The value of routine blood-borne virus testing in the intensive care unit.

Background: ICU patients may require renal replacement therapy (RRT). Sharing RRT equipment carries a risk of BBV transmission, which mainly relates to Hepatitis B (HBV), Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV. Since 2012, all Glasgow Royal Infirmary ICU patients undergo routine BBV screening, with RRT machines allocated for patients with specific BBV statuses.

The FRAIL-FIT 30 Study - Factors influencing 30-day mortality in frail patients admitted to ICU: A retrospective observational cohort study.

Background: Frailty is a multi-dimensional syndrome of reduced reserve, resulting from overlapping physiological decrements across multiple systems. The contributing factors, temporality and magnitude of frailty's effect on mortality after ICU admission are unclear. This study assessed frailty's impact on mortality and life sustaining therapy (LST) use, following ICU admission.

The FRAIL-FIT study: Frailty's relationship with adverse-event incidence in the longer term, at one year following intensive care unit treatment - A retrospective observational cohort study.

Introduction: Frailty is a syndrome of decreased reserve and heightened vulnerability. Frailty scoring has potential to facilitate more informed decisions in the intensive care unit. To validate this, its relationship with outcomes must be tested extensively.

Mortality in intensive care: The impact of bacteremia and the utility of systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of bacteremia on intensive care unit (ICU) mortality and to develop a bacteremia prediction tool using systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) criteria.

Methods: Patients included those aged >18 years who had blood cultures taken in the ICU from January 1, 2011-December 31, 2013. Eligible patients were identified from microbiology records of the Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Scotland.

Central line insertion bundle: experiences and challenges in an adult ICU.

Background: Central venous catheters are used frequently in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, there is an associated morbidity, mortality and cost derived from their infectious and mechanical complications. The Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP) has developed a multi faceted care bundle, with the aim of reducing catheter-related blood stream infections.

Unsuitable for the intensive care unit: what happens next?

Context: In recent years numbers of referrals to intensive care units (ICU) throughout the United Kingdom has been increasing. A number of referrals to the ICU are considered to be inappropriate for a variety of reasons, including those patients who are felt to be either too well for admission, or have comorbidities making survival unlikely and aggressive interventions unsuitable.

Objectives: This study aims to examine the outcomes and symptoms in those patients who are unsuitable for admission to ICU.

Informed consent in emergency research: a contradiction in terms.

Improving the treatment of life threatening emergency illness or disease requires that new or novel therapies be assessed in clinical trials. As most subjects for these trials will be incapacitated there is some controversy about they might best protected whilst still allowing research to continue. Recent European and UK clinical trials legislation, which has effectively stopped research into emergency conditions, is discussed.