Inflammation severity, rather than respiratory failure, is strongly associated with mortality of ARDS patients in high-altitude ICUs.

Introduction: In high-altitude cities located above 2,500 m, hospitals face a concerning mortality rate of over 50% among intensive care unit (ICU) patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). This elevated mortality rate is largely due to the absence of altitude-specific medical protocols that consider the unique physiological adaptations of high-altitude residents to hypoxic conditions. This study addresses this critical gap by analyzing demographic, clinical, sex-specific, and preclinical data from ICUs in Bogotá, Colombia (2,650 m) and El Alto, Bolivia (4,150 m).

Penetration of linezolid into the pleural cavity in critically ill patients with proven or suspected Gram-positive bacterial infections: a retrospective pharmacokinetic study.

Objectives: To describe the pharmacokinetics (PK) of linezolid in plasma and pleural fluid (PF) in critically ill patients with proven or suspected Gram-positive bacterial infections.

Patients And Methods: Observational PK study in 14 critically ill patients treated with linezolid at standard doses. Blood and PF samples were collected and analysed by HPLC.