Crit Care Resusc
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Automated electronic monitoring and analysis of circuit pressures during continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) has the potential to predict failure and allow intervention to optimise function. ⋯ Automated electronic monitoring of circuit pressure during CRRT is possible and provides useful information on the evolution of circuit clotting.
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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.
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0.9% saline is the most commonly used intravenous (IV) fluid in the world but recent data raise the possibility that, compared with buffered crystalloid fluids such as Plasma-Lyte 148, the administration of 0.9% saline might increase the risk of developing acute kidney injury. ⋯ The SPLIT study program will provide preliminary data on the comparative effectiveness of using 0.9% saline v Plasma-Lyte 148 for IV fluid therapy in ED, surgical and ICU patients.