Population pharmacokinetics of posaconazole in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal disease (IFD) in the early post-allogeneic HSCT (alloHCT) period is associated with increased likelihood of catastrophic outcomes. The utility of oral modified release (MR) posaconazole tablets is limited by reduced drug absorption from gastrointestinal toxicity induced by cytotoxic chemotherapy, necessitating a switch to the IV posaconazole formulation. OBJECTIVES: To describe the population pharmacokinetics of posaconazole for oral MR and IV formulations in alloHCT patients and determine dosing regimens likely to achieve therapeutic exposures. METHODS: We performed a prospective observational pharmacokinetic study in adult patients in the early post-alloHCT period requiring a change in posaconazole formulation (oral to IV). Samples were analysed using a validated LC-MS/MS method. Population pharmacokinetic analysis and Monte Carlo simulations (n = 1000) were performed using Pmetrics for R. RESULTS: Twenty patients aged between 21 and 70 years were included in the study. A two-compartment model, incorporating mucositis/diarrhoea to modify the bioavailability for oral administration best described the data. To achieve ≥90% PTA, simulations showed that higher than currently recommended doses of oral MR posaconazole were required for prophylaxis Cmin targets (≥0.5 and ≥0.7 mg/L), while increased doses of both formulations were required for IFD treatment PK/PD targets, with patients experiencing oral mucositis/diarrhoea unlikely to achieve these. CONCLUSIONS: Increased doses of posaconazole should be considered for both prophylaxis and treatment of IFD to increase the proportion of alloHCT patients achieving therapeutic exposures, particularly the oral formulation in patients with mucositis and/or diarrhoea. Posaconazole therapeutic drug monitoring should be considered for all formulations in this setting.

Continuous vs Intermittent ß-Lactam Antibiotic Infusions in Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis: The BLING III Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Whether ß-lactam antibiotics administered by continuous compared with intermittent infusion reduces the risk of death in patients with sepsis is uncertain. Objective: To evaluate whether continuous vs intermittent infusion of a ß-lactam antibiotic (piperacillin-tazobactam or meropenem) results in decreased all-cause mortality at 90 days in critically ill patients with sepsis. Design, Setting, and Participants: An international, open-label, randomized clinical trial conducted in 104 intensive care units (ICUs) in Australia, Belgium, France, Malaysia, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Recruitment occurred from March 26, 2018, to January 11, 2023, with follow-up completed on April 12, 2023. Participants were critically ill adults (≥18 years) treated with piperacillin-tazobactam or meropenem for sepsis. Intervention: Eligible patients were randomized to receive an equivalent 24-hour dose of a ß-lactam antibiotic by either continuous (n = 3498) or intermittent (n = 3533) infusion for a clinician-determined duration of treatment or until ICU discharge, whichever occurred first. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 90 days after randomization. Secondary outcomes were clinical cure up to 14 days after randomization; new acquisition, colonization, or infection with a multiresistant organism or Clostridioides difficile infection up to 14 days after randomization; ICU mortality; and in-hospital mortality. Results: Among 7202 randomized participants, 7031 (mean [SD] age, 59 [16] years; 2423 women [35%]) met consent requirements for inclusion in the primary analysis (97.6%). Within 90 days, 864 of 3474 patients (24.9%) assigned to receive continuous infusion had died compared with 939 of 3507 (26.8%) assigned intermittent infusion (absolute difference, -1.9% [95% CI, -4.9% to 1.1%]; odds ratio, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.81 to 1.01]; P = .08). Clinical cure was higher in the continuous vs intermittent infusion group (1930/3467 [55.7%] and 1744/3491 [50.0%], respectively; absolute difference, 5.7% [95% CI, 2.4% to 9.1%]). Other secondary outcomes were not statistically different. Conclusions and Relevance: The observed difference in 90-day mortality between continuous vs intermittent infusions of ß-lactam antibiotics did not meet statistical significance in the primary analysis. However, the confidence interval around the effect estimate includes the possibility of both no important effect and a clinically important benefit in the use of continuous infusions in this group of patients. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03213990.

Population Pharmacokinetics of Ganciclovir in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHCT) patients with ganciclovir is complicated by toxicity and resistance. This study aimed to develop an intravenous ganciclovir population pharmacokinetic model for post-alloHCT patients and to determine dosing regimens likely to achieve suggested therapeutic exposure targets. We performed a prospective observational single-center pharmacokinetic study in adult alloHCT patients requiring treatment with intravenous ganciclovir for CMV viremia or disease. Samples were analyzed using a validated ultraperformance liquid chromatography method. Population pharmacokinetic analysis and Monte Carlo simulations (n = 1000) were performed using Pmetrics for R. Twenty patients aged 18 to 69 years were included in the study. A 2-compartment model with linear elimination from the central compartment and between occasion variability best described the data. Incorporating creatinine clearance (CLCR) estimated by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and presence of continuous renal replacement therapy as covariates for ganciclovir clearance improved the model. Compared to current dosing recommendations, simulations demonstrated loading doses were required to achieve a target AUC24 of 80 to 120 mg.h/L on day 1 of induction therapy. Increased individualization of post-loading induction and maintenance doses based on CLCR is required to achieve the suggested exposures for efficacy (AUC24 >80/>40 mg.h/L for induction/maintenance) while remaining below the exposure thresholds for toxicity (AUC24 <120/<60 mg.h/L for induction/maintenance). Intravenous ganciclovir dosing in alloHCT patients can be guided by CLCR estimated by CKD-EPI. Incorporation of loading doses into induction dosing regimens should be considered for timely achievement of currently suggested exposures.

Sodium Bicarbonate for Metabolic Acidosis in the ICU: Results of a Pilot Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To identify the best population, design of the intervention, and to assess between-group biochemical separation, in preparation for a future phase III trial. DESIGN: Investigator-initiated, parallel-group, pilot randomized double-blind trial. SETTING: Eight ICUs in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, with participants recruited from April 2021 to August 2022. PATIENTS: Thirty patients greater than or equal to 18 years, within 48 hours of admission to the ICU, receiving a vasopressor, and with metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.30, base excess [BE] < -4 mEq/L, and Pa co2 < 45 mm Hg). INTERVENTIONS: Sodium bicarbonate or placebo (5% dextrose). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULT: The primary feasibility aim was to assess eligibility, recruitment rate, protocol compliance, and acid-base group separation. The primary clinical outcome was the number of hours alive and free of vasopressors on day 7. The recruitment rate and the enrollment-to-screening ratio were 1.9 patients per month and 0.13 patients, respectively. Time until BE correction (median difference, -45.86 [95% CI, -63.11 to -28.61] hr; p < 0.001) and pH correction (median difference, -10.69 [95% CI, -19.16 to -2.22] hr; p = 0.020) were shorter in the sodium bicarbonate group, and mean bicarbonate levels in the first 24 hours were higher (median difference, 6.50 [95% CI, 4.18 to 8.82] mmol/L; p < 0.001). Seven days after randomization, patients in the sodium bicarbonate and placebo group had a median of 132.2 (85.6-139.1) and 97.1 (69.3-132.4) hours alive and free of vasopressor, respectively (median difference, 35.07 [95% CI, -9.14 to 79.28]; p = 0.131). Recurrence of metabolic acidosis in the first 7 days of follow-up was lower in the sodium bicarbonate group (3 [20.0%] vs. 15 [100.0%]; p < 0.001). No adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The findings confirm the feasibility of a larger phase III sodium bicarbonate trial; eligibility criteria may require modification to facilitate recruitment.

Optimizing antifungal prophylaxis in allogeneic stem cell transplantation: A cohort study of two different approaches.

BACKGROUND: Limited consensus exists on the optimal use of antifungal agents to prevent invasive fungal infection in the early post allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHCT) period, particularly when patients cannot tolerate oral medication administration. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective observational cohort study to assess the tolerability, efficacy, and cost of a new antifungal prophylaxis pathway at a major tertiary alloHCT centre. Patients aged ≥16 years who underwent alloHCT between February 2018 and October 2019 (cohort 1) or between April 2020 and November 2021 (cohort 2) were included. In both cohorts, first line prophylactic therapy was oral posaconazole. The second line drugs where oral therapy was unable to be administered were intravenous voriconazole (cohort 1) versus intravenous posaconazole (cohort 2). RESULTS: There were 142 patients enrolled in the study, 71 in each cohort. The proportion of patients remaining on first-line prophylaxis or progressing to second-, third-, and fourth-line options was 22.5%, 39.4%, 29.6%, and 8.5% in cohort 1 and 39.4%, 59.2%, 1.4%, and 0% in cohort 2, respectively. The frequency of neuropsychiatric adverse events was significantly higher in cohort 1 compared to cohort 2 (49.3% vs. 19.8%, p = .0004). Occurrence of proven and probable fungal infections was not significantly different between cohorts. Antifungal drug expenditure was $359 935 (AUD) more in cohort 1 ($830 486 AUD) compared to cohort 2 ($477 149 AUD). CONCLUSION: The antifungal prophylaxis pathway used in cohort 2 resulted in reduced antifungal-associated adverse effects, less patients requiring progression to 3rd and 4th line prophylaxis and reduced antifungal drug costs.

Systematized and efficient: organization of critical care in the future.

Since the advent of critical care in the twentieth century, the core elements that are the foundation for critical care systems, namely to care for critically ill and injured patients and to save lives, have evolved enormously. The past half-century has seen dramatic advancements in diagnostic, organ support, and treatment modalities in critical care, with further improvements now needed to achieve personalized critical care of the highest quality. For critical care to be even higher quality in the future, advancements in the following areas are key: the physical ICU space; the people that care for critically ill patients; the equipment and technologies; the information systems and data; and the research systems that impact critically ill patients and families. With acutely and critically ill patients and their families as the absolute focal point, advancements across these areas will hopefully transform care and outcomes over the coming years.

The Effect of Renal Replacement Therapy and Antibiotic Dose on Antibiotic Concentrations in Critically Ill Patients: Data From the Multinational Sampling Antibiotics in Renal Replacement Therapy Study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal dosing of antibiotics in critically ill patients receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) remains unclear. In this study, we describe the variability in RRT techniques and antibiotic dosing in critically ill patients receiving RRT and relate observed trough antibiotic concentrations to optimal targets. METHODS: We performed a prospective, observational, multinational, pharmacokinetic study in 29 intensive care units from 14 countries. We collected demographic, clinical, and RRT data. We measured trough antibiotic concentrations of meropenem, piperacillin-tazobactam, and vancomycin and related them to high- and low-target trough concentrations. RESULTS: We studied 381 patients and obtained 508 trough antibiotic concentrations. There was wide variability (4-8-fold) in antibiotic dosing regimens, RRT prescription, and estimated endogenous renal function. The overall median estimated total renal clearance (eTRCL) was 50 mL/minute (interquartile range [IQR], 35-65) and higher eTRCL was associated with lower trough concentrations for all antibiotics (P < .05). The median (IQR) trough concentration for meropenem was 12.1 mg/L (7.9-18.8), piperacillin was 78.6 mg/L (49.5-127.3), tazobactam was 9.5 mg/L (6.3-14.2), and vancomycin was 14.3 mg/L (11.6-21.8). Trough concentrations failed to meet optimal higher limits in 26%, 36%, and 72% and optimal lower limits in 4%, 4%, and 55% of patients for meropenem, piperacillin, and vancomycin, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In critically ill patients treated with RRT, antibiotic dosing regimens, RRT prescription, and eTRCL varied markedly and resulted in highly variable antibiotic concentrations that failed to meet therapeutic targets in many patients.

Energy-Dense versus Routine Enteral Nutrition in the Critically Ill.

BACKGROUND: The effect of delivering nutrition at different calorie levels during critical illness is uncertain, and patients typically receive less than the recommended amount. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial, involving adults undergoing mechanical ventilation in 46 Australian and New Zealand intensive care units (ICUs), to evaluate energy-dense (1.5 kcal per milliliter) as compared with routine (1.0 kcal per milliliter) enteral nutrition at a dose of 1 ml per kilogram of ideal body weight per hour, commencing at or within 12 hours of the initiation of nutrition support and continuing for up to 28 days while the patient was in the ICU. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality within 90 days. RESULTS: There were 3957 patients included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis (1971 in the 1.5-kcal group and 1986 in the 1.0-kcal group). The volume of enteral nutrition delivered during the trial was similar in the two groups; however, patients in the 1.5-kcal group received a mean (±SD) of 1863±478 kcal per day as compared with 1262±313 kcal per day in the 1.0-kcal group (mean difference, 601 kcal per day; 95% confidence interval [CI], 576 to 626). By day 90, a total of 523 of 1948 patients (26.8%) in the 1.5-kcal group and 505 of 1966 patients (25.7%) in the 1.0-kcal group had died (relative risk, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.94 to 1.16; P=0.41). The results were similar in seven predefined subgroups. Higher calorie delivery did not affect survival time, receipt of organ support, number of days alive and out of the ICU and hospital or free of organ support, or the incidence of infective complications or adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, the rate of survival at 90 days associated with the use of an energy-dense formulation for enteral delivery of nutrition was not higher than that with routine enteral nutrition. (Funded by National Health and Medical Research Institute of Australia and the Health Research Council of New Zealand; TARGET ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02306746 .).

A guide to enteral nutrition in intensive care units: 10 expert tips for the daily practice.

The preferential use of the oral/enteral route in critically ill patients over gut rest is uniformly recommended and applied. This article provides practical guidance on enteral nutrition in compliance with recent American and European guidelines. Low-dose enteral nutrition can be safely started within 48 h after admission, even during treatment with small or moderate doses of vasopressor agents. A percutaneous access should be used when enteral nutrition is anticipated for ≥ 4 weeks. Energy delivery should not be calculated to match energy expenditure before day 4-7, and the use of energy-dense formulas can be restricted to cases of inability to tolerate full-volume isocaloric enteral nutrition or to patients who require fluid restriction. Low-dose protein (max 0.8 g/kg/day) can be provided during the early phase of critical illness, while a protein target of > 1.2 g/kg/day could be considered during the rehabilitation phase. The occurrence of refeeding syndrome should be assessed by daily measurement of plasma phosphate, and a phosphate drop of 30% should be managed by reduction of enteral feeding rate and high-dose thiamine. Vomiting and increased gastric residual volume may indicate gastric intolerance, while sudden abdominal pain, distension, gastrointestinal paralysis, or rising abdominal pressure may indicate lower gastrointestinal intolerance.

Plasma Cortisol, Aldosterone, and Ascorbic Acid Concentrations in Patients with Septic Shock Do Not Predict Treatment Effect of Hydrocortisone on Mortality. A Nested Cohort Study.

Rationale: Whether biomarkers can identify subgroups of patients with septic shock with differential treatment responses to hydrocortisone is unknown.Objectives: To determine if there is heterogeneity in effect for hydrocortisone on mortality, shock resolution, and other clinical outcomes based on baseline cortisol, aldosterone, and ascorbic acid concentrations.Methods: From May 2014 to April 2017, we obtained serum samples from 529 patients with septic shock from 22 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand.Measurements and Main Results: There were no significant interactions between the association with 90-day mortality and treatment with either hydrocortisone or placebo for total cortisol (odds ratio [OR], 1.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.16 vs. OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.00-1.13; P = 0.70), free cortisol (OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.04-1.38 vs. OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.02-1.32; P = 0.75), aldosterone (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.97-1.05 vs. OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.98-1.04; P = 0.99), or ascorbic acid (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.89-1.39 vs. OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.91-1.22; P = 0.70), respectively. Similar results were observed for the association with shock resolution. Elevated free cortisol was significantly associated with 90-day mortality (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.00-1.27; P = 0.04), but total cortisol, aldosterone, and ascorbic acid were not.Conclusions: In patients with septic shock, there was no heterogeneity in effect of adjunctive hydrocortisone on mortality, shock resolution, or other clinical outcomes based on cortisol, aldosterone, and ascorbic acid concentrations. Plasma aldosterone and ascorbic acid concentrations are not associated with outcome.

Outcomes Six Months after Delivering 100% or 70% of Enteral Calorie Requirements during Critical Illness (TARGET). A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Rationale: The long-term effects of delivering approximately 100% of recommended calorie intake via the enteral route during critical illness compared with a lesser amount of calories are unknown.Objectives: Our hypotheses were that achieving approximately 100% of recommended calorie intake during critical illness would increase quality-of-life scores, return to work, and key life activities and reduce death and disability 6 months later.Methods: We conducted a multicenter, blinded, parallel group, randomized clinical trial, with 3,957 mechanically ventilated critically ill adults allocated to energy-dense (1.5 kcal/ml) or routine (1.0 kcal/ml) enteral nutrition.Measurements and Main Results: Participants assigned energy-dense nutrition received more calories (percent recommended energy intake, mean [SD]; energy-dense: 103% [28] vs. usual: 69% [18]). Mortality at Day 180 was similar (560/1,895 [29.6%] vs. 539/1,920 [28.1%]; relative risk 1.05 [95% confidence interval, 0.95-1.16]). At a median (interquartile range) of 185 (182-193) days after randomization, 2,492 survivors were surveyed and reported similar quality of life (EuroQol five dimensions five-level quality-of-life questionnaire visual analog scale, median [interquartile range]: 75 [60-85]; group difference: 0 [95% confidence interval, 0-0]). Similar numbers of participants returned to work with no difference in hours worked or effectiveness at work (n = 818). There was no observed difference in disability (n = 1,208) or participation in key life activities (n = 705).Conclusions: The delivery of approximately 100% compared with 70% of recommended calorie intake during critical illness does not improve quality of life or functional outcomes or increase the number of survivors 6 months later.

Nutrition management of obese critically ill adults: A survey of critical care dietitians in Australia and New Zealand.

BACKGROUND: Guideline recommendations for nutrition therapy in critically ill obese adults are inconsistent. This study aimed to describe how dietitians working in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) approach managing the nutritional needs of an obese, critically ill adult. METHODS: Invitations to participate were via personal email communication. The survey was also disseminated through a research email list and a dietitian-based newsletter. The multiple-choice case-based survey consisted of 12 questions relating to nutrition prescription and were based on international nutrition guideline recommendations including (i) weight used in energy and protein predictive equations; (ii) energy and protein prescription at ICU admission and day 7, (iii) commencement of enteral nutrition, and; (iv) use of supplemental protein. Data are reported as n (%). RESULTS: Sixty-three dietitians participated in the survey. Most commonly, adjusted body weight calculated as 'weight at BMI 25 kg/m2 + 25% excess weight' was used in equations to guide energy (44 respondents, 70%) and protein (39 respondents, 62%) prescription. At day 1, energy and protein prescription was most commonly based on the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) guideline recommendation of 20-25 kcal/kg (39 respondents, 62%) and 1.3 g protein/kg adjusted body weight (36 respondents, 57%). Thirteen (21%) respondents had an indirect calorimetry device in their ICU to measure energy expenditure. On day 7, the ESPEN recommendations were again the most common method used for prescribing energy (30 respondents, 48%) and protein (23 respondents. 48%) needs. Thirty-eight dietitians (60%) reported they would use early supplemental protein to meet protein requirements. CONCLUSIONS: ICU dietitians in ANZ who responded to the survey most commonly report using the ESPEN ICU guideline recommendations (20-25 kcal/kg and 1.3 g protein/kg adjusted body weight) to guide nutrition prescription in an obese critically ill adult. Prospective studies are required to confirm these findings.

Early, Goal-Directed Therapy for Septic Shock - A Patient-Level Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: After a single-center trial and observational studies suggesting that early, goal-directed therapy (EGDT) reduced mortality from septic shock, three multicenter trials (ProCESS, ARISE, and ProMISe) showed no benefit. This meta-analysis of individual patient data from the three recent trials was designed prospectively to improve statistical power and explore heterogeneity of treatment effect of EGDT. METHODS: We harmonized entry criteria, intervention protocols, outcomes, resource-use measures, and data collection across the trials and specified all analyses before unblinding. After completion of the trials, we pooled data, excluding the protocol-based standard-therapy group from the ProCESS trial, and resolved residual differences. The primary outcome was 90-day mortality. Secondary outcomes included 1-year survival, organ support, and hospitalization costs. We tested for treatment-by-subgroup interactions for 16 patient characteristics and 6 care-delivery characteristics. RESULTS: We studied 3723 patients at 138 hospitals in seven countries. Mortality at 90 days was similar for EGDT (462 of 1852 patients [24.9%]) and usual care (475 of 1871 patients [25.4%]); the adjusted odds ratio was 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.82 to 1.14; P=0.68). EGDT was associated with greater mean (±SD) use of intensive care (5.3±7.1 vs. 4.9±7.0 days, P=0.04) and cardiovascular support (1.9±3.7 vs. 1.6±2.9 days, P=0.01) than was usual care; other outcomes did not differ significantly, although average costs were higher with EGDT. Subgroup analyses showed no benefit from EGDT for patients with worse shock (higher serum lactate level, combined hypotension and hyperlactatemia, or higher predicted risk of death) or for hospitals with a lower propensity to use vasopressors or fluids during usual resuscitation. CONCLUSIONS: In this meta-analysis of individual patient data, EGDT did not result in better outcomes than usual care and was associated with higher hospitalization costs across a broad range of patient and hospital characteristics. (Funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences and others; PRISM ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02030158 .).

Quality of Life and 1-Year Survival in Patients With Early Septic Shock: Long-Term Follow-Up of the Australasian Resuscitation in Sepsis Evaluation Trial.

OBJECTIVES: To examine long-term survival and quality of life of patients with early septic shock. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, parallel-group trial. SETTING: Fifty-one hospitals in Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Hong Kong, and the Republic of Ireland. PATIENTS: One-thousand five-hundred ninety-one patients who presented to the emergency department with early septic shock between October 2008 and April 2014, and were enrolled in the Australasian Resuscitation in Sepsis Evaluation trial. INTERVENTIONS: Early goal-directed therapy versus usual care. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Long-term survival was measured up to 12 months postrandomization. Health-related quality of life was measured using the EuroQoL-5D-3L, Short Form 36 and Assessment of Quality of Life 4D at baseline, and at 6 and 12 months following randomization. Mortality data were available for 1,548 patients (97.3%) and 1,515 patients (95.2%) at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Health-related quality of life data were available for 85.1% of survivors at 12 months. There were no significant differences in mortality between groups at either 6 months (early goal-directed therapy 21.8% vs usual care 22.6%; p = 0.70) or 12 months (early goal-directed therapy 26.4% vs usual care 27.9%; p = 0.50). There were no group differences in health-related quality of life at either 6 or 12 months (EuroQoL-5D-3L utility scores at 12 mo early goal-directed therapy 0.65 ± 0.33 vs usual care 0.64 ± 0.34; p = 0.50), with the health-related quality of life of both groups being significantly lower than population norms. CONCLUSIONS: In patients presenting to the emergency department with early septic shock, early goal-directed therapy compared with usual care did not reduce mortality nor improve health-related quality of life at either 6 or 12 months.

Weight and height documentation: Does ICU measure up?

BACKGROUND: Reliable assessment and documentation of weight and height are essential for the accurate delivery of many critical care interventions. METHODS: We conducted a 3-month retrospective, cross-sectional, single-centre audit to determine the prevalence of weight and height documentation in the clinical records of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for the period from 3 months prior to hospital admission up to hospital discharge. RESULTS: One hundred forty-one index ICU admissions were identified from October-December 2015 with 138 medical records available for analysis. Median (interquartile range) age was 64.5 (50.8-75.3) years, the majority were male (60.9%, 84/138), and the ICU admission Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 19.0 (14.0-25.0). Overall, weight and height were recorded in 90 (65.2%) and 63 (45.6%) patients, respectively. For elective postoperative admissions (n = 20), weight and height were recorded in 20 (100%) and 19 (95%) patients. For emergency medical and surgical admissions, 70 (59.3%) and 44 (37.2%) patients had weight and height recorded in both the 3-month period prior to hospital admission and the in-hospital period. A moderate, positive correlation was shown, r = 0.55, P < 0.001, with a longer hospital length of stay being associated with a greater number of weight and height records for each patient. In the emergency patient cohort, 81.7% (n = 215/263) of weight- and/or height-based interventions occurred before or during the ICU admission, of which 69.9% (n = 184/263) required consideration of ideal body weight. CONCLUSION: Measurement and medical record documentation of weight and height is infrequently performed in ICU patients. Given the clinical requirement for accurate measurement and documentation, further research to understand the barriers to perform and document this important process of care is necessary.

Pharmacokinetics of piperacillin in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury receiving sustained low-efficiency diafiltration.

Background: Piperacillin is a ß-lactam penicillin antibiotic commonly used for the empirical therapy of sepsis and other hospital-acquired infections. However, knowledge regarding the effect of sustained low-efficiency diafiltration (SLED-f), a technique increasingly being used in ICUs, on piperacillin pharmacokinetics (PK) and dosing in critically ill patients is lacking. Objectives: To describe the PK of piperacillin during SLED-f and compare the results with those reported for other forms of renal replacement therapies. Methods: Serial blood samples were collected at pre- and post-filter ports within the SLED-f circuit during SLED-f in one session and from an arterial catheter during sampling without SLED-f. Piperacillin concentrations were measured using a validated chromatography method. Non-compartmental PK analysis of the data was performed. Results: The median clearance and area under the concentration-time curve during SLED-f were 6 L/h and 532 mg·h/L, respectively. Fifty-eight percent of piperacillin was cleared by a single SLED-f session (6 h) compared with previous reports of 30%-45% clearance by a 3.5 h intermittent haemodialysis session. Clearance, half-life and area under the concentration-time curve during SLED-f obtained from this study were comparable with those reported in the post-dilution mode of continuous veno-venous haemodiafiltration studies. Conclusions: As it can be challenging to accurately predict when SLED-f will be initiated in the critically ill, a maintenance dose of at least 4 g every 12 h with at least a 2 g replacement dose post-SLED-f would be a practical approach to piperacillin dosing in ICU patients with anuria receiving SLED-f with a duration similar to the current study.

Haemoglobin concentration and volume of intravenous fluids in septic shock in the ARISE trial.

BACKGROUND: Intravenous fluids may contribute to lower haemoglobin levels in patients with septic shock. We sought to determine the relationship between the changes in haemoglobin concentration and the volume of intravenous fluids administered during resuscitation from septic shock. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients enrolled in the Australasian Resuscitation in Sepsis Evaluation (ARISE) trial who were not transfused red blood cells (N = 1275). We determined the relationship between haemoglobin concentration, its change over time and volume of intravenous fluids administered over 6, 24 and 72 h using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Median (IQR) haemoglobin concentration at baseline was 133 (118-146) g/L and decreased to 115 (102-127) g/L within the first 6 h of resuscitation (P < 0.001), 110 (99-122) g/L after 24 h, and 109 (97-121) g/L after 72 h. At the corresponding time points, the cumulative volume of intravenous fluid administered was 1.3 (0.7-2.2) L, 2.9 (1.8-4.3) L and 4.6 (2.7-7.1) L. Haemoglobin concentration and its change from baseline had an independent but weak association with intravenous fluid volume at each time point (R2 < 20%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates, each litre of intravenous fluid administered was associated with a change in haemoglobin concentration of - 1.0 g/L (95% CI -1.5 to -0.6, P < 0.001) at 24 h and - 1.3 g/L (- 1.6 to - 0.9, P < 0.001) at 72 h. CONCLUSIONS: Haemoglobin concentration decreases during resuscitation from septic shock, and has a significant but weak association with the volume of intravenous fluids administered.

Women in Intensive Care study: a preliminary assessment of international data on female representation in the ICU physician workforce, leadership and academic positions.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing female enrolment into medical schools, persistent gender gaps exist in the physician workforce. There are limited published data on female representation in the critical care medicine workforce. METHODS: To obtain a global perspective, societies (n = 84; 79,834 members (40,363 physicians, 39,471 non-physicians)) registered with the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine were surveyed. Longitudinal data on female trainee and specialist positions between 2006-2017 were obtained from Australia and New Zealand. Data regarding leadership and academic faculty representation were also collected from national training bodies and other organisations of critical care medicine. RESULTS: Of the 84 societies, 23 had a registered membership of greater than 500 members. Responses were received from 27 societies (n = 55,996), mainly high-income countries, covering 70.1% of the membership. Amongst the physician workforce, the gender distribution was available from six (22%) participating societies-mean proportion of females 37 ± 11% (range 26-50%). Longitudinal data from Australia and New Zealand between 2006 and 2017 demonstrate rising proportions of female trainees and specialists. Female trainee and specialist numbers increased from 26 to 37% and from 13 to 22% respectively. Globally, female representation in leadership positions was presidencies of critical care organisations (0-41%), representation on critical care medicine boards and councils (8-50%) and faculty representation at symposia (7-34%). Significant gaps in knowledge exist: data from low and middle-income countries, the age distribution and the time taken to enter and complete training. CONCLUSIONS: Despite limited information globally, available data suggest that females are under-represented in training programmes, specialist positions, academic faculty and leadership roles in intensive care. There are significant gaps in data on female participation in the critical care workforce. Further data from intensive care organisations worldwide are required to understand the demographics, challenges and barriers to their professional progress.

Using Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Monte Carlo Simulations To Determine whether Standard Doses of Piperacillin in Piperacillin-Tazobactam Regimens Are Adequate for the Management of Febrile Neutropenia.

Changes in the pharmacokinetics of piperacillin in febrile neutropenic patients have been reported to result in suboptimal exposures. This study aimed to develop a population pharmacokinetic model for piperacillin and perform dosing simulation to describe optimal dosing regimens for hematological malignancy patients with febrile neutropenia. Concentration-time data were obtained from previous prospective observational pharmacokinetic and interventional therapeutic drug monitoring studies. Nonparametric population pharmacokinetic analysis and Monte Carlo dosing simulations were performed with the Pmetrics package for R. A two-compartment model, with between-subject variability for clearance (CL), adequately described the data from 37 patients (21 males, age of 59 ± 12 years [means ± standard deviations] and weight of 77 ± 16 kg). Parameter estimates were CL of 18.0 ± 4.8 liters/h, volume of distribution of the central compartment of 14.3 ± 7.3 liters, rate constant for piperacillin distribution from the central to peripheral compartment of 1.40 ± 1.35 h-1, and rate constant for piperacillin distribution from the peripheral to central compartment of 4.99 ± 7.81 h-1 High creatinine clearance (CLCR) was associated with reduced probability of target attainment (PTA). Extended and continuous infusion regimens achieved a high PTA of >90% for an unbound concentration of piperacillin remaining above the MIC (fT>MIC) of 50%. Only continuous regimens achieved >90% PTA for 100% fT>MIC when CLCR was high. The cumulative fraction of response (FTA, for fractional target attainment) was suboptimal (<85%) for conventional regimens for both empirical and directed therapy considering 50% and 100% fT>MIC FTA was maximized with prolonged infusions. Overall, changes in piperacillin pharmacokinetics and the consequences on therapeutic dosing requirements appear similar to those observed in intensive care patients. Guidelines should address the altered dosing needs of febrile neutropenic patients exhibiting high CLCR or with known/presumed infections from high-MIC bacteria.