Pharmacokinetic evaluation of colistin sodium.

Importance Of The Field: Although colistin has recently played a key role in the treatment of nosocomial infections due to multidrug resistant Gram-negative pathogens, there is a lack of clinical studies examining colistin pharmacokinetics (PKs) in humans. This refers to all routes of colistin administration in clinical practice. Colistin PK data are also limited in critically ill patients.

Epidemiologic, clinical characteristics, and risk factors for adverse outcome in multiresistant gram-negative primary bacteremia of critically ill patients.

Background: Characteristics and burden of primary bacteremia because of multidrug-resistant (MDR) gram-negative bacteria (GNB) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients remain understudied.

Methods: A cohort study of patients with primary MDR GNB-related bacteremia from the ICU of a tertiary Greek hospital during a 3-year period was conducted for recognition of clinical characteristics and risk factors for adverse outcome. A case-control study was further performed to evaluate risk factors for development of MDR GNB-related primary bacteremia.

Multidrug-resistant Gram-negative infections: the use of colistin.

The emergence of nosocomial infections due to multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria led to the revival of 'forgotten' antibiotics, such as polymyxins. Colistin, mainly colistimethate sodium (polymyxin E), has been predominantly used. Recent studies suggest that colistin administered as monotherapy or combination therapy is an effective and safe antimicrobial agent for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria infections.

Incidence of postoperative infections in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery receiving antimicrobial prophylaxis with original and generic cefuroxime.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of post-operative infections in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery who received generic cefuroxime (gCFX) instead of original cefuroxime (oCFX) as antimicrobial prophylaxis.

Methods: The study had two parts, a prospective and a retrospective one (4 weeks with oCFX followed by 4 weeks with gCFX in each part; total study duration of 16 weeks). The studied patient population was 618 consecutive adult patients who underwent on pump CABG surgery.

Predictors of early postoperative atrial fibrillation after off-pump myocardial revascularization.

Objective: : We determined the incidence and the predisposing factors of atrial fibrillation (AF) after aorta nontouch coronary artery bypass grafting without extracorporeal circulation.

Methods: : From February 2001 to November 2005, 1359 patients (1159 men, 85.3%) of mean (±SD) age 64.

External reshaping of the left ventricle in off-pump surgery.

Background: : Dyskinetic areas of the lateral and inferior left ventricular (LV) wall are frequently encountered in patients with coronary artery disease. In clinical practice, all of the techniques described for the restoration of shape and function of the LV require cardiopulmonary bypass. A new technique of LV external reshaping that aims to obtain a near-normal ventricular conical shape is described.