No abstract

Introduction: Critically ill children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) are at high risk for developing nutritional deficiencies and undernutrition is known to be a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Malnutrition represents a continuous spectrum ranging from marginal nutrient status to severe metabolic and functional alterations and this in turn, affects clinical outcome. Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess nutritional status of critically ill children admitted to the PICU and its association to clinical outcomes. Methods: Critically ill children age 6 months to 18 years were prospectively enrolled on PICU admission. Nutritional status was assessed by weight for age (WFA: underweight), weight for height (WFH: wasting), height for age (HFA: stunting) z-scores and mid upper arm circumference (MUAC: wasting) according to the WHO. (1,2) Malnutrition was defined as mild, moderate, and severe if z-scores were > −1, > − 2, and > −3, respectively. Hospital and PICU length of stay (LOS), duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), and risk of mortality (ROM) by the Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 (PIM2) were obtained. Sensitivity and specificity of the MUAC to identify children with wasting (WFH) were calculated. Results: Two hundred and fifty children (136 males), aged 81 months (23-167; median (25-75 th IQR)), were prospectively included in the study. The hospital LOS was 8 (4-16) days; PICU LOS: 2 (1-4) days; duration of MV, 0 (0-1.5) days;

No abstract

This report describes a 49-year-old male construction worker who acquired a Bacillus anthracis infection after working on a sheep farm. He experienced a severe respiratory infection, septic shock, and hemorrhagic meningoencephalitis with severe intracranial hypertension. After several weeks with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, he responded favorably to antibiotic treatment. Three weeks into his hospitalization, an intracranial hemorrhage and cerebral edema led to an abrupt deterioration in his neurological status. A single dose of raxibacumab was added to his antimicrobial regimen on hospital day 27. His overall status, both clinical and radiographic, improved within a few days. He was discharged 2 months after admission and appears to have fully recovered.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract