Intensive care medicine
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2012
ReviewChlorhexidine body washing to control antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in intensive care units: a systematic review.
Infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (AMRB) are increasing worldwide, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). Chlorhexidine body washing (CHG-BW) has been proposed as a measure to limit the spread of AMRB. We have systematically assessed the evidence on the effectiveness of CHG-BW in reducing colonization and infection with AMRB in adult ICU patients. ⋯ CHG-BW may be effective in preventing carriage, and possibly bloodstream infections, with MRSA and VRE in different ICU settings. As CHG-BW protocols, co-interventions and case mix varied widely, attribution of these effects to CHG-BW alone should be done with care. Evidence that CHG-BW reduces carriage of or infections with ARGNB is lacking.
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2012
Review Meta AnalysisAn ESICM systematic review and meta-analysis of procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy algorithms in adult critically ill patients.
We sought to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of procalcitonin(PCT)-guided antibiotic therapy algorithms for critically ill adult patients. ⋯ Procalcitonin-guided antibiotic therapy algorithms could help in reducing the duration of antimicrobial administration without having a negative impact on survival.
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Intensive care medicine · Jun 2012
Randomized Controlled TrialIn-line filtration reduces severe complications and length of stay on pediatric intensive care unit: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial.
Particulate contamination due to infusion therapy carries a potential health risk for intensive care patients. ⋯ In-line filtration is able to avert severe complications in critically ill patients. The overall complication rate during the PICU stay among the filter group was significantly reduced. In-line filtration was effective in reducing the occurrence of SIRS. We therefore conclude that in-line filtration improves the safety of intensive care therapy and represents a preventive strategy that results in a significant reduction of the length of stay in the PICU and duration of mechanical ventilation (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT00209768).