Incidence and mortality of community-acquired and nosocomial infections in Japan: a nationwide medical claims database study.

BACKGROUND: It is important to determine the prevalence and prognosis of community-acquired infection (CAI) and nosocomial infection (NI) to develop treatment strategies and appropriate medical policies in aging society. METHODS: Patients hospitalized between January 2010 and December 2019, for whom culture tests were performed and antibiotics were administered, were selected using a national claims-based database. The annual trends in incidence and in-hospital mortality were calculated and evaluated by dividing the patients into four age groups. RESULTS: Of the 73,962,409 inpatients registered in the database, 9.7% and 4.7% had CAI and NI, respectively. These incidences tended to increase across the years in both the groups. Among the patients hospitalized with infectious diseases, there was a significant increase in patients aged ≥ 85 years (CAI: + 1.04%/year and NI: + 0.94%/year, P < 0.001), while there was a significant decrease in hospitalization of patients aged ≤ 64 years (CAI: -1.63%/year and NI: -0.94%/year, P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the NI than in the CAI group (CAI: 8.3%; NI: 14.5%, adjusted mean difference 4.7%). The NI group had higher organ support, medical cost per patient, and longer duration of hospital stay. A decreasing trend in mortality was observed in both the groups (CAI: -0.53%/year and NI: -0.72%/year, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The present analysis of a large Japanese claims database showed that NI is a significant burden on hospitalized patients in aging societies, emphasizing the need to address particularly on NI.

Efficiency and Workload Reduction of Semi-automated Citation Screening Software for Creating Clinical Practice Guidelines: A Prospective Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated the applicability of automated citation screening in developing clinical practice guidelines. METHODS: We prospectively compared the efficiency of citation screening between the conventional (Rayyan) and semi-automated (ASReview software) methods. We searched the literature for five clinical questions (CQs) in the development of the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock. Objective measurements of the time required to complete citation screening were recorded. Following the first screening round, in the primary analysis, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and overall screening time were calculated for both procedures using the semi-automated tool as index and the results of the conventional method as standard reference. In the secondary analysis, the same parameters were compared between the two procedures using the final list of included studies after the second screening session as standard reference. RESULTS: Among the five CQs after the first screening session, the highest and lowest sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive values were 0.241 and 0.795; 0.991 and 1.000; and 0.482 and 0.929, respectively. In the secondary analysis, the highest sensitivity and specificity in the semi-automated citation screening were 1.000 and 0.997, respectively. The overall screening time per 100 studies was significantly shorter with semi-automated than with conventional citation screening. CONCLUSION: The potential advantages of the semi-automated method (shorter screening time and higher discriminatory rate for the final list of studies) warrant further validation.

Prediction of the neurological outcomes post-cardiac arrest: A prospective validation of the CAST and rCAST.

INTRODUCTION: The neurologic prognosis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients in whom return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is achieved remains poor. The aim of this study was to externally and prospectively validate two scoring systems developed by us: the CAST score, a scoring system to predict the neurological prognosis of OHCA patients undergoing targeted temperature management (TTM), and a simplified version of the same score developed for improved ease of use in clinical settings, the revised CAST (rCAST) score. METHODS: This study was a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted using the SOS KANTO 2017 registry, an OHCA registry involving hospitals in the Kanto region (including Tokyo) of Japan. The primary outcome was favorable neurological outcome (defined as Cerebral Performance Category score of 1 or 2) at 30 days and the secondary outcomes were favorable neurological outcome at 90 days and survival at 30 and 90 days. The predictive accuracies of the original CAST (oCAST) and rCAST scores were evaluated by using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: Of 9909 OHCA patients, 565 showed ROSC and received TTM. Of these, we analyzed the data of 259 patients in this study. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs) of the oCAST and rCAST scores for predicting a favorable neurological outcome at 30 days were 0.86 and 0.87, respectively, and those for predicting a favorable neurological outcome at 90 days were 0.87 and 0.88, respectively. The rCAST showed a higher predictive accuracy for the neurological outcome as compared with the NULL-PLEASE score. The patients with a favorable neurological outcome who had been classified into the high severity group based on the rCAST tended to have hypothermia at hospital arrival and to not show any signs of loss of gray-white matter differentiation on brain CT. Neurological function at 90 days was correlated with the rCAST (r = 0.63, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: rCAST showed high predictive accuracy for the neurological prognosis of OHCA patients managed by TTM, comparable to that of the oCAST score. The scores on the rCAST were strongly correlated with the neurological functions at 90 days, implying that the rCAST is a useful scale for assessing the severity of brain injury after cardiac arrest.

Local Adverse Events Associated with Peripheral Vasoactive Infusion in Children: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis.

Prior meta-analysis suggested a low incidence of local adverse events after infusion of vasoactive agents via a peripheral venous catheter in children. However, the number of included patients was relatively low, and the vasoactive agents used were mostly dopamine. We performed an updated systematic review with meta-analysis using databases of MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to explore the safety of infusing vasoactive agents, including epinephrine and norepinephrine, through peripheral venous catheters or intraosseous access in critically ill children. The primary outcome was the occurrence of local adverse events associated with peripheral vasoactive infusion, such as extravasation or infiltration. Twelve observational studies and 1 randomized controlled trial were finally included. The pooled incidence rates of local adverse events associated with infusion of vasoactive agents through peripheral venous catheters or intraosseous access, peripheral venous catheters only, and intraosseous access only were 2.1% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.8%-3.9%), 2.3% (95% CI: 1.0%-4.0%), and 1.1% (95% CI: 0.0%-9.8%), respectively. Based on the findings of this meta-analysis, the incidence rate of local adverse events associated with peripheral vasoactive infusion appears to be low. Peripheral infusion of vasoactive agents, including epinephrine and norepinephrine, can be considered when necessary.

Differences in Pathophysiology and Treatment Efficacy Based on Heterogeneous Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest.

Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is heterogeneous in terms of etiology and severity. Owing to this heterogeneity, differences in outcome and treatment efficacy have been reported from case to case; however, few reviews have focused on the heterogeneity of OHCA. We conducted a literature review to identify differences in the prognosis and treatment efficacy in terms of CA-related waveforms (shockable or non-shockable), age (adult or pediatric), and post-CA syndrome severity and to determine the preferred treatment for patients with OHCA to improve outcomes.

Reply to Sethuraman et al. Comment on "Utsumi et al. Differences in Pathophysiology and Treatment Efficacy Based on Heterogeneous Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest. Medicina 2024, 60, 510".

We thank the authors of the Letter to the Editor for their astute points raised in reference to our original study [...].

The Current Discussion Regarding End-of-Life Care for Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest with Initial Non-Shockable Rhythm: A Narrative Review.

Despite recent advances in resuscitation science, outcomes in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with initial non-shockable rhythm remains poor. Those with initial non-shockable rhythm have some epidemiological features, including the proportion of patients with a witnessed arrest, bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), age, and presumed etiology of cardiac arrest have been reported, which differ from those with initial shockable rhythm. The discussion regarding better end-of-life care for patients with OHCA is a major concern among citizens. As one of the efforts to avoid unwanted resuscitation, advance directive is recognized as a key intervention, safeguarding patient autonomy. However, several difficulties remain in enhancing the effective use of advance directives for patients with OHCA, including local regulation of their use, insufficient utilization of advance directives by emergency medical services at the scene, and a lack of established tools for discussing futility of resuscitation in advance care planning. In addition, prehospital termination of resuscitation is a common practice in many emergency medical service systems to assist clinicians in deciding whether to discontinue resuscitation. However, there are also several unresolved problems, including the feasibility of implementing the rules for several regions and potential missed survivors among candidates for prehospital termination of resuscitation. Further investigation to address these difficulties is warranted for better end-of-life care of patients with OHCA.

Characteristics of the pulmonary opacities on chest CT associated with difficulty in short-term liberation from veno-venous ECMO in patients with severe ARDS.

BACKGROUND: It is clinically important to predict difficulty in short-term liberation from veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) at the time of initiation of the support. The aim of this study was to identify the characteristics of pulmonary opacities on chest CT that is associated with difficulty in short-term liberation from V-V ECMO (< 14 days). METHODS: This multicenter retrospective study was conducted in adult patients initiated on V-V ECMO for severe ARDS between January 2014 and June 2022. The pulmonary opacities on CT at the time of initiation of the ECMO support were evaluated in a blinded manner, focusing on the following three characteristics of the opacities: (1) their distribution (focal/diffuse on the dorso-ventral axis or unilateral/bilateral on the left-right axis); (2) their intensity (pure ground glass/pure consolidation/mixed pattern); and (3) the degree of fibroproliferation (signs of traction bronchiectasis or reticular opacities). RESULTS: Among the 153 patients, 72 (47%) were successfully liberated from ECMO in the short term, while short-term liberation failed in the remaining 81 (53%) patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of mixed-pattern pulmonary opacities and signs of traction bronchiectasis, but not the distribution of the opacities, were independently associated with difficulty in short-term liberation (OR [95% CI]; 4.8 [1.4-16.5] and 3.9 [1.4-11.2], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a mixed pattern of the pulmonary opacities and signs of traction bronchiectasis on the chest CT were independently associated with difficulty in short-term liberation from V-V ECMO in severe ARDS patients.

An algorithm for PCT-guided antimicrobial therapy: a consensus statement by Japanese experts.

In Japan, a national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) action plan was adopted in 2016, advocating a 20% reduction in antibiotic consumption by 2020. However, there is still room for improvement to accomplish this goal. Many randomized controlled trials have reported that procalcitonin (PCT)-guided antimicrobial therapy could help to reduce antibiotic consumption without negative health effects, specifically in acute respiratory infections. In September 2018, some experts in Europe and the USA proposed algorithms for PCT-guided antimicrobial therapy in mild to moderate infection cases outside the ICU and severe cases in the ICU (the international experts consensus). Thereafter, a group of Japanese experts, including specialists in intensive care medicine, emergency medicine, respiratory medicine and infectious diseases, created a modified version of a PCT-guided algorithm (Japanese experts consensus). This modified algorithm was adapted to better fit Japanese medical circumstances, since PCT-guided therapy is not widely used in daily clinical practice in Japan. The Japanese algorithm has three specific characteristics. First, the target patients are limited to only hospitalized ICU or non-ICU patients. Second, pneumonia due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Legionella species are excluded. Finally, a different timing of PCT follow-up measurement was proposed to meet restrictions of the Japanese medical insurance system. The adapted algorithms has high potential to further improve the safe reduction in antibiotic consumption in Japan, while reducing the spread of AMR pathogens.

Comparison of radial, dorsalis pedis, and posterior tibial arteries for ultrasound-guided arterial catheterisation with dynamic needle tip positioning in paediatric patients: a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Arterial catheterisation in children can be challenging and time-consuming. We aimed to compare the success rates of ultrasound-guided arterial catheterisation utilising the short-axis out-of-plane approach with dynamic needle tip positioning in the radial, dorsalis pedis, and posterior tibial arteries in paediatric patients. We also examined the factors influencing the catheterisation success using dynamic needle tip positioning. METHODS: Paediatric patients (aged <3 yr) undergoing cardiac surgery were randomly assigned to three groups based on puncture sites: radial artery (Group R), dorsalis pedis artery (Group D), and posterior tibial artery (Group P). The first-attempt and overall success rates of arterial catheterisation were compared, followed by multiple logistic regression analysis (dependent variable: first-attempt success; independent variables: body weight, diameter and depth of the artery, targeted artery, and trisomy 21). RESULTS: The study included 270 subjects (n=90 per group). There was no significant difference in the first-attempt (Group R: 82%, Group D: 76%, and Group P: 81%) and overall success rates (Group R: 94%, Group D: 93%, and Group P: 91%) among the three groups. The diameter of the artery (per 0.1 mm) (odds ratio: 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-1.60) and trisomy 21 (odds ratio: 0.43, 95% confidence interval: 0.20-0.92) were independent predictors of first-attempt success or failure. CONCLUSION: The first-attempt and overall success rates of arterial catheterisation of the dorsalis pedis and posterior tibial arteries were not inferior to those in the radial artery when using dynamic needle tip positioning. These two lower extremity peripheral arteries present viable alternative catheterisation sites in paediatric patients. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000042847.

Ultrasound-Guided Short-Axis Out-of-Plane Approach With or Without Dynamic Needle-Tip Positioning for Peripheral Venous Catheterization in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review With Network Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of the ultrasound-guided approach with and without dynamic needle-tip positioning and the palpation technique regarding success for peripheral venous catheterization in children. DESIGN: A systematic review with network meta-analysis. SETTING: Databases of MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (<18 years) undergoing peripheral venous catheter insertion. INTERVENTIONS: Randomized clinical trials were included to compare the following techniques: the ultrasound-guided short-axis out-of-plane approach with dynamic needle-tip positioning, the approach without dynamic needle-tip positioning, and the palpation technique. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The outcomes were first-attempt and overall success rates. Eight studies were included in the qualitative analyses. According to the estimate of network comparison, dynamic needle-tip positioning was associated with higher first-attempt (risk ratio [RR] 1.67; 95% CI 1.33-2.09) and overall success rates (RR 1.25; 95% CI 1.08-1.44) than palpation. The approach without dynamic needle-tip positioning was not associated with higher first-attempt (RR 1.17; 95% CI 0.91-1.49) and overall success rates (RR 1.10; 95% CI 0.90-1.33) than palpation. Compared to the approach without dynamic needle-tip positioning, dynamic needle-tip positioning was associated with a higher first-attempt success rate (RR 1.43; 95% CI 1.07-1.92), but not a higher overall success rate (RR 1.14; 95% CI 0.92-1.41). CONCLUSIONS: Dynamic needle-tip positioning is efficacious for peripheral venous catheterization in children. It would be better to include dynamic needle-tip positioning for the ultrasound-guided short-axis out-of-plane approach.

Quantification of respiratory sounds by a continuous monitoring system can be used to predict complications after extubation: a pilot study.

To show that quantification of abnormal respiratory sounds by our developed device is useful for predicting respiratory failure and airway problems after extubation. A respiratory sound monitoring system was used to collect respiratory sounds in patients undergoing extubation. The recorded respiratory sounds were subsequently analyzed. We defined the composite poor outcome as requiring any of following medical interventions within 48 h as defined below. This composite outcome includes reintubation, surgical airway management, insertion of airway devices, unscheduled use of noninvasive ventilation or high-flow nasal cannula, unscheduled use of inhaled medications, suctioning of sputum by bronchoscopy and unscheduled imaging studies. The quantitative values (QV) for each abnormal respiratory sound and inspiratory sound volume were compared between composite outcome groups and non-outcome groups. Fifty-seven patients were included in this study. The composite outcome occurred in 18 patients. For neck sounds, the QVs of stridor and rhonchi were significantly higher in the outcome group vs the non-outcome group. For anterior thoracic sounds, the QVs of wheezes, rhonchi, and coarse crackles were significantly higher in the outcome group vs the non-outcome group. For bilateral lateral thoracic sounds, the QV of fine crackles was significantly higher in the outcome group vs the non-outcome group. Cervical inspiratory sounds volume (average of five breaths) immediately after extubation was significantly louder in the outcome group vs non-outcome group (63.3 dB vs 54.3 dB, respectively; p < 0.001). Quantification of abnormal respiratory sounds and respiratory volume may predict respiratory failure and airway problems after extubation.

Neutralizing Type I Interferon Autoantibodies in Japanese Patients with Severe COVID-19.

PURPOSE: Autoantibodies (aAbs) to type I interferons (IFNs) have been found in less than 1% of individuals under the age of 60 in the general population, with the prevalence increasing among those over 65. Neutralizing autoantibodies (naAbs) to type I IFNs have been found in at least 15% of patients with life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in several cohorts of primarily European descent. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of aAbs and naAbs to IFN-α2 or IFN-ω in Japanese patients who suffered from COVID-19 as well as in the general population. METHODS: Patients who suffered from COVID-19 (n = 622, aged 0-104) and an uninfected healthy control population (n = 3,456, aged 20-91) were enrolled in this study. The severities of the COVID-19 patients were as follows: critical (n = 170), severe (n = 235), moderate (n = 112), and mild (n = 105). ELISA and ISRE reporter assays were used to detect aAbs and naAbs to IFN-α2 and IFN-ω using E. coli-produced IFNs. RESULTS: In an uninfected general Japanese population aged 20-91, aAbs to IFNs were detected in 0.087% of individuals. By contrast, naAbs to type I IFNs (IFN-α2 and/or IFN-ω, 100 pg/mL) were detected in 10.6% of patients with critical infections, 2.6% of patients with severe infections, and 1% of patients with mild infections. The presence of naAbs to IFNs was significantly associated with critical disease (P = 0.0012), age over 50 (P = 0.0002), and male sex (P = 0.137). A significant but not strong correlation between aAbs and naAbs to IFN-α2 existed (r = - 0.307, p value < 0.0001) reinforced the importance of measuring naAbs in COVID-19 patients, including those of Japanese ancestry. CONCLUSION: In this study, we revealed that patients with pre-existing naAbs have a much higher risk of life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in Japanese population.

Clinical and microbiological outcomes, by causative pathogen, in the ASPECT-NP randomized, controlled, Phase 3 trial comparing ceftolozane/tazobactam and meropenem for treatment of hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: In the ASPECT-NP trial, ceftolozane/tazobactam was non-inferior to meropenem for treating nosocomial pneumonia; efficacy outcomes by causative pathogen were to be evaluated. METHODS: Mechanically ventilated participants with hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia were randomized to 3 g ceftolozane/tazobactam (2 g ceftolozane/1 g tazobactam) q8h or 1 g meropenem q8h. Lower respiratory tract (LRT) cultures were obtained ≤36 h before first dose; pathogen identification and susceptibility were confirmed at a central laboratory. Prospective secondary per-pathogen endpoints included 28 day all-cause mortality (ACM), and clinical and microbiological response at test of cure (7-14 days after the end of therapy) in the microbiological ITT (mITT) population. RESULTS: The mITT population comprised 511 participants (264 ceftolozane/tazobactam, 247 meropenem). Baseline LRT pathogens included Klebsiella pneumoniae (34.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25.0%) and Escherichia coli (18.2%). Among baseline Enterobacterales isolates, 171/456 (37.5%) were ESBL positive. For Gram-negative baseline LRT pathogens, susceptibility rates were 87.0% for ceftolozane/tazobactam and 93.3% for meropenem. For Gram-negative pathogens, 28 day ACM [52/259 (20.1%) and 62/240 (25.8%)], clinical cure rates [157/259 (60.6%) and 137/240 (57.1%)] and microbiological eradication rates [189/259 (73.0%) and 163/240 (67.9%)] were comparable with ceftolozane/tazobactam and meropenem, respectively. Per-pathogen microbiological eradication for Enterobacterales [145/195 (74.4%) and 129/185 (69.7%); 95% CI: -4.37 to 13.58], ESBL-producing Enterobacterales [56/84 (66.7%) and 52/73 (71.2%); 95% CI: -18.56 to 9.93] and P. aeruginosa [47/63 (74.6%) and 41/65 (63.1%); 95% CI: -4.51 to 19.38], respectively, were also comparable. CONCLUSIONS: In mechanically ventilated participants with nosocomial pneumonia owing to Gram-negative pathogens, ceftolozane/tazobactam was comparable with meropenem for per-pathogen 28 day ACM and clinical and microbiological response.

Incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections following ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasonographic guidance is widely used for central venous catheterization. Several studies have revealed that ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization increases the rate of success during the first attempt and reduces the procedural duration when compared to the anatomical landmark-guided insertion technique, which could result in protection from infectious complications. However, the effect of ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization on catheter-related bloodstream infections remains unclear. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the value of ultrasound guidance in preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections and catheter colonization associated with central venous catheterization. METHODS: The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and MEDLINE (via PubMed) were searched up to May 9, 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing ultrasound-guided and anatomical landmark-guided insertion techniques for central venous catheterization. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB 2) tool for RCTs. A meta-analysis was performed for catheter-related bloodstream infections and catheter colonization, as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: Four RCTs involving 1268 patients met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization was associated with a slightly lower incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (risk ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16-1.32) and was not associated with a lower incidence of catheter colonization (risk ratio, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.57-3.26). CONCLUSION: Ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization might reduce the incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections. Additional RCTs are necessary to further evaluate the value of ultrasound guidance in preventing catheter-related bloodstream infections with central venous catheterization.

Trends in survival during the pandemic in patients with critical COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation with or without ECMO: analysis of the Japanese national registry data.

BACKGROUND: The survival rate of patients with critical coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) over time is inconsistent in different settings. In Japan, a national database was organized to monitor and share the patient generation across the country in an immediate response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to evaluate changes in survival over time and the prognostic factors in critical COVID-19 patients receiving mechanical ventilation with/without extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) using the largest database in Japan. METHODS: This is a prospective observational cohort study of patients admitted to intensive care units in Japan with fatal COVID-19 pneumonia receiving mechanical ventilation and/or ECMO. We developed a prospective nationwide registry covering > 80% of intensive care units in Japan, and analyzed the association between patients' backgrounds, institutional ECMO experience, and timing of treatment initiation and prognosis between February 2020 and November 2021. Prognostic factors were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: A total of 9418 patients were ventilated, of whom 1214 (13%) received ECMO. The overall survival rate for ventilated patients was 79%, 65% for those receiving ECMO. There have been five outbreaks in Japan to date. The survival rate of ventilated patients increased from 76% in the first outbreak to 84% in the fifth outbreak (p < 0.001). The survival rate of ECMO patients remained unchanged at 60-68% from the first to fifth outbreaks (p = 0.084). Age of ≥ 59 (hazard ratio [HR] 2.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.76-2.68), ventilator days of ≥ 3 before starting ECMO (HR 1.91; 95% CI 1.57-2.32), and institutional ECMO experiences of ≥ 11 (HR 0.70; 95% CI 0.58-0.85) were independent prognostic factors for ECMO. CONCLUSIONS: During five COVID-19 outbreaks in Japan, the survival rate of ventilated patients tended to have gradually improved, and that of ECMO patients did not deteriorate. Older age, longer ventilator days before starting ECMO, and fewer institutional ECMO experiences may be independent prognostic factors for critical COVID-19 patients receiving ECMO.

Duration of infectious virus shedding in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 who required mechanical ventilation.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 5% of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 develop severe COVID-19. Severe COVID-19 requires respiratory management with mechanical ventilation and an extended period of treatment. Prolonged infectious virus shedding is a concern in severe COVID-19 cases, but few reports have examined the duration of infectious virus shedding. Therefore, we investigated the duration of infectious virus shedding in patients transferred to Hiroshima University Hospital with severe COVID-19 requiring mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were collected and analyzed using both viral culture and reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) tests between December 2020 and February 2021. RESULTS: Of the 23 patients tested, the proportions of those with positive test results at first specimen collection (the median number of days to first specimen collection after symptom onset was 10) on RT-qPCR and viral culture tests were 95·7% and 30·4%, respectively. All six patients with positive viral culture test results who were followed-up tested negative 24 days after symptom onset but remained positive on RT-qPCR. Viral loads based on PCR testing did not decrease over time, but those determined via culture tests decreased over time. The longest negative conversion time was observed in a dialysis patient on immunosuppressive drugs. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that patients with severe COVID-19 remain culture positive for ≥ 10 days after symptom onset. Additionally, immunosuppressed patients with severe COVID-19 could consider isolation for ≥ 20 days.

A novel system that continuously visualizes and analyzes respiratory sounds to promptly evaluate upper airway abnormalities: a pilot study.

Although respiratory sounds are useful indicators for evaluating abnormalities of the upper airway and lungs, the accuracy of their evaluation may be limited. The continuous evaluation and visualization of respiratory sounds has so far been impossible. To resolve these problems, we developed a novel continuous visualization system for assessing respiratory sounds. Our novel system was used to evaluate respiratory abnormalities in two patients. The results were not known until later. The first patient was a 23-year-old man with chronic granulomatous disease and persistent anorexia. During his hospital stay, he exhibited a consciousness disorder, bradypnea, and hypercapnia requiring tracheal intubation. After the administration of muscle relaxant, he suddenly developed acute airway stenosis. Because we could not intubate and ventilate, we performed cricothyroidotomy. Subsequent review of our novel system revealed mild stridor before the onset of acute airway stenosis, which had not been recognized clinically. The second patient was a 74-year-old woman who had been intubated several days earlier for tracheal burn injury, and was extubated after alleviation of her laryngeal edema. After extubation, she gradually developed inspiratory stridor. We re-intubated her after diagnosing post-extubation laryngeal edema. Subsequent review of our novel system revealed serially increased stridor after the extubation, at an earlier time than was recognized by healthcare providers. This unique continuous monitoring and visualization system for respiratory sounds could be an objective tool for improving patient safety regarding airway complications.

Regional respiratory sound abnormalities in pneumothorax and pleural effusion detected via respiratory sound visualization and quantification: case report.

Assessment of respiratory sounds by auscultation with a conventional stethoscope is subjective. We developed a continuous monitoring and visualization system that enables objectively and quantitatively visualizing respiratory sounds. We herein present two cases in which the system showed regional differences in the respiratory sounds. We applied our novel continuous monitoring and visualization system to evaluate respiratory abnormalities in patients with acute chest disorders. Respiratory sounds were continuously recorded to assess regional changes in respiratory sound volumes. Because we used this system as a pilot study, the results were not shown in real time and were retrospectively analyzed. Case 1 An 89-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for sudden-onset respiratory distress and hypoxia. Chest X-rays revealed left pneumothorax; thus, we drained the thorax. After confirming that the pneumothorax had improved, we attached the continuous monitoring and visualization system. Chest X-rays taken the next day showed exacerbation of the pneumothorax. Visual and quantitative findings showed a decreased respiratory volume in the left lung after 3 h. Case 2 A 94-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for dyspnea. Chest X-rays showed a large amount of pleural effusion on the right side. The continuous monitoring and visualization system visually and quantitatively revealed a decreased respiratory volume in the lower right lung field compared with that in the lower left lung field. Our newly developed continuous monitoring and visualization system enabled quantitatively and visually detecting regional differences in respiratory sounds in patients with pneumothorax and pleural effusion.

Deep sedation predicts pressure injury in patients admitted to intensive care units.

BACKGROUND: Patients in intensive care units (ICU) are frequently prescribed sedatives, which might increase the risk for pressure injury (PI). Although the association between sedation and incidence of PI has been noted, the adequate sedation level to prevent the incidence of PI in patients admitted to ICU is still unclear. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the association between fluctuating sedation levels and the incidence of PI in patients admitted to ICU. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 104 patients admitted to ICU. Data regarding the length of ICU stay (LOS) and comorbid infection were abstracted from medical records. The Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) was scored twice per day, and the standardized RASS (S-RASS, summation of RASS values divided by the number of samples) was used to evaluate changes in sedation levels. RESULTS: Among the 104 included patients, 65 patients (62.5%) were male (median age: 68.0 years), and 13 patients (12.5%) had PI during ICU admission. S-RASS scores were lower in patients with PI than in those without PI (P = .0001) even after adjustment for confounders (OR [95%CI]: 0.14 [0.03-0.58], P = .006). The LOS and infections were higher in patients with PI than in those without PI (P < .0001 and P = .005, respectively). The cut-off value of S-RASS for PI incidence was -3.2 (sensitivity: 88%; specificity: 85%), and a significant predictor of PI incidence (HR [95%CI]: 20.07 [2.53-159.11], P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: Deeper sedation levels based on S-RASS scores, which account for the effects of fluctuating sedation levels, were a strong, highly accurate predictor of PI incidence in patients admitted to ICU. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Assessing fluctuations in the level of sedation using the S-RASS might help to identify sedative-induced PI in patients admitted to ICU.