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2 Minute EBP Challenge

Monday, February 13, 2012
Treatment of "Wake Up" Stroke
In up to 25% of patients with stroke the onset time is unknown. If the patient woke up with ischemic stroke symptoms, what would be the most appropriate treatment?

Monday, February 06, 2012
Compression Stockings and VTE
Which of the following statements about compression elastic stockings for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) is true?

Monday, January 30, 2012
Scrub the Hub
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that central venous catheter (CVC) hubs be scrubbed for how long?

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  • Get tips, timesavers, and more from
    David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CMSRN, CEN

    Home > 2 Minute EBP Challenge > Probiotics decrease complications of TBI

    Probiotics decrease complications of TBI

    Monday, December 26, 2011
    2 Minute EBP CHallenge

    Stay up-to-date the easy way!

    How would you answer this question?

    Traumatic brain injury patients treated with probiotics had which of the following outcomes?

    a.  Increased risk of death.
    b.  Hospital stay was longer.
    c.  28-day mortality decreased.
    d.  Infection rate was lower.

    The correct answer is "d" infection rate was lower.

    View the video response on YouTube

    Probiotics are intestinal bacteria that are given orally to replace digestive flora that are destroyed by systemic antibiotics.  Administering probiotics decreases abdominal cramping and diarrhea in patients who receive antibiotics.  In traumatic brain injury probiotics decreased infection rate, especially ventilator-associated pneumonia.  Probiotics also decreased the length of time patients received antibiotics, and the length of ICU stay.  Risk of death and 28-day mortality were unchanged.

    Maintaining homeostasis is recognized as an important component of restoring patients to health.  Probiotics help patients to overcome the unwanted effects of antibiotics and restore homeostasis more rapidly leading to fewer complications and better patient outcomes.

    From: Tan M, et al.  (2011).  Effects of probiotics on serum levels on Th1/Th2-cytokine and clinical outcomes in severe traumatic brain-injured patients: A prospective randomized pilot study. Critical Care; 15(6), R290.  doi:10.1186/cc10579. 

    Congratulations to Rachael Nunn who won an autographed copy of my 101 Tips to Improve Your Nursing Care book for answering this week's question correctly.  Congratulations Rachael!  

    Get free Nursing Tips by texting NursingTips to 86677. 

    Best wishes,
    David W. Woodruff, MSN, RN-BC, CNS, CMSRN, CEN
    President,     Ed4Nurses, Inc.

    (c) 2011 Ed4Nurses, Inc.  Feel free to print this e-mail and share it with your colleagues. Other forms of digital or print reproduction are prohibited without prior written consent from Ed4Nurses, Inc.
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