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Recognizing the prevalence of the problem, doctors and nurses across the country are now pushing an ambitious campaign to change practices in intensive care units to reduce cases of “ICU delirium” — a sudden and intense confusion that can include hallucinations, delusions, and paranoia. Anywhere from a third to more than 80 percent of ICU patients suffer from delirium during their hospital stay. And one-quarter of all ICU patients suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder once they leave, a rate that’s comparable to PTSD diagnoses among combat veterans and rape victims. Patients with ICU delirium are less likely to survive and more likely to suffer long-term cognitive damage if they do. (McFarling, 10/14)

Those who have declared war on the white coat come mainly from the infection control community. They argue that the coats, with their long, loose-fitting sleeves, are prone to be germ magnets... Several studies, including research by the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as by infectious disease experts in the United States, Britain and Israel, show that pathogens are easily transferred from surfaces to fabric, and from fabric to skin. Studies have also confirmed that many of the microorganisms detected on white coats are antibiotic-resistant. (Ridderbusch, 10/13)

Scientists may have found a way for patients with HIV to keep the virus in check without having to take powerful drugs every day for the rest of their lives. A clinical trial in monkeys found that by augmenting the standard HIV treatment with an antibody developed in the lab, the animals were able to enter a state of sustained remission, according to a report in Friday’s edition of the journal Science. (Healy, 10/13)

But for many of us, lifestyle changes are enough to bring cholesterol down. Doctors almost always recommend exercising and not smoking, along with eating less saturated and trans fat. And losing weight — as little as 5 to 10 pounds — can have a big impact on cholesterol. But there's another step you can take that may surprise you: Eat less sugar. (Maher, 10/13)

The hottest trend in health care these days may be “integrative medicine,” which claims to blend the best ideas from alternative medicine and conventional practice. But there is vast disagreement on what the best ideas are. And it’s not clear who will decide. (Gentry, 10/13)