BACKGROUND The incidence of candidemia continues to rise in recent years. Candidemic patients often require care in an intensive care unit (ICU) and can consume substantial resources. However, there are no contemporary longitudinal population-level data on the incidence patterns of ICU utilization among patients with candidemia in the United States. METHODS The Texas Inpatient Public Use Data...

Chest radiography serves a crucial role in imaging of the critically ill. Its uses include diagnosis and monitoring of commonly encountered pulmonary parenchymal and pleural space abnormalities. It is also important in evaluating monitoring and support devices and associated complications. CT, another useful imaging modality in select patients, can better characterize pulmonary parenchymal and ...

OBJECTIVES Hypernatraemia is one of the major electrolyte disorders associated with mortality among critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). It is unclear whether this applies to patients with cerebrovascular diseases in whom high sodium concentrations may be allowed in order to prevent cerebral oedema. This study aimed to examine the association between ICU-acquired hypernatraem...

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency and to evaluate the relationship between premature discharge and post-ICU hospital mortality. DESIGN A prospective registry was made for patients admitted during six consecutive years, performing a retrospective analysis of the data on the first admission of ICU survivors. SETTING A 10-bed general ICU in a 540-bed tertiary-care community hospital. PATI...

BACKGROUND Cardiac surgical reexploration is necessary in approximately 5% of all patients. However, the impact of routine, planned reexploration performed in the intensive care unit (ICU) remains poorly defined. This study evaluated postoperative outcomes after cardiac reexplorations to determine the safety and efficacy of a planned approach in the ICU. METHODS All patients undergoing ICU ca...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW Loss of 'health-promoting' microbes and overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria (dysbiosis) in ICU is believed to contribute to nosocomial infections, sepsis, and organ failure (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome). This review discusses new understanding of ICU dysbiosis, new data for probiotics and fecal transplantation in ICU, and new data characterizing the ICU microbiome. REC...

BACKGROUND Internationally, there is no consensus on how to best deal with admission requests in cases of full ICU bed occupancy. Knowledge about the degree of dissension and insight into the reasons for this dissension is lacking. Information about the opinion of ICU physicians can be used to improve decision-making regarding allocation of ICU resources. The aim of this study was to: Assess wh...

PURPOSE Many surgical patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), resulting in an increased demand, and possible waste, of resources. Patients who undergo liver resection are also transferred postoperatively to the ICU. However, this may not be necessary in all cases. This study was designed to assess the necessity of ICU admission. METHODS The medical records of 313 patients who ...

BACKGROUND Healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) infection in intensive care unit (ICU) patients prolongs ICU stay and causes high mortality. Predicting HA-MRSA infection on admission can strengthen precautions against MRSA transmission. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors for HA-MRSA infection in an ICU from data obtained within 24 hours of patien...