Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Apr 2011
Editorial CommentLung protective strategy: many pieces of the puzzle.
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This study evaluated the use of off-label medications in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting and their varying levels of evidence. ⋯ The use of off-label medication therapies in the US adult critical care units is common, a majority of which are initiated after admission to the ICU and a significant portion of which are supported with inferior levels of evidence.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2011
Comparative StudyResidents' and nurses' perceptions of team function in the medical intensive care unit.
Team-based care is integral to modern intensive care units (ICUs). Trainee physicians ("residents") serve as core team members who provide direct patient care in academic ICUs. However, little is known about how resident perceptions of ICU team function differ from those of other disciplines. Therefore, we compared residents' perceptions to those of nurses', the other predominant direct caregiver group, in the medical ICU. ⋯ We found important differences in the way that ICU nurses and medical trainee physicians, the predominant types of providers caring for the critically ill in academic medical center ICUs, perceive key aspects of team function. These results may be useful to those responsible for administering academic ICUs as well as to residency program directors developing communication- and team-based curricula.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2011
Risk factors and mortality of nosocomial infections of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in an intensive care unit.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are an increasing worldwide problem. We determined risk factors and predictors of mortality of MRSA nosocomial infections (NIs). ⋯ Methicillin resistance is very common with S aureus infection. In our intensive care unit, use of invasive devices/procedures and LOS were the most important risk factors for infection.