A 68-year-old female is admitted to the hospital with an acu…

A 68-year-old female is admitted to the hospital with an acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive lung disease. She is intubated for worsening hypercarbia and transferred to the medical ICU. On day 8 of her ICU stay, she is felt to be clinically improving and close to extubation readiness when she develops intermittent desaturation and increased tracheal secretions. A portable chest radiograph demonstrates a new right lower lobe infiltrate. A tracheal aspiration is obtained for culture.  Which of the following would be appropriate intravenous antibiotic regimen?

An unrestrained driver presents to the ED after a head-on mo…

An unrestrained driver presents to the ED after a head-on motor vehicle crash with airbag deployment. The patient is awake and alert. GCS = 15. Vital signs: heart rate 94, blood pressure 138/78, respiratory rate 28, and SpO2 99% on room air. Chest wall is symmetrical, but tender to palpation. Breath sounds are diminished throughout related to shallow respirations. Chest x-ray is negative for any acute changes. Initial management should include which of the following?

A 42-year-old obese female with OSA, diabetes mellitus, and…

A 42-year-old obese female with OSA, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension is admitted for community-acquired pneumonia. After multiple attempts, she is emergently intubated with ET tube size 8.5. She has been intubated for 7 days and today she has tolerated the spontaneous breathing trial. What is the next step?