Management of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Caused by and Organisms in a Pediatric Center: A Randomized Controlled Study.

A dangerous infection contracted in hospitals, ventilator-associated pneumonia is frequently caused by bacteria that are resistant to several drugs. It is one of the main reasons why patients in intensive care units become ill or die. This research aimed to determine the most effective empirical therapy of antibiotics for better ventilator-associated pneumonia control and to improve patient outcomes by using the minimal inhibitory concentration method and the Ameri-Ziaei double antibiotic synergism test and by observing the clinical responses to both single and combination therapies.

The use of bedside echocardiography for measuring cardiac index and systemic vascular resistance in pediatric patients with septic shock.

Objective: Follow-up of cardiac index and systemic vascular resistance index by bedside echocardiography until resuscitation.

Methods: A set of hemodynamic parameters was obtained, including cardiac output, stroke volume, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance index, velocity time integral, myocardial performance index, capillary refill time, and heart rate at 0 hours after fluid boluses before the start of inotropes, and followed up after 6 hours and 24 hours.

Results: Included were 45 patients with community-acquired septic shock.

Etiology of hyperglycemia in critically ill children and the impact of organ dysfunction.

Objective: This study aimed to study the incidence of stress hyperglycemia in critically ill children and to investigate the etiological basis of the hyperglycemia based on homeostasis model assessment.

Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in one of the pediatric intensive care units of Cairo University, including 60 critically ill children and 21 healthy controls. Serum blood glucose, insulin, and C-peptide levels were measured within 24 hours of admission.

Prevalence of multiple organ dysfunction in the pediatric intensive care unit: Pediatric Risk of Mortality III versus Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction scores for mortality prediction.

Objectives: To assess the frequency of primary multiple organ failure and the role of sepsis as a causative agent in critically ill pediatric patients; and calculate and evaluate the accuracy of the Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM III) and Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction (PELOD) scores to predict the outcomes of critically ill children.

Methods: Retrospective study, which evaluated data from patients admitted from January to December 2011 in the pediatric intensive care unit of the Children's Hospital of the University of Cairo.

Results: Out of 237 patients in the study, 72% had multiple organ dysfunctions, and 45% had sepsis with multiple organ dysfunctions.

Mechanical ventilation practice in Egyptian pediatric intensive care units.

Introduction: Mechanical ventilation is one of the indispensable tools in pediatric intensive care units. Few studies addressed the epidemiology of pediatric patients on mechanical ventilation and the frequently used modes of ventilation. This is the first study to describe the practice of mechanical ventilation (MV) in Egyptian pediatric intensive care units (PICUs).

Risk factors of prolonged hospital stay in children with viral severe acute respiratory infections.

Introduction: Severe acute lower respiratory infections (SARIs) are one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in young children, especially in developing countries. The present study focused on detection of risk factors for prolonged hospital stays among children with viral SARIs.

Methodology: A sentinel surveillance study was conducted at Cairo University Hospital (CUH) between February 2010 and May 2011.

Serum cystatin C is a poor biomarker for diagnosing acute kidney injury in critically-ill children.

Background: Accurate diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) is problematic especially in critically-ill patients in whom renal function is in an unsteady state.

Aim: Our aim was to evaluate the role of serum (S.) cystatin C as an early biomarker of AKI in critically-ill children.

Automatic Tube Compensation versus Pressure Support Ventilation and Extubation Outcome in Children: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Background. Automatic tube compensation (ATC) has been developed to overcome the imposed work of breathing due to artificial airways during spontaneous breathing trials (SBTs). Objectives.