AACN clinical issues
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AACN clinical issues · Aug 2002
ReviewManagement of respiratory syncytial virus with lower respiratory tract infection in infants and children.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and children requiring pediatric hospitalizations. Infants with chronic lung, cardiac, or neuromuscular conditions are at increased risk for RSV infection. Early RSV is associated with subsequent diagnosis of reactive airway disease. ⋯ Interventions include supplemental oxygen therapy, ventilation, and fluid and nutrition therapy. Respiratory syncytial virus prophylaxis for high-risk patients includes intramuscular injections of palivizumab (Synagis) each month during RSV season, from November through April. Prevention strategies include washing hands, cleaning environment surfaces, and isolating infants and children with RSV in the emergency care area.
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AACN clinical issues · Aug 2002
Use of the injury severity score to predict nosocomial bloodstream infections among critically ill trauma patients.
Nosocomial bloodstream infections (NBSI) are associated with increased hospital length of stay (LOS), mortality, and costs. At this writing, no available reports describe the association between injury severity and NBSI among critically ill adult trauma patients. This study aimed to examine the use of the Injury Severity Score (ISS) as a predictor of NBSI among critically ill adult trauma patients. ⋯ The mean LOS until the diagnosis of NBSI was significantly lower than the total LOS of the control subjects (odds ratio [OR], 0.959; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-0.99). The ISS score and age were found to be independent predictors of NBSI. The findings provide a means for using the ISS score as a predictor of NBSI in the critically ill adult trauma population.