In adults receiving mechanical ventilation, selective decontamination of the digestive tract reduces hospital mortality.

Hammond NE, Myburgh J, Seppelt I, et al. JAMA. 2022;328:1922-34.

Cytokine Release Syndrome and Sepsis: Analogous Clinical Syndromes with Distinct Causes and Challenges in Management.

Both cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and sepsis are clinical syndromes rather than distinct diseases and share considerable overlap. It can often be challenging to distinguish between the two, but it is important given the availability of targeted treatment options. In addition, several other clinical syndromes overlap with CRS and sepsis, further making it difficult to differentiate them.

Controversies in Perioperative Antimicrobial Prophylaxis.

Although clinical guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis across a wide array of surgical procedures have been proposed by multidisciplinary groups of physicians and pharmacists, clinicians often deviate from recommendations. This is particularly true when recommendations are based on weak data or expert opinion. The goal of this review is to highlight certain common but controversial topics in perioperative prophylaxis and to focus on the data that does exist for the recommendations being made.

Dwindling Utilization of Central Venous Catheter Tip Cultures: An Analysis of Sampling Trends and Clinical Utility at 128 US Hospitals, 2009-2014.

At 128 US hospitals, from 2009-2014, a 17% decline occurred annually in central venous catheter tips sent for culture: a 6-fold decrease from blood culture sampling trends. The positive predictive value was low (23%). Tip culture use often does not conform to recommendations and offers limited independent treatment opportunities.

Prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections.

Central venous catheters (CVCs) are commonly used in critically ill patients and offer several advantages to peripheral intravenous access. However, indwelling CVCs have the potential to lead to bloodstream infections, with the risk increasing with an array of characteristics, such as catheter choice, catheter location, insertion technique, and catheter maintenance. Evidence-based guidelines have led to a significant reduction in the incidence of bloodstream infections associated with CVCs.

Executive Summary: Management of Adults With Hospital-acquired and Ventilator-associated Pneumonia: 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Thoracic Society.

It is important to realize that guidelines cannot always account for individual variation among patients. They are not intended to supplant physician judgment with respect to particular patients or special clinical situations. IDSA considers adherence to these guidelines to be voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding their application to be made by the physician in the light of each patient's individual circumstances.

Management of Adults With Hospital-acquired and Ventilator-associated Pneumonia: 2016 Clinical Practice Guidelines by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the American Thoracic Society.

It is important to realize that guidelines cannot always account for individual variation among patients. They are not intended to supplant physician judgment with respect to particular patients or special clinical situations. IDSA considers adherence to these guidelines to be voluntary, with the ultimate determination regarding their application to be made by the physician in the light of each patient's individual circumstances.

Synergy, Salary, and Satisfaction: Benefits of Training in Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Diseases Gleaned From a National Pilot Survey of Dually Trained Physicians.

Background: An increasing number of physicians are seeking dual training in critical care medicine (CCM) and infectious diseases (ID). Understanding experiences and perceptions of CCM-ID physicians could inform career choices and programmatic innovation.

Methods: All physicians trained and/or certified in both CCM and ID to date in the United States were sent a Web-based questionnaire in 2015.

The Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC): Results From a Multispecialty Panel Using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method.

Use of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) has grown substantially in recent years. Increasing use has led to the realization that PICCs are associated with important complications, including thrombosis and infection. Moreover, some PICCs may not be placed for clinically valid reasons.

Critical Care Medicine and Infectious Diseases: An Emerging Combined Subspecialty in the United States.

The recent rise in unfilled training positions among infectious diseases (ID) fellowship programs nationwide indicates that ID is declining as a career choice among internal medicine residency graduates. Supplementing ID training with training in critical care medicine (CCM) might be a way to regenerate interest in the specialty. Hands-on patient care and higher salaries are obvious attractions.