Critical care pharmacy workforce: a 2020 re-evaluation of the UK deployment and characteristics.

Introduction: Critical care pharmacists improve the quality and efficiency of medication therapy whilst reducing treatment costs where they are available. UK critical care pharmacist deployment was described in 2015, highlighting a deficit in numbers, experience level, and critical care access to pharmacy services over the 7-day week. Since then, national workforce standards have been emphasised, quality indicators published, and service commissioning documents produced, reinforced by care quality assessments.

Impact of a computerized decision support tool deployed in two intensive care units on acute kidney injury progression and guideline compliance: a prospective observational study.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) affects a large proportion of the critically ill and is associated with worse patient outcomes. Early identification of AKI can lead to earlier initiation of supportive therapy and better management. In this study, we evaluate the impact of computerized AKI decision support tool integrated with the critical care clinical information system (CCIS) on patient outcomes.

Airway clearance techniques and use of mucoactive agents for adult critically ill patients with acute respiratory failure: a qualitative study exploring UK physiotherapy practice.

Objectives: To explore and describe current UK physiotherapy practice relating to airway clearance techniques and mucoactive agents in critically ill adult patients with acute respiratory failure in the intensive care unit.

Design: A descriptive, qualitative study using focus group interviews. Focus groups were audio-recorded, independently transcribed, and data analysed thematically.

Mucoactive agents for acute respiratory failure in the critically ill: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a common cause of admission to intensive care units (ICUs). Mucoactive agents are medications that promote mucus clearance and are frequently administered in patients with ARF, despite a lack of evidence to underpin clinical decision making. The aim of this systematic review was to determine if the use of mucoactive agents in patients with ARF improves clinical outcomes.

Mucoactive agent use in adult UK Critical Care Units: a survey of health care professionals' perception, pharmacists' description of practice, and point prevalence of mucoactive use in invasively mechanically ventilated patients.

Background: Mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure is one of the most common indications for admission to intensive care units (ICUs). Airway mucus clearance is impaired in these patients medication, impaired mucociliary motility, increased mucus production etc. and mucoactive agents have the potential to improve outcomes.

Antibiotic intravenous-to-oral switch guidelines: barriers to adherence and possible solutions.

Objectives: To identify reasons for poor adherence to antibiotic intravenous-to-oral switch guidelines and to explore the possible solutions. To rate the importance of the barriers and solutions identified, as perceived by a multidisciplinary expert panel.

Methods: Three-round Delphi study in an expert panel comprising doctors, nurses and pharmacists, with concurrent semi-structured interviews.