Complicated grief after death of a relative in the intensive care unit.

An increased proportion of deaths occur in the intensive care unit (ICU). We performed this prospective study in 41 ICUs to determine the prevalence and determinants of complicated grief after death of a loved one in the ICU. Relatives of 475 adult patients were followed up.

Aspergillus in the lower respiratory tract of immunocompetent critically ill patients.

Objectives: To shed light on the meaning of Aspergillus-positive lower-respiratory-tract samples in non immunocompromized critically ill patients.

Methods: Multicentre matched case-control (1:5) study. We used prospectively collected data to identify risk factors for Aspergillus-positive specimens, as well as outcomes in Aspergillus-positive patients.

Increased nonbeneficial care in patients spending their birthday in the ICU.

Objective: End-of-life decisions are based on objective and subjective criteria. Previous studies identified substantial subjective biases during end-of-life decision-making. We evaluated whether in-ICU patient's birthday influenced management decisions.

A continuous quality-improvement program reduces nosocomial infection rates in the ICU.

Objective: To assess the impact of a continuous quality-improvement program on nosocomial infection rates.

Design And Setting: Prospective single-center study in the medical-surgical ICU of a tertiary care center. PATIENTS.