Expert Commentary

• Is Conflict Resolution Needed in the ICU? [Commentary by John E. Heffner, MD] In an interventional study, perceived conflicts were reported by more than 70% of ICU staff members and were associated with job strain, researchers found.

• Don't Overlook Airborne Pathogens in CF Infection Transmission [Commentary by Patrick A. Flume, MD] Small particle cough aerosols were found in cystic fibrosis patients with Gram-negative infections, which suggests the potential for patient-to-patient transmission, researchers reported.

• New Scoring System May Aid Triage of Patients With Acute COPD Exacerbations [Commentary by Robert A. Balk, MD] BAP-65, a new severity of illness score for patients with acute exacerbations of COPD, utilizes clinical factors easily obtainable at hospital presentation to predict mortality and need for mechanical ventilation.

• An Updated BODE Index, New ADO Index May Improve Upon the Original Model [Commentary by Stephen I. Rennard, MD] Researchers have sought to improve the prognostic value of the BODE index by devising an updated version and by creating an alternative, simplified index.
  
  
• Sleep-Disordered Breathing Severity Linked to Mortality [Commentary by Nancy Collop, MD] Sleep disordered breathing appears to be independently associated with mortality especially due to coronary artery disease and particularly in middle-age men.
  
  
• Regulatory Oversight in Infectious Disease Research: Too Much of a Good Thing? [Commentary by David L. Cohn, MD] In a policy statement, the Infectious Diseases Society of America identified problem areas that have been impeding federally-funded epidemiologic and clinical research efforts.
  
  
• "Swine Flu"/Influenza A H1N1 Expert Opinion. David L. Cohn, MD, offered his views on the current influenza A(H1N1) outbreak and potential implications for the future in an exclusive interview with Pulmonary Reviews.