Predicting bacteremia in patients attended for infections in an emergency department: the 5MPB-Toledo model. / Modelo 5MPB-Toledo para predecir bacteriemia en los pacientes atendidos por infección en el servicio de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a simple risk score to predict bacteremia in patients in our hospital emergency department for infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study of all blood cultures ordered in the emergency department for adults (aged 18 or older) from July 1, 2018, to March 31, 2019. We gathered data on 38 independent variables (demographic, comorbidity, functional status, and laboratory findings) that might predict bacteremia. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were applied to the data and a risk scale was developed. RESULTS: A total of 2181 blood samples were cultured. True cases of bacteremia were confirmed in 262 (12%). The remaining 1919 cultures (88%) were negative. No growth was observed in 1755 (80.5%) of the negative cultures, and 164 (7.5%) were judged to be contaminated. The 5MPB-Toledo model identified 5 predictors of bacteremia: temperature higher than 38.3°C (1 point), a Charlson comorbidity index of 3 or more (1 point), respiratory frequency of at least 22 breaths/min (1 point), leukocyte count greater than 12 000/mm3 (1 point), and procalcitonin concentration of 0.51 ng/mL or higher (4 points). Low risk for bacteremia was indicated by a score of 0 to 2 points, intermediate risk by 3 to 5 points, and high risk by 6 to 8 points. Bacteremia in these 3 risk groups was predicted for 1.1%, 10.5%, and 77%, respectively. The model's area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.946 (95% CI, 0.922-0.969). CONCLUSION: The 5MPB-Toledo score could be useful for predicting bacteremia in patients attended in hospital emergency departments for infection.

OBJETIVO: Diseñar un modelo sencillo de riesgo para predecir bacteriemia en los pacientes atendidos por un episodio de infección en el servicio de urgencias hospitalario (SUH). METODO: Estudio observacional, de cohortes retrospectivo, de todos los hemocultivos (HC) extraídos en un SUH en los pacientes adultos ($ 18 años) atendidos por infección desde el 1 de julio de 2018 hasta el 31 de marzo de 2019. Se analizaron 38 variables independientes (demográficas, comorbilidad, funcionales, clínicas y analíticas) que pudieran predecir la existencia de bacteriemia. Se realizó un estudio univariado y multivariable, mediante regresión logística, y después se construyó una escala de puntuación de riesgo. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 2.181 episodios de HC extraídos. De ellos se consideraron como bacteriemias verdaderas 262 (12%) y como HC negativos 1.919 (88%). Entre los negativos, 1.755 (80,5%) no tuvieron crecimiento y 164 (7,5%) se consideraron contaminados. Se definió un modelo predictivo de bacteriemia con 5 variables (5MPBToledo). El modelo incluyó la temperatura > 38,3°C (1 punto), un índice de Charlson $ 3 (1 punto), la frecuencia respiratoria $ 22 respiraciones por minuto (1 punto), leucocitos > 12.000/mm3 (1 punto) y procalcitonina $ 0,51 ng/ ml (4 puntos). Se categorizó a los pacientes en bajo (0-2 puntos), moderado (3-5 puntos) y alto (6-8 puntos) riesgo, con una probabilidad de bacteriemia de 1,1%, 10,5% y 77%, respectivamente. El ABC-COR del modelo tras remuestreo fue de 0,946 (IC 95%: 0,922-0,969). CONCLUSIONES: El Modelo 5MPB-Toledo podría ser de utilidad para predecir bacteriemia en los pacientes atendidos por un episodio de infección en los SUH.

[Predictive factors of bacteraemia in the patients seen in emergency departments due to infections]. / Factores predictores de bacteriemia en los pacientes atendidos en el Servicio de Urgencias por infección.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to analyze predictive factors of bacteraemia in patients seen in the emergency department (ED) for an episode of infectious disease. METHODS: Observational, retrospective and descriptive analytical study of all blood cultures extracted in an ED in adult patients (≥ 18 years) seen in ED due to infec-tious disease from 1-1-2019 to 1-7-2019. The follow-up was carried out during 30 days. Thirty-eight variables for predicting bacteraemia were assessed. They covered epidemiological, comorbidity, functional, clinical and analytical factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 1,425 blood cultures were finally enrolled in the study. Of those were considered true bacteremia 179 (12.6 %) and as negative blood cultures 1,246 (87.4 %). Amongst negatives, 1,130 (79.3%) without growth and 116 (8.1%) as contaminants blood cultures. Five variables were significantly associated with true bacteraemia: serum procalcitonin (PCT) ≥ 0.51 ng/ml [odds ratio (OR): 4.52; 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.20-4.84, P <.001], temperature > 38.3°C [OR:1.60; 95% CI:1.29-1.90, P <.001], systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 100 mmHg [OR:3.68; 95% CI:2.78-4.58, P <.001], septic shock [OR:2.96; 95% CI:1.78-4.13, P <.001] and malignancy [OR:1.73; 95% CI:1.27-2.20, P <.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Several factors evaluated in an initial assessment in the ED, including serum PCT, temperature, hypotension (with/without septic shock) and being malignancy, were found to predict true bacteraemia.

Ability of procalcitonin to differentiate true bacteraemia from contaminated blood cultures in an emergency department. / Capacidad de la procalcitonina para diferenciar bacteriemia verdadera de los hemocultivos contaminados en el servicio de urgencias.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse and compare the ability of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and leukocytes to differentiate true bacteraemia from contaminated blood cultures in patients seen in the emergency department (ED) for an episode of infectious disease. METHODS: Observational, retrospective and descriptive analytical study of all blood cultures with positive growth extracted in an ED in adult patients (≥18 years) during 2016 and 2017. The follow-up was carried out over a 30-day period to calculate the predictive power and the prognostic performance for true bacteraemia. RESULTS: A total of 266 blood cultures with positive growth were included in the study. Out of these, 154 (57.9%) were considered true bacteraemia and 112 (42.1%) were considered to be contaminated blood cultures. The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) for PCT to predict true bacteraemia was 0.983 (95% CI: 0.972-0.994; P<0.001) and, considering a cut-off value of≥0.43 ng/ml, PCT achieved 94% sensitivity, 91% specificity, positive predictive value of 94%, and negative predictive value of 92%. The AUC-ROC obtained for CRP was 0.639 (95% CI: 0.572-0.707, P<.001), for leukocytes of 0.693 (95% CI: 0.630-0.756, P<.001) and for immature leukocytes (>10% bands) of 0.614 (95% CI: 0.547-0.682, P<.001). The mean values for PCT were 3.44 (SD 6.30) ng/ml in true bacteraemia vs. 0.16 (SD 0.18) ng/ml in contaminated blood cultures (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: In blood cultures with positive growth extracted in an ED, PCT achieves the best prognostic performance of true bacteraemia vs. contaminated blood cultures, better than CRP and leukocytes.

Eighty-two year old female with long term abdominal pain, fever and skin lesions. / Mujer de 82 años con dolor abdominal, fiebre y lesiones cutáneas de larga evolución.

We report the case of an old woman, consulting for fever, abdominal pain and constitutional symptoms one year of evolution. The differential diagnosis is between infectious, tumoral, or inflammatory disease, which may be located at the abdominal level, performing additional tests to rule out abdominal process. The existence of pain in the legs and level scan left thigh of a mass of hard consistency, makes us raise another diagnosis. Finally show on ultrasound soft tissue inflammatory changes regarding panniculitis. From this finding aetiologies of panniculitis are reviewed. Skin biopsy that shows the final diagnosis is made.

Deficits in information transfer between anaesthesiologist and postanaesthesia care unit staff: an analysis of patient handover.

BACKGROUND: The immediate postoperative period is important, as the patient recovers from the acute derangements resulting from the surgical insult and anaesthesia. Incomplete or incorrect communication between the anaesthesiologist and the postanaesthesia care unit nurse during the transfer process may lead to dangerous clinical mistakes. The literature examining handovers from operating room to the postanaesthesia care unit is scarce. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to examine the current transfer practice through observation of handovers between the anaesthesiologists and the postanaesthesia care unit staff in order to identify data omissions. The secondary objective was to learn which data items the clinicians and nurses thought were a necessary part of the transfer process and whether this information was communicated at the time of handover. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: Academic hospital in Toronto, Canada. PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS: After Research Ethics Board approval, a prospective observational study was conducted at a university-affiliated teaching centre. During a 2-month period, multiple observations of patient handover were performed. The data provided were marked on a checklist. At the end of the study, participating nurses and physicians were surveyed regarding the necessity of communicating different items on the checklist. RESULTS: A total of 526 transfers were observed. Of 29 data items examined, only two items (type of surgery and analgesics given) were reported in more than 90% of handovers. Only three items (difficult intubation, ST-wave changes and co-morbidities/healthy) were reported in more than 80% of cases. Many items deemed as needed to be reported by the participants in the study were not communicated. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the handover process is inconsistent and in some cases information defined as important by the physicians and the nurses is not transferred. Further studies need to investigate whether a handover protocol leads to a minimisation of omissions in information transfer.

Intrathecal fentanyl as adjunct to hyperbaric bupivacaine in spinal anesthesia for caesarean section.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of adding fentanyl to intrathecal bupivacaine on the onset, duration and quality of spinal anesthesia and its effect of mother and neonate. DESIGN: Single blind randomized controlled clinical trial. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Anesthesiology, Surgical Intensive Care Unit and Pain Management, Dow University of Health Sciences and Civil Hospital, Karachi, from January 2003 to June 2004. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty young adult females, ASA physical status I and II, with singleton pregnancy undergoing elective or emergency cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomly allocated to receive spinal anesthesia either by using 0.75% hyperbaric bupivacaine 1.5 ml with 0.25 ml normal saline or 0.75% hyperbaric bupivacaine 1.5 ml with 0.25 ml fentanyl (12.5 microg). Blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, sensory level, motor block, pain score and side effects were observed every 2 minutes for first 20 minutes, then at-5 minute interval throughout the surgery, thereafter at 30 minutes interval until the patient complained of pain. RESULTS: Comparing the bupivacaine group, time to achieve highest sensory level was significantly shorter in fentanyl group (*p < 0.05), while the duration of complete analgesia (time from injection to first report of pain) lasted significantly more longer in fentanyl group (184+/-20 minutes) than bupivacaine group (126+/-10 minutes). Duration of effective analgesia was also significantly more prolonged in fentanyl group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of side effects between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Addition of fentanyl to intrathecal bupivacaine results in faster onset with improved peri-operative anesthesia without increasing the side effects.