Current opinion in critical care
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To highlight recent findings on the adequate duration of antifungal therapy in patients with invasive fungal disease (IFD). ⋯ The optimal duration of antifungal therapy is still an unresolved issue that depends by many key elements including the host; the pathogen and its microbiological eradication, the adequateness of initial antifungal therapy and the promptness of source control of the infection. In general, many patients with invasive candidiasis can be treated with a 2 weeks course of antifungal therapy. Longer antifungal course (6 weeks or more) is generally required for patients with invasive aspergilosis.
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Critical illness survivorship is associated with new and worsening physical, cognitive, and emotional status. Survivors are vulnerable to further health set-backs, most commonly because of infection and exacerbation of chronic medical conditions. Awareness of survivors' challenges are important given the anticipated rise in critical illness survivors because of SARS-CoV-2 viral sepsis. ⋯ Survivors of sepsis and critical illness commonly experience impaired health status, reduced quality of life, and inability to return to prior employment. Although the challenges of critical illness survivorship are increasingly well documented, there are relatively few studies on enhancing recovery. Future studies must focus on identifying best practices for optimizing recovery and strategies to promote their implementation.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Oct 2020
ReviewWhat is new in catheter use and catheter infection prevention in the ICU.
Short-term intravascular catheters are instrumental in the care of critically ill patients. Despite their benefits, they also are potential entries for systemic infections. There is a growing body of literature on catheter use and the prevention of intravascular catheter infections in intensive care. This review highlights major recent contributions to the topic and put them into perspective to recommendations on best practice procedures. ⋯ Many options for effective intravascular catheter infection prevention are currently available. A number of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses not only confirmed measures targeting best practice and technology at catheter insertion and catheter care but also challenged interventions, such as CHG bathing. More focus should be put to implementation strategies.
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The traditional approach to sepsis treatment utilizes broad-spectrum antibiotics. Unfortunately, a significant proportion of infected patients have 'culture-negative' sepsis despite appropriate microbiologic assessment. ⋯ Owing to the difficulty inherent in studying the lack of positive data, and to the uncertainty surrounding diagnosis in patients with culture-negative sepsis, prospective data to guide antibiotic choices are lacking. However, antibiotic de-escalation in culture-negative sepsis is both recommended and feasible in patients showing clinical signs of improvement. Increased use of rapid diagnostics, careful consideration of antibiotic necessity, and antibiotic stewardship programs may result in less antibiotic days and better outcomes.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Oct 2020
ReviewRole of anabolic testosterone agents and structured exercise to promote recovery in ICU survivors.
ICU survivors frequently suffer significant, prolonged physical disability. 'ICU Survivorship', or addressing quality-of-life impairments post-ICU care, is a defining challenge, and existing standards of care fail to successfully address these disabilities. We suggest addressing persistent catabolism by treatment with testosterone analogues combined with structured exercise is a promising novel intervention to improve 'ICU Survivorship'. ⋯ Critical illness leads to a catabolic state, including severe testosterone deficiency that persists throughout hospital stay, and results in persistent muscle weakness and physical dysfunction. The combination of an anabolic agent with adequate nutrition and structured exercise is likely essential to optimize muscle mass/strength and physical function in ICU survivors. Further research in ICU populations is needed.