We prospectively evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of intravenously administered colistin in 35 episodes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) du

The objective of Integrated Care Pathways for Airway Diseases (AIRWAYS-ICPs) is to launch a collaboration to develop multi-sectoral care pathways for chronic respiratory diseases in European countries and regions. AIRWAYS-ICPs has strategic relevance to the European Union Health Strategy and will add value to existing public health knowledge by: 1) proposing a common framework of care pathways for chronic respiratory diseases, which will facilitate comparability and trans-national initiatives; 2) informing cost-effective policy development, strengthening in particular those on smoking and environmental exposure; 3) aiding risk stratification in chronic disease patients, using a common strategy; 4) having a significant impact on the health of citizens in the short term (reduction of morbidity, improvement of education in children and of work in adults) and in the long-term (healthy ageing); 5) proposing a common simulation tool to assist physicians; and 6) ultimately reducing the healthcare burden (emergency visits, avoidable hospitalisations, disability and costs) while improving quality of life. In the longer term, the incidence of disease may be reduced by innovative prevention strategies. AIRWAYSICPs was initiated by Area 5 of the Action Plan B3 of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. All stakeholders are involved (health and social care, patients, and policy makers).

The mortality rate of patients with cases of enterococcal bacteremia is high, although it has often been related to the patients' underlying conditio

MURINE TYPHUS (MT), a zoonosis that is caused by Rickettsia typhi, occurs all over the world, with endemic areas in North and South America, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, and some southern European countries.^1-10 The importance of this illness has been underestimated. It is more frequent than is commonly believed and represents a worldwide health problem.¹¹ Studies on its prevalence have shown that it also occurs in Spain.^12,13 Sporadic cases have been reported in Seville, Huelva, and Murcia,^7-9 but, to our knowledge, no extensive studies have been performed to investigate its clinical and epidemiological characteristics. Therefore, its real incidence is not known.