Transesophageal echocardiography for cardiovascular risk estimation in patients with sepsis and new-onset atrial fibrillation: a multicenter prospective pilot study.

Background: Echocardiographic parameters have been poorly investigated for estimating cardiovascular risk in patients with sepsis and new-onset atrial fibrillation. We aim to assess the prevalence of transesophageal echocardiographic abnormalities and their relationship with cardiovascular events in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis and new-onset atrial fibrillation.

Methods: In this prospective multicenter pilot study, left atrial/left atrial appendage (LA/LAA) dysfunction, severe aortic atheroma, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction were assessed using an initial transesophageal echocardiographic study, which was repeated after 48-72 h to detect LA/LAA thrombus formation.

Impact of Loading Dose of Caspofungin in Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Target Attainment for Severe Candidiasis Infections in Patients in Intensive Care Units: the CASPOLOAD Study.

This study evaluated the impact of a high loading dose of caspofungin (CAS) on the pharmacokinetics of CAS and the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) target attainment in patients in intensive care units (ICU). ICU patients requiring CAS treatment were prospectively included to receive a 140-mg loading dose of CAS. Plasma CAS concentrations (0, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 24 h postinfusion) were determined to develop a two-compartmental population PK model.

Semi-quantitative cultures of throat and rectal swabs are efficient tests to predict ESBL-Enterobacterales ventilator-associated pneumonia in mechanically ventilated ESBL carriers.

Purpose: In ICU patients with carriage of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E) and suspected Gram-negative bacilli ventilator-associated pneumonia (GNB-VAP), the quantification of the rectal and throat ESBL-E carriage might predict the ESBL-E involvement in GNB-VAP. Our aim was to evaluate whether a semi-quantitative assessment of rectal/throat ESBL-E carriage can predict ESBL-E-associated VAP in medical ICU patients.

Methods: From May 2014 to May 2017, all ESBL-E carriers had a semi-quantitative assessment of ESBL-E density in swabs cultures.

Correction to: Changes in the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients treated for severe malaria in a referral French university intensive care unit from 2004 to 2017.

After publication of the original article [1], we were notified that family names have been exchanged with the first names for all authors. Below the name are tagged correctly.

Changes in the clinical presentation and outcomes of patients treated for severe malaria in a referral French university intensive care unit from 2004 to 2017.

Background: In France, the incidence of severe imported malaria cases increased since early 2000. Artesunate was available (temporarily use authorization) since mid-2011 in France and commonly used for severe malaria since early 2013. Thus, the study objectives were to describe the patients with severe imported malaria admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) and assess the changes in clinical presentation and outcomes before and after this date.

Impact of natural light exposure on delirium burden in adult patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation in the ICU: a prospective study.

Objective: To determine whether potential exposure to natural light via windows is associated with reduced delirium burden in critically ill patients admitted to the ICU in a single room.

Design: Prospective single-center study.

Setting: Medical ICU of a university hospital, Paris, France.

Early Electroencephalography Findings in Cardiogenic Shock Patients Treated by Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Objectives: We aimed to assess early electroencephalography findings in patients treated by venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and their association with neurologic outcome.

Design: Single-center observational study.

Setting: Medical ICU of a university hospital.

Systematic overdosing of oxa- and cloxacillin in severe infections treated in ICU: risk factors and side effects.

Background: Oxacillin and cloxacillin are the most frequently used penicillins for the treatment of severe methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus infections in intensive care units (ICUs), especially endocarditis. International recommendations do not suggest any adaptation of the dosage in case of renal impairment. We wanted to assess the risk factors for overdosing in ICU and the related observed side effects.

Viral-bacterial coinfection affects the presentation and alters the prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Background: Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) enables recovery of viruses from airways of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), although their clinical impact remains uncertain.

Methods: Among consecutive adult patients who had undergone a mPCR within 72 hours following their admission to one intensive care unit (ICU), we retrospectively included those with a final diagnosis of CAP. Four etiology groups were clustered: bacterial, viral, mixed (viral-bacterial) and no etiology.