Evaluation of an improved small gauge needle for venipuncture in children
Aims were to compare the performances of two Beckton-Dickinson (BD) Vacutainer® Blood Collection Sets in a pediatric setting: UltraTouch™ Push Button (UT-PBBCS) and Safety-Lok™ (SLBCS)” Padoan et al (2019). Abstract: BACKGROUND: Smaller needles gauge (G) may reduce pain and improve vein access in difficult venous access (DVA). Aims were to compare the performances of two […]
Cost analysis comparison between PICC and ports
We conducted a randomised controlled trial including 399 patients with cancer and performed a health economic evaluation investigating the cost related to PICCs and PORTs” Taxbro et al (2019). Abstract: BACKGROUND: A reliable central venous access device is a cornerstone in the treatment of cancer. Both peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) and totally implanted chest […]
Thrombotic risk associated with femoral inserted central catheters
Our study aimed to scrutinize the incidence and risk factors of femoral inserted central catheter (FICC)-related thrombosis in patients with superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) undergoing chemotherapy” Hou et al (2019). Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to scrutinize the incidence and risk factors of femoral inserted central catheter (FICC)-related thrombosis in patients with superior vena […]
Image-guided central line placement in children
The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of postoperative chest radiograph (CXR) after image-guided central venous line (CVL) placement in children” Cunningham et al (2019). Abstract: BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of postoperative chest radiograph (CXR) after image-guided central venous line (CVL) placement in children. METHODS: […]
Intraosseous administration of hypertonic saline solution
Intraosseous (IO) access is an alternative method of medication and fluid delivery which is not associated with life-threatening complications and can be inserted faster than CVCs” Lawson et al (2019). Abstract: BACKGROUND: Central venous catheters are often used to administer hypertonic saline (HTS) but might be associated with serious complications. Intraosseous (IO) access is an […]
Effect of tunneled peripherally inserted central catheter placement
To compare the effect of tunneled and nontunneled peripherally inserted central catheter placement under B-mode ultrasound’ Dei et al (2019). Abstract: PURPOSE: To compare the effect of tunneled and nontunneled peripherally inserted central catheter placement under B-mode ultrasound. METHODS: A single center, randomized, controlled, nonblinded, prospective trial was conducted in Guangzhou, China, between July 2018 […]
Nurse management of vasoactive medications
The management of vasoactive medications is core business for intensive care nurses, but little is known on how nurses manage these ubiquitous and potentially harmful medications” Hunter et al (2019). Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The management of vasoactive medications is core business for intensive care nurses, but little is known on how nurses manage these ubiquitous and […]
Hemofilter obstruction with intravenous lipid administration
A critically ill patient requiring continuous venovenous hemofiltration therapy received parenteral nutrition through the same commonly used intravascular device” Boullata et al (2019). Abstract: A critically ill patient requiring continuous venovenous hemofiltration therapy received parenteral nutrition through the same commonly used intravascular device. The inclusion of injectable lipid emulsion had an adverse effect on hemofilter […]
Arterial injury during blind central venous catheterisation
To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of interventional treatment for arterial injury during blind, central venous catheterisation in the upper thorax at two tertiary medical centres” Park et al (2019). Abstract: AIM: To evaluate the safety and clinical efficacy of interventional treatment for arterial injury during blind, central venous catheterisation in the upper thorax […]
Evaluation of infections in intensive care units
Infection control is a top priority for hospitals, especially in intensive care units (ICU). In intensive care units, prevalence of infection is estimated to be 30% worldwide, which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality” Araç et al (2019). Abstract: Infection control is a top priority for hospitals, especially in intensive care units (ICU). […]
Taurolidine-citrate lock solution for prevention of endoluminal central venous catheter infection
We aimed to determine whether a lock solution with taurolidine-citrate-heparin would be more effective than placebo for preventing non-tunnelled CVC infection in high-risk neutropenic hematologic patients” Gudiol et al (2019). Abstract: Background: Infection of long-term central venous catheters (CVCs) remains a challenge in the clinical management of cancer patients. We aimed to determine whether a […]
Techniques for ultrasound-guided peripheral IV catheter placement
We performed a randomized pre-hospital clinical study to compare two different techniques of ultrasound-guided peripheral venous catheter (PVC) insertion and the conventional cannulation technique in the pre-hospital emergency setting” Skulec et al (2019). Abstract: We performed a randomized pre-hospital clinical study to compare two different techniques of ultrasound-guided peripheral venous catheter (PVC) insertion and the […]
Incidental azygos vein cannulation in a neonate
Incidental azygos vein cannulation has been reported in a few cases of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)” Mayer et al (2019). Abstract: Incidental azygos vein cannulation has been reported in a few cases of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). This complication is described in the literature mainly in pathological conditions wherein increased central venous pressure […]
Avoiding problems in tunneled dialysis catheter placement
Tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) remain the predominant vascular access for initiation of hemodialysis (HD) worldwide” Agarwal et al (2019). Abstract: Tunneled dialysis catheters (TDCs) remain the predominant vascular access for initiation of hemodialysis (HD) worldwide. TDCs are also utilized in a significant number of prevalent patients for continuation of dialysis and during the periods of […]
Intramuscular hemorrhage and fluid extravasation following IO placement
Fluid extravasation is a possible complication of intraosseous needle access that can lead to compartment syndrome” Wasserman et al (2019). Abstract: Intraosseous needle access is a reliable method of vascular access used for rapid fluid resuscitation and delivery of medications in certain emergent settings. Fluid extravasation is a possible complication of intraosseous needle access that […]
Allergy status check before medication administration
This article employs a paediatric case study, involving a 3-year-old child who had an anaphylactic reaction that occurred as a result of the multidisciplinary team’s failure to identify and acknowledge the patient’s documented ‘known allergy’ status” Mortell (2019). Abstract: This article employs a paediatric case study, involving a 3-year-old child who had an anaphylactic reaction […]
Machine learning for clinical decision support in infectious diseases
Machine learning (ML) is a growing field in medicine. This narrative review describes the current body of literature on ML for clinical decision support in infectious diseases (ID)” Peiffer-Smadja et al (2019). Abstract: Background: Machine learning (ML) is a growing field in medicine. This narrative review describes the current body of literature on ML for […]
Short-term dialysis catheter versus central venous catheter infections
Little is known on catheter-related infections associated with short-term dialysis catheters (DC). Recommendations for infection prevention are mostly derived from those related to central venous catheters (CVC)” Buetti et al (2019). Abstract: PURPOSE: Little is known on catheter-related infections associated with short-term dialysis catheters (DC). Recommendations for infection prevention are mostly derived from those related […]
Systematic review of balloon angioplasty for the treatment of failing hemodialysis access
To perform a meta-analysis comparing target lesion primary patency rates at 6 months and 1 year, and major procedure-associated complications between drug-eluting balloon (DEB) and plain balloon angioplasty (PBA) for the treatment of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or synthetic arteriovenous graft (AVG) stenosis” Yuan et al (2019). Abstract: PURPOSE: To perform a meta-analysis comparing target lesion […]
Effects of continuous ketamine infusion on hemodynamics and mortality
We investigated the hemodynamic and mortality effects of continuous ketamine infusion in critically ill pediatric patients” Park et al (2019). Abstract: We investigated the hemodynamic and mortality effects of continuous ketamine infusion in critically ill pediatric patients. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Patients who used continuous […]
Novel risk factors for CLABSI in critically ill children
We examined novel and/or modifiable risk factors for CLABSI to identify new potential targets for infection prevention strategies” Woods-Hill et al (2019). Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) cause morbidity and mortality in critically ill children. We examined novel and/or modifiable risk factors for CLABSI to identify new potential targets for infection prevention strategies. METHODS: […]
Enteral and parenteral nutrition considerations in pediatric patients
Current clinical practice guidelines on management of enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) in pediatric patients are reviewed” Cober and Gura (2019). Abstract: Purpose: Current clinical practice guidelines on management of enteral nutrition (EN) and parenteral nutrition (PN) in pediatric patients are reviewed. Summary: The provision of EN and PN in pediatric patients poses […]
Web- and mobile-application-based hand hygiene monitoring
The purpose of this study was to confirm regular HH use by collecting and analyzing HH data for Web- and mobile-application-based HH monitoring” Cha and Kim (2019). Abstract: Although hand hygiene (HH) monitoring by direct observation is considered to be a reliable method, it is labor intensive. The purpose of this study was to confirm […]
Financial ties between clinical practice guideline authors and pharmaceutical companies
Ensuring objectivity and neutrality is important in clinical practice guidelines development, but previous research shows that authors of clinical practice guidelines may become critical marketing promotion targets of pharmaceutical companies” Saito teal (2019). Extract: Financial conflicts of interest in the health-care domain have gained global attention because of concerns that they can bias the judgement […]
Unsafe small clinics cause new human immunodeficiency virus outbreaks in Pakistan
The new outbreak of HIV was due to a failed healthcare system, including reuse of syringes and unsafe blood transfusion” Khan et al (2019). Abstract: In Pakistan new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection cases have been increasing rapidly for last three decades. In 2017 the number of HIV-positive cases was recorded as 150,000, to which […]
Modified microbubble test in PICC tip positioning
To analyze the specificity and sensitivity of the modified microbubble test in identifying the peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICC) tip based on the chest X-ray location as the “gold standard”, and to find out an accurate and noninvasive PICC tip positioning method that can save time and cost” Zhang et al (2019). Abstract: OBJECTIVE: […]
Use of drones in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases
The potential for drone use in clinical microbiology, infectious diseases and epidemiology is vast” Poljak and Šterbenc (20190. Abstract: Background: Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles are autonomous or remotely controlled multipurpose aerial vehicles driven by aerodynamic forces and capable of carrying a payload. Whereas initially used exclusively for military purposes, the use of drones has […]
Chlorhexidine-based decolonization to reduce healthcare-associated infections
Body surface decolonization with chlorhexidine bathing and nasal mupirocin has become a simple solution for prevention of healthcare-associated infections” Huang (2019). Summary: Body surface decolonization with chlorhexidine bathing and nasal mupirocin has become a simple solution for prevention of healthcare-associated infections. The clinical trial evidence for this practice will be reviewed to understand who benefits […]
Update on epidemiology and significance of multidrug-resistant pathogens
To review key aspects of bloodstream infection epidemiology and burden and summarize recent news and questions concerning critical developments” Kern and Rieg (2019). Abstract: Background: Bloodstream infections comprise a wide variety of pathogens and clinical syndromes with considerable overlap with similar syndromes of non-bacteremic infections and quite diverse risk factors, therapeutic implications and outcomes. Yet, […]
Home infusions of Natalizumab for people with Multiple Sclerosis
In this study, a model of care (MOC), an overarching design for the provision of a health care service, was developed to permit home infusions of natalizumab” Schultz et al 92019). Abstract: Natalizumab is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis that requires 4-weekly infusions that are usually provided in hospital outpatient clinics. In this study, […]