[Infections complicating femoral nerve catheter for postoperative analgesia: about two cases].

The process of inserting a perineural catheter on femoral region for a regional anesthesia is quite common amongst hospital practices. The resulting infectious complications, although rare, remain potentially serious. For instance, many cases of severe sepsis were described in medical literature.

Effect of gingival and dental plaque antiseptic decontamination on nosocomial infections acquired in the intensive care unit: a double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter study.

Objective: To document the effect of gingival and dental plaque antiseptic decontamination on the rate of nosocomial bacteremias and respiratory infections acquired in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design: Prospective, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled efficacy study.

Setting: Six ICUs: three in university hospitals and three in general hospitals.

Fatal streptococcal necrotizing fasciitis as a complication of axillary brachial plexus block.

A 74-yr-old diabetic woman developed necrotizing fasciitis of the right upper limb after axillary brachial plexus block for carpal tunnel decompression. Clinical signs included oedema, diffuse swelling and bullae; rapidly followed by toxic shock syndrome and multiorgan failure. The patient died 48 h after hospital admission, despite broad-spectrum antibiotics, surgical treatment and supportive measures for the management of shock and multiorgan failure.

[Early and late nosocomial broncho-pulmonary diseases in intensive care. Comparative study of risk factors and of causing bacteria].

Objectives: Determine the risk factors and germs responsible for early-onset (E) and late-onset (L) nosocomial broncho-pulmonary infections (NBPI), in order to improve preventive strategies and the choice of initial antibiotherapy.

Methods: An observational prospective study conducted in an intensive care unit of 30 beds, from March 1993 to September 1999. The patients presenting with an ENBPI and those with an LNBPI were compared with patients without NBPI using univariate and then multivariate analysis.

Nosocomial tracheobronchitis in mechanically ventilated patients: incidence, aetiology and outcome.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence, the organisms responsible for and the impact on outcome of nosocomial tracheobronchitis (NTB) in the intensive care unit (ICU). This prospective observational cohort study was conducted in a 30-bed medical/surgical ICU over a period of 6.5 yrs.