Respiratory pathogens like Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause severe pneumonia. Nonetheless, mechanically ventilated intensive care patients, who have a high risk of contracting pneumonia, rarely develop pneumococcal pneumonia. Mechanically ventilated patients are at risk of contracting pneumonia. Therefore, …

BACKGROUND: Intra-abdominal hypertension is frequently present in critically ill patients and is an independent predictor for mortality. Risk factors for intra-abdominal hypertension and abdominal compartment syndrome have been widely investigated. However, data are lacking on prevalence and outcome …

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) often occurs in critically ill patients. AKI is associated with mortality and morbidity. Interventions focusing on the reduction of AKI are suggested by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes guideline. We hypothesized that these educational interventions …

Purpose Coronary artery bypass grafting is the most frequently performed cardiac surgical procedure. Despite its benefits on survival and quality of life, it is associated with a considerable financial burden on society including sick leave. Our study aimed to explore the barriers that obstruct return …

BACKGROUND: The number of intensive care patients aged ≥ 80 years (Very old Intensive Care Patients; VIPs) is growing. VIPs have high mortality and morbidity and the benefits of ICU admission are frequently questioned. Sepsis incidence has risen in recent years and identification of outcomes is of considerable …

A new viral illness called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is currently spreading throughout the world at an alarming rate (Dong et al., 2020). As family nursing practitioners, educators, and researchers, we work from a guiding assumption that health and “illness is a family affair” (Wright & Bell, …

BACKGROUND: In critical care patients, reaching optimal β-lactam concentrations poses challenges, as infections are caused more often by microorganisms associated with higher MICs, and critically ill patients typically have an unpredictable pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic profile. Conventional intermittent …

Common methods to detect phlebitis may not be sufficient for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The goal of this study was to investigate the feasibility of infrared (IR) thermography to objectively detect phlebitis in adult ICU patients. We included a total of 128 adult ICU-patients in a pilot …