Lipoteichoic Acid as a Potential Noninvasive Biomarker of Biofilm in Dialysis Access.

Tunneled central venous catheters (TCVCs) are colonized by Gram-positive organisms and form biofilm. Lipoteichoic acid (LTA) is a Gram-positive cell wall component that can be measured in serum. The purpose of this pilot study was to characterize LTA concentrations in hemodialysis (HD) patients with TCVCs compared to other access types and to evaluate biofilm morphology and microbiology in TCVCs removed by clinical decision.

Fluid as a Drug: Balancing Resuscitation and Fluid Overload in the Intensive Care Setting.

Intravenous fluid resuscitation is ubiquitous throughout medicine and is often considered a benign procedure. Yet, there is now clear recognition of the potential harms of fluid overload after initial resuscitation. In recent years, there has also been an increasing focus on comparing various resuscitation fluids with respect to both benefits and risks.