It is known that bacterial infections represent a common complication during viral respiratory tract infections such as influenza, with a concomitant increase in morbidity and mortality. Nevertheless, the prevalence of bacterial co-infections and secondary infections in critically ill patients affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not well understood yet. We performed a review of the literature currently available to examine the incidence of bacterial secondary infections acquired during hospital stay and the risk factors associated with multidrug resistance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients who require mechanical ventilation (MV). Subglottic secretions above the endotracheal cuff are associated with bacteria colonization of lower respiratory tract, causing VAP. A preventive strategy to avoid subglottic secretion progression is the drainage with special tracheal tubes effective in preventing both early onset and late onset VAP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The latest European guidelines for the management of hemorrhagic shock suggest the use of vasopressors (norepinephrine) in order to restore an adequate mean arterial pressure when fluid resuscitation therapy fails to restore blood pressure. The administration of arginine vasopressin (AVP), or its analogue terlipressin, has been proposed as an alternative treatment in the early stages of hypovolemic shock.
Design: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled animal trials.