Predictors of early and long-term mortality after ICU discharge in critically ill COVID-19 patients: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To mitigate mortality among critically ill COVID-19 patients, both during their Intensive Care Unit (ICU) stay and following ICU discharge, it is crucial to measure its frequency, identify predictors and to establish an appropriate post-ICU follow-up strategy. METHODS: In this multicentre, prospective cohort study, we included 586 critically ill COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: We observed an overall ICU mortality of 20.1% [95%CI: 17.1% to 23.6%] (118/586) and an overall hospital mortality of 25.4% [95%CI: 22.1% to 29.1%] (149/586). For ICU survivors, 30 days (early) post-ICU mortality was 5.3% [95%CI: 3.6% to 7.8%] (25/468) and one-year (late) post-ICU mortality was 7.9% [95%CI: 5.8% to 10.8%] (37/468). Pre-existing conditions/comorbidities were identified as the main independent predictors of mortality after ICU discharge: hypertension and heart failure were independent predictors of early mortality; and hypertension, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer were independent predictors of late mortality. CONCLUSION: Early and late post-ICU mortality exhibited an initial surge (in the first 30 days post-ICU) followed by a subsequent decline over time. Close monitoring of critically ill COVID-19 post-ICU survivors, especially those with pre-existing conditions, is crucial to prevent adverse outcomes, reduce mortality and to establish an appropriate follow-up strategy.

O que mudou entre os períodos de pico e de platô durante a primeira onda do SARS-CoV-2? Estudo multicêntrico português em unidades de cuidados intensivos / What changed between the peak and plateau periods of the first COVID-19 pandemic wave? A multicentric Portuguese cohort study in intensive care

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar e comparar as características de pacientes críticos com a COVID-19, a abordagem clínica e os resultados entre os períodos de pico e de platô na primeira onda pandêmica em Portugal. Métodos: Este foi um estudo de coorte multicêntrico ambispectivo, que incluiu pacientes consecutivos com a forma grave da COVID-19 entre março e agosto de 2020 de 16 unidades de terapia intensiva portuguesas. Definiram-se as semanas 10 - 16 e 17 - 34 como os períodos de pico e platô. Resultados: Incluíram-se 541 pacientes adultos com mediana de idade de 65 [57 - 74] anos, a maioria do sexo masculino (71,2%). Não houve diferenças significativas na mediana de idade (p = 0,3), no Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (40 versus 39; p = 0,8), na pressão parcial de oxigênio/fração inspirada de oxigênio (139 versus 136; p = 0,6), na terapia com antibióticos na admissão (57% versus 64%; p = 0,2) ou na mortalidade aos 28 dias (24,4% versus 22,8%; p = 0,7) entre o período de pico e platô. Durante o período de pico, os pacientes tiveram menos comorbidades (1 [0 - 3] versus 2 [0 - 5]; p = 0,002); fizeram mais uso de vasopressores (47% versus 36%; p < 0,001) e ventilação mecânica invasiva na admissão (58,1% versus 49,2%; p < 0,001), e tiveram mais prescrição de hidroxicloroquina (59% versus 10%; p < 0,001), lopinavir/ritonavir (41% versus 10%; p < 0,001) e posição prona (45% versus 36%; p = 0,04). Entretanto, durante o platô, observou-se maior uso de cânulas nasais de alto fluxo (5% versus 16%; p < 0,001) na admissão, remdesivir (0,3% versus 15%; p < 0,001) e corticosteroides (29% versus 52%; p < 0,001), além de menor tempo de internação na unidade de terapia intensiva (12 versus 8 dias; p < 0,001). Conclusão: Houve mudanças significativas nas comorbidades dos pacientes, nos tratamentos da unidade de terapia intensiva e no tempo de internação entre os períodos de pico e platô na primeira onda da COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze and compare COVID-19 patient characteristics, clinical management and outcomes between the peak and plateau periods of the first pandemic wave in Portugal. Methods: This was a multicentric ambispective cohort study including consecutive severe COVID-19 patients between March and August 2020 from 16 Portuguese intensive care units. The peak and plateau periods, respectively, weeks 10 - 16 and 17 - 34, were defined. Results: Five hundred forty-one adult patients with a median age of 65 [57 - 74] years, mostly male (71.2%), were included. There were no significant differences in median age (p = 0.3), Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (40 versus 39; p = 0.8), partial arterial oxygen pressure/fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (139 versus 136; p = 0.6), antibiotic therapy (57% versus 64%; p = 0.2) at admission, or 28-day mortality (24.4% versus 22.8%; p = 0.7) between the peak and plateau periods. During the peak period, patients had fewer comorbidities (1 [0 - 3] versus 2 [0 - 5]; p = 0.002) and presented a higher use of vasopressors (47% versus 36%; p < 0.001) and invasive mechanical ventilation (58.1 versus 49.2%; p < 0.001) at admission, prone positioning (45% versus 36%; p = 0.04), and hydroxychloroquine (59% versus 10%; p < 0.001) and lopinavir/ritonavir (41% versus 10%; p < 0.001) prescriptions. However, a greater use of high-flow nasal cannulas (5% versus 16%, p < 0.001) on admission, remdesivir (0.3% versus 15%; p < 0.001) and corticosteroid (29% versus 52%, p < 0.001) therapy, and a shorter ICU length of stay (12 days versus 8, p < 0.001) were observed during the plateau. Conclusion: There were significant changes in patient comorbidities, intensive care unit therapies and length of stay between the peak and plateau periods of the first COVID-19 wave.

Taxus baccata intoxication: the sun after the electrical storm. / Intoxicação por Taxus baccata: sol após a tempestade elétrica.

European yew (Taxus baccata) is a tree with alternate branchlets, green needles and reddish-brown bark. A high-dose ingestion of Taxus baccata for suicidal purposes usually results in death. The systemic toxicity is mainly cardiac. The authors describe the case of a young patient who ingested a high dose of yew needles and presented to the emergency department with a serious intoxication, which manifested as a chaotic malignant arrhythmia that was successfully treated after exhaustive supportive care.

O teixo europeu (Taxus baccata) é uma árvore com pequenos ramos alternados, agulhas verdes e casca marrom-avermelhada. A ingestão de uma alta dose de Taxus baccata com intenção suicida geralmente resulta em morte. A toxicidade sistêmica é principalmente cardíaca. Os autores descrevem o caso de uma jovem paciente que ingeriu uma alta dose de agulhas de teixo e foi trazida ao pronto-socorro com intoxicação grave, manifestada por arritmias malignas caóticas, tratadas com sucesso após exaustivos cuidados de suporte.

Intoxicação por Taxus baccata: sol após a tempestade elétrica / Taxus baccata intoxication: the sun after the electrical storm

RESUMO O teixo europeu (Taxus baccata) é uma árvore com pequenos ramos alternados, agulhas verdes e casca marrom-avermelhada. A ingestão de uma alta dose de Taxus baccata com intenção suicida geralmente resulta em morte. A toxicidade sistêmica é principalmente cardíaca. Os autores descrevem o caso de uma jovem paciente que ingeriu uma alta dose de agulhas de teixo e foi trazida ao pronto-socorro com intoxicação grave, manifestada por arritmias malignas caóticas, tratadas com sucesso após exaustivos cuidados de suporte.

ABSTRACT European yew (Taxus baccata) is a tree with alternate branchlets, green needles and reddish-brown bark. A high-dose ingestion of Taxus baccata for suicidal purposes usually results in death. The systemic toxicity is mainly cardiac. The authors describe the case of a young patient who ingested a high dose of yew needles and presented to the emergency department with a serious intoxication, which manifested as a chaotic malignant arrhythmia that was successfully treated after exhaustive supportive care.

Deep neck space infection and Lemierre's syndrome caused by Streptococcus anginosus: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Deep neck space infections most commonly arise from a septic focus of the mandibular teeth, tonsils, parotid gland, middle ear or sinuses, usually with a rapid onset and frequently with progression to life-threatening complications. Lemierre's syndrome is classically defined by an oropharyngeal infection with internal jugular vein thrombosis followed by metastatic infections in other organs. CASE PRESENTATION: A 32-year-old female patient, with no significant past medical history, was diagnosed with a dental abscess on her left inferior 3rd molar. Six days later, the condition complicated with severe upper respiratory distress, odynophagia and trismus, and extension of the inflammatory signs to the anterior cervical region, involving the upper airway. Computed tomography scan confirmed extension to submandibular, parapharyngeal and retrosternal spaces), which required nasotracheal intubation due to compromised airway. Urgent and subsequent surgical drainages were performed, alongside with concomitant antibiotic therapy. Additionally, left internal jugular vein thrombosis was described - with later extension to the brachiocephalic vein, without other complications, consistent with Lemierre's syndrome, although without full features. Streptococcus anginosus was identified in the drained pus specimens. The patient made a satisfactory clinical progress and was discharged after 25 days, still under therapeutic hypocoagulation. CONCLUSION: As deep neck space infections can be life-threatening, clinicians must be aware and not underestimate their potential severity. Lemierre's syndrome is a complication difficult to recognize, which requires additional awareness of the many possible presentations, for appropriate diagnostic studies and therapeutic plan.

Donor-derived fatal hyperinfection strongyloidiasis in renal transplant recipient.

Strongyloides stercoralis is a nematode, endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. Strongyloidiasis has been reported in recipients of hematopoietic stem cells, kidney, liver, heart, intestine, and pancreas, eventually presenting as disseminated strongyloidiasis and hyperinfection syndrome (SHS) which is associated with high mortality. We report one case of a recent renal transplant recipient, who presented with gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, evolving into shock. The identification of Strongyloides stercoralis in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) lead us to the diagnosis of SHS. Treatment with subcutaneous ivermectin was started, however the patient did not survive. Retrospective serum donor analysis allowed us to identify the donor as the source of infection.

Hyponatremic Coma after Bowel Preparation.

INTRODUCTION: Colonoscopy is a useful tool in modern medicine and is increasingly employed for both diagnostic and treatment purposes. However, bowel preparations can cause electrolyte imbalance, with the risk apparently related to the type of bowel cleansing solution used, the age of the patient and their comorbidities. Symptomatic hyponatremia, especially coma, is a rare complication of oral bowel preparation for colonoscopy and is thought to result from excessive antidiuretic hormone secretion. CASE DESCRIPTION: The authors report the case of a 48-year-old man who developed symptomatic hyponatremia (coma) after bowel preparation with sodium picosulfate/magnesium oxide/citric acid prior to a colonoscopy. The patient was admitted to an intensive care unit where other causes of coma were excluded. The symptoms of hyponatremia rapidly resolved after sodium level correction with intravenous administration of hypertonic saline. DISCUSSION: Hyponatremic coma is an uncommon but serious complication of colonoscopy bowel preparation. Patients at risk (>65 years old, chronic kidney disease, heart failure, history of electrolyte problems, or taking thiazide diuretics, angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitors or antidepressants) should be closely monitored during bowel cleansing and macrogol-based solutions should preferably be used. LEARNING POINTS: The association between coma and hyponatremia should be kept in mind when patients undergo bowel preparation, especially if they have chronic kidney disease, heart failure, a history of electrolyte problems or are taking diuretics or antidepressants.Patients should be closely monitored (and their metabolic profile checked before bowel cleansing) and a low threshold maintained for investigation and treatment initiation in case of symptom development.Medications with the potential to cause fluid and electrolytes disturbances such as diuretics and antidepressants should be stopped or reduced in dose while the patient is undergoing bowel preparation.

Desfechos psicológicos em longo prazo após alta da terapia intensiva / Long-term psychological outcome after discharge from intensive care

RESUMO Objetivo: Investigar o desfecho psicológico em longo prazo em sobreviventes de doenças críticas, após alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Avaliou-se coorte prospectiva de pacientes sobreviventes após admissão a uma unidade de terapia intensiva mista entre janeiro e setembro de 2010, 6 meses e 5 anos após a alta hospitalar. Aplicaram-se em todos os momentos as seguintes escalas: Dementia Rating Scale-2, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome 14-Questions Inventory, Euro Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5-D) e Visual Analogue Scale (EQ VAS). Resultados: Dentre 267 pacientes, 25 foram avaliados após 6 meses (idade: 62 ± 16 anos). Aos 6 meses, 48% apresentavam comprometimento cognitivo; 24% ansiedade, 16% depressão e 16% transtorno de estresse pós-traumático. Foram reavaliados 5 anos após a alta 17 pacientes, com idade: 65 ± 15 anos. Dentre eles, a frequência de comprometimento cognitivo caiu de 47% para 18% (p = 0,063), em razão da melhora destes pacientes ao longo do tempo e do não surgimento desta condição em outros pacientes após a alta. Ainda após 5 anos, apenas 12% da amostra relatou ansiedade, e nenhum tinha depressão ou transtorno de estresse pós-traumático. Não se encontraram diferenças em termos das escalas EQ-5-D e EQ VAS entre as avaliações após 6 meses e 5 anos. Conclusão: Os sobreviventes não apresentaram declínio progressivo da função cognitiva ou da qualidade de vida dentro de 5 anos após a alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. Os sintomas psicopatológicos tenderam a diminuir com o tempo.

ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the longterm psychological outcome in survivors of critical illness after intensive care unit discharge. Methods: A prospective cohort of survivors admitted to a mixed intensive care unit between January and September 2010 was evaluated six months and five years after hospital discharge. The Dementia Rating Scale-2, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Posttraumatic stress syndrome 14-questions inventory, the Euro Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5-D), and the Visual Analogue Scale (EQ VAS) were assessed at both follow-up periods. Results: Of 267 patients, 25 patients were evaluated at 6 months after discharge (62 ± 16 years); 12 (48%) presented cognitive impairment, 6 (24%) anxiety, 4 (16%) depression, and 4 (16%) post-traumatic stress disorder. Among those re-evaluated five years after discharge (n = 17; 65 ± 15 years), the frequency of cognitive impairment dropped from 8 (47%) to 3 (18%) (p = 0.063), due to improvement in these patients over time, and other patients did not acquire any dysfunction after discharge. At five years after discharge, only two patients (12%) reported anxiety, and none had depression or post-traumatic stress disorder. No differences were found between the six-month and five-year follow-ups regarding EQ-5-D and EQ VAS. Conclusion: Survivors do not show a progressive decline in cognitive function or quality of life within five years after intensive care unit discharge. Psychopathological symptoms tend to decrease with time.

The Role of Noninvasive Ventilation in Patients with "Do Not Intubate" Order in the Emergency Setting.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) is being used increasingly in patients who have a "do not intubate" (DNI) order. However, the impact of NIV on the clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the emergency setting is not known, nor is its effectiveness for relieving symptoms in end-of-life care. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the outcome and HRQOL impact of regular use of NIV outcomes on patients with a DNI order who were admitted to the emergency room department (ED). METHODS: Eligible for participation were DNI-status patients who receive NIV for acute or acute-on-chronic respiratory failure when admitted to the ED of a tertiary care, university-affiliated, 600-bed hospital between January 2014 and December 2014. Patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) those whose DNI order related to a decision to withhold therapy and (2) those for whom any treatment, including NIV, was provided for symptom relief only. HRQOL was evaluated only in group 1, using the 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12). Long-term outcome was evaluated 90 days after hospital discharge by means of a telephone interview. RESULTS: During the study period 1727 patients were admitted to the ED, 243 were submitted to NIV and 70 (29%) were included in the study. Twenty-nine (41%) of the 70 enrollees received NIV for symptom relief only (group2). Active cancer [7% vs 35%, p = 0,004] and neuromuscular diseases [0% vs. 17%] were more prevalent in this group. NIV was stopped in 59% of the patients in group 2 due to lake of clinical benefit. The in-hospital mortality rate was 37% for group 1 and 86% for group 2 0,001). Among patients who were discharged from hospital, 23% of the group 1 and all patients in group 2 died within 90 days. Relative to baseline, no significant decline in HRQOL occurred in group 1 by 90 days postdischarge. CONCLUSION: The survival rate was 49% among DNI-status patients for whom NIV was used as a treatment in ED, and these patients did not experience a decline in HRQOL throughout the study. NIV did not provide significant relief of symptoms in more than half the patients who receive it for that purpose.

Eosinophilic pneumonia presenting as life-threatening ARDS.

We present a case of a 25-year-old woman with sudden onset of shortness of breath, cough and malaise, 24 h after discharge from a psychiatric hospital. She had been there for 2 weeks after a suicide attempt with lye, and started treatment with paroxetin, alprazolam and valproic acid. She also started smoking 20 cigarettes/day during that hospital admission. Brought to the emergency department, she evolved in the first 24 h with respiratory failure and shock needing intensive care unit (ICU) admission, with mechanical ventilation and vasopressor support. Empiric antibiotic therapy was started (piperacillin-tazobactam and azithromycin) suspecting healthcare-associated pneumonia. The patient's chest radiography progressed with bilateral infiltrates. Peripheral blood eosinophilia was seen on the second day. A bronchoalveolar lavage was performed and had 50% of eosinophils. She was started on treatment with steroids and the next day no longer needed vasopressors; 4 days later she was extubated.

Pattern of Maxillofacial Fractures in Severe Multiple Trauma Patients: A 7-year Prospective Study

The incidence of facial trauma is high. This study has the primary objective of documenting and cataloging maxillofacial fractures in polytrauma patients. From a total of 1229 multiple trauma cases treated at the Emergency Room of the Santo Antonio Hospital - Oporto Hospital Center, Portugal, between August 2001 and December 2007, 251 patients had facial wounds and 209 had maxillofacial fractures. Aged ranged form 13 to 86 years. The applied selective method was based on the presence of facial wound with Abbreviated Injury Scale ≥1. Men had a higher incidence of maxillofacial fractures among multiple trauma patients (86.6%) and road traffic accidents were the primary cause of injuries (69.38%). Nasoorbitoethmoid complex was the most affected region (67.46%) followed by the maxilla (57.42%). The pattern and presentation of maxillofacial fractures had been studied in many parts of the world with varying results. Severe multiple trauma patients had different patterns of maxillofacial injuries. The number of maxillofacial trauma is on the rise worldwide as well as the incidence of associated sequelae. Maxillofacial fractures on multiple trauma patients were more frequent among males and in road traffic crashes. Knowing such data is elementary. The society should have a key role in the awareness of individuals and in prevention of road traffic accidents.

É alta a incidência de traumas na face. Este estudo teve por objetivo documentar e catalogar as fraturas maxilofaciais em pacientes com politraumatismos. De um total de 1229 casos de politraumatizados tratados na Sala de Emergência do Hospital de Santo António - Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Portugal, entre Agosto de 2001 e Dezembro de 2007, 251 pacientes tiveram ferimentos na face e 209 apresentaram fraturas maxilofaciais. As idades variaram de 13 a 86 anos. O método de seleção baseou-se na presença de ferimentos na face com Abreviated Injury Scale ≥1. Os homens apresentaram maior incidência de fraturas maxilofaciais (86,6%) entre os pacientes com múltiplos traumatismos na face e os acidentes de trânsito foram a causa principal dos traumatismos (69,38%). A região mais afetada foi o complexo naso-órbito-etmoidal (67,46%), seguido pela maxila (57,42%). O padrão e a apresentação das fraturas maxilofaciais tem sido estudado em muitas regiões do mundo com resultados variados. Pacientes com politraumatizados graves apresentaram padrões diferentes de traumatismos maxilofaciais. O número de traumatismos maxilofaciais tem aumentado à escala mundial, assim como a incidência das sequelas associadas. Entre os pacientes com traumatismos múltiplos, a maioria pertencia ao sexo masculino, assim como a causa mais frequente foram os acidentes automobilísticos. É elementar o conhecimento destes dados. A sociedade tem um papel primordial nos cuidados individuais e na prevenção dos acidentes de trânsito.

Classification of healthcare-associated infection: a systematic review 10 years after the first proposal.

BACKGROUND: Ten years after the first proposal, a consensus definition of healthcare-associated infection (HCAI) has not been reached, preventing the development of specific treatment recommendations. A systematic review of all definitions of HCAI used in clinical studies is made. METHODS: The search strategy focused on an HCAI definition. MEDLINE, SCOPUS and ISI Web of Knowledge were searched for articles published from earliest achievable data until November 2012. Abstracts from scientific meetings were searched for relevant abstracts along with a manual search of references from reports, earlier reviews and retrieved studies. RESULTS: The search retrieved 49,405 references: 15,311 were duplicates and 33,828 were excluded based on title and abstract. Of the remaining 266, 43 met the inclusion criteria. The definition more frequently used was the initial proposed in 2002--in infection present at hospital admission or within 48 hours of admission in patients that fulfilled any of the following criteria: received intravenous therapy at home, wound care or specialized nursing care in the previous 30 days; attended a hospital or hemodialysis clinic or received intravenous chemotherapy in the previous 30 days; were hospitalized in an acute care hospital for ≥2 days in the previous 90 days, resided in a nursing home or long-term care facility. Additional criteria founded in other studies were: immunosuppression, active or metastatic cancer, previous radiation therapy, transfer from another care facility, elderly or physically disabled persons who need healthcare, previous submission to invasive procedures, surgery performed in the last 180 days, family member with a multi-drug resistant microorganism and recent treatment with antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the evidence gathered we conclude that the definition initially proposed is widely accepted. In a future revision, recent invasive procedures, hospitalization in the last year or previous antibiotic treatment should be considered for inclusion in the definition. The role of immunosuppression in the definition of HCAI still requires ongoing discussion.

Predisposition, insult/infection, response and organ dysfunction (PIRO): a pilot clinical staging system for hospital mortality in patients with infection.

PURPOSE: To develop a clinical staging system based on the PIRO concept (Predisposition, Infection, RESPONSE and Organ dysfunction) for hospitalized patients with infection. METHODS: One year prospective cohort study of all hospitalized patients with infection (n = 1035), admitted into a large tertiary care, university hospital. Variables associated with hospital mortality were selected using logistic regressions. Based on the regression coefficients, a score for each PIRO component was developed and a classification tree was used to stratify patients into four stages of increased risk of hospital mortality. The final clinical staging system was then validated using an independent cohort (n = 186). RESULTS: Factors significantly associated with hospital mortality were • for Predisposition: age, sex, previous antibiotic therapy, chronic hepatic disease, chronic hematologic disease, cancer, atherosclerosis and a Karnofsky index<70; • for Insult/Infection: type of infection • for RESPONSE: abnormal temperature, tachypnea, hyperglycemia and severity of infection and • for Organ dysfunction: hypotension and SOFA score≥1. The area under the ROC curve (CI95%) for the combined PIRO model as a predictor for mortality was 0.85 (0.82-0.88). Based on the scores for each of the PIRO components and on the cut-offs estimated from the classification tree, patients were stratified into four stages of increased mortality rates: stage I: ≤5%, stage II: 6-20%, stage III: 21-50% and stage IV: >50%. Finally, this new clinical staging system was studied in a validation cohort, which provided similar results (0%, 9%, 31% and 67%, in each stage, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the PIRO concept, a new clinical staging system was developed for hospitalized patients with infection, allowing stratification into four stages of increased mortality, using the different scores obtained in Predisposition, RESPONSE, Infection and Organ dysfunction. The proposed system will likely help to define inclusion criteria in clinical trials as well as tailoring individual management plans for patients with infection.

Thyroid storm and arrhythmic storm: a potentially fatal combination.

Thyroid storm is a rare clinical emergency with a mortality rate between 20% and 30%. Cardiac arrhythmias associated with thyrotoxicosis are usually supraventricular. Ventricular arrhythmias are rarely associated with this entity and tend to occur in patients with intrinsic cardiac disease. We present a 35-year-old woman with Graves disease and a thyroid storm manifested with multiple malignant dysrhythmic episodes, without underlying cardiac disease. The mechanism for ventricular arrhythmia is not clear but seems to be due to the increased myocardial excitability directly caused by the thyroid hormones. The presence of myocarditis lesions may constitute an arrhythmogenic substratum and contribute further to this manifestation. This case emphasizes the importance of cardiac monitoring in patients with thyroid storm.

The impact of healthcare-associated infection on mortality: failure in clinical recognition is related with inadequate antibiotic therapy.

PURPOSE: To understand if clinicians can tell apart patients with healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) from those with community-acquired infections (CAI) and to determine the impact of HCAI in the adequacy of initial antibiotic therapy and hospital mortality. METHODS: One-year prospective cohort study including all consecutive infected patients admitted to a large university tertiary care hospital. RESULTS: A total of 1035 patients were included in this study. There were 718 patients admitted from the community: 225 (31%) with HCAI and 493 (69%) with CAI. Total microbiologic documentation rate of infection was 68% (n = 703): 56% in CAI, 73% in HCAI and 83% in hospital-acquired infections (HAI). Antibiotic therapy was inadequate in 27% of patients with HCAI vs. 14% of patients with CAI (p<0.001). Among patients with HCAI, 47% received antibiotic therapy in accordance with international recommendations for treatment of CAI. Antibiotic therapy was inadequate in 36% of patients with HCAI whose treatment followed international recommendations for CAI vs. 19% in the group of HCAI patients whose treatment did not follow these guidelines (p = 0.014). Variables independently associated with inadequate antibiotic therapy were: decreased functional capacity (adjusted OR = 2.24), HCAI (adjusted OR = 2.09) and HAI (adjusted OR = 2.24). Variables independently associated with higher hospital mortality were: age (adjusted OR = 1.05, per year), severe sepsis (adjusted OR = 1.92), septic shock (adjusted OR = 8.13) and inadequate antibiotic therapy (adjusted OR = 1.99). CONCLUSIONS: HCAI was associated with an increased rate of inadequate antibiotic therapy but not with a significant increase in hospital mortality. Clinicians need to be aware of healthcare-associated infections among the group of infected patients arriving from the community since the existing guidelines regarding antibiotic therapy do not apply to this group and they will otherwise receive inadequate antibiotic therapy which will have a negative impact on hospital outcome.