Publications by authors named "Julian Balks"
Article Synopsis
- Bloodstream infections in neonates can be difficult to diagnose using traditional culture methods, prompting the study of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) as a faster alternative that can identify microbial DNA from smaller blood samples.
- In a study involving neonates suspected of sepsis, NGS was compared with blood cultures; it successfully detected pathogens in a higher number of cases, including some that blood cultures missed, highlighting its potential advantages.
- The research concludes that while NGS can improve sepsis diagnostics, its results need to be interpreted alongside clinical data and other test results for a complete understanding of the patient's health.
Continued detection of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-positive Staphylococcus aureus in samples from a family with severe repeated skin infections and their pet cat suggests transmission between the family and the cat. Decolonizing the pet led to successful elimination of the bacteria from the household. Clinicians should consider pet cats as possible reinfection sources.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Hospitals with their high antimicrobial selection pressure represent the presumably most important reservoir of multidrug-resistant human pathogens. Antibiotics administered in the course of treatment are excreted and discharged into the wastewater system. Not only in patients, but also in the sewers, antimicrobial substances exert selection pressure on existing bacteria and promote the emergence and dissemination of multidrug-resistant clones.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To evaluate the prognostic information derived from the daily measurements of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (proBNP) in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia undergoing extracorporeal life support (ECLS).
Study Design: Plasma proBNP was prospectively measured daily during the first week of ECLS using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Patients (n = 63) were allocated according to outcome: survivors (group 1, n = 35); nonsurvivors with successful weaning (defined as survival for >12 hours after ECLS discontinuation) (group 2, n = 16); nonsurvivors with unsuccessful weaning (group 3, n = 12).
Article Synopsis
- The mortality rate for babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in specialized hospitals is between 20-40%.
- Factors like underdeveloped lungs, high blood pressure in the lungs, and other birth defects can affect how well they do.
- Out of 156 babies treated in a study, some had heart defects, and those with moderate heart issues had better survival rates than those with severe heart issues.