Evaluation of an open access software for calculating glucose variability parameters of a continuous glucose monitoring system applied at pediatric intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) has become an increasingly investigated tool, especially with regards to monitoring of diabetic and critical care patients. The continuous glucose data allows the calculation of several glucose variability parameters, however, without specific application the interpretation of the results is time-consuming, utilizing extreme efforts. Our aim was to create an open access software [Glycemic Variability Analyzer Program (GVAP)], readily available to calculate the most common parameters of the glucose variability and to test its usability. METHODS: The GVAP was developed in MATLAB® 2010b environment. The calculated parameters were the following: average area above/below the target range (Avg. AUC-H/L); Percentage Spent Above/Below the Target Range (PATR/PBTR); Continuous Overall Net Glycemic Action (CONGA); Mean of Daily Differences (MODD); Mean Amplitude of Glycemic Excursions (MAGE). For verification purposes we selected 14 CGM curves of pediatric critical care patients. Medtronic® Guardian® Real-Time with Enlite® sensor was used. The reference values were obtained from Medtronic®(')s own software for Avg. AUC-H/L and PATR/PBTR, from GlyCulator for MODD and CONGA, and using manual calculation for MAGE. RESULTS: The Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients were above 0.99 for all parameters. The initial execution took 30 minutes, for further analysis with the Windows® Standalone Application approximately 1 minute was needed. CONCLUSIONS: The GVAP is a reliable open access program for analyzing different glycemic variability parameters, hence it could be a useful tool for the study of glycemic control among critically ill patients.

[The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the mental health of critical care workers]. / A koronavírus-világjárvány hatása az intenzív ellátásban dolgozók mentális egészségére.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus pandemic has focused attention on the importance of critical care and highlighted the shortage of critical care specialists. Due to increasing workloads and high mortality rates, healthcare professionals were exposed to higher levels of physical and psychological stress during the pandemic than before. OBJECTIVE: Our study investigated the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on the emotional, mental and moral stress of intensive care professionals. METHOD: Our workgroup performed paper-based surveys among caregivers in the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy at Semmelweis University. The first survey was conducted at the start of the pandemic in 2020, the second survey was conducted after the third wave in 2021. We applied validated questionnaires (Professional Quality of Life, Demoralization Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Impact of Event Scale, and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory), collected demographic data and information on lifestyle, recreation, dietary habits, and accepting psychological support. RESULTS: The number and demographic characteristics of the participants in the two studies are different, reflecting the changes in the workforce during the pandemic. Our results revealed no differences between the working and socio-demographic groups before the outbreak, however, one year later, nurses scored significantly higher on all negative psychological scales compared to other groups. Only a minority of the respondents had sought psychological support (9.5-12.7%), although more than a third of respondents reported the need for psychological support. Employees in new work positions showed significantly increased posttraumatic growth (2.91 ± 0.82 vs. 2.20 ± 1.06, p = 0.016). DISCUSSION: These findings demonstrate that nurses are the most strained workgroup during an uncertain and stressful period. The available mental support alone is not enough to help caregivers. CONCLUSION: Further steps are needed to improve the mental health of critical care workers. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(42): 1646-1655.

Effect of an educational intervention on compliance with care bundle items to prevent ventilator-associated pneumonia.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of our ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundle implemented by education of the nursing staff, and to describe the tendency of knowledge retention. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: A prospective, before-and-after study was performed. The ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundle was implemented through a single educational intervention of the nursing staff. The risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia over time was estimated using a Cox proportional cause-specific hazard model. Compliance to preventive measures was assessed at three time-points: before education, at three months and 12 months after education. SETTING: A 29-bed mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Ventilator-associate pneumonia incidence densities, the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia, and compliance to preventive measures in the pre-implementation and post-implementation periods. RESULTS: We analyzed the data of 251 patients. The incidence density of pneumonia decreased from 29.3/1000 to 15.3/1000 ventilator-days after the implementation of the prevention program. Patients in the post-implementation period had significantly lower risk to develop pneumonia (hazard ratio 0.34, 95 % confidence interval 0.19-0.61, p = 0.001). At 3 months of implementation, a significant improvement was detected to all the individual bundle components. Complete compliance increased from 16.2 % to 62.2 % (p < 0.001). Compliance with bundle components decreased to baseline levels after 12 months of implementation apart from head-of-bed elevation. CONCLUSION: This study supports existing evidence that educational interventions improve compliance. The gained knowledge was well translated into clinical practice reflected by the decreasing ventilator-associated pneumonia rate. It may be assumed that a refresher educational session within 12 months after implementation is needed.

[Challenge in modern intensive care: chronic critical illness - pathophysiology and therapeutic options]. / A modern intenzív terápia kihívása: az elhúzódó kritikus állapot kórélettani háttere és terápiás lehetoségei.

The recent developments in intensive care have resulted in improved survival rates of patients treated with acute organ deficiency. As a consequence, the rate of those who survive the acute phase and subsequently require protracted organ support due to persisting organ dysfunction has been growing. Several survivors display chronic health status deterioration leading to prolonged rehabilitation or nursing, and repeated hospitalizations. The condition developed following the survival of the acute phase and requiring long-lasting intensive care is frequently termed as chronic critical illness (CCI). Several definitions exist, most of these are based on the number of ventilator days, or days of stay at the intensive care unit. Nevertheless, in spite of the initially heterogenous etiology of the acute illness, the complications associated with CCI, as well as the pathophysiological processes underlying these, are relatively uniform. This causes CCI to be a unique clinical syndrome characterized by the development of secondary infections, myopathy, central and peripheral neuropathy, and typical alterations of the hormonal and immune system functions. The outcome is heavily influenced by the frailty and comorbidities of the patient, in addition to the severity of the acute illness. The treatment of CCI patients presents a complicated task requiring multidisciplinary view and individualized therapeutic measures. Since the aging of the population and the continuously improving success rates in overcoming acute conditions also facilitate the development of CCI, the systematic overview of the underlying pathophysiological processes is pivotal for the optimization of the medical, nursing, social and economical burden presented by this syndrome. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(18): 702-712.

Ceftolozane/tazobactam versus colistin in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia due to extensively drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa are common pathogens in the intensive care unit (ICU), limiting available therapeutic options. We aimed to compare ceftolozane/tazobactam (C/T) with colistimethate sodium (CMS) in the treatment of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A retrospective, observational study was performed at a tertiary care ICU. Clinical and microbiological success rate, 28-day all-cause mortality, and adverse events were compared in patients who received C/T with those treated with systemic CMS. A total of 51 patients were included (18 in the C/T and 33 in the CMS group). Clinical success rates in the C/T and CMS groups were 13 (72.2%) and 10 (30.3%), respectively. On multivariate regression analysis, treatment with C/T was independently associated with clinical success (odds ratio 4.47, 95% CI 1.17-17.08). There was no difference in 28-day all-cause mortality (27.8% and 33.3% in the C/T and CMS group, p = 0.76). Acute kidney injury was more common in patients who received CMS (48.5% vs 11.1%, p = 0.01). In our study, ceftolozane/tazobactam was more efficacious in the treatment of XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa VAP and showed a better safety profile compared to CMS.

[Implementation of immediate feedback system into hand hygiene practice in the intensive care unit]. / Azonnali visszajelzo rendszer bevezetése a kézhigiéné gyakorlatába intenzív osztályon.

Introduction: Infections affect about 30-50% of intensive care unit patients resulting in substantial morbidity and mortality. Multimodal interventions proved to be successful in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. Appropriate hand hygiene including correct disinfection technique and timing is essential. Aim: The aim of our study was to investigate the hand hygiene practice among the intensive care unit healthcare workers by immediate feedback system implementation and compliance study. Method: A 3-week-long observational study was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Semmelweis University, during November and December, 2018. Data regarding hand hygiene technique were collected by using the Semmelweis Scanner technology, while compliance data were recorded by direct observations. Statistical analysis was performed by Kruskal-Wallis test, Fisher's exact test and χ2-test. Results: 604 measurements were recorded by the electronic system. Hand disinfection was appropriate in 86.5% of cases. The median value of coverage was 99.87%. The trend of these indices showed persistently high values. A lower error rate was observed in the physiotherapy group compared to others (doctors: p<0.01, nurses: p = 0.03, assistant nurses: p = 0.03). 162 opportunities were recorded during direct observations. The mean compliance rate was 60.49%, with the lowest among doctors (53.97%). The difference was non-significant compared to nurses (62.92%, p = 0.26). Conclusions: Hand hygiene technique during the study period was found to be highly and permanently appropriate, while compliance was lower than expected. The immediate feedback system may be useful in achieving appropriate hand disinfection technique, although further interventions are needed for higher compliance rates. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(49): 1957-1962.

Association between interleukin-6 polymorphism and age-at-onset of type 1 diabetes. Epistatic influences of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta polymorphisms.

Multiple immune mediators have been mentioned as playing a role in the pathomechanism of type1 DM. Interleukin (IL)-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha play a central role in the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta-cells, whereas IL-6 inhibits TNF-alpha secretion, and may have some protecting effects. In our study, we aimed to investigate the association between these three cytokines' single nucleotide polymorphisms (IL-6 gene G(-174)C, TNF-alpha gene G(-308)A and IL-1beta gene C(3954)T polymorphisms) and age-at-onset of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in 165 diabetic children (median age: 17 years). Polymorphisms were determined using the PCR-RFLP method. We found that the age-at-onset of T1DM was significantly different in patients with a different IL-6 genotype (median age-at-onset of T1DM was: 8, 6 and 4.5 years in children with the (-174)GG, GC and CC genotypes, respectively; p < 0.01). Adjusted for TNF-alpha and IL-1beta polymorphisms, patients with a IL-6 (-174)CC genotype have a 3.0-fold (95% CI: 1.2-7.1) increased risk of developing diabetes before the age of 6 years than (-174)G allele carrier patients. However, we found this association to be present only in patients who carried the TNF-alpha (-308)A or IL-1beta (3954)T allele, i.e. in patients with high TNF-alpha and high IL-1beta producer genotypes. We suppose that in the case of high TNF-alpha and IL-1beta producer genotypes, elevated proinflammatory cytokine levels result in a higher production of IL-6 in (-174)G allele carrier patients. This elevated IL-6 level may have a protective effect against the development of T1DM and may delay the destruction of pancreatic beta-cells.

[Subtotal colectomy in the course of gallstone-ileus surgery]. / Subtotalis colectomia epekó-ileus mütétje során.

A big gallstone penetrating through a bilio-digestive fistula into the bowel can make a complete obstruction of it in the majority of the cases requiring an urgent operation. It is a rare situation that a fistula like this leads into the colon and the stone makes a large bowel obstruction. A 72-year-old male patient was admitted to our department with the symptoms of colon obstruction. After the examinations he underwent an explorative laparotomy. During the course of the operation an obstruction was found in the proximal third of the descending colon. A subtotal colectomy was carried out. At the opening of the resected colon a big gallstone was found as the cause of the obstruction, which simulated a tumorous obstruction. We present through this case the possibilities and results of the diagnosis and treatment of gallstone ileus. We conclude that in the prevention of gallstone ileus, the early operative treatment of detected gallstone is essential.

Polymorphisms of the TNF-alpha gene and risk of celiac disease in T1DM children.

BACKGROUND: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and celiac disease (CD) frequently occur together. Previous reports suggested that the (-308)A variant of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene is associated either with T1DM or with CD. The aim of our study was to determine whether (-308)A and (-238)A allelic variants of the TNF-alpha gene might have any impact on the risk of CD in T1DM children. METHODS: Three hundred and one T1DM children were enrolled to the study. The presence of CD was screened with IgA endomysial antibodies (EMA) test. Jejunal biopsy was performed to confirm CD. TNF-alpha-308 and -238 genetic variants were tested using the method of restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS: The prevalence of CD in the enrolled diabetic children was 6.3% (19 out of 301 children). The frequency of the (-308)A TNF-alpha variant was similar in the CD and the non-CD groups, exceeding the Hungarian healthy reference value. The number of (-238)A allele carriers was higher in the CD (4/19) than in the non-CD group (17/277) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study is limited by the small number of CD patients. On the basis of our findings, carriers of TNF (-308)A allele do not seem to have an increased risk for CD in T1DM. The association between TNF-alpha(-238)A allele carrier state and CD requires further investigation.