in 41.8% of patients and was... read more

Impact of a high loading dose of amikacin in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock

Antibiotics Linked to Sepsis Risk

Disturbing healthy bacteria during hospital admission associated with later sepsis.... read more

Antibiotics Linked to Sepsis Risk

Ultraviolet air sterilizer reduces sepsis and mortality in cardiac surgery patients

An ultraviolet air steriliser reduces sepsis and mortality in cardiac surgery patients, according to this research. The investigators found that sepsis occurred in 3.4% of patients using the steriliser compared to 6.7% patients... read more

Ultraviolet air sterilizer reduces sepsis and mortality in cardiac surgery patients

Hospitals struggle to address terrifying and long-lasting 'ICU delirium'

Doctors and nurses across the country are now pushing an ambitious campaign to change practices in intensive care units to reduce cases of "ICU delirium".... read more

Hospitals struggle to address terrifying and long-lasting 'ICU delirium'

Hydrocortisone treatment in early sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome

In sepsis-associated ARDS, hydrocortisone treatment was associated with a significant improvement in pulmonary physiology, but without a significant survival benefit.... read more

Hydrocortisone treatment in early sepsis-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome

Levosimendan Doesn’t Prevent Acute Organ Dysfunction

For adults with sepsis, levosimendan does not prevent acute organ dysfunction.... read more

Levosimendan Doesn’t Prevent Acute Organ Dysfunction

Empirical micafungin treatment doesn't improve survival

Empirical treatment with micafungin seems not to increase invasive fungal infection (IFI)-free survival at 28 days for patients with intensive care unit (ICU)-acquired sepsis with Candida colonization.... read more

Empirical micafungin treatment doesn't improve survival

Hydrocortisone and Septic Shock in Patients With Severe Sepsis

This randomized clinical trial compares the effects of hydrocortisone vs placebo on development of septic shock among intensive care patients with severe sepsis who were not in septic shock.... read more

Hydrocortisone and Septic Shock in Patients With Severe Sepsis

Should we treat pyrexia? And how do we do it?

Pyrexia has long been thought of as a protective physiological response to help host defences, although this is now being challenged. Despite recent advances, it remains unclear whether pyrexia or the physiological response... read more

Should we treat pyrexia? And how do we do it?

Association of Sodium Selenite and Procalcitonin-Guided Therapy With Mortality

This randomized clinical trial evaluates the use of high-dose sodium selenite, with or without use of a procalcitonin algorithm to guide therapy, and its association with mortality in patients with severe sepsis.... read more

Association of Sodium Selenite and Procalcitonin-Guided Therapy With Mortality

Beta-Lactam Infusion in Severe Sepsis (BLISS)

Beta-Lactam Infusion in Severe Sepsis (BLISS): a prospective, two-centre, open-labelled randomised controlled trial of continuous versus intermittent beta-lactam infusion in critically ill patients with severe sepsis.... read more

Beta-Lactam Infusion in Severe Sepsis (BLISS)