Epidemics have the potential to severely strain intensive care resources and may require an increase in intensive care capability. Few intensivists have direct experience of rapidly expanding intensive care services in response to an epidemic. This contribution presents the recommendations of an expert group from Hong Kong and Singapore who had direct experience of expanding intensive care services in response to the epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome. These recommendations cover training, infection control, staffing, communication and ethical issues. The issue of what equipment to purchase is not addressed. Early preparations should include fit testing of negative pressure respirators, training of reserve staff, sourcing of material for physical modifications to the ICU, development of infection control policies and training programmes, and discussion of triage and quarantine issues.

Extensive preparation is needed in advance of an epidemic. This should include occupational safety measures, stockpiling of equipment and drugs, staff training, development of triage policies, and discussion of the limits of duty of care to patients. These preparations take considerable time and therefore these issues should be tackled urgently.

We report a survey of 196 consecutive central venous catheters (CVCs) placed in 151 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) over a ten-month period. Over this time the use of a new antiseptic-impregnated triple lumen CVC (Arrowgard Blue, Arrow International Inc., Pennsylvania, U.S.A.) was alternated on a bimonthly basis with the standard triple-lumen CVC (Arrow International Inc., Pennsylvania, U.S.A.). The overall rate of CVC tip infection was lower in the impregnated CVC group (15.6% vs 30.9%, P<0.05). The impregnated CVC group had a much lower cumulative infection rate when the dwell time in patients was five days or less (3.3% vs 26.9%, P<0.05). However, the difference between the cumulative infection rate was not statistically significant (P>0.05) for dwell times of 6, 7 or 8 days respectively. There was no difference in the CVC related bacteraemia rates between the two groups (3.9% vs 3.7%, P>0.05).

Purpose To provide recommendations and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital preparations for an influenza pandemic or mass disaster with a specific focus on enhancing coordination and collaboration between the ICU and other key stakeholders. Methods Based on a literature review and expert opinion, a Delphi process was used to define the essential topics including coordination and collaboration. Results Key recommendations include: (1) establish an Incident Management System with Emergency Executive Control Groups at facility, local, regional/state or national levels to exercise authority and direction over resource use and communications; (2) develop a system of communication, coordination and collaboration between the ICU and key interface departments within the hospital; (3) identify key functions or processes requiring coordination and collaboration, the most important of these being manpower and resources utilization (surge capacity) and re-allocation of personnel, equipment and physical space; (4) develop processes to allow smooth inter-departmental patient transfers; (5) creating systems and guidelines is not sufficient, it is important to: (a) identify the roles and responsibilities of key individuals necessary for the implementation of the guidelines; (b) ensure that these individuals are adequately trained and prepared to perform their roles; (c) ensure adequate equipment to allow key coordination and collaboration activities; (d) ensure an adequate physical environment to allow staff to properly implement guidelines; (6) trigger events for determining a crisis should be defined. Conclusions Judicious planning and adoption of protocols for coordination and collaboration with interface units are necessary to optimize outcomes during a pandemic.

Introduction The objective of the present study was to evaluate the use of a single lumen 16 G central venous catheter for the drainage of uncomplicated pleural effusions in intensive care unit patients. Methods A prospective observational study was performed in two intensive care units of university-affiliated hospitals. The study involved 10 intensive care unit patients with non-loculated large effusions. A 16 G central venous catheter was inserted at the bedside without ultrasound guidance using the Seldinger technique. The catheter was left in situ until radiological resolution of the effusion. Results Fifteen sets of data were obtained. The mean and standard deviation of the volumes drained at 1, 6 and 24 hours post catheter insertion were 454 ± 241 ml, 756 ± 403 ml and 1010 ± 469 ml, respectively. The largest volume drained in a single patient was 6030 ml over 11 days. The longest period for which the catheter remained in situ without evidence of infection was 14 days. There were no instances of pneumothorax, hemothorax, re-expansion pulmonary edema and catheter blockage/ disconnections. Conclusions The use of an indwelling 16 G central venous catheter is efficacious in draining uncomplicated large pleural effusions. It is well tolerated by patients and is associated with minimal complications. It has the potential to avoid repeated thoracentesis or the use of large-bore chest tubes.