The Critical Care Commute Podcast

Talking Critical Care with some of the most qualified, interesting, enlightened and provocative folks in Critical Care Medicine, and beyond.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Listen here: https://t.co/gJlk1xm2gI or on your favorite podcast app.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

@UofT Because we all have the same education and engagement goal, I will just tag in @IM_Crit_ @SCCM @emcrit @Wilkinsonjonny @ICUltrasonica

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

The most important clinical message?

Almost every "suspected Ebola" case you see in Canada will be malaria, sepsis, or another acute illness.

But it will be something — and it will need treatment.

Don't let the Ebola label be a reason to withhold care.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

@UofT https://t.co/2wObudLPZR

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Cultural competency is outbreak control.

Burial practices, household caregiving norms, and community trust drive transmission.

The most effective outbreak responses work with local culture — not around it.

That's not a soft skill. It's epidemiology.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

The global pandemic risk is low — and that's not reassurance, that's virology.

Ebola is a contact-spread disease. Canada has never had a locally acquired case.

It is not COVID. Keep the risk in perspective — but have a plan for the febrile traveler who walks into your ER.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Ebola Virus Disease — What Clinicians Need to Know: A Thread.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

PPE principles matter more than PPE material.

Ebola spreads via contact with bodily fluids → mucous membranes or sharps injury.

Not droplets. Not airborne.

Cover your eyes, nose, mouth. Avoid sharps. And pay close attention during doffing — that's your highest-risk moment.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Don't let the virus name limit the care you deliver.

Patients with Ebola deserve full ICU-level treatment: → Fluids → Vasopressors → Mechanical ventilation → Dialysis
Best practice for any critically ill patient = best practice for Ebola.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

This strain was missed by standard tests.

Bundibugyo virus has only been recognized in a major outbreak 3 times.

Standard Ebola PCR kits failed to detect it early on — the outbreak spread before it was even identified.

Diagnostic gaps have real consequences.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Monoclonal antibodies: game-changer — but only for Zaire Ebola.

MAB114 and REGEN-EB3 cut absolute mortality by ~20% in the DRC trial.

The current outbreak is Bundibugyo virus. Different species.

Trials are starting. We're back to supportive care for now.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Good supportive care saves lives. Full stop.

In the West African outbreak, mortality fell from ~70–80% → 39%.

No wonder drug. Better systems. Better care.

In a high-resource ICU with full organ support: fatality drops to ~18%.

The ICU skills you use every day work here.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

The hemorrhage narrative:

Despite being called a "hemorrhagic fever," clinically significant bleeding is uncommon.

Most patients don't need transfusion. Most aren't dying from blood loss.

They're dying from a systemic viral illness — and that changes how you treat it.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Ebola doesn't announce itself.

Fever. Myalgias. Headache. Vomiting. Diarrhea.

You cannot separate it from malaria or sepsis on symptoms alone.

Clinical suspicion — driven by travel history and epi-link — is what triggers the right test. Don't wait for a "classic" presentation.

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

There's a growing #Ebola outbreak in the DRC — and this one is different.

A rare strain. No matched monoclonals. No proven vaccine. And standard tests missed it at first.

Here's what every clinician needs to know. 🧵

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

@jamesdownar @docpgb @Wilkinsonjonny @ICUltrasonica Filamentous for sure!

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Ebola is in the news — so what actually matters?

Dr. Rob Fowler joins us on S5E19 to cut through the noise on diagnosis, treatment, PPE, and what to do if a suspect patient walks in. @jamesdownar @docpgb @Wilkinsonjonny @ICUltrasonica

#CriticalCare #FOAMcc #ICU #MedEd

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

https://t.co/56Av5IdS9R

[JAMA @JAMA_current]

@JAMANetworkOpen @CritCareReviews Sodium bicarbonate did not improve sustained return of spontaneous circulation, survival, or neurologic outcomes in adults with in-hospital cardiac arrest compared to placebo.

#CCR26 @CritCareReviews

https://t.co/gAzvHfAGAO

[The Critical Care Commute Podcast @CriticalCommute]

Dropping tomorrow! Join us as we talk to Dr Rob Fowler about Ebola Virus Disease. Tune in to learn what he wants every acute care HCW to know!