Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of S. Aureus Bacteremia in Patients Receiving Total Parenteral Nutrition.

Background: Patients on total parenteral nutrition (TPN) are at risk of developing central line-associated infections. Specifically, Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) is feared for its high complication rates. This prospective cohort study compares characteristics, clinical course and outcome of SAB in patients with and without TPN support. Methods: Clinical and microbiological data from all patients with positive blood cultures for S. aureus from two facilities, including our referral center for TPN support, were retrieved (period 2013-2020). Primary outcome was overall mortality, and included survival analysis using a multivariate Cox regression model. Secondary outcomes comprised a comparison of clinical characteristics and outcomes between both patient groups and analysis of factors associated with complicated outcome (e.g., endocarditis, deep-seated foci, relapse and death) in patients on TPN specifically. Results: A total of 620 SAB cases were analyzed, of which 53 cases received TPN at the moment the blood culture was taken. Patients in the TPN group were more frequently female, younger and had less comorbidity (p < 0.001). In-hospital death and overall mortality were significantly lower in TPN patients (4% vs. 18%, p = 0.004 and 10% vs. 34%, p < 0.001, respectively). Positive follow-up blood cultures, delayed onset of therapy and previous catheter problems were associated with a higher incidence of complicated SAB outcome in patients on TPN. Conclusion: Our data show that patients on TPN have a milder course of SAB with lower mortality rates compared to non-TPN SAB patients.

Do total parenteral nutrition and bowel rest reduce the risk for perforation in patients with gastrointestinal tract lymphoma receiving chemotherapy?

OBJECTIVES: Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) lymphoma is associated with a risk for perforation while the patient is receiving chemotherapy. The role of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and bowel rest in preventing perforation is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical outcomes of TPN and bowel rest in patients with GIT lymphoma who were receiving chemotherapy. METHODS: We reviewed all patients with GIT biopsy-proven lymphoma in our institution between 2013 and 2017. Patients were stratified into two groups, with and without TPN and bowel rest during chemotherapy. We identified 158 patients with GIT lymphoma. Of these, 47 (29.7%) received TPN and bowel rest before chemotherapy. Patients who received TPN were younger, more likely to have aggressive lymphoma in the small or large bowel. The primary outcome was to compare the perforation rate between the two groups. Secondary outcome analysis included infection rate and survival. RESULTS: Patients with perforation had significantly poorer survival. Perforation rate was similar between the TPN and the non-TPN groups (8.5% versus 2.7%, P = 0.197). Overall survival was similar between the two groups (P = 0.659). The TPN group had a higher infection rate (odds ratio, 5.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.36-20.8) after adjustment for covariates (age, types of lymphoma, and location of lymphoma). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrated that TPN and bowel rest did not reduce the risk for perforation among patients with GIT lymphoma who were receiving chemotherapy. As the practice of prophylactic TPN and bowel rest was associated with higher infection risk and longer hospitalization, we do not recommend such practice for all patients with GIT lymphoma receiving chemotherapy.

Influence of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids enriched lipid emulsions on nosocomial infections and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients: ICU lipids study.

OBJECTIVE: n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (contained in fish oil) have been shown to beneficially influence infection rate and clinical outcomes in surgical patients probably due to their immunomodulatory action. In contrast, study results of fish oil administration in critically ill patients are controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the prevalence of nosocomial infections and clinical outcomes in medical and surgical critically ill patients. DESIGN: Prospective, multicenter, randomized, comparative, double-blind study. SETTING: Seventeen Spanish ICUs during 4 years. SUBJECTS: A total of 159 medical and surgical intensive care patients with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score more than or equal to 13, expected to require total parenteral nutrition for at least 5 days. INTERVENTIONS: Patients received total parenteral nutrition prepared either with a lipid emulsion containing 10% fish oil or a fish oil-free lipid emulsion. The prevalence of nosocomial infections was detected during 28 days of ICU stay. Patients were followed 6 months after discharge from the ICU for length of hospital stay, hospital mortality, and 6-month mortality. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The number of patients with nosocomial infections was significantly reduced in the fish oil-receiving group (21.0% vs 37.2%, p = 0.035) and the predicted time free of infection was prolonged (21 ± 2 vs 16 ± 2 d, p = 0.03). No significant differences were detected for ICU, hospital, and 6-month mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that administration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduces the risk of nosocomial infections and increases the predicted time free of infections in critically ill medical and surgical patients. The administration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was safe and well tolerated.

Comparison between enteral nutrition and intravenous hyperalimentation in patients with eating disorders: results from the Japanese diagnosis procedure combination database.

OBJECTIVE: Eating disorders (EDs) are some of the most common chronic disorders in adolescent girls, and have some of the worst prognoses among psychiatric diseases. However, reported data on mortality and morbidity of ED patients are scarce, and no previous studies have compared the short-term outcomes of enteral nutrition (EN) and intravenous hyperalimentation (IVH) in patients with EDs. METHOD: Using the Diagnostic Procedure Combination database, a national inpatient database in Japan, we searched for ED patients who received EN or IVH. We investigated the backgrounds, complications, and in-hospital mortality for all ED patients. We compared the length of stay between the EN and IVH groups using the Cox regression model. In-hospital mortality was compared between the groups using propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting. RESULTS: We identified 3,611 patients with EDs from 540 hospitals. The mean body mass index was 13.1 ± 1.9 kg/m(2); 41 (1.1 %) patients died. The mean length of stay was 61.7 days. Compared with the EN-alone group (n = 634), the IVH-alone group (n = 278) showed significantly higher proportions of sepsis (0.5 vs. 5.8 %; p < 0.001) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (0.5 vs. 2.9 %; p = 0.005). The Cox regression showed no significant difference in hospital discharge between the two groups. Propensity-matched analysis evidenced lower in-hospital mortality in the EN group than the IVH group (0.4 vs. 3.0 %; p = 0.019). DISCUSSION: ED patients treated with IVH were significantly more likely to have higher in-hospital mortality and morbidity than those receiving EN.

The subjective global assessment predicts in-hospital mortality better than other nutrition-related risk indexes in noncritically ill inpatients who receive total parenteral nutrition in Spain (prospective multicenter study).

Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is associated with an increased risk of death and complications. The purpose of this study was to determine which nutrition-related risk index predicts mortality better in patients receiving total parenteral nutrition. This prospective, multicenter study involved noncritically ill patients who were prescribed total parenteral nutrition. Data were collected on Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), Nutritional Risk Index, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, body mass index, albumin and prealbumin, as well as in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and infectious complications. Of the 605 patients included in the study, 18.8% developed infectious complications and 9.6% died in the hospital. SGA, albumin, Nutritional Risk Index and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index were associated with longer hospital stay. Prealbumin levels were associated with infectious complications. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed (after adjustment for age, sex, C-reactive protein levels, mean blood glucose levels, use of corticoids, prior comorbidity, carbohydrates infused, diagnosis, and infectious complications) that the SGA, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, body mass index, albumin, and prealbumin were associated with an increased risk for in-hospital mortality. SGA was the tool that best predicted mortality and adequately discriminated the values of the other nutrition-related risk indexes studied. The SGA is a clinically effective and simple tool for nutrition assessment in noncritically ill patients receiving total parenteral nutrition and detects the risk of inpatient mortality better than others.

Surgical versus nonsurgical management of traumatic major pancreatic duct transection: institutional experience and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to review the literature, report our experience, and compare operative versus nonoperative management of patients with major pancreatic duct transection (MPDT) from blunt trauma. METHODS: We compare the outcome of 39 patients reported in the literature who had surgical management (S group) with 12 patients who were conservatively managed with combined expectant and image-guided percutaneous procedures (NS group). We also review the surgical and nonsurgical management of 7 patients with MPDT treated in the past 12 years at our center (Louisiana Series [LS] group). RESULTS: Age at time of injury and complication and fistula formation rates were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Total parental nutrition was administered in 10.3% of patients in the S group and 66.7% in the NS group (P = 0.0003). The NS group required longer hospitalization compared with the S group (P = 0.005). The LS group length of stay was significantly shorter than that of the NS group (P = 0.04). Although some centers kept their patient with nonsurgical management as inpatient until the drain was removed, LS patients were discharged home with the drain. CONCLUSIONS: Both operative and nonoperative approaches for management of MPDT from blunt trauma can be entertained successfully with similar complication rates. The management of these patients should be individualized based on their clinical condition.

Protective effect of parenteral glutamine supplementation on hepatic function in very low birth weight infants.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatic dysfunction is one of the most frequent complications of parenteral nutrition. Very low birth weight (VLBW) infants are more sensitive to liver injury due to physiological immaturity. Our studies in animals showed that glutamine supplementation could attenuate TPN-associated liver injury. The aim of study was to investigate whether parenteral glutamine supplementation can improve hepatic tolerance in VLBW infants. METHODS: We performed a double-blind, randomized, and controlled clinical study to investigate whether parenteral glutamine supplementation can improve hepatic tolerance in VLBW infants. Thirty VLBW infants at two children's centers were randomly assigned to either a control group or a glutamine-supplemented group. The primary endpoints were hepatic function and mortality. The secondary endpoints were the time to achieve full enteral nutrition, episodes of gastric residuals, duration of parenteral nutrition, weight and head circumference gain, length of hospitalization, and days on ventilator. RESULTS: The serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (Tbi) were decreased after PN in the glutamine-supplemented group (P < 0.05). No deaths occurred in this study. Four infants assigned to the control group and two infants in the glutamine-supplemented group were withdrawn from the study, according to intention to treat: relative risk [RR]: 1.182; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.937-1.490. CONCLUSIONS: Parenteral glutamine supplementation can improve hepatic tolerance in very low birth weight infant, suggesting a hepato-protective effect.

Total enteral nutrition in prevention of pancreatic necrotic infection in severe acute pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of total enteral nutrition and total parenteral nutrition in prevention of pancreatic necrotic infection in severe acute pancreatitis. METHODS: One hundred seven patients were enrolled in the study between 2003 and 2007. In the first week of hospitalization, they were randomized to feeding by either total parenteral nutrition (54 patients) or total enteral nutrition (53 patients). All patients were concomitantly administered with sufficient prophylactic antibiotics. Computed tomographic scan and C-reactive protein level indicated a similar clinical severity in both groups. RESULTS: Eighty percent of the patients developed organ failure in the group with total parenteral nutrition, which was higher than that in the group with total enteral nutrition (21%). Eighty percent and 22% (P < 0.05) of the patients in the total parenteral nutrition and total enteral nutrition groups, respectively, underwent surgical intervention. The incidence of pancreatic septic necroses in the group with total enteral nutrition (23%) was lower than that in the group with total parenteral nutrition (72%, P < 0.05). Mortality in the total parenteral nutrition group (43%) was higher than in the total enteral nutrition group (11%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Total enteral nutrition is better than total parenteral nutrition in the prevention of pancreatic necrotic infection in severe acute pancreatitis.

Hyperglycemia during total parenteral nutrition: an important marker of poor outcome and mortality in hospitalized patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of total parenteral nutrition (TPN)-induced hyperglycemia on hospital outcome. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The study determined whether blood glucose values before, within 24 h, and during days 2-10 of TPN are predictive of hospital complications and mortality. RESULTS: Subjects included a total of 276 patients receiving TPN for a mean duration of 15 +/- 24 days (+/-SD). In multiple regression models adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes status, mortality was independently predicted by pre-TPN blood glucose of 121-150 mg/dl (odds ratio [OR] 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.4, P = 0.030), 151-180 mg/dl (3.41, 1.3-8.7, P = 0.01), and >180 mg/dl (2.2, 0.9-5.2, P = 0.077) and by blood glucose within 24 h of >180 mg/dl (2.8, 1.2-6.8, P = 0.020). A blood glucose within 24 h of >180 mg/dl was associated with increased risk of pneumonia (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.4-7.1) and acute renal failure (2.3, 1.1-5.0). CONCLUSIONS: Hyperglycemia is associated with increased hospital complications and mortality in patients receiving TPN.

Current practice in nutritional support and its association with mortality in septic patients--results from a national, prospective, multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify current clinical practice regarding nutrition and its association with morbidity and mortality in patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in Germany. DESIGN: Nationwide prospective, observational, cross-sectional, 1-day point-prevalence study. SETTING: The study included 454 intensive care units from a representative sample of 310 hospitals stratified by size. PATIENTS: Participants were 415 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock (according to criteria of the American College of Chest Physicians/Society of Critical Care Medicine Consensus Conference). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data were collected by on-site audits of trained external study physicians during randomly scheduled visits during 1 yr. Valid data on nutrition were available for 399 of 415 patients. The data showed that 20.1% of patients received exclusively enteral nutrition, 35.1% exclusively parenteral nutrition, and 34.6% mixed nutrition (parenteral and enteral); 10.3% were not fed at all. Patients with gastrointestinal/intra-abdominal infection, pancreatitis or neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract, mechanical ventilation, or septic shock were less likely to receive exclusively enteral nutrition. Median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment scores were significantly different among the nutrition groups. Overall hospital mortality was 55.2%. Hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients receiving exclusively parenteral (62.3%) or mixed nutrition (57.1%) than in patients with exclusively enteral nutrition (38.9%) (p = .005). After adjustment for patient morbidity (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, presence of septic shock) and treatment factors (mechanical ventilation), multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of parenteral nutrition was significantly predictive of mortality (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.29-3.37). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in German intensive care units received preferentially parenteral or mixed nutrition. The use of parenteral nutrition was associated with an increased risk of death.

Case-control comparison of at-home and hospital care for allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation: the role of oral nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was reduced using home care compared with hospital care after allogeneic hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). METHODS: Between March 1998 and December 2006, 601 patients underwent ASCT at our unit. Requirements for at-home ASCT were fulfilled by 76 patients. A control group of 76 patients treated in the hospital were matched for age, sex, diagnosis, stage of disease, conditioning, stem-cell source, type of donor, and immunosuppression. Oral nutrition was determined as median kcal/kg/day for the first 21 days after ASCT. RESULTS: The home-care patients received more oral nutrition per day than hospital controls (P<0.05). Number of days at home correlated with oral nutrition (P=0.004). In multivariate analysis, acute GVHD of grades II to IV was associated with poor oral nutrition (P=0.003) and hospital care (P=0.06). Transplant-related mortality was associated with acute GVHD grades II to IV (P<0.0001) and bacteremia (P=0.004). In addition to acute GVHD and bacteremia, death was associated with absence of chronic GVHD (P=0.012). Five-year survival was 65% in patients treated at home, when compared with 47% in the controls (P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Better oral nutrition may be one reason for the reduced probability of acute GVHD and better survival with at-home care than with hospital care.

Small intestine transplantation today.

INTRODUCTION: Intestinal transplantation has become a life-saving therapy in patients with irreversible loss of intestinal function and complications of total parenteral nutrition. DISCUSSION: The patient and graft survival rates have improved over the last years, especially after the introduction of tacrolimus and rapamycin. However, intestinal transplantation is more challenging than other types of solid organ transplantation due to its large amount of immune competent cells and its colonization with microorganisms. Moreover, intestinal transplantation is still a low volume procedure with a small number of transplanted patients especially in Germany. A current matter of concern is the late referral of intestinal transplant candidates. CONCLUSION: Thus, patients often present after onset of life-threatening complications or advanced cholestatic liver disease. Earlier timing of referral for candidacy might result in further improvement of this technique in the near future.

Evaluation of complications and prognostic factors associated with administration of total parenteral nutrition in cats: 75 cases (1994-2001).

OBJECTIVE: To determine frequency and types of complications, prognostic factors, and primary diseases affecting clinical outcome associated with administration of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 75 cats that received TPN for > or = 12 hours. PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed, and information was obtained on signalment, history, problems at initial evaluation, physical examination findings, weight and changes in weight while receiving TPN, duration in the hospital before initiation of TPN, the type of TPN catheter used, duration of TPN administration, and final diagnosis. Laboratory results obtained immediately prior to TPN and at 24 and 96 hours following initiation of TPN administration were compared. RESULTS: Reports of weight loss at initial evaluation, hyperglycemia at 24 hours, or diagnosis of chronic renal failure were significantly associated with increased mortality rate. Greater serum albumin concentrations prior to and at 96 hours following TPN administration were significantly associated with decreased mortality rate. Mechanical and septic complications were infrequent and not associated with increased mortality rate. Most cats had multiple diseases. The overall mortality rate was 52%; among 75 cats, 36 recovered, 23 were euthanatized, and 16 died as a result of their primary illness or complications associated with their illness. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated high mortality rate in cats maintained onTPN that had multiple concurrent diseases associated with a poor prognosis. Indicators of poor prognosis included a history of weight loss, hyperglycemia at 24 hours following TPN administration, hypoalbuminemia, and chronic renal failure.