An eight-year multicenter study on short-term peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infection rates in 100 intensive care units of 9 countries in Latin America: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela. Findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC).

BACKGROUND: Data on short-term peripheral intravenous catheter-related bloodstream infections per 1,000 peripheral venous catheter days (PIVCR BSIs per 1,000 PVC days) rates from Latin America are not available, so they have not been thoroughly studied. METHODS: International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) members conducted a prospective, surveillance study on PIVCR BSIs from January 2010 to March 2018 in 100 intensive care units (ICUs) among 41 hospitals, in 26 cities of 9 countries in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican-Republic, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, and Venezuela). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Health Safety Network (NHSN) definitions were applied, and INICC methodology and INICC Surveillance Online System software were used. RESULTS: In total, 10,120 ICU patients were followed for 40,078 bed days and 38,262 PVC days. In addition, 79 PIVCR BSIs were identified, with a rate of 2.06 per 1,000 PVC days (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.635-2.257). The average length of stay (ALOS) of patients without a PIVCR BSI was 3.95 days, and the ALOS was 5.29 days for patients with a PIVCR BSI. The crude extra ALOS was 1.34 days (RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.0975-1.6351; P = .040).The mortality rate in patients without PIVCR BSI was 3.67%, and this rate was 6.33% in patients with a PIVCR BSI. The crude extra mortality was 1.70 times higher. The microorganism profile showed 48.5% gram-positive bacteria (coagulase-negative Staphylococci 25.7%) and 48.5% gram-negative bacteria: Acinetobacter spp, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella spp (8.5% each one), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5.7%), and Candida spp (2.8%). The resistances of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were 0% to amikacin and 50% to meropenem. The resistance of Acinetobacter baumanii to amikacin was 0%, and the resistance of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus to oxacillin was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Our PIVCR BSI rates were higher than rates from more economically developed countries and were similar to those of countries with limited resources.

A 10-year experience with major burns from a non-burn intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to review clinical data and outcomes of patients with burns in a Mexican non-burn intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: We did a retrospective analysis of our single-centre database of burn patients admitted to the ICU in the Hospital Civil Fray Antonio Alcalde (University Hospital). The sample was divided for analysis into two groups according to the outcome 'death' or 'discharge' from ICU. RESULTS: Overall mortality was 58.2%, without a decreasing trend in mortality rates through the years. We identified the presence of third-degree burns (odds ratio (OR) 1.5, p=0.003), and >49% total burned surface area (TBSA; OR 3.3, p≤0.001) was associated with mortality. Mean age was higher in deceased patients (38.2 years vs. 31.3 years, p=0.003) as was the TBSA (62.8% vs. 36.4%, p≤0.001). At multivariate analysis, inhalation injury was not associated with increased mortality, but it was with more mechanical ventilation days. Early surgical debridement/cleansing was performed in most patients; however, the mean of the procedures was 1.7 per patient in both groups. CONCLUSION: We identified significant factors associated with mortality. These variables and prognosis from non-burn ICUs differ broadly compared with burn intensive care units (BICUs); thus, more structured, multidisciplinary and specialised treatment strategies are still needed.

Tratamiento de la candiduria en pacientes en estado crítico: estudio comparativo entre fluconazol vía oral y anfotericina B en irrigación / Treatment of candiduria in the critically ill: comparative study between oral fluconazole and irrigated amphotericin B

La participación de origen micótico en el desarrollo de infecciones nosocomiales se ha incrementado de 1980 a 1990 de 6 a 10.4 por ciento en todos los sitios de infección. Para el tracto urinario la incidencia se ha elevado de 6.7 a 18.7 por ciento. Se compara la eficiencia y seguridad del fluconazol contra anfotericina B para erradicación de candiduria en pacientes en estado crítico: 1) fluconazol, 100 mg vía oral o vía sonda nasogástrica cada 12 horas, 2) anfotericina B, 25 mg en 1000 mL en solución de agua bidestilada para irrigación vesical continua cada 24 horas. Se trataron 15 pacientes por grupo. No hay diferencia entre ambas modalidades terapéuticas en el tiempo de erradicación de la funguria (p<0.05 t de student). En el grupo de irrigación vesical continua se presentó 20 por ciento de espisodios de fungemia, con deterioro clínico y aumento en la permanencia en la unidad. No se demostraron efectos colaterales en ninguna de las modalidades terapéuticas. Ante la posibilidad de diseminación o de estar tratando tópicamente un problema sistémico no se recomienda en este grupo de pacientes el empleo de anfotericina B en irrigación

El gasto energético en reposo, medido contra estimado, en pacientes críticamente enfermos / Energy consumed vs estimated energy expenditure at rest in critically ill patients

Se determinaron las diferencias entre el método de calorimetría indirecta (Ci) y el método de Harris-Benedict, para la evaluación de los requerimientos calóricos en pacientes críticamente enfermos, utilizándose un procedimiento manual en la Ci. Se evaluaron 40 pacientes por ambos métodos. En el método de Harris-Benedict, se añadieron factores de actividad y lesión de acuerdo a cada caso. La Ci se basó en el análisis de gases (O2 y CO2) de una muestra de aire inspirado y expirado por el paciente, mediante las ecuacions de Weir y las tablas de Lusk. El análisis de calorimetría indirecta contra Harris-Benedict solo, es decir, sin factor de actividad o lesión, no presentó diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Los resultados mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas cuando se compararon calorimetría indirecta (p>0.05 y p>0.001, respectivamente). Harris-Benedict no mostró una correlación apropiada en estos pacientes, concordando con lo reportado en la literatura. El procedimiento de medición calorimétrica empleada, tiene validez, y puede ser utilizado en todo hospital de segundo nivel de atención