Antibiotic Treatment for 7 versus 14 Days in Patients with Bloodstream Infections.

Background: Bloodstream infections are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Early, appropriate antibiotic therapy is important, but the duration of treatment is uncertain.

Methods: In a multicenter, noninferiority trial, we randomly assigned hospitalized patients (including patients in the intensive care unit [ICU]) who had bloodstream infection to receive antibiotic treatment for 7 days or 14 days.

Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections in critically ill cirrhotic patients: a post-hoc analysis of the EUROBACT-2 international cohort study.

Background: Hospital-acquired bloodstream infections are common in the intensive care unit (ICU) and have a high mortality rate. Patients with cirrhosis are especially susceptible to infections, yet there is a knowledge gap in the epidemiological distinctions in hospital-acquired bloodstream infections between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients in the ICU. It has been suggested that cirrhotic patients, present a trend towards more gram-positive infections, and especially enterococcal infections.

Discriminative performance of pancreatic stone protein in predicting ICU mortality and infection severity in adult patients with infection: a systematic review and individual patient level meta-analysis.

Background: Several studies suggested pancreatic stone protein (PSP) as a promising biomarker to predict mortality among patients with severe infection. The objective of the study was to evaluate the performance of PSP in predicting intensive care unit (ICU) mortality and infection severity among critically ill adults admitted to the hospital for infection.

Methods: A systematic search across Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and MEDLINE databases (1966 to February 2022) for studies on PSP published in English using 'pancreatic stone protein', 'PSP', 'regenerative protein', 'lithostatin' combined with 'infection' and 'sepsis' found 46 records.

The effect of duration of antimicrobial treatment for bacteremia in critically ill patients on in-hospital mortality - Retrospective double center analysis.

Purpose: Excessive duration of antibiotic treatment is a major factor for inappropriate antibiotic consumption. Although in some instances shorter antibiotic courses are as efficient as longer ones, no specific recommendations as to the duration of antimicrobial treatment for bloodstream infections currently exist. In the present study, we investigated the effect of antibiotic treatment duration on in-hospital mortality using retrospective data from two cohorts that included patients with bacteremia at two Swiss tertiary Intensive Care Units (ICUs).

Metformin's Role in Hyperlactatemia and Lactic Acidosis in ICU Patients: A Systematic Review.

Introduction: Metformin-treated patients may experience severe hyperlactatemia or lactic acidosis (LA). LA often requires intensive-care-unit (ICU) treatment, and mortality rates are high. Here, we investigate the impact of renal dysfunction and renal replacement therapy (RRT) on the outcomes of critically ill patients with metformin-associated LA (MALA).

Searching for synergy: combining systemic daptomycin treatment with localised phage therapy for the treatment of experimental pneumonia due to MRSA.

Objective: Bacteriophages (or phages) are viruses which infect and lyse bacteria. The therapeutic use of phages (phage therapy) has regained attention in the last decades as an alternative strategy to treat infections caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. In clinical settings it is most likely that phages are administered adjunct to antibiotics.

Role of Pancreatic Stone Protein as an Early Biomarker for Risk Stratification of Acute Pancreatitis.

Background: Early risk stratification of acute pancreatitis is crucial to improve clinical outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of pancreatic stone protein (PSP) to predict acute pancreatitis severity and to compare it with the biomarkers and severity scores currently used for that purpose.

Patients And Methods: Prospective single-center observational study enrolling 268 adult patients with acute pancreatitis.

Accuracy of pancreatic stone protein for the diagnosis of infection in hospitalized adults: a systematic review and individual patient level meta-analysis.

Background: Accurate biomarkers to diagnose infection are lacking. Studies reported good performance of pancreatic stone protein (PSP) to detect infection. The objective of the study was to determine the performance of PSP in diagnosing infection across hospitalized patients and calculate a threshold value for that purpose.

Progress and Pitfalls of Bacteriophage Therapy in Critical Care: A Concise Definitive Review.

Objective: Bacterial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens are a major problem for patients requiring critical care. An approach to combat resistance is the use of bacterial viruses known as "phage therapy." This review provides a brief "clinicians guide" to phage biology and discusses recent applications in the context of common infections encountered in ICUs.

Benefits of Aerosolized Phages for the Treatment of Pneumonia Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: An Experimental Study in Rats.

Background: The optimal method for delivering phages in the context of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is unknown. In the current study, we assessed the utility of aerosolized phages (aerophages) for experimental methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia.

Methods: Rats were ventilated for 4 hours before induction of pneumonia.

Description of a rat model of polymicrobial abdominal sepsis mimicking human colon perforation.

Objective: Standard rodent sepsis models as cecal ligation and puncture models (CLP) or cecal ligation and incision models (CLI) are frequently not suited experiments, mainly because they lack surgical repair, and they are difficult to control for severity. The colon ascendens stent peritonitis model (CASP) overcomes some of these limitations.

Result: Here we present our modification of the rodent CASP model, where severity of sepsis can be controlled by timing of surgical repair and treatment, and by diameter of the stent.

Nebulized Bacteriophages for Prophylaxis of Experimental Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Due to Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: There is a need for alternative strategies to combat and prevent antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. Here, we assessed the potential for bacteriophage prophylaxis in the context of experimental ventilator-associated pneumonia due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in rats.

Design: Nebulized phages (aerophages) were delivered to the lungs of rats using a modified vibrating mesh aerosol drug delivery system.

Draft Genome Sequence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strain AW7, Isolated from a Patient with Bacteremia.

Methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strain AW7 is a commonly used challenge strain in experimental models of MRSA infection. Here, we report its draft genome sequence.

Bacteriophages Improve Outcomes in Experimental Ventilator-associated Pneumonia.

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria are a major clinical challenge. Phage therapy is a promising alternative antibacterial strategy. To evaluate the efficacy of intravenous phage therapy for the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to methicillin-resistant in rats.

Fluid management in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: effects of an acetate- versus lactate-buffered balanced infusion solution on hemodynamic stability (HEMACETAT).

Background: Recent evidence suggests that acetate-buffered infusions result in better hemodynamic stabilization than 0.9% saline in patients undergoing major surgery. The choice of buffer in balanced crystalloid solutions may modify their hemodynamic effects.

Fractionated plasmatic separation and adsorption does not alter haemodynamic parameters in experimental acute liver failure.

Objective: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a rare disease with a bad prognosis. Its start is accompanied by haemodynamic instability. The aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of fractionated plasmatic separation and adsorption (FPSA) on body haemodynamics using a large animal experimental model of ALF.

Cerebral microdialysis reflects the neuroprotective effect of fractionated plasma separation and adsorption in acute liver failure better and earlier than intracranial pressure: a controlled study in pigs.

Background: Cerebral edema is a well-recognized and potentially fatal complication of acute liver failure (ALF). The effectiveness of treatments that address intracranial hypertension is generally assessed by measuring intracranial pressure (ICP). The aim of this study was to determine the role of cerebral microdialysis in monitoring the efficacy of fractionated plasma separation and adsorption (FPSA) treatment for ALF.

Artificial liver support system reduces intracranial pressure more effectively than bioartificial system: an experimental study.

Objectives: Extracorporeal liver support (ELS) may play a role in bridging therapy in patients with acute liver failure (ALF). The aim of this study was to compare the influence of nonbiological and biological methods on intracranial pressure (ICP) in an animal model of ALF.

Methods: A surgical devascularization model of ALF in pigs (35-40 kg) was used.

[Intracranial hypertension in acute liver failure and microdialysis].

Acute liver failure is a severe condition with a very unfavourable prognosis. One of the common complications and limiting factors for the outcome is the development of the intracranial hypertension. The etiology and the pathogenetic pathways leading to the development of this fatal complication of acute liver failure is still not completely understood.

Fractionated plasma separation and adsorption significantly decreases intracranial pressure in acute liver failure: experimental study.

Background: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of fractionated plasma separation and absorption (FPSA) on intracranial pressure (ICP) in acute liver failure (ALF).

Methods: A surgical model of ALF in pigs (35-40 kg) was used. We compared laboratory data and haemodynamic parameters from the ALF control group to the ALF group treated by Prometheus using ANOVA with repeated measures and grouping factors, by calculating the area under the curve, and by the Mann-Whitney rank test.

[Current benefit of biological and non-biological methods in the treatment of acute liver failure].

Background: There was an active interest in development of liver assist device in the last two decades. Using these devices to bridge patients with acute hepatic failure (AHF) to ortotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) or to liver regeneration might decrease the mortality rate. Several liver support systems have been described in different stages of experimental or clinical examination.

[Biological and non-biological elimination therapy of acute liver failure. Experimental study on large laboratory animal].

Background: Development of biological and non-biological artificial liver devices in the previous 20 years enabled effective treatment of acute liver failure (ALF) of patients waiting for liver transplantation or for spontaneous liver parenchyma regeneration. Aim of the study was the evaluation of the effectiveness of biological (BAL - bioartificial liver) and non-biological (FPSA - Fractionated plasma separation and adsorption) methods in the treatment of experimental ALF on large laboratory animal.

Methods And Results: Surgical model of ALF with liver devascularization in pigs (weight 25-40 kg) was provided following monitoring of ALF markers (AST, ALT, bilirubin, ammoniac, glycaemia, INR) including intracranial pressure (ICP).

Changes in lymphocyte subpopulations and CD3+/DR+ expression in sepsis.

Objective: To detect lymphocyte subpopulations and CD3+/DR + expression in sepsis.

Methods: In a prospective clinical study we evaluated subpopulations of lymphocytes and percentage of CD3+/HLA-DR+ lymphocytes using two-color flow cytometry in 40 patients with sepsis and compared them with 34 healthy adults.

Results: Septic patients, when compared with healthy controls, have significantly lower percentage and absolute numbers of total T lymphocytes and CD4 T lymphocytes (P < 0.

[Association of class I HLA antigens with invasive meningococcal disease].

Background: The majority of meningococcal infections are characterized by nasopharyngeal carriership. In some patients invasive disease with a mild course develops, while some cases have a lethal outcome. The reasons of this wide variation range are not clear.

[Relation of HLA antigens to prognosis in Hodgkin's disease].

The prognostic value of HLA antigens in Hodgkin's disease was assessed by multivariate regression analyses. A significantly adverse prognostic impact for achieving complete remission by primary treatment and for its persistence was proved in four antigens locus B (B18, B5, B27 and B15). Five-year survival without signs of the disease, i.