Critical care nursing quarterly
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Sepsis and septic shock are major health conditions in the United States, with a high incidence and mortality. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign, which was formed in 2002, formulates guidelines for the management of severe sepsis and septic shock and has actually demonstrated a reduction in mortality with institution of "sepsis bundles." Despite this, some elements of the guidelines have been questioned, and recent data suggest that strict compliance with bundles and protocols may not be necessary. Still, prompt recognition and treatment of sepsis and septic shock remain of utmost importance.
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Review Meta Analysis
Bathing With 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate: Evidence and Costs Associated With Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections.
In a coordinated national effort reported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the use of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) has reduced the central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rate by 40%. Conversely, a recent randomized clinical trial determined that chlorhexidine bathing did not reduce the CLABSI rate. The objectives of this study were to conduct meta-analysis and clarify the effectiveness of 2% CHG bathing by nurses on CLABSIs in adult intensive care unit patients and to determine the contributing costs attributable to CLABSIs and 2% CHG bathing. ⋯ The estimated cost increase of 2% CHG-impregnated cloths is $4.10 versus nonmedicated bathing cloths. The cost associated with a single CLABSI is 10 times more than the cost of using 2% CHG-impregnated cloths. Nursing provides significant influence for the prevention of CLABSIs in critical care via evidence-based best practices.
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Aggressive fluid resuscitation is the mainstay therapy in modern sepsis management. Its efficacy was demonstrated in the landmark study by Emmanuel Rivers in 2001. However, more recent evidence largely shows that a positive fluid balance increases mortality in critically ill patients with sepsis. This article examines the theoretical benefits of fluid resuscitation and physiological responses to it that may negatively affect patients' outcome.
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Starling's forces are fundamental to our understanding of physiology. Based on his findings, hydrostatic pressure and oncotic pressure are crucial factors in the movement of intravascular and extravascular fluid. However, new literatures on endothelial glycocalyx, a layer of protective glycoprotein within the vasculature that was first discovered in the 1980s, are reshaping our standard models of Starling's forces. This article examines the nature of the endothelial glycocalyx and why understanding it may change the way we resuscitate patients with sepsis.