Utility of MRSA nares PCR for non-respiratory cultures in critically ill patients: an observational evaluation.

Background: The overuse of antibiotics may lead to complications such as increased resistance, adverse events, and toxicities. Literature demonstrates a negative Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) nares polymerase chain reaction (PCR) may be used to streamline antibiotic therapy prior to respiratory culture results based on a negative predictive value (NPV) of 95-99%. Additional literature supports a high NPV when MRSA nares PCR is evaluated in non-respiratory cultures; however, this use in critically ill patients has not been studied.

Improving Initial Sepsis Management Through a Nurse-Driven Rapid Response Team Protocol.

Background: Rapid identification and timely management of sepsis improve survival. Therefore, a bundled approach to care is recommended.

Local Problem: In an acute care area of the study institution, a 2016 internal evaluation of 27 patients with sepsis showed a median time to first-dose antibiotic administration of 269 minutes, with no patients receiving antibiotics within the 60-minute target time.

Major publications in critical care pharmacotherapy literature in 2018.

Purpose: To summarize selected original critical care pharmacotherapy research published in 2018.

Materials And Methods: The Critical Care Pharmacotherapy Literature Update (CCPLU) Group screened 32 journals monthly for impactful articles and reviewed 100 articles during 2018. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) criteria were applied to all relevant articles included in the monthly CCPLU.