Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2011
Intensive care unit admissions for community-acquired pneumonia are seasonal but are not associated with weather or reports of influenza-like illness in the community.
The aims of this study were to determine if there is seasonal variation in the number of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and if there is a relationship between these admissions and weather or reports of influenza-like illness in the community. ⋯ Intensive care unit admissions for CAP are seasonal, but neither weather measurements nor weekly rate of reported influenza-like illness in the community is associated with these admissions.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2011
Telemedicine in the intensive care unit environment--a survey of the attitudes and perspectives of critical care clinicians.
This study was conducted to assess the preimplementation knowledge and perceptions of intensive care unit (ICU) clinicians regarding the ability of telemedicine in the ICU environment (Tele-ICU) to address challenges resulting from the shortages of experienced critical care human resources and the drive to improve quality of care. ⋯ Significant uncertainty and skepticism were expressed by critical care clinicians regarding the ability of Tele-ICU to address the challenges of human resource limitation and the delivery of quality care. This suggests the need for further research and education of system impact beyond patient outcomes related to this new technology.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2011
Multicenter StudyEarly changes of procalcitonin may advise about prognosis and appropriateness of antimicrobial therapy in sepsis.
The objective of this study is to define if early changes of procalcitonin (PCT) may inform about prognosis and appropriateness of administered therapy in sepsis. ⋯ Changes of serum PCT within the first 48 hours reflect the benefit or not of the administered antimicrobial therapy. Serial PCT measurements should be used in clinical practice to guide administration of appropriate antimicrobials.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2011
Alveolar fluid clearance is faster in women with acute lung injury compared to men.
Studies suggest that there is a sex difference in the development and outcomes of acute lung injury (ALI). Few studies have directly addressed the association of sex and alveolar fluid clearance (AFC), a process that is critical to ALI resolution. ⋯ These findings may have significant implications for future ALI studies and potential therapies.
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Journal of critical care · Jun 2011
Ventilator-associated pneumonia in critically ill stroke patients: frequency, risk factors, and outcomes.
Our main objective was to assess incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in stroke patients. ⋯ Pneumonia appears as a frequent problem in mechanically ventilated stroke patients. Chronic lung disease history, severity of stroke level at admission, and hemorrhagic transformation of stroke set the stage for developing VAP. The duration of both mechanical ventilation and intensive care unit stay gets significantly prolonged by VAP, but it does not affect mortality.