Critical Care

The Antibiotic Resistance Time Bomb is Ticking

The Antibiotic Resistance Time Bomb is Ticking – MM1607

Antibiotic resistance is threatening modern medicine, with overuse and misuse of antibiotics driving resistance to such an extent that the world has entered the post-antibiotic era, where some multidrug- and pandrug-resistant bacterial infections are no longer treatable. If not addressed, 10m people will die annually of drug-resistant infections by 2050 with added interference to other common medical procedures that rely on antibiotics for their success.

Modern Medicine – July 2016

July 22, 2016 by Antibiotics Critical Care

Judicious Use of Linezolid for Drug-resistant Bacteria

Judicious Use of Linezolid for Drug-resistant Bacteria – MM1603

While the choices available for the management of grampositive, drug-resistant bacterial infections are becoming limited, antimicrobial resistance is becoming increasingly problematic because of the widespread overuse of antibiotics.

Linezolid is a synthetic antibiotic belonging to a class of antimicrobials called the oxazolidinones. Linezolid disrupts bacterial growth by inhibiting the initiation process of protein synthesis—a mechanism of action that is unique to this class of drugs.

Modern Medicine – March 2016

March 18, 2016 by Antibiotics Bacterial Infections Critical Care

Pantoprazole Reduces GI Damage in Critical Patients

Pantoprazole Reduces GI Damage in Critical Patients – MM1507

Pantoprazole is an irreversible proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces gastric acid secretion. PPIs achieve a greater degree and longer duration of gastric acid suppression and better healing rates in various gastric acid-related disorders than histamine H2 receptor antagonists, making them essential in the management of gastrooesophageal reflux disease, peptic ulcer disease and Zollinger–Ellison syndrome.

Modern Medicine – July 2015

July 30, 2015 by Critical Care Gastroenterology

Venous Thromboembolism | Prevention, Investigation and Treatment

Venous Thromboembolism | Prevention, Investigation and Treatment – MM1504

People at risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) need to be identified so that they can commence prophylaxis, which may prevent significant morbidity and mortality. Investigation of the underlying cause of VTE is essential because this affects the duration and type of treatment.

Modern Medicine – April 2015

April 28, 2015 by Cardiology Critical Care Pulmonology

Impaired Immune Response Not Exacerbated by Hypothermia

Impaired Immune Response Not Exacerbated by Hypothermia – MM1409

Induced hypothermia is increasingly applied as a therapeutic intervention in ICUs. One of the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects of hypothermia is proposed to be reduction of the inflammatory response. However, a fear of reducing the inflammatory response is an increased infection risk. The Temperature Target Management (TTM) trial was conducted to study the effect of induced hypothermia on immune response after cardiac arrest.

Modern Medicine – September 2014

October 2, 2014 by Critical Care
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