Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Screening With Polymerase Chain Reaction for Early De-escalation of Empiric Vancomycin in the Treatment of Suspected/Confirmed Respiratory Infection in Critically Ill Patients.

Background: Vancomycin empirically for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia coverage often is prolonged. With high negative predictive value for MRSA pneumonia, we evaluated the efficacy of MRSA nasal screening with polymerase chain reaction for early de-escalation of empiric vancomycin for treatment of respiratory infections in patients admitted to the intensive care units.

Study Question: The impact of MRSA nasal screening on early de-escalation of vancomycin for respiratory infections.

Randomized Open Investigation Determining Steroid Dose in Severe COVID-19: The ROIDS-Dose Clinical Trial.

Introduction Treatment with dexamethasone reduces mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia requiring supplemental oxygen, but the optimal dose has not been determined. Objective To determine whether weight-based dexamethasone of 0.2 mg/kg is superior to 6 mg daily in reducing 28-day mortality in patients with COVID-19 and hypoxemia.

Acute Budd Chiari syndrome in an ECMO patient.

Introduction: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is widely utilized to make timely decisions regarding patient care. This approach allowed us to diagnose the cause of acutely rising transaminases in a patient in severe ARDS secondary to influenza pneumonia requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO).

Case Report: A 36-year-old female presented with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to influenza A infection.

Forced oscillation technique in veterans with preserved spirometry and chronic respiratory symptoms.

Purpose: To evaluate the utility of the forced oscillation technique (FOT) among military veterans with preserved spirometry and chronic unexplained respiratory symptoms.

Methods: 178 veterans referred for evaluation of unexplained respiratory symptoms completed pulmonary function testing and FOT. Preserved spirometry was defined as FEV/FVC, FEV and FVC ≥ 5th percentile.