Analysis of prognostic factors in critically ill patients with COVID-19.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global health crisis. Mortality predictors in critically ill patients remain under investigation. A retrospective cohort study included 201 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19. Data on demographic characteristics, laboratory findings, and mortality were collected. Logistic regression analysis was conducted with various independent variables, including demographic characteristics, clinical factors, and treatment methods. The study aimed to identify key risk factors associated with mortality in an ICU. In an investigation of 201 patients comprising non-survivors (n = 80, 40%) and Survivors (n = 121, 60%), we identified several markers significantly associated with ICU mortality. Lower Interleukin 6 and White Blood Cells levels at both 24- and 48-hours post-ICU admission emerged as significant indicators of survival. The study employed logistic regression analysis to evaluate risk factors for in-ICU mortality. Analysis results revealed that demographic and clinical factors, including gender, age, and comorbidities, were not significant predictors of in-ICU mortality. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was significantly higher in Survivors, and the use of antibiotics showed a significant association with increased mortality risk in the multivariate model (OR: 11.2, p = 0.031). Our study underscores the significance of monitoring Il-6 and WBC levels within 48 hours of ICU admission, potentially influencing COVID-19 patient outcomes. These insights may reshape therapeutic strategies and ICU protocols for critically ill patients.

Implementation of a ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention bundle in a teaching hospital / Implementação de um bundle de prevenção de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica em um hospital universitário / Implementación de un paquete de prevención de neumonía asociada a ventilador en un hospital escuela

Background and objectives: the implementation of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention bundles in Intensive Care Units (ICU) has been recommended due to the considerable increase in hospital costs, length of stay, morbidity and mortality in affected hospitalized patients. However, the results of its effectiveness are still controversial. This study aimed to assess the impact of implementing a VAP prevention bundle in an Adult ICU of a university hospital. Methods: a quasi-experimental study, with implementation of a VAP prevention bundle in an Adult ICU and analysis of indicators. This study addressed secondary data from hospital records recommended in the routine of the Hospital Infection Control Commission team and from the medical records of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, from June 2016 to July 2019, who developed VAP. Results: VAP incidence density before the intervention was 4.13 infections, and after the intervention, it was 7.15 infections per thousand patients on ventilation/day. When performing the linear regression test, we showed that VAP density decreased as sedation was reduced, extubation was increased, and when compliance with all bundle elements occurred. Conclusion: there was no reduction in VAP incidence after the adoption of preventive measures, perhaps due to an underreporting of cases in the period prior to the bundle and a low team compliance with the bundle components. However, we noticed a decrease in VAP notifications after the eighth month of implementation of bundle of measures.(AU)

Justificativa e objetivos: a implementação de bundles de prevenção de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica (PAV) em Unidades de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) tem sido recomendada devido ao aumento considerável dos custos hospitalares, tempo de internação, morbidade e mortalidade em pacientes hospitalizados acometidos. No entanto, os resultados de sua eficácia ainda são controversos. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o impacto da implantação de um bundle de prevenção de PAV em uma UTI Adulto de um hospital universitário. Métodos: estudo quase experimental, com implantação de bundle de prevenção de PAV em UTI Adulto e análise de indicadores. Este estudo abordou dados secundários de prontuários hospitalares recomendados na rotina da equipe da Comissão de Controle de Infecção Hospitalar e dos prontuários de pacientes em ventilação mecânica, no período de junho de 2016 a julho de 2019, que desenvolveram PAV. Resultados: A densidade de incidência de PAV antes da intervenção foi de 4,13 infecções e após a intervenção foi de 7,15 infecções por mil pacientes em ventilação/dia. Ao realizar o teste de regressão linear, mostramos que a densidade da PAV diminuiu à medida que a sedação era reduzida, a extubação aumentava e quando ocorria complacência com todos os elementos do feixe. Conclusão: não houve redução da incidência de PAV após a adoção de medidas preventivas, talvez pela subnotificação de casos no período anterior ao bundle e baixa adesão da equipe aos componentes do bundle. No entanto, notamos diminuição das notificações de PAV após o oitavo mês de implantação do bundle de medidas.(AU)

Justificación y objetivos: la implementación de paquetes de prevención de neumonía asociada al ventilador (NAV) en las Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) ha sido recomendada debido al aumento considerable de los costos hospitalarios, la estancia hospitalaria, la morbilidad y la mortalidad en los pacientes hospitalizados afectados. Sin embargo, los resultados de su eficacia aún son controvertidos. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el impacto de la implementación de un paquete de prevención de NAVM en una UCI de adultos de un hospital universitario. Métodos: estudio cuasi-experimental, con implementación de un paquete de prevención de NAVM en una UCI de Adultos y análisis de indicadores. Este estudio abordó datos secundarios de registros hospitalarios recomendados en la rutina del equipo de la Comisión de Control de Infecciones Hospitalarias y de los registros médicos de pacientes en ventilación mecánica, de junio de 2016 a julio de 2019, que desarrollaron NAV. Resultados: La densidad de incidencia de NAVM antes de la intervención fue de 4,13 infecciones y después de la intervención fue de 7,15 infecciones por mil pacientes en ventilación/día. Al realizar la prueba de regresión lineal, mostramos que la densidad de VAP disminuyó a medida que se redujo la sedación, se incrementó la extubación y cuando se produjo el cumplimiento de todos los elementos del paquete. Conclusión: no hubo reducción en la incidencia de NAVM después de la adopción de las medidas preventivas, quizás debido a un subregistro de casos en el período anterior al paquete y al bajo cumplimiento del equipo con los componentes del paquete. Sin embargo, notamos una disminución en las notificaciones de VAP después del octavo mes de implementación del paquete de medidas.(Au)

Intra-Abdominal Hypertension is a Risk Factor for Increased VAP Incidence: A Prospective Cohort Study in the ICU of a Tertiary Hospital.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) might be increased in cases with intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH). However, despite animal experimentation and physiological studies on humans in favor of this hypothesis, there is no definitive clinical data that IAH is associated with VAP. We therefore aimed to study whether IAH is a risk factor for increased incidence of VAP in critical care patients. This 1-center prospective observational cohort study was conducted in the intensive care unit of the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece, during 2013 to 2015. Consecutive patients were recruited if they presented risk factors for IAH at admission and were evaluated systematically for IAH and VAP for a 28-day period. RESULTS: Forty-five (36.6%) of 123 patients presented IAH and 45 (36.6%) presented VAP; 24 patients presented VAP following IAH. Cox regression analysis showed that VAP was independently associated with IAH (1.06 [1.01-1.11]; P = .053), while there was an indication for an independent association between VAP and abdominal surgery (1.62 [0.87-3.03]; P = .11] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.79 [0.96-3.37]; P = .06). CONCLUSIONS: Intra-abdominal hypertension is an independent risk factor for increased VAP incidence in critically ill patients who present risk factors for IAH at admission to the ICU.

Protocol for a multi-centered, stepped wedge, cluster randomized controlled trial of the de-adoption of oral chlorhexidine prophylaxis and implementation of an oral care bundle for mechanically ventilated critically ill patients: the CHORAL study.

BACKGROUND: Routine application of chlorhexidine oral rinse is recommended to reduce risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in mechanically ventilated patients. Recent reappraisal of the evidence from two meta-analyses suggests chlorhexidine may cause excess mortality in non-cardiac surgery patients and does not reduce VAP. Mechanisms for possible excess mortality are unclear. The CHORAL study will evaluate the impact of de-adopting chlorhexidine and implementing an oral care bundle (excluding chlorhexidine) on mortality, infection-related ventilator-associated complications (IVACs), and oral health status. METHODS: The CHORAL study is a stepped wedge, cluster randomized controlled trial in six academic intensive care units (ICUs) in Toronto, Canada. Clusters (ICU) will be randomly allocated to six sequential steps over a 14-month period to de-adopt oral chlorhexidine and implement a standardized oral care bundle (oral assessment, tooth brushing, moisturization, and secretion removal). On study commencement, all clusters begin with a control period in which the standard of care is oral chlorhexidine. Clusters then begin crossover from control to intervention every 2 months according to the randomization schedule. Participants include all mechanically ventilated adults eligible to receive the standardized oral care bundle. The primary outcome is ICU mortality; secondary outcomes are IVACs and oral health status. We will determine demographics, antibiotic usage, mortality, and IVAC rates from a validated local ICU clinical registry. With six clusters and 50 ventilated patients on average each month per cluster, we estimate that 4200 patients provide 80% power after accounting for intracluster correlation to detect an absolute reduction in mortality of 5.5%. We will analyze our primary outcome of mortality using a generalized linear mixed model adjusting for time to account for secular trends. We will conduct a process evaluation to determine intervention fidelity and to inform interpretation of the trial results. DISCUSSION: The CHORAL study will inform understanding of the effectiveness of de-adoption of oral chlorhexidine and implementation of a standardized oral care bundle for decreasing ICU mortality and IVAC rates while improving oral health status. Our process evaluation will inform clinicians and decision makers about intervention delivery to support future de-adoption if justified by trial results. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03382730 . Registered on December 26, 2017.

Ventilator-associated events, not ventilator-associated pneumonia, is associated with higher mortality in trauma patients.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-associated events (VAE), using objective diagnostic criteria, are the preferred quality indicator for patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) for greater than 48 hours. We aim to identify the occurrence of VAE in our trauma population, the impact on survival, and length of stay, as compared to the traditional definition of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). METHODS: This retrospective review included adult trauma patients, who were Washington residents, admitted between 2012 and 2017, and required at least 3 days of MV. Exclusions included patients with Abbreviated Injury Scale head score greater than 4 and burn related mechanisms of injury. We matched trauma registry data with our institutional, physician-adjudicated, and culture-confirmed ventilator event database. We compared the clinical outcomes of ventilator-free days, intensive care unit length of stay, hospital length of stay, and likelihood of death between VAE and VAP. RESULTS: One thousand five hundred thirty-three trauma patients met criteria; 124 (8.1%) patients developed VAE, 114 (7.4%) patients developed VAP, and 63 (4.1%) patients met criteria for both VAE and VAP. After adjusted analyses, patients with VAE were more likely to die (hazard ratio [HR], 2.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44-5.68), than those with VAP, as well those patients with neither diagnosis (HR, 2.83; 95% CI, 1.83-4.38). Patients with VAP were no more likely to die (HR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.91-2.68) than those with neither diagnosis. Patients with VAE had fewer ventilator-free days than those with VAP (HR, -2.71; 95% CI, -4.74 to -0.68). CONCLUSION: Critically injured trauma patients who develop VAE are three times more likely to die and utilize almost 3 days more MV than those that develop VAP. The objective criteria of VAE make it a promising indicator on which quality indicator efforts should be focused. Future studies should be aimed at identification of modifiable risk factors for VAE and their impact on outcome, as these patients are at high risk for death. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Retrospective cohort study, level III.

Hospital-Acquired Infections in Critically Ill Patients With Cancer.

Hospital-acquired infections are a common and costly problem facing critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Critically ill patients with cancer are a particularly vulnerable subpopulation who possesses additional, nonmodifiable risk factors for developing these infections and, in many cases, are at increased risk of death as a result. This review will describe the most common nosocomial infections patients with cancer acquire while in the ICU: ventilator-associated events, central line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-associated urinary tract infections, and Clostridium difficile infection.

Effects of the implementation of a hand hygiene education program among ICU professionals: an interrupted time-series analysis / Efeitos da implementação de um programa de educação de higienização das mãos entre profissionais de uma UTI: análise de séries temporais interrompidas

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effects that a hand hygiene education program has on the compliance of health professionals in an ICU. Methods: This was a quasi-experimental study with an interrupted time-series design, conducted over a 12-month period: the 5 months preceding the implementation of a hand hygiene education program (baseline period); the 2 months of the intensive (intervention) phase of the program; and the first 5 months thereafter (post-intervention phase). Hand hygiene compliance was monitored by one of the researchers, unbeknownst to the ICU team. The primary outcome measure was the variation in the rate of hand hygiene compliance. We also evaluated the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), as well as the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) at 28 days and 60 days, together with mortality at 28 days and 60 days. Results: On the basis of 959 observations, we found a significant increase in hand hygiene compliance rates-from 31.5% at baseline to 65.8% during the intervention phase and 83.8% during the post-intervention phase, corresponding to prevalence ratios of 2.09 and 2.66, respectively, in comparison with the baseline rate (p < 0.001). Despite that improvement, there were no significant changes in duration of MV, VAP incidence (at 28 or 60 days), or mortality (at 28 or 60 days). Conclusions: Our findings indicate that a hand hygiene education program can increase hand hygiene compliance among ICU professionals, although it appears to have no impact on VAP incidence, duration of MV, or mortality.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da implementação de um programa de educação sobre higienização das mãos e a adesão a essa prática entre profissionais de uma UTI. Métodos: Estudo quase-experimental com séries temporais interrompidas conduzido ao longo de 12 meses: 5 meses antes do programa de educação (período basal), 2 meses durante a fase intensiva do programa (período de intervenção) e 5 meses durante a fase de manutenção do programa (período pós-intervenção). A avaliação da adesão às práticas de higienização das mãos foi feita por um dos pesquisadores sem conhecimento da equipe da UTI. O desfecho primário foi a variação da taxa de adesão à higienização das mãos. Também foram avaliadas a duração da ventilação mecânica (VM), a incidência de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica (PAVM) em 28 e 60 dias e mortalidade nos mesmos momentos. Resultados: Com base em 959 observações, houve um aumento nas taxas de adesão à higienização das mãos de 31,5% no período basal para 65,8% no período de intervenção e para 83,8% no período pós-intervenção, representando uma razão de prevalência 2,09 e 2,66 maior que o período basal, respectivamente (p < 0,001). Apesar desse aumento, não houve diferenças significativas em relação à duração da VM ou à incidência de PAVM e taxa de mortalidade em 28 e 60 dias. Conclusões: Neste estudo, o programa de educação em higienização das mãos aumentou a adesão a esse procedimento durante o período de monitorização, sem alterar as taxas de PAVM, a duração da VM e a mortalidade.

C-reactive protein and procalcitonin profile in ventilator-associated lower respiratory infections.

PURPOSE: Ventilator-associated tracheobronchitis (VAT) has been suggested as an intermediate process between tracheobronchial colonization and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients receiving mechanical ventilation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) to differentiate between VAT and VAP. METHODS: Pre-planned analysis of the prospective multinational TAVeM database, performed on 2960 patients receiving mechanical ventilation for >48 h, including 689 patients with VA-LRTI. Patients with the diagnosis of VAT or VAP microbiologically documented and with one measurement of CRP and/or PCT on the day of diagnosis were included. RESULTS: Four hundred and four patients (mean age 63 years, 298 men, ICU mortality 40%) were studied, 207 with VAT and 197 with VAP. On the day of infection diagnosis, the median CRP was elevated in both groups but significantly higher in VAP (18 mg/dL vs. 14 mg/dL, p = .001). Median PCT was also significantly higher in VAP (2.1 ng/dL vs. 0.64 ng/d L, p < .001). Both biomarkers could not help distinguish between VAT and VAP. CONCLUSION: Although PCT and CRP presented lower values in VAT as compared to VAP, there was a marked overlap of both biomarkers values in both VA-LRTI not allowing adequate discrimination.

Endotracheal Intubation and In-Hospital Mortality after Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Many patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) undergo endotracheal intubation with subsequent mechanical ventilation (MV) for "airway protection" with the intent to prevent aspiration, pneumonias, and its related mortality. Conversely, these procedures may independently promote pneumonia, laryngeal trauma, dysphagia, and adversely affect patient outcomes. The net benefit of intubation and MV in this patient cohort has not been systematically investigated. METHODS: We conducted a large single-center observational cohort study to examine the independent association between endotracheal intubation and MV, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and in-hospital mortality (HM) in patients with ICH. All consecutive patients admitted with a primary diagnosis of a spontaneous ICH to a tertiary care hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, from June 2000 through January 2014, who were ≥18 years of age and hospitalized for ≥2 days were eligible for inclusion. Patients with pneumonia on admission, or those having brain or lung neoplasms were excluded. Our exposure of interest was endotracheal intubation and MV during hospitalization; our primary outcomes were incidence of HAP and HM, ascertained using International Classification of Diseases-9 and administrative discharge disposition codes, respectively, in patients who underwent endotracheal intubation and MV versus those who did not. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for confounders. RESULTS: Of the 2,386 hospital admissions screened, 1,384 patients fulfilled study criteria and were included in the final analysis. A total of 507 (36.6%) patients were intubated. Overall 133 (26.23%) patients in the intubated group developed HAP versus 41 (4.67%) patients in the non-intubated group (p < 0.0001); 195 (38.5%) intubated patients died during hospitalization compared to 48 (5.5%) non-intubated patients (p < 0.0001). After confounder adjustments, OR for HAP and HM, were 4.23 (95% CI 2.48-7.22; p < 0.0001) and 4.32 (95% CI 2.5-7.49; p < 0.0001) with c-statistics of 0.79 and 0.89, in the intubated versus non-intubated patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this large hospital-based cohort of patients presenting with an acute spontaneous ICH, endotracheal intubation and MV were associated with increased odds of HAP and HM. These findings urge further examination of the practice of intubation in prospective studies.

Burn patients with infection-related ventilator associated complications have worse outcomes compared to those without ventilator associated events.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) replaced its definition for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in 2013. The aim of the current study is to compare the outcome of burn patients with ventilator associated events (VAEs). METHODS: Burn patients with at least two days of ventilator support were identified from the registry between 2013 and 2016. Kruskal-Wallis and Fisher's exact tests were utilized for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. A logistic regression was used for the association between VAE and in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: 243 patients were admitted to our burn center, of whom 208 had no VAE, 8 had a VAC, and 27 had an IVAC or PVAP. There was no difference in hospital length of stay, ICU length of stay and ventilator support days between those with no VAE and a VAC. Those with IVAC-plus had significantly worse outcomes compared to patients with no VAEs. CONCLUSIONS: Burn patients with IVAC-plus had significantly longer hospital and ICU lengths of stay, days on ventilator compared with patients with no VAEs.

Decreasing incidence and mortality among hospitalized patients suffering a ventilator-associated pneumonia: Analysis of the Spanish national hospital discharge database from 2010 to 2014.

The aim of this study was to describe trends in the incidence and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) among hospitalized patients in Spain (2010-2014).This is a retrospective study using the Spanish national hospital discharge database from year 2010 to 2014. We selected all hospital admissions that had an ICD-9-CM code: 997.31 for VAP in any diagnosis position. We analyzed incidence, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, procedures, pathogen isolations, and hospital outcomes.We identified 9336 admissions with patients suffering a VAP. Incidence rates of VAP decreased significantly over time (from 41.7 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2010 to 40.55 in 2014). The mean Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 1.08 ±â€Š0.98 and it did not change significantly during the study period. The most frequent causative agent was Pseudomonas and there were not significant differences in the isolation of this microorganism over time. Time trend analyses showed a significant decrease in in-hospital mortality (IHM), from 35.74% in 2010 to 32.81% in 2014. Factor associated with higher IHM included male sex, older age, higher CCI, vein or artery occlusion, pulmonary disease, cancer, undergone surgery, emergency room admission, and readmission.This study shows that the incidence of VAP among hospitalized patients has decreased in Spain from 2010 to 2014. The IHM has also decreased over the study period. Further investigations are needed to improve the prevention and control of VAP.

Oropharyngeal Decontamination with Antiseptics to Prevent Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Rethinking the Benefits of Chlorhexidine.

Daily oral care with chlorhexidine for mechanically ventilated patients is ubiquitous in contemporary intensive care practice. The practice is predicated upon meta-analyses suggesting that adding chlorhexidine to daily oral care regimens can reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates by up to 40%. Close analysis, however, raises three concerns: (1) the meta-analyses are dominated by studies in cardiac surgery patients in whom average duration of mechanical ventilation is < 1 day and thus their risk of VAP is very different from other populations, (2) diagnosing VAP is subjective and nonspecific yet the meta-analyses gave equal weight to blinded and nonblinded studies, potentially biasing them in favor of chlorhexidine, and (3) there is circularity between diagnostic criteria for VAP and chlorhexidine; as an antiseptic, chlorhexidine may decrease the frequency of positive respiratory cultures but fewer cultures does not necessarily mean fewer pneumonias. It is therefore important to look at other outcomes for corollary evidence on whether or not oral chlorhexidine benefits patients. An updated meta-analysis restricted to double-blinded studies in noncardiac surgery patients showed no impact on VAP rates, duration of mechanical ventilation, or intensive care unit length of stay. Instead, there was a possible signal that oral chlorhexidine may increase mortality rates. Observational data have raised similar concerns. This article will review the theoretical basis for adding chlorhexidine to oral care regimens, delineate potential biases in randomized controlled trials comparing oral care regimens with and without chlorhexidine, explore the unexpected mortality signal associated with oral chlorhexidine, and provide practical recommendations.

Risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia among patients undergoing major oncological surgery for head and neck cancer.

Patients undergoing major oncological surgery for head and neck cancer (SHNC) have a particularly high risk of nosocomial infections. We aimed to identify risk factors for ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients undergoing SHNC. The study included 465 patients who underwent SHNC between June 2011 and June 2014. The rate of VAP, risk factors for VAP, and biological aspects of VAP were retrospectively evaluated. The incidence of VAP was 19.6% (n = 95) in patients who required more than 48 h of mechanical ventilation. Staphylococcus (37.7%), Enterobacteriaceae (32.1%), Pseudomonas (20.8%), and Haemophilus (16.9%) were the major bacterial species that caused VAP. The independent risk factors for VAP were advanced age, current smoking status, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and a higher simplified acute physiology score system II upon admission. Tracheostomy was an independent protective factor for VAP. The median length of stay in the ICU for patients who did or did not develop VAP was 8.0 and 6.5 days, respectively (P = 0.006). Mortality among patients who did or did not develop VAP was 16.8% and 8.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). The potential economic impact of VAP was high because of the significantly extended duration of ventilation. A predictive regression model was developed with a sensitivity of 95.3% and a specificity of 69.4%. VAP is common in patients who are undergoing SHNC and who require more than 48 h of mechanical ventilation. Therefore, innovative preventive measures should be developed and applied in this high-risk population.

Incidence, characteristic and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia among type 2 diabetes patients: An observational population-based study in Spain.

BACKGROUND: To describe incidence, characteristics and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) during hospitalization among patients with or without type 2 diabetes (T2DM). METHODS: We used the Spanish national hospital discharge database to select all hospitalization with VAP in subjects aged 40years or more from 2010 to 2014. We analyzed incidence, patient comorbidities, procedures, pneumonia pathogens and in-hospital outcomes according to diabetes status (T2DM and no-diabetes). We used propensity score analysis to estimate the effect of T2DM on in-hospital mortality RESULTS: In 7952 admissions, the patient developed a VAP (13.6% with T2DM). Adjusted incidence rate of VAP was slightly, but significantly, higher in T2DM than in non-diabetic patients (36.46[95% CI 34.41-38.51] vs. 32.57[95% CI 31.40-33.74] cases per 100,000/inhabitants). T2DM people were older and had higher Charlson comorbidity index than non-diabetic people. T2DM patients had a lower mean number of failing organs than non-diabetic patients (1.20 SD 1.17 vs. 1.45 SD 1.44, p<0.001). Pseudomonas was the most frequently isolated agent in both groups. IHM was 41.92% for T2DM patients and 37.91% for non-diabetic patients (p<0.05). Factors associated with a higher mortality in both groups included: older age, more comorbidities and primary diagnoses of vein or artery occlusion, pulmonary disease and cancer. T2DM was not associated with a higher in-hospital mortality after adjustment using a propensity score (OR 0.88; 95% CI 0.76-1.35). CONCLUSIONS: VAP incidence rates were higher among T2DM patients. In-hospital mortality was higher among the older patients and those with more co-morbid conditions. T2DM does not predict higher mortality in VAP during hospitalization.

Risk factors for mortality in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Abstract Background: The ideal therapeutic option for ventilator associated pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae is not defined. The aim of this study was to assess mortality-associated risk factors in patients with VAP by CRE and determine the outcome of several treatment options. Methods: This was a retrospective study performed in two tertiary hospitals involving patients with VAP caused by CRE between January 2010 and August 2014. The outcomes were mortality within 30 days of VAP diagnosis and overall mortality during hospital admission. Risk factors for mortality were assessed by comparing variables of survivors and non-survivors. Results: One hundred and twelve patients with CRE-VAP were included, 73 (65%) male, median age 56 years. The 30-day mortality was 57.1% and the overall hospital mortality was 67%. In the binary logistic regression analysis, only age >50 years was independently associated to increased mortality. Polymyxin was the most used drug (47.5%), followed by tigecycline (29.2%) and aminoglycosides (2.4%). Combined therapy with two active drugs was used by 17 patients (20.8%). No therapeutic option was independently associated to survival. However, combined therapy with two active drugs was superior to the therapy with a single active drug when inappropriate therapy was the comparator (p = 0.044). The addition of carbapenem was not associated with increased survival. Conclusion: The best therapeutic option for VAP by CRE is still not completely defined, but the therapy with at least two active drugs was superior in this study.

Number of rib fractures thresholds independently predict worse outcomes in older patients with blunt trauma.

BACKGROUND: There have been conflicting reports regarding whether the number of rib fractures sustained in blunt trauma is associated independently with worse patient outcomes. We sought to investigate this risk-adjusted relationship among the lesser-studied population of older adults. METHODS: A retrospective review of the National Trauma Data Bank was performed for patients with blunt trauma who were ≥65 years old and had rib fractures between 2009 and 2012 (N = 67,695). Control data were collected for age, sex, injury severity score, injury mechanism, 24 comorbidities, and number of rib fractures. Outcome data included hospital mortality, hospital and intensive care unit durations of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and the occurrence of pneumonia. Multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Sustaining ≥5 rib fractures was associated with increased intensive care unit admission (odds ratio: 1.14, P < .001) and hospital duration of stay (relative duration: 105%, P < .001). Sustaining ≥7 rib fractures was associated with an increased incidence of pneumonia (odds ratio: 1.32, P < .001) and intensive care unit duration of stay (relative duration: 122%, P < .001). Sustaining ≥8 rib fractures was associated with increased mortality (odds ratio: 1.51, P < .001) and duration of mechanical ventilation (relative duration: 117%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: In older patients with trauma, sustaining at least 5 rib fractures is a significant predictor of worse outcomes independent of patient characteristics, comorbidities, and trauma burden.

Staff education aimed at reducing ventilator-associated pneumonia.

Mechanical ventilation is a life-saving invasive procedure performed in intensive care units (ICUs) where critical patients are given advanced support. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of personnel training on the incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). The study, performed prospectively in the ICU, was planned in two periods. In both periods, patient characteristics were recorded on patient data forms. In the second period, ICU physicians and assistant health personnel were given regular theoretical and practical training. Twenty-two cases of VAP developed in the pre-training period, an incidence of 31.2. Nineteen cases of VAP developed in the post-training period, an incidence of 21.0 (P<0.001). Training reduced development of VAP by 31.7 %. Crude VAP mortality was 69 % in the first period and 26 % in the second (P<0.001). Statistically significant risk factors for VAP in both periods were prolonged hospitalization, increased number of days on mechanical ventilation, and enteral nutrition; risk factors determined in the first period were re-intubation, central venous catheter use and heart failure and, in the second period, erythrocyte transfusion >5 units (P<0.05). Prior to training, compliance with hand washing (before and after procedure), appropriate aseptic endotracheal aspiration and adequate oral hygiene in particular were very low. An improvement was observed after training (P<0.001). The training of personnel who will apply infection control procedures for the prevention of healthcare-associated infections is highly important. Hand hygiene and other infection control measures must be emphasized in training programmes, and standard procedures in patient interventions must be revised.

Ventilator-associated pneumonia: the influence of bacterial resistance, prescription errors, and de-escalation of antimicrobial therapy on mortality rates

Abstract Ventilator-associated pneumonia is the most prevalent nosocomial infection in intensive care units and is associated with high mortality rates (14–70%). Aim This study evaluated factors influencing mortality of patients with Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), including bacterial resistance, prescription errors, and de-escalation of antibiotic therapy. Methods This retrospective study included 120 cases of Ventilator-associated pneumonia admitted to the adult adult intensive care unit of the Federal University of Uberlândia. The chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables. Student's t-test was used for quantitative variables and multiple logistic regression analysis to identify independent predictors of mortality. Findings De-escalation of antibiotic therapy and resistant bacteria did not influence mortality. Mortality was 4 times and 3 times higher, respectively, in patients who received an inappropriate antibiotic loading dose and in patients whose antibiotic dose was not adjusted for renal function. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the incorrect adjustment for renal function was the only independent factor associated with increased mortality. Conclusion Prescription errors influenced mortality of patients with Ventilator-associated pneumonia, underscoring the challenge of proper Ventilator-associated pneumonia treatment, which requires continuous reevaluation to ensure that clinical response to therapy meets expectations.

Effectiveness of biomarker-based exclusion of ventilator-acquired pneumonia to reduce antibiotic use (VAPrapid-2): study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Ventilator-acquired pneumonia (VAP) is a common reason for antimicrobial therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU). Biomarker-based diagnostics could improve antimicrobial stewardship through rapid exclusion of VAP. Bronchoalveloar lavage (BAL) fluid biomarkers have previously been shown to allow the exclusion of VAP with high confidence. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a prospective, multi-centre, randomised, controlled trial to determine whether a rapid biomarker-based exclusion of VAP results in fewer antibiotics and improved antimicrobial management. Patients with clinically suspected VAP undergo BAL, and VAP is confirmed by growth of a potential pathogen at [≥] 10(4) colony-forming units per millilitre (CFU/ml). Patients are randomised 1:1, to either a 'biomarker-guided recommendation on antibiotics' in which BAL fluid is tested for IL-1ß and IL-8 in addition to routine microbiology testing, or to 'routine use of antibiotics' in which BAL undergoes routine microbiology testing only. Clinical teams are blinded to intervention until 6 hours after randomisation, when biomarker results are reported to the clinician. The primary outcome is a change in the frequency distribution of antibiotic-free days (AFD) in the 7 days following BAL. Secondary outcome measures include antibiotic use at 14 and 28 days; ventilator-free days; 28-day mortality and ICU mortality; sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) at days 3, 7 and 14; duration of stay in critical care and the hospital; antibiotic-associated infections; and antibiotic-resistant pathogen cultures up to hospital discharge, death or 56 days. A healthcare-resource-utilisation analysis will be calculated from the duration of critical care and hospital stay. In addition, safety data will be collected with respect to performing BAL. A sample size of 210 will be required to detect a clinically significant shift in the distribution of AFD towards more patients having fewer antibiotics and therefore more AFD. DISCUSSION: This trial will test whether a rapid biomarker-based exclusion of VAP results in rapid discontinuation of antibiotics and therefore improves antibiotic management in patients with suspected VAP. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN65937227 . Registered on 22 August 2013. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01972425 . Registered on 24 October 2013.

The effect of reintubation on ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality among mechanically ventilated patients with intubation: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This meta-analysis summarized the risks that reintubation impose on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and mortality. BACKGROUND: Extubation failure increases the probability of poor clinical outcomes pertaining to mechanical ventilation. METHODS: Literature published during a 15-year period was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Knowledge databases, the Embase (Excerpa Medica database), and the Cochrane Library. Data involving reintubation, VAP, and mortality were extracted for a meta-analysis. RESULTS: Forty-one studies involving 29,923 patients were enrolled for the analysis. The summary odds ratio (OR) between VAP and reintubation was 7.57 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.63-15.81). The merged ORs for mortality in hospital and intensive care unit were 3.33 (95% CI = 2.02-5.49) and 7.50 (95% CI = 4.60-12.21), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reintubation can represent a threat to survival and increase the risk of VAP. The risk of mortality after reintubation differs between planned and unplanned extubation. Extubation failure is associated with a higher risk of VAP in the cardiac surgery population than in the general population.