Infectious complications after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest-A comparison between two target temperatures.

Background: It has been suggested that target temperature management (TTM) increases the probability of infectious complications after cardiac arrest. We aimed to compare the incidence of pneumonia, severe sepsis and septic shock after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in patients with two target temperatures and to describe changes in biomarkers and possible mortality associated with these infectious complications.

Methods: Post-hoc analysis of the TTM-trial which randomized patients resuscitated from OHCA to a target temperature of 33°C or 36°C.

Risk factors, host response and outcome of hypothermic sepsis.

Background: Hypothermia is associated with adverse outcome in patients with sepsis. The objective of this study was to characterize the host immune response in patients with hypothermic sepsis in order to determine if an excessive anti-inflammatory response could explain immunosuppression and adverse outcome. Markers of endothelial activation and integrity were also measured to explore potential alternative mechanisms of hypothermia.