Pulmonary diffusing capacity in healthy African-American and Caucasian children.

Previous studies of pulmonary diffusing capacity in healthy children primarily focused upon Caucasian (C) subjects. Since lung volumes in African-Americans (AA) are smaller than lung volumes in C subjects of the same height, diffusing capacity values in AA children might be interpreted as low or abnormal using currently available equations without adjusting for race. Healthy AA (N = 151) and C (N = 301) children between 5 and 18 years of age performed acceptable measurements of single breath pulmonary diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO ) and alveolar volume (VA ) according to current ATS/ERS guidelines.

Pulmonary diffusing capacity in healthy Caucasian children.

Previous studies of pulmonary diffusing capacity in children differed greatly in methodologies; numbers of subjects evaluated, and were performed prior to the latest ATS/ERS guidelines. The purpose of our study was to establish reference ranges for the diffusing capacity to carbon monoxide (DL(CO) ) and alveolar volume (V(A) ) in healthy Caucasian children using current international guidelines and contemporary equipment. Healthy children from the United States (N = 303) and from Australia (N = 176) performed acceptable measurements of single breath pulmonary diffusing capacity and alveolar volume according to current ATS/ERS guidelines.

Catheter-associated bloodstream infection in the pediatric intensive care unit: a multidisciplinary approach.

Background: Catheter-associated bloodstream infections have been reported to occur in 3% to 8% of all central venous catheters inserted and are the predominant cause of hospital-acquired infection in intensive care units.

Objective: Decreasing the pediatric intensive care unit rate of catheter-associated bloodstream infections became a high priority in 2008 for all members of the intensive care unit team affiliated with central venous catheter insertion and maintenance.

Interventions: Through a series of multidisciplinary initiatives, the annual average catheter-associated bloodstream infection rate in the pediatric intensive care unit fell from 7.