Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
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Respiratory tract infections and acute bronchitis are one of the major indications for which antibiotics are prescribed. As most of respiratory tract infections are caused by viruses and antibiotic therapy is rarely indicated. Reasons for the unnecessary prescription of antibiotics in this patient population are false expectations regarding the course and duration of common cold symptoms and especially coughing. ⋯ The most common expectorants used in Germany are Ambroxol and N-Acetylcytein. For both substances there is little data supporting a benefit in patients with an acute bronchitis. Antitussiva reduce the symptom burden, but there is also a strong placebo-effect on the cough reflex.
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Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Oct 2018
[Do Vitamins Play a Role in the Pathogenesis and Therapy of Sepsis?]
Hospital mortality of severe sepsis and septic shock is still around 40 % according to recent studies. In accordance to the current sepsis definition, sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated response of the organism to infection. Septic shock is defined by vasopressor-dependent circulatory failure and lactic acidosis. ⋯ A number of recent studies and reviews have addressed the question whether deficiencies in certain vitamins may facilitate the transition from infection to septic shock. In addition, studies have investigated the effect of high-dose vitamin therapies on sepsis mortality and sepsis-associated organ dysfunctions. This article would like to summarize this current discussion with a focus on vitamin B1 (thiamine), vitamin C and vitamin D.