Prevalence and mortality associated with multidrug-resistant infections in adult intensive care units in Argentina (PREV-AR).

Unlabelled: Data from low and middle-income countries (LMICs) on multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs) in intensive care units (ICUs) are scarce. Working in several ICUs in Argentina, we sought to estimate the prevalence and characteristics of MDRO infections and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) colonization. Mortality associated with MDRO infection was also evaluated.

Optimising antibacterial utilisation in Argentine intensive care units: a quality improvement collaborative.

Background: There is limited evidence from antimicrobial stewardship programmes in less-resourced settings. This study aimed to improve the quality of antibacterial prescriptions by mitigating overuse and promoting the use of narrow-spectrum agents in intensive care units (ICUs) in a middle-income country.

Methods: We established a quality improvement collaborative (QIC) model involving nine Argentine ICUs over 11 months with a 16-week baseline period (BP) and a 32-week implementation period (IP).

[Central venous catheter related infections. Inter-Societies update and recommendations].

Representatives of the Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases (SADI) and the Argentine Society of Intensive Therapy (SATI) joined together to issue specific recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of intravascular catheter related infections (CRI). The methodology used was the analysis of the literature published in the last 10 years, complemented with the opinion of experts and local data. This document aims to promote effective measures to reduce the risk of CRI and to offer basic tools for diagnosis optimization based on clinical and microbiological criteria, orientation on empirical and targeted antibiotic schemes, posology, and administration of antibiotics in critical patients.

Use of early corticosteroid therapy on ICU admission in patients affected by severe pandemic (H1N1)v influenza A infection.

Introduction: Early use of corticosteroids in patients affected by pandemic (H1N1)v influenza A infection, although relatively common, remains controversial.

Methods: Prospective, observational, multicenter study from 23 June 2009 through 11 February 2010, reported in the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) H1N1 registry.

Results: Two hundred twenty patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with completed outcome data were analyzed.

Health-care-associated bloodstream infections at admission to the ICU.

Background: Infections occurring among outpatients having recent contact with the health-care system have been recently classified as health-care-associated infections to distinguish them from hospital- and community-acquired infections. Patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) were studied to assess health-care-associated infections at admission in the ICU.

Methods: This work was a multicenter, prospective, observational study of all adult patients with BSI at ICU admission at 27 Spanish hospitals and one Argentine hospital.