Current opinion in critical care
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Oct 2022
ReviewNosocomial infections during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.
The aim of this review is to present the latest evidence regarding the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of nosocomial infections during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. ⋯ ECMO is a rescue therapy for severe hemodynamic or respiratory failure. Nosocomial infections on ECMO support are frequent (infection rate ranging between 20.5% to more than 50% of ECMO runs) and have impact in survival, with reported increases in the risk of death up to 63% in infected patients. However, diagnosis and treatment are challenging, as the unique relationship between patient and circuit may act as a confounder for infection and exacerbate the variability of antibiotic pharmacokinetics in critical illness. Clinical practice regarding antibiotic treatment and infection prevention is not yet supported by high-quality evidence.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Oct 2022
ReviewSevere infections in recipients of cancer immunotherapy: what intensivists need to know.
Given the increased number of cancer patients admitted in the ICU and the growing importance of immunotherapy in their therapeutic arsenal, intensivists will be increasingly confronted to patients treated with immunotherapies who will present with complications, infectious and immunologic. ⋯ Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy is associated with profound immunosuppression and the risks of bacterial, fungal and viral infections vary according to the time since infusion.Immune checkpoint blockers are associated with an overall favorable safety profile but associations of checkpoint blockers and corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs prescribed to treat immune-related adverse events are associated with increased risks of bacterial and fungal infections.The T-cell engaging bispecific therapy blinatumomab causes profound B-cell aplasia, hypogammaglobulinemia and neutropenia, but seems to be associated with fewer infectious adverse events compared with standard intensive chemotherapy.Lastly, intravesical administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) can lead to disseminated BCGitis and severe sepsis requiring a specific antibiotherapy, often associated with corticosteroid treatment.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Aug 2022
ReviewMechanical circulatory support in the treatment of cardiogenic shock.
Cardiogenic shock is a condition that is characterized by end-organ hypoperfusion secondary to reduced cardiac output, and is associated with substantial mortality. The mainstay of therapy for cardiogenic shock is reversal of the underlying cause, and concomitant supportive care with vasoactive medications (vasopressors and inotropes). Patients who continue to deteriorate despite these measures may require mechanical circulatory support (MCS). Here, we review the devices available for MCS, and their associated benefits and risks. ⋯ Various devices for MCS in cardiogenic shock are available, but routine use is not supported by high-quality randomized evidence. Given the resources required for initiation of MCS, use of these treatments should be limited to centers experienced in advanced cardiac care, and future research should focus on what role (if any) these devices have in clinical practice.
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Critically ill patients experience skeletal muscle wasting that may contribute to the profound functional deficits in those that survive the initial injury. Augmented protein delivery has the potential to attenuate muscle loss, yet the ability for dietary protein to improve patient outcomes is reliant on effective protein metabolism. This review will discuss the recent literature on protein delivery and digestion, amino acid absorption, and muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in critically ill adults. ⋯ Postprandial MPS is impaired in critically ill patients and may exacerbate muscle wasting experienced by these patients. Studies in critically ill patients require assessment not only of protein delivery, but also utilization prior to implementation of augmented protein doses.
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Curr Opin Crit Care · Aug 2022
Review Meta AnalysisUpdate on vitamin C administration in critical illness.
Several studies have recently explored the effects of intravenous vitamin C in sepsis. We aimed to summarize their findings to provide perspectives for future research. ⋯ The effect of intravenous vitamin C in critically ill patients has yet to be determined and might be dose-dependent. Clinical studies of very high or mega doses of vitamin C are justified by preclinical data.