[Dendritic cells in sepsis: an approach to post-infectious immunosuppression].

Dendritic cells (DCs) play a decisive role in the immune system, especially in the initial events that determine coordination between the innate and adaptive response. Moreover, they are antigen-presenting cells which, through contact with T cells, determine the type of immune responses towards inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. Currently, the hypothesis that attributes importance to the development of a post-infectious immunosuppression in the prognosis of the septic patient is growing stronger.

Clinical trial evaluating a new hub device designed to prevent catheter-related sepsis.

A new commercial hub device designed to minimise catheter-related infections was evaluated in a prospective, randomised trial in the intensive care and surgical units of the Hospital de Tortosa Verge de la Cinta in patients in whom the central venous catheters were expected to remain indwelling for at least 7 days. The assessments conducted at catheter withdrawal included cultures of the skin at the catheter site and cultures of the catheter tip and the catheter hubs; moreover, in cases of suspected catheter-related sepsis, samples of peripheral blood and infusion solutions were also cultured. Of the 130 catheters evaluated, 26 (20%) were withdrawn because of suspected catheter-related sepsis; 10 (15%) were in the control group and 16 (24%) in the new product group.