Hemodynamic Analysis Using 4D Flow MRI in a Case of Aortic Dissection With Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery.

Four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D flow MRI) was utilized to analyze an aortic dissection with an aberrant right subclavian artery, revealing vortex formation and an increased oscillatory shear index (OSI), both indicative of variations in wall shear stress. An elevated OSI has been associated with an elevated risk of aortic dissection.

Effect of a blood culture collection bundle on decreasing the contamination rate.

In this study, we examined the effect of a bundled approach to blood collection for blood culture on decreasing contamination. Commensal organisms were considered contaminants on the basis of the clinical course if they were recovered from only a single blood draw (set) and if a positive result for two sets was not obtained within 72 hours. The main elements of the bundle were blood collection by venipuncture, skin preparation with a chlorhexidine alcohol swab, disinfection of culture bottles, and use of a sterile blood transfer device instead of the two-needle technique for inoculation.

Legionella Pneumonia Undetected by Repeated Urinary Antigen Testing With Ribotest® Legionella.

This report presents a patient with pneumonia (LP), initially presented with fever and mild hypoxemia, with subsequent progression to severe pneumonia during hospitalization. Despite multiple negative urinary antigen tests using Ribotest , the diagnosis was confirmed via the loop-mediated isothermal amplification method of lower respiratory tract secretions. This case highlights the diagnostic limitations of Ribotest and emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive diagnostic strategy, incorporating nucleic acid amplification tests or culture in suspected patients with LP.

Association between the hypokalaemia index based on area over the serum potassium concentration curve and occurrence of acute kidney injury in patients administered liposomal amphotericin B.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) and hypokalaemia are common adverse events after treatment with liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB).

Objectives: Because excess potassium (K) leakage occurs during renal tubular injury caused by L-AMB, measuring the decrease in rate of serum K concentration might be more useful to assess the renal impact of L-AMB than hypokalaemia identified from a one-point measurement. The effects of a decrease in K concentration and duration of hypokalaemia on AKI were investigated.

Optimal Teicoplanin Trough Concentration With Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Teicoplanin is used to treat serious Gram-positive bacterial infections. However, the optimal trough concentrations for pediatric patients remain unclear owing to the lack of monitoring guidelines. This study aimed to determine the optimal teicoplanin trough concentration for treating Gram-positive bacterial infections in children.