Point-of-care ultrasound: Infection control in the intensive care unit.

Abstract

Ultrasound provides a diagnostic modality that allows a whole-body approach at the bedside of a critically ill patient in the search for infectious foci. Both common sites of infection, such as the lung and pleura, central veins, and maxillary sinuses, and also less common sites, such as gastrointestinal perforation, sepsis due to mesenteric ischemia, or even meningitis, provide characteristic ultrasound patterns. Optimal use of ultrasound also combines bedside diagnosis with subsequent interventional procedures that can decrease the need for transfer to other imaging and interventional suites. Experience has shown that fevers of unknown origin in the critical care unit often have ultrasound equivalents. Thus, if a comprehensive ultrasound examination is negative, it is now appropriate to speak of fever of unknown sonographic origin.