The Journal of infection
-
The Journal of infection · Sep 2010
C-reactive protein: a tool in the follow-up of nosocomial pneumonia.
The aim of this study was to examine the clinical usefulness of serial C-reactive protein (CRP) dosages in patients with nosocomial pneumonia (NP). ⋯ Daily CRP measurements in patients with nosocomial pneumonia may be useful in the identification of patients with poor outcome, as early as day 4, and detect patients with inappropriate antimicrobial therapy.
-
The Journal of infection · Jul 2010
ReviewDo antibiotic-impregnated catheters prevent infection in CSF diversion procedures? Review of the literature.
Cerebrospinal fluid shunting devices are foreign bodies internally or externally placed in a patient with the aim of improving the prognosis. Device-related infection is the most serious complication. Its importance arises from the high frequency of occurrence and the consequences that it implies in terms of morbidity and mortality. ⋯ The results suggest that AICs reduce device-related infection as well as hospital costs. However, evidence is not enough to state categorical conclusions, and further large, prospective, randomized and double-blind studies must be performed in order to confirm these results and the efficacy of other antibiotic-impregnated devices. Further economic evaluation is required to confirm the benefit in terms of cost-effectiveness as well.
-
The Journal of infection · Jul 2010
Bacteremia caused by non-faecalis and non-faecium enterococcus species at a Medical center in Taiwan, 2000 to 2008.
Human infections due to non-faecalis and non-faecium Enterococcus species are emerging but data on the characteristics of these infections are limited. ⋯ Non-faecalis and non-faecium Enterococcus species can cause protean manifestations which vary with the infecting Enterococcus species. Misidentification of unusual enterococcal species might occur by the commercial identification methods and accurate identification with molecular methods is required.
-
The Journal of infection · Jun 2010
ReviewThe diagnostic role of procalcitonin and other biomarkers in discriminating infectious from non-infectious fever.
Fever is not only observed in the course of a bacterial or viral infection, but can be a symptom of, for instance, auto-immune, malignant or thromboembolic disease. Determining the etiology of fever in a fast and reliable way is of pivotal importance, as different causes of fever may ask for different therapies. ⋯ In this review we focus on the value of traditional and newer biomarkers in non-infectious febrile diseases. Procalcitonin (PCT) seems to be the most helpful laboratory marker for the differentiation of causes of fever, particularly in autoimmune, autoinflammatory and malignant diseases.