Articles: intensive-care-units.
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Hospital acquired infections (HAI) continue to constitute a major health problem for hospital patients. Such a problem is particularly relevant in Intensive Care Wards. Here infections appear to be directly or indirectly related to the patients' death, and the patients, of course, represent a selected group of the most susceptible hosts in the whole hospital due to their immunosuppressed states, underlying diseases and the numerous and highly invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to which they are submitted. ⋯ HAIs (especially nosocomial pneumonias) were also closely related to the patients' death. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, S. aureus, Acinetobacter and Streptococcus D were the most frequently isolated agents in the infected patients. Gram-negative agents accounted for 57% of all agents isolated and were particularly frequent in both pneumonias and urinary tract infections.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Clinical pediatrics · Dec 1987
Letter Comparative StudyShould the mobile intensive care unit respond to pediatric emergencies?
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Comparative Study
The impact of age on utilization of intensive care resources.
The impact of age on admission practices and pattern of care were examined in 599 admissions to a medical intensive care unit (MICU) and 290 patients on the conventional medical care divisions of the same hospital. Four age groups were compared: under 55, 55 to 64, 65 to 74, and 75 years of age and over. Severity of illness and prior health were assessed using the Acute Physiology Score (APS) and the Chronic Health Evaluation (CHE) instruments. ⋯ Still, elderly DNR patients received as much resources as younger DNR patients and this was more than non-DNR patients. The sample of patients treated on conventional medical divisions had age distribution similar to the MICU sample. There was some evidence that admission APS (median, 5, 5, 6, 6, respectively, P = .055) and maximum APS (median, 5, 5, 7, 8, respectively, P = .023) differed slightly across age groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs · Nov 1987
A national survey of the assessment and treatment of pain and agitation in the neonatal intensive care unit.
A national survey was conducted to determine beliefs about neonatal pain and agitation, current methods of assessment, and standards for treatment. The results indicated a lack of consistency in both attitudes and practices among neonatal intensive care unit staff with regard to pain assessment and management in neonates. ⋯ Infants with chronic lung disease were identified as being particularly affected by agitation. These infants were noted to have an increased incidence of feeding problems and were more often medicated for agitation.
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A statewide survey of nurses in perinatal centers was conducted to assess the prevalence of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) policies in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and to examine factors influencing nurses in those centers in their compliance with DNR orders. Three nurses in each of 10 perinatal centers were asked to complete a questionnaire on DNR policies and nurses' compliance and to respond to four hypothetical clinical situations. ⋯ Nurses' intention to resuscitate despite a DNR order varied, depending on the description of the infant. Multiple regression analyses showed that subjective norms (beta = .41 to .82) rather than attitudes (beta = .17 to .39) exerted a more powerful influence on nurses' decisions not to resuscitate.