Impact of microbial ecology on accuracy of surveillance cultures to predict multidrug resistant microorganisms causing ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess surveillance cultures (SC) prediction accuracy in two periods and settings of the same Department with a different microbiological epidemiology (high and low prevalence of multi-drug resistant microorganisms (MDRM)).

Methods: Prospective and observational study. SC were obtained twice a week in consecutive mechanically ventilated patients.

Implications of endotracheal tube biofilm in ventilator-associated pneumonia response: a state of concept.

Introduction: Biofilm in endotracheal tubes (ETT) of ventilated patients has been suggested to play a role in the development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Our purpose was to analyze the formation of ETT biofilm and its implication in the response and relapse of VAP.

Methods: We performed a prospective, observational study in a medical intensive care unit.

Inflammatory biomarkers and prediction for intensive care unit admission in severe community-acquired pneumonia.

Objective: Increased inflammatory response is related to severity and outcome in community-acquired pneumonia, but the role of inflammatory biomarkers in deciding intensive care unit admission is unknown. We assessed the relationship between inflammatory response, prediction for intensive care unit admission, delayed intensive care unit admission, and outcome in patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Diagnostic implications of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and abdominal diseases: a preliminary observational study.

Introduction: Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) because of acute or decompensated chronic abdominal disease and acute respiratory failure need to have the potential infection diagnosed as well as its site (pulmonary or abdominal). For this purpose, we measured soluble triggering receptor expression on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in alveolar and peritoneal fluid.

Methods: Consecutive patients (n = 21) with acute or decompensated chronic abdominal disease and acute respiratory failure were included.

Bacterial translocation in heat stroke.

The scientific community is fully aware of the importance of heat-related illness and heat stroke syndrome. Numerous guidelines have been recently published and most of them agree on the key role played by the intestine. Likewise, the role of endotoxinemia in the pathophysiology is well established.

Mobiluncus curtisii bacteremia.

Mobiluncus curtisii was isolated from the blood of a 35-year-old man with a medical history of ulcerative colitis who was admitted unconscious to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A CT scan revealed massive intracerebral hemorrhage in the left hemisphere. Temperature remained constant over 38.