Articles: sepsis.
-
Enhanced critical care delivery has led to improved survival rates in critically ill patients, yet sepsis remains a leading cause of multiorgan failure with variable recovery outcomes. Chronic critical illness, characterised by prolonged ICU stays and persistent end-organ dysfunction, presents a significant challenge in patient management, often requiring multifaceted interventions. Recent research, highlighted in a comprehensive review in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, focuses on addressing the pathophysiological drivers of chronic critical illness, such as persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism, through targeted therapeutic strategies including immunomodulation, muscle wasting prevention, nutritional support, and microbiome modulation. Although promising avenues exist, challenges remain in patient heterogeneity, treatment timing, and the need for multimodal approaches.
-
Recovery from sepsis is a key global health issue, impacting 38 million sepsis survivors worldwide per year. Sepsis survivors face a wide range of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial sequelae. ⋯ Increasing recognition of the burdens of sepsis survivorship has led to the development of postsepsis recovery programs to better support survivors and their families, although optimal models of care remain uncertain. The goal of this article is to perform a narrative review of recovery from sepsis from the perspective of patients, families, and health systems.
-
Here we review the epidemiology of sepsis, focusing on its definition, incidence, and mortality, as well as the demographic insights and risk factors that influence its occurrence and outcomes. We address how age, sex, and racial/ethnic disparities impact upon incidence and mortality rates. Sepsis is more frequent and severe among the elderly, males, and certain racial and ethnic groups. ⋯ We also highlight issues relating to coding and administrative data that can generate erroneous and misleading information, and the need for greater consistency. The Sepsis-3 definitions, offering more precise clinical criteria, are a step in the right direction. This overview will, we hope, facilitate understanding of the multi-faceted epidemiological characteristics of sepsis and current challenges.
-
Journal of critical care · Aug 2024
Multicenter StudySerial monitoring of pancreatic stone protein for the detection of sepsis in intensive care unit patients with complicated abdominal surgery: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study.
The objective of this study was to assess the performance of pancreatic stone protein (PSP) monitoring for the detection of sepsis, prediction of outcome and distinction between bacterial and fungal infections in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with complicated abdominal surgery. ⋯ Serial PSP monitoring may be an additional tool for the early detection of sepsis in patients with complicated abdominal surgery who are at high risk of severe infections.
-
Practice Guideline
Use of Intravenous Albumin: A Guideline from the International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines.
Albumin is used commonly across a wide range of clinical settings to improve hemodynamics, to facilitate fluid removal, and to manage complications of cirrhosis. The International Collaboration for Transfusion Medicine Guidelines developed guidelines for the use of albumin in patients requiring critical care, undergoing cardiovascular surgery, undergoing kidney replacement therapy, or experiencing complications of cirrhosis. ⋯ Currently, few evidence-based indications support the routine use of albumin in clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. These guidelines provide clinicians with actionable recommendations on the use of albumin.