What should intensivists know about immune checkpoint inhibitors and their side effects?

The pharmacological group of immune checkpoint-inhibitors (ICI) has revolutionized the field of oncology in the last ten years. The improvements in the survival of certain cancers thanks to these treatments comes at the cost of an increased morbidity and mortality due to certain immune related adverse events (irAE). This review will concentrate on the irAE that more frequently require intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

Comparison of Mechanical Insufflation-Exsufflation and Hypertonic Saline and Hyaluronic Acid With Conventional Open Catheter Suctioning in Intubated Patients.

Background: Open respiratory secretion suctioning with a catheter causes pain and tracheobronchial mucosal injury in intubated patients. The goal of mechanical insufflation-exsufflation (MI-E) is to move secretions proximally and noninvasively by generating a high peak expiratory air flow. Nebulized hypertonic saline with hyaluronic acid (HS-HA) may facilitate suctioning by hydration.

The safety and efficacy of stem cells for the treatment of severe community-acquired bacterial pneumonia: A randomized clinical trial.

Purpose: Evaluate the safety profile of expanded allogeneic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (eASC) for the treatment of severe community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).

Materials And Methods: Randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1b/2a trial. Patients with severe CABP were enrolled to receive intravenous infusions of Cx611 or placebo.

Urgent need for a rapid microbiological diagnosis in critically ill pneumonia.

Severe lower respiratory tract infection is a common issue in Intensive Care Units that causes significant morbidity and mortality. The traditional diagnostic-therapeutic approach has been grounded on taking respiratory samples and/or blood cultures as soon as possible and starting empirical antibiotic therapy addressed to cover most likely pathogens based on the presence of the patient's risk factors for certain microorganisms, while waiting for the culture results in the following 48-72 hours to adequate the antibiotic treatment to the sensitivity profile of the isolated pathogen. Unfortunately, this strategy leads to use broad-spectrum antibiotics more times than necessary and does not prevent possible therapeutic failures.