Critical care : the official journal of the Critical Care Forum
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Lung abscess following ventilator-associated pneumonia during COVID-19: a retrospective multicenter cohort study.
Patients undergoing mechanical ventilation (MV) for COVID-19 exhibit an increased risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The occurrence of lung abscesses following VAP in these patients has been poorly studied. We aimed to describe the incidence, characteristics, risk factors and prognosis of lung abscesses complicating VAP after COVID-19. ⋯ Lung abscessing pneumonia is not uncommon among COVID-19 patients developing VAP. A plurimicrobial first VAP episode and the use of hydrocortisone are independently associated with this complication. In COVID-19 patients with persistent VAP, a chest CT scan investigating the evolution toward lung abscess should be considered.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Enteral citrulline supplementation versus placebo on SOFA score on day 7 in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients: the IMMUNOCITRE randomized clinical trial.
Restoring plasma arginine levels through enteral administration of L-citrulline in critically ill patients may improve outcomes. We aimed to evaluate whether enteral L-citrulline administration reduced organ dysfunction based on the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and affected selected immune parameters in mechanically ventilated medical intensive care unit (ICU) patients. ⋯ Among mechanically ventilated ICU patients without sepsis or septic shock, enteral L-citrulline administration did not result in a significant difference in SOFA score on day 7 compared to placebo.
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Regardless of the available antifungals, intraabdominal candidiasis (IAC) mortality continues to be high and represents a challenge for clinicians. ⋯ There is a critical need for more robust clinical trials, studies examining patient heterogeneity and surveillance of antifungal resistance to enhance patient care and optimise treatment outcomes. Such evidence will help refine the existing guidelines and contribute to a more personalised and effective approach to treating this serious medical condition. Meanwhile, it is suggested to broaden the consideration of other options, such as liposomal amphotericin B, as first-line treatment until the results of the fungogram are available and antifungal stewardship could be implemented to prevent the development of resistance.
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Letter Randomized Controlled Trial
Pharyngeal electrical stimulation for postextubation dysphagia in acute stroke: a randomized controlled pilot trial.