Category CCC

The LITFL Critical Care Compendium is a comprehensive collection of pages concisely covering the core topics and controversies of critical care.

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Acute Cholangitis

Acute or ascending cholangitis is a potentially life-threatening systemic infection resulting from inflammation and infection of the biliary tree due to bacterial growth in the bile, usually in the context of biliary obstruction

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Aerobic Gram Negative Bacteria

COCCI Neisseria meningitides: vaccination, penicillin G or ceftriaxone, rifampicin (prophylaxis) gonorrhoea: piperacillin-tazobactam 4.5g Q8hrly, ceftriaxone Moraxella azithromycin clarithromycin amoxicillin + clavulanate second or third generation cephalosporin co-trimoxazole 10mg/kg of sulphamethoxazole RODS/BACILLI -> aminoglycosides are good agents (gentamicin, tobramycin, amikacin, streptomycin)…

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Antibacterial Resistance

Antibacterial Resistance: Natural Resistance – they do not possess the molecular target of the drug or are impermeable to it; Acquired resistance – occurs through mutation or the acquisition of new genetic material carried by mobile elements

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Antimicrobial Stewardship

Antimicrobial Stewardship is defined as ‘an ongoing effort by a health-care institution to optimise antimicrobial use among hospital patients in order to improve patient outcomes, ensure cost-effective therapy and reduce adverse sequelae of antimicrobial use (including antimicrobial resistance)’

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Aspergillosis

Aspergillosis: fungal disease caused by the mold Aspergillus, ranging from hypersensitivity to invasive infection. Important species include Aspergillus fumigatus, niger, flavus, calavtus; transmission by inhalation; high mortality

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Bacterial Meningitis

Bacterial meningitis = pyogenic infection of the cerebral ventricles and subarachnoid space -> CSF; usually confined to meninges (although in neonates and adults with Listeria monocytogenes -> cerebritis, encephalitis and abscesses can form)

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Candidiasis

Diagnosis and treatment of candidiasis is a contentious issue; invasive candidiasis is difficult to diagnose; >150 species of Candida (a yeast), few are pathogens

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Cellulitis

Cellulitis is an uncomplicated non-necrotizing acute infection of the skin involving the hypodermis (mid-to-lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue) and spares deeper structures such as fascia and muscle.

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Cholera

Cholera: Gastrointestinal infection caused by vibrio cholerae (Gram negative rod); transmission through consumption of contaminated drinking water or food