Main description:

Intensive care is a rapidly changing area of medicine, and after four years from the 2nd edition the volume editors and authors have deemed necessary to update it. In the recent years, in fact, five new randomised controlled trials and five new meta-analyses demonstrate that selective decontamination of the digestive tract [SDD] is an antimicrobial prophylaxis to prevent severe infections of not only lower airways but also of blood. Additionally, SDD has been shown to reduce inflammation including multiple organ failure and mortality. An intriguing observation is the evidence that SDD using parenteral and enteral antimicrobials reduces rather than increases antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, a new chapter on microcirculation had been added.

The volume will be an invaluable tool for all those requiring in depth knowledge in the ever expanding field of infection control.

Contents:

Foreword-Preface-Section 1 Essentials in Clinical Microbiology: Glossary of terms and definitions-Carriage, colonization, infection-Classification of micro-organisms-Classification of ICU infection-Gut Microbiology: Surveillance Samples for the Detection of the Abnormal Carrier State in Overgrowth-Section 2 Antimicrobials: Systemic antibiotics-Systemic Antifungals-Enteral antimicrobials-Section 3 Infection Control: Evidence-based infection control in the ICU-Devices policies-Antibiotic Policies in the Intensive Care Unit-Outbreaks of infection in the ICU-Selective decontamination of the digestive tract- Section 4 Infections on ICU: Lower airway infection-Bloodstream infection in the ICU-Infections of peritoneum, mediastinum, pleura, wounds and urinary tract-Infection on the NICU and PICU-Early adequate antibiotic therapy-ICU for transplantation-Clinical virology in NICU, PICU and adult ICU-AIDS patients on ICU-Therapy of infection in the IC-Section 5 Special topics: The gut in the critically ill: central organ in abnormal microbiological carriage, infections, systemic inflammation, microcirculatory failure and MODS-Non-antibiotic measures to control ventilator-associated pneumonia-Impact of nutritional route on infections: parenteral versus enteral-Gut mucosal protection in the critically ill patient towards an integrated clinical strategy-Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract: The Role of the Pharmacist-Antimicrobial resistance-ICU acquired infection: mortality, morbidity and costs- Evidence-based medicine in ICU