Early Biomarker-Guided Prediction of Bloodstream Infection in Critically Ill Patients: C-Reactive Protein, Procalcitonin, and Leukocytes.

Background: Bloodstream infections (BSIs) often lead to critical illness and death. The primary aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), and leukocyte count for the diagnosis of BSI in critically ill patients.

Methods: This was a nested case-control study based on the Procalcitonin And Survival Study (PASS) trial (n = 1200).

Kidney failure related to broad-spectrum antibiotics in critically ill patients: secondary end point results from a 1200 patient randomised trial.

Objectives: To explore whether a strategy of more intensive antibiotic therapy leads to emergence or prolongation of renal failure in intensive care patients.

Design: Secondary analysis from a randomised antibiotic strategy trial (the Procalcitonin And Survival Study). The randomised arms were conserved from the primary trial for the main analysis.

A three year population based survey of paediatric mechanical ventilation in east Denmark.

Background: East Denmark has a population of 396,000 children 0-14 years and a yearly birth rate of 30,000, but at present no paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

Objective: To perform a population based survey of paediatric mechanical ventilation with the purpose of providing the background for discussions for or against centralization of paediatric intensive care.

Methods: Case records of children 0-14 years treated with mechanical ventilation from January 1996 to December 1998 were retrospectively reviewed and the following data were obtained: Whether or not the child was settled in East Denmark, date of admission, gender, age, underlying chronic condition(s), acute condition(s) leading to mechanical ventilation, duration of positive pressure ventilation, duration of endotracheal intubation, length of stay in ICU, and outcome.