title: Evaluation and treatment of fever in intensive care unit patients.
abstract: Fever is a common complaint in hospitalized patients, with estimates that more than 30% of ward patients and as much as 90% of critically ill patients will experience fever. Much of the treatment of fever, however, is based on tradition and the belief the fever is harmful to the patient rather than on scientific evidence. There is a need to determine via analysis of the literature the best evidence-based approach to the identification and treatment of fever with attention to appropriate measurement of body temperature, diagnostic evaluation, changing of indwelling catheters, administration of antipyretics, and alteration in antimicrobial therapy. The advanced practice nurse is uniquely capable of gathering this evidence and implementing a plan of care that meets the individual needs of the patient, family, nursing staff, and healthcare system.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Health Studies, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia 20057, USA. prinkel@georgetown.edu
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019985:Benchmarking; D001831:Body Temperature; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D017679:Cryotherapy; D003663:Decision Trees; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005334:Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic