Evaluation of continuous ampicillin/sulbactam infusion in critically ill patients.

Continuous infusion (CI) of beta-lactam-antibiotics may improve pharmacodynamics in critically ill patients, but resulting concentrations have not been studied. Therapeutic drug monitoring is increasingly used to ensure antibiotic concentration. The aim of this study is to evaluate therapeutic ampicillin/sulbactam concentrations of a continuous infusion regimen. METHODS: Medical records of all patients admitted to ICU between January 2019 and December 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Each patient received a 2/1 g ampicillin/sulbactam loading dose, followed by a continuous infusion of 8/4 g per 24 h. Ampicillin serum concentrations were measured. Main outcomes were reaching of plasma concentrations breakpoint defined by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC at 8 mg/l) and 4-fold MIC (MIC at 32 mg/l) during steady state of CI. RESULTS: In 50 patients a total of 60 concentration measurements were performed. The first concentration was measured after a median of 29 h (IQR 21-61 h). Mean ampicillin concentration was 62.6 ± 39.1 mg/l. Furthermore, serum concentrations exceeded the defined MIC breakpoint in all measurements (100 %) and were above the 4-fold MIC in 43 analyses (71.1 %). However, patients suffering from acute kidney injury exhibited significant higher serum concentrations (81.1 ± 37.7 mg/l vs. 38.2 ± 24.8 mg/l; p < 0.001). Also, there was a negative correlation between ampicillin serum concentrations and GFR (r = -0.659; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The described dosing regimen for ampicillin/sulbactam is safe with respect to the defined MIC breakpoints for ampicillin, and continuous subtherapeutic concentration is unlikely. However, with impaired renal function drug accumulation occurs, and with increased renal clearance, drug levels can be below the 4-fold MIC breakpoint.

[Neglected, lonely and sick - the social breakdown : A special patient group in the emergency department]. / Verwahrlost, einsam und krank ­ der soziale Breakdown : Eine spezielle Patientengruppe in der zentralen Notaufnahme.

BACKGROUND: The emergency department (ED) is increasingly becoming the primary care unit of patients who are no longer able to meet the necessary minimum requirements for a healthy life. In the emergency medical care of these patients, fixation errors and stereotyped thinking can distract from serious illnesses, which can be tended by emergency medicine. This group of patients, with their multifactorial problems, represents a special challenge for the staff of the ED. The aim of this study is to improve the quality of the care for a special patient group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A monocentric retrospective observation study was conducted at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB). On the basis of case studies, the emergency medical care of this special patient group was examined in the ED. RESULTS: Over the period of 7 years (2009 to 2016), 17 patients in a state of total neglect could be examined. The endpoints identified, during the emergency care, are the therapy of life-threatening diseases, laboratory pathologies, introduction of infectious protective measures, initiation of diagnostic measures, measures to be initiated within different departments (operating room, intensive care unit) and outcome. CONCLUSION: Patients in a state of total neglect require interdisciplinary primary care at a hospital with extended care structures. The apparent primary impression of these patients must not lead to a fixation error. Due to the often not obtainable history of the patient's and the complex appearance of these patients, the evaluation should be carried out according to a defined algorithm in the emergency room.

[Anesthesia in children and adolescents with congenital heart defects]. / Anästhesie bei Kindern und Jugendlichen nach angeborenen Herzfehlern.

The incidence of congenital heart defects (CHD) has remained constant over many years; however, due to improved therapeutic options an increasing number of children and adolescents even with complex heart defects now reach adulthood. The increasing prevalence of adults with persisting or surgically corrected CHD as well as age-dependent non-cardiac comorbidities will increase the need for medical and non-cardiac surgical treatment in this population. Although elective medical care for these patients should be reserved for highly specialized centers, emergency treatment might become necessary in a non-specialized hospital setting as well. Due to the variety and complexity of CHD it is difficult to provide standardized guidelines for the anesthetic management. The treatment of patients with complex CHD requires a profound understanding of the underlying CHD and the current state of the hemodynamics by the anesthesiologist. Furthermore, typical comorbidities, such as chronic heart failure, altered coagulation and arrhythmia also have to be taken into account to ensure successful perioperative treatment. Especially in patients with shunt lesions or passive pulmonary blood flow the anesthetic management often substantially affects the hemodynamics and may be the starting point of severe decompensation. Awareness of anesthesia-induced changes of pulmonary and/or systemic vascular resistance as well as of preload alterations are the basis for successful anesthetic management. Finally, a multidisciplinary approach including cardiologists and radiologists in the planning is absolutely essential to achieve an optimal postoperative result for the patient.

[Cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery]. / Kardiopulmonaler bypass in der herzchirurgie.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a standard procedure in cardiac surgery; however, apart from its therapeutic options a CPB might also initiate systemic and organ-specific complications, such as heart failure, renal and pulmonary dysfunction, impaired coagulation as well as neurological and cognitive dysfunction. The immunological response to the extracorporeal circulation generates systemic inflammation which often meets the definition of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). The main inducers of SIRS are contact of blood with the artificial surfaces of the CPB, mechanical stress which affects the blood components and the extensive surgical trauma. Hence, a number of technical and surgical developments aim at reduction of the inflammatory response caused by the CPB. By reason of surgical demands, the majority of cardiothoracic procedures still depend on the use of CPB; however, there is an on-going development of new techniques trying to reduce the surgical trauma and the negative consequences of CPB. Here, minimized systems with biocompatible surfaces have been shown to be effective in attenuating the inflammatory response to CPB. Alternative procedures such as off-pump surgery may help to avoid CPB-associated complications but due to specific limitations will not replace conventional bypass surgery.