Crit Care Resusc
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Sodium balance, not fluid balance, is associated with respiratory dysfunction in mechanically ventilated patients: a prospective, multicentre study.
Large positive sodium balances, independent of fluid balance, may lead to expanded extracellular fluid volumes and adverse clinical outcomes in the critically ill, including impaired oxygenation. ⋯ The cumulative positive sodium balance, not the cumulative positive fluid balance, is associated with respiratory dysfunction and an increased length of MV.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Efforts to Attenuate the Spread of Infection (EASI): a prospective, observational multicentre survey of ultrasound equipment in Australian emergency departments and intensive care units.
Ultrasound is a common and necessary part of acute care medicine, but may present an infection risk to patients secondary to transfer of infectious agents between patients. Our primary objective was to detect blood contamination on ultrasound equipment in emergency departments (EDs) and intensive care units. Secondary objectives included detection of microbial contamination and determination of factors associated with contamination. ⋯ Our results show significant contamination of ultrasound equipment, and that visual inspection of equipment is neither sufficient nor reliable in excluding contamination. Ultrasound equipment is a possible factor in the transmission of infectious diseases in EDs and ICUs. Guidelines must be formulated, disseminated and rapidly adopted to ensure the safety of the most acutely ill patients exposed to ultrasound procedures in acute care settings.