Critical care nursing clinics of North America
-
Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · Sep 2013
ReviewAcute bacterial meningitis: current review and treatment update.
Bacterial meningitis is an infection of the meninges that can be infected by bacteria, virus, or fungus. The classic triad of bacterial meningitis consists of fever, neck stiffness, and altered mental status; headache is also another common symptom. Interventions for bacterial meningitis include prompt diagnosis, and initiation of antimicrobial therapy to optimize bacterial kill and decrease inflammatory response in the subarachnoid space. Nursing management consists of effective delivery of antibiotic therapy, fluid management, and supportive care.
-
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, whereas encephalitis is inflammation of the parenchymal brain tissue. The single distinguishing element between the 2 diagnoses is the altered state of consciousness, focal deficits, and seizures found in encephalitis. ⋯ Viral meningitis is not necessarily reported as it is often underdiagnosed, whereas encephalitis cases are on the increase in various areas of North America. Improved imaging and viral diagnostics, as well as enhanced neurocritical care management, have improved patient outcomes to date.
-
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a complex cardiovascular disorder particularly sensitive to environmental changes and physiologic stress. Warm weather and strenuous activity can be a dangerous combination for people that have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. ⋯ Treatment of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is focused on abating the natural clinical progression that includes sudden cardiac death, severe heart failure symptoms, and arrhythmias. Safe, effective delivery of care to the patient with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy requires a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding this precarious cardiac condition.
-
Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am · Jun 2013
ReviewTick bites and Lyme disease: the need for timely treatment.
In the United States, 30,158 people were reported as having contracted Lyme disease during 2010; 96% of the cases in 2011 were reported from 13 northeast and north-central states. Time of tick attachment is a critical factor. Prolonged attachment allows time for a bacterium to move from tick to human. ⋯ The most common drug for treatment is doxycycline. Ticks find their hosts by several senses: odor, moisture, heat, and vibration. Avoidance of tick-infested areas, such as wooded areas and leaf piles, is paramount in preventing Lyme disease.
-
Rapid and effective treatment of bites is a major variable in the overall outcome of a patient who is a victim of a bite. There are a wide range of animals that bite and sting, and the reactions vary depending on the individual and the animal involved. Although most bites are treated on an outpatient basis, patients who have severe complications related to bites become patients in critical care settings. An overview of potential bite and sting sources, with some general guidelines for what to expect and how to treat the patient, is presented.