The Critical Care Commute Podcast

This engaging conversation explores career development, mentorship, and maintaining value throughout a medical career, with insights from experts in pediatric critical care, Drs Denise Goodman and Raj Basu.

Key Topics:

1. Career planning and transition strategies
2. Mentorship's role in professional growth
3. Maintaining motivation and feeling valuable
4. The importance of self-awareness and reflection
5. Balancing work, family, and personal fulfillment

In this "fireside" chat, recorded in front of a live audience at the Canadian Resuscitative Ultrasound Course West 2026 (CRUS WEST), Peter Brindley explores the role of point-of-care ultrasound in clinical practice, as we kick of Season 6.

Join us as Drs Brian Buchanan and Leon Byker, course directors for this year's CRUS WEST 2026, along with Dr Leo Smyth, Internist and Point of Care Ultrasound specialist, share insights on how to integrate ultrasound effectively while avoiding common pitfalls, examining its benefits, limitations, and the evidence surrounding its impact on patient outcomes.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Ultrasound as a diagnostic and monitoring tool
2. The role of physical exam versus ultrasound
3. Evidence, (or lack thereof) on ultrasound reducing mortality
4. Risks of over-reliance on ultrasound
5. Training and competency in ultrasound use
6. Legal and medicolegal considerations
7. Ultrasound in procedural guidance
8. Impact of ultrasound on clinical workflow

Key Words:

ultrasound, point-of-care, clinical practice, diagnosis, procedure, evidence, medical education, patient safety

In this episode, Prof. Lynora Saxinger and hosts Peter Brindley and Leon Byker explore the history, impact, and public perception of vaccines. They discuss how vaccines have saved millions of lives, the challenges of vaccine hesitancy, and strategies for effective science communication.

Key topics

• The impact of vaccines on global health and mortality
• The role of vaccines as heroes in medicine
• Challenges of vaccine hesitancy and misinformation
• The importance of trust and communication in vaccination
• Strategies for effective vaccine advocacy and education

This episode was made possible by:

Pfizer - Unrestricted Educational Grant - https://www.pfizer.com/

This episode features Professor Bram Rochwerg discussing the latest guidelines on surviving sepsis, covering evidence-based practices, fluid management, vasopressor use, and emerging therapies. Gain insights into how expert panels synthesize evidence to guide critical care in sepsis management.

Key Topics Covered:

• Sepsis guideline updates 2026
• Evidence synthesis and recommendation strength
• Fluid resuscitation strategies and targets
• Vasopressor use and peripheral administration
• Emerging therapies: Methylene blue, steroids, bicarbonate
• Biomarkers and diagnostics in sepsis

Links: Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026 | SCCM

Executive Summary: Surviving Sepsis Campaign:... : Critical Care Medicine

In this episode, we're joined by Sonja, RN, Nurse Educator, and host of the Sedation Vacation Radio podcast. (Full disclosure: we're big fans, so we might be just a little biased!)

Sonja shares practical, real-world advice on infection prevention and control, from getting PPE right to safely managing patients with suspected viral hemorrhagic fevers. Along the way, we explore what it takes to prepare healthcare teams and systems for these high-consequence situations, with plenty of practical tips and lessons you can apply in your own workplace.

Key topics

Infection control procedures for viral hemorrhagic fever

PPE donning and doffing protocols with step-by-step guidance

System-level response and isolation procedures for high-risk infectious cases

Role of medical officers and rapid response teams in outbreak management

Waste disposal and sample handling for contagious diseases

Aerosol-generating medical procedures and precautions

Takeaways:

Proper PPE donning and doffing is critical to prevent self-contamination.

Clear protocols and checklists improve safety during high-risk procedures.

System-level planning includes designated isolation units and inter-agency communication.

Understanding the difference between contact, droplet, and airborne precautions is essential.

Links of Interest:

https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/ebola/border-measures.htmlPractical PPE:

1. Coverall PPE (this is the PPE that anyone going into the room and doing patient care or assessments will be wearing) https://youtu.be/ADosrKxfsNI

1. Buddy PPE (this is the PPE that is worn by those who assist with Coverall doffing and other tasks) https://youtu.be/RaNwdvSyrb4
2. Coverall and Buddy Doffing https://youtu.be/EjVoXmRNzWc

Sedation Vacation Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/15P4tJ7uW17u41bm3V7CEf?si=1ua7uXu-Sa6nQGrkur0Gow

Join us on this episode as we discuss Ebola Disease with Dr Rob Fowler, critical Care Physician, Researcher and Scientist. As a physician who experienced working with patients with Ebola Disease, there is no better person to discuss this hot topic.

Key Topics

1. Ebola virus strains and outbreaks
2. Diagnostic testing and laboratory protocols
3. Therapeutic developments and clinical trials
4. Supportive care principles in Ebola treatment
5. Infection prevention and PPE in outbreak settings
6. Case fatality rates and clinical outcomes
7. Virus immune evasion mechanisms
8. Public health response and outbreak management.

Further reading and important links:

• WHO Supportive Care Guidelines (2026 – coming soon) https://www.magicevidence.org/
• WHO Specific Therapeutic Guidelines (not Bundibugyo species specific) (2022) http://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240055742

• WHO Ebola and Marburg virus IPC Guidelines (2026) https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240111332

This episode features Professor Wendy Sligl discussing hantaviruses, their transmission, clinical presentation, public health response, and prevention strategies. Aimed at healthcare professionals and public health officials, it provides critical insights into managing outbreaks and understanding zoonotic diseases.

Key Topics:

Hantavirus family and strains

Transmission routes and human-to-human spread

Clinical presentation and severity spectrum

Public health response and quarantine protocols

Prevention and protective measures

From Intubation Dilemmas to Data-Driven Decisions: Cutting-Edge Research in Pre-Hospital Trauma Care. In this episode, we explore a study that leverages machine learning and causal modeling to improve pre-hospital trauma interventions, specifically endotracheal intubation.

Experts Amy Nelson and Julian Thompson discuss how innovative data analysis can inform real-time decision-making, enhance patient outcomes, and optimize resource allocation in emergency settings.

Main Topics:

• The long-standing debate over early pre-hospital intubation and its survival benefits
• Methodological advances using machine learning and causal inference in emergency research
• How predictive models can support clinicians at the roadside and future directions for trauma care
• The significance of integrating AI tools into clinical judgment without replacing human expertise
• Cost-effectiveness and system-wide implications of adopting data-driven protocols in trauma systems

In this in-depth interview, Dr. Craig Spencer discusses the anti-vaccine movement, its community dynamics, historical context, and how healthcare professionals can engage effectively. The conversation explores the psychology behind vaccine hesitancy, community engagement strategies, and the importance of understanding different perspectives.

Further Reading:

https://www.statnews.com/2025/11/11/childrens-health-defense-conference-pro-vaccine-doctor/

Craig Spencer, MD, MPH | Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies | Brown University

In this episode, made possible through an educational grant from Sandoz Canada, Dr. George Zhanel discusses the latest developments in antimicrobial stewardship, focusing on IV Amox Clav, its clinical applications, safety profile, and the Canadian Leadership on Antimicrobial Real-Life Usage Registry (CLEAR). Gain insights into optimizing antibiotic use and future prospects in antimicrobial development.

Key Topics:

1. IV Amox Clav clinical applications
2. Canadian Leadership on Antimicrobial Usage Registry (CLEAR)
3. Antibiotic stewardship strategies
4. Future developments in antimicrobial agents

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Guest Credibility

01:47 Introduction of Dr. George Zhanel and his background

02:41 The journey into IV Amox Clav and its significance

03:21 Overview of the CLEAR registry and its purpose

06:18 Findings from the CLEAR study on IV Amox Clav usage

07:57 Clinical indications and safety profile of IV Amox Clav

10:58 De-escalation and appropriate use of IV Amox Clav

12:34 Use in bacteremia and various infections

13:35 Side effects and safety data of IV Amox Clav

15:02 Dosing strategies and renal adjustments

17:29 Beta-lactamase inhibitors and future antimicrobial development

20:16 Future prospects for new antibiotics in Canada

23:13 Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA) and involvement

25:53 Case examples and clinical decision-making in pneumonia and skin infections

31:09 Closing remarks and appreciation for the audience

Resources:

Canadian Leadership on Antimicrobial Real-Life Usage Registry (CLEAR) - https://www.clearregistry.ca

Canadian Antimicrobial Resistance Alliance (CARA) - https://www.cara.ca

Meropenem Vaborbactam - https://www.meropenem.com

Ceftazidime-Avibactam - https://www.ceftazidime-avibactam.com

Guest Links:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-zhanel

Twitter - https://twitter.com/GeorgeZhanel