American journal of critical care : an official publication, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
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Nurses' lack of knowledge may be a barrier to adherence to evidence-based guidelines for preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia. ⋯ The questionnaire is reliable and has face and content validity. Results of surveys with this questionnaire can be used to focus educational programs on preventing ventilator-associated pneumonia.
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Comment Letter
Reader affirms association between hypothermia and sepsis.
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Little information is available on the types, causes, and treatment of pneumonia in intensive care unit patients in usual clinical practice. ⋯ Most cases of pneumonia were community acquired. The most common causative organisms were gram-positive cocci. Four quality improvement strategies were rationalization of antibiotic use during rounds, nurses' reporting of culture results, review of antibiotic appropriateness by a pharmacist, and redesign of the clinical information system.
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Case Reports
Severe sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome from community-acquired legionella pneumonia: case report.
A case of a young man with community-acquired pneumonia, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, and sepsis is reported. Treatment with antibiotics and various modes of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit were unsuccessful. A urinary legionella antigen test was positive for Legionella pneumophila.