Impact of a restrictive antibiotic policy on the acquisition of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in an endemic region: a before-and-after, propensity-matched cohort study in a Caribbean intensive care unit.

Background: High-level antibiotic consumption plays a critical role in the selection and spread of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) in the ICU. Implementation of a stewardship program including a restrictive antibiotic policy was evaluated with respect to ESBL-E acquisition (carriage and infection).

Methods: We implemented a 2-year, before-and-after intervention study including all consecutive adult patients admitted for > 48 h in the medical-surgical 26-bed ICU of Guadeloupe University Hospital (French West Indies).

Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist during weaning from respiratory support in a case of guillain-barré syndrome.

We report a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome complicated by respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA) allowed proper patient-ventilator synchronization by pressure support proportional to the electrical activity of the diaphragm (Edi). Prolonged ventilation with NAVA seems feasible in patients with neuromuscular impairment, but the weaning process conducted by a continuous monitoring of Edi for pressure support titration needed to be assessed in a Guillain-Barré syndrome patient.

Inverted (Reverse) Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy following Cerebellar Hemorrhage.

Background. First described in 2005, inverted takotsubo is one of the four stress-induced cardiomyopathy patterns. It is rarely associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage but was not previously reported after intraparenchymal bleeding.

Partly reversible central auditory dysfunction induced by cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage.

The authors describe a rare case of central auditory dysfunction induced by cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A 55-year-old woman who was admitted after aneurysmal SAH developed cerebral vasospasm on Day 3 affecting mainly the right middle cerebral artery (MCA) and partly the left MCA. The vasospasm became refractory to conventional therapy and was ultimately improved by intraarterial infusion of nimodipine in the right MCA and angioplasty.

Severe acute cardiomyopathy associated with venlafaxine overdose and possible role of CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 polymorphisms.

Introduction: Venlafaxine (VEN) is a serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitor that causes usually a mild cardiotoxicity when ingested in overdose. We report a patient who developed acute heart failure following overdose. As the toxicokinetic data suggested a prolonged metabolism, genetic polymorphisms for cytochrome P450 isoenzymes CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 were also investigated.