Surgical infections
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Surgical infections · Jan 2004
Review Comparative StudyNew strategies to improve outcomes in the surgical intensive care unit.
Over the last half-decade, substantial breakthroughs have taken place in terms of routine therapy of critically ill patients. The combination of these strategies has the potential to result in improvement in the overall outcomes for patients in intensive care units. ⋯ Appropriate incorporation of these strategies into everyday practice will likely result in improvements in the care of critically ill surgical patients.
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Surgical infections · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyNosocomial infections adversely affect the outcomes of patients with serious intraabdominal infections.
Patients with serious intraabdominal infections (IAI) who subsequently acquire nosocomial infections (NI) have been shown to have adverse outcomes. We evaluated factors that put patients at risk for developing NI and examined the effect of the NI on outcomes. ⋯ The development of NI following treatment of an IAI significantly affects mortality, hospital length of stay, and treatment. Early recognition and treatment of these infections, combined with strategies to prevent NI, may be important to improve outcomes in this patient population.
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Surgical infections · Jan 2004
Comparative StudyMethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in vascular surgery: increasing prevalence.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a virulent organism that causes substantial infection-related morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. For example, MRSA infection of prosthetic vascular grafts can be limb- and life-threatening in surgical patients. We investigated the incidence of MRSA infection in vascular surgical patients who developed postoperative infectious complications. ⋯ Methicillin-resistant S. aureus has emerged as the leading cause of postoperative infection in vascular surgery patients, and is associated with substantial morbidity, increased hospital LOS, and higher incidences of amputation and graft removal. Greater emphasis on preoperative screening protocols for MRSA colonization is warranted, in conjunction with aggressive infection control measures, alteration of preoperative prophylactic antimicrobial use in MRSA-colonized patients, and meticulous postoperative surveillance for MRSA infection. Furthermore, antimicrobial treatment of postoperative infectious complications in vascular surgery patients should include empiric coverage for MRSA in institutions where MRSA is endemic.
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Surgical infections · Jan 2004
Longitudinal outcomes of intra-abdominal infection complicated by critical illness.
Critically ill surgical patients remain at high risk of adverse outcomes as a result of intra-abdominal infections, including prolonged length of stay, organ dysfunction, and death despite advances in critical care and innovations in management of the peritoneal cavity. We evaluated the causes and consequences of intra-abdominal infections among critically ill surgical patients in a single tertiary-care intensive care unit (ICU) over a decade. ⋯ Although outcomes are improving, generalized peritonitis still causes high organ dysfunction-related mortality among critically ill surgical patients. Further improvements in resuscitation, surgical technique, and pharmacotherapy of severe intra-abdominal infections are needed.
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Surgical infections · Jan 2004
Allogenic blood transfusion in the first 24 hours after trauma is associated with increased systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and death.
Previous studies have documented that blood transfusion incites a substantial inflammatory response with the systemic release of cytokines. Furthermore, blood transfusion is a significant independent predictor of multiple organ failure in trauma. The objective of this study was to assess the risk of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and intensive care unit (ICU) admission, length of stay (LOS), and mortality in trauma patients who require blood transfusion. ⋯ Blood transfusion within the first 24 h was an independent predictor of mortality, SIRS, ICU admission, and ICU LOS in trauma patients. The use of blood substitutes and alternative agents to increase serum hemoglobin concentration in the post-injury period warrants further investigation.