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Infections in Critically Ill Patients: Should We Change to a Decontamination Strategy?

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Selective Digestive Tract Decontamination in Intensive Care Medicine: a Practical Guide to Controlling Infection

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Abstract

Infection in intensive care patients may be the reason for their admission or it may be acquired in the intensive care unit (ICU). Infection in the ICU is common and causes morbidity and hospital mortality [1]. The aim of SDD is to prevent newly acquired infection and associated mortality in the ICU. This chapter describes the magnitude of the infectious problem according to the current literature. If we accept the hypothesis that SDD can prevent ICU acquired infection, it follows that the incidence of infection will show the possible impact of SDD in preventing these infections. However, SDD is designed to prevent infections caused by potentially pathogenic microorganisms (Chapter 2) and will therefore not prevent infections caused by low level pathogens, including coagulase-negative staphylococci and enterococci.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Peter H.J. van der Voort MD, PhD, MSc (Internist-intensivist)

  2. Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, Royal Liverpool Children’s NHS Trust of Alder Hey, Liverpool, UK

    Hendrick K.F. van Saene MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Peter H.J. van der Voort MD, PhD, MSc
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  2. Hendrick K.F. van Saene MD, PhD
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Intensive Care, Onze Lieve Vrouwe Gasthuis, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Peter H. J. van der Voort (Internist-intensivist) (Internist-intensivist)

  2. Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control, Royal Liverpool Children’s NHS Trust of Alder Hey, Liverpool, UK

    Hendrick K. F. van Saene

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van der Voort, P.H., van Saene, H.K. (2008). Infections in Critically Ill Patients: Should We Change to a Decontamination Strategy?. In: van der Voort, P.H.J., van Saene, H.K.F. (eds) Selective Digestive Tract Decontamination in Intensive Care Medicine: a Practical Guide to Controlling Infection. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0653-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0653-9_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-0652-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-0653-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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