Heart & lung : the journal of critical care
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Early, single chlorhexidine application reduces ventilator-associated pneumonia in trauma patients.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is an important complication of mechanical ventilation and is particularly common in trauma, burn, and surgical patients. Interventions that kill bacteria in the oropharynx reduce the pool of viable organisms available for translocation to the lung and thereby lessen the likelihood of developing VAP. Repeated administration of chlorhexidine (CHX) to the mouth and oropharynx has been shown to reduce the incidence of VAP, but use of a single dose has not been studied. This randomized, controlled clinical trial tested an early (within 12 hours of intubation) application of CHX by swab versus control (no swab) on oral microbial flora and VAP. ⋯ an early, single application of CHX to the oral cavity significantly reduces CPIS and thus VAP in trauma patients.
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Silicosis is the most common type of pneumoconiosis in Hong Kong. This study explored the clinical correlates of the caregiving burden and quality of life (QOL) among pneumoconiosis caregivers in Hong Kong. ⋯ Caring for pneumoconiosis patients entails a significant caregiving burden for caregivers, and adversely affects their QOL. Caregivers' depressive symptoms are related to both their caregiving burden and QOL.
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The study objective was to determine cardiologists' theoretic knowledge of the 2005 American Heart Association (AHA) resuscitation guidelines. ⋯ Cardiologists have knowledge gaps in the 2005 AHA resuscitation guidelines. Resuscitation knowledge decay 1 year after the course is evident.
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Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients, but it can be difficult to diagnose. Clinical criteria, Clinical Pulmonary Infection Score, and quantitative culture of bronchoalveolar lavage have been used to distinguish between patients who are likely positive (sensitivity) and patients who are likely negative (specificity). Despite these test methods, patients continue to be misclassified. False-positive results may lead to inappropriate antibiotic use in patients. For those misclassified as test negative, appropriate treatment may be delayed. Biomarkers have been suggested as another method to enhance the ability to predict VAP. This article analyzes the evidence for the usefulness of 3 biomarkers that have been proposed as possible biomarkers of VAP: soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid type 1 cells, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein. ⋯ Recommendations are offered to strengthen and standardize methods in future studies to clarify the utility of biomarkers for predicting VAP in specific patient populations.
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We primarily sought to evaluate home care nurses' knowledge of evidence-based education topics in managing heart failure (HF). Moreover, we wanted to determine if differences were evident in nurses' knowledge based on education and work experience, and to identify home care nurses' specific educational needs. ⋯ Our findings suggest that home care nurses may not be sufficiently knowledgeable in evidence-based education topics for managing HF. The results help confirm the need to develop educational programs for home care nurses in managing HF, which may lead to improved quality of patient education. Further research is needed to address specific deficits in the knowledge of home care nurses, and to determine if HF educational programs for nurses would enhance and sustain nurses' knowledge of HF management education.