Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Mar 2008
Comparative StudyEarly- and late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia acquired in the intensive care unit: comparison of risk factors.
To compare risk factors of early- (E) and late-onset (L) ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). ⋯ E-VAP and L-VAP have different risk factors, highlighting the need for developing specific preventive measures.
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Journal of critical care · Mar 2008
Risk factors for treatment failure in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy.
The aim of this study was to investigate modifiable risk factors and predictors for treatment failure (TF) in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) receiving appropriate antibiotic therapy. ⋯ Patients with comorbidities, who are severely ill and lymphocytopenic at the time of VAP diagnosis, are at high risk for TF.
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Journal of critical care · Mar 2008
Missed opportunities for noninvasive positive pressure ventilation: a utilization review.
Although noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) improves outcomes in patients who have acute respiratory failure due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or congestive heart failure (CHF), it may be underutilized outside the controlled trial setting. ⋯ Nearly two thirds of patients who appeared to meet criteria for NPPV did not receive a trial of this intervention. There is an opportunity to improve the use of NPPV in these patients. Systematic knowledge translation strategies such as guideline implementation and interactive educational interventions may optimize the appropriate use of NPPV.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2007
Multicenter StudyQuality measurement at intensive care units: which indicators should we use?
This study was conducted to develop a set of indicators that measure the quality of care in intensive care units (ICU) in Dutch hospitals and to evaluate the feasibility of the registration of these indicators. ⋯ In this study, a set of 11 quality indicators for intensive care was defined based on literature research, expert opinion, and testing. The set gives a quick view of the quality of care in individual ICUs. The availability of a computerized data collection system is important for an acceptable workload.