Perivalvular Mitral Abscess Fistulised to the Pericardial Cavity Revealing Staphylococcal Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND: Fistula to the pericardial cavity is a very rare complication of perivalvular abscess during infective endocarditis, with Staphylococcus aureus being the most commonly associated microorganism. METHODS: We report a fatal septic shock due to a mitral endocarditis revealed by a myocardial abscess fistulised toward the pericardial cavity. RESULTS: A 66-year-old female without previous valvular disease was admitted to intensive care for severe sepsis. A few hours after admission, an unexpected cardiac arrest occurred. Chest computed tomographic-scan and transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a pericardial effusion due to a perivalvular mitral abscess fistulised toward the pericardial cavity. Despite prompt management including surgical debridement and appropriate antibiotics, death occurred 36hours after intensive care admission. All blood cultures as well as native mitral valve and pericardial fluid grew methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. CONCLUSIONS: Intensivists should consider this rare complication in patients with staphylococcal infective endocarditis and perivalvular abscess.

Empirical Antibiotic Therapy for Gram-Negative Bacilli Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia: Observational Study and Pharmacodynamic Assessment.

Background: Strong evidence suggests a correlation between pharmacodynamics (PD) index and antibiotic efficacy while dose adjustment should be considered in critically ill patients due to modified pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and/or higher minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). This study aimed to assess pharmacodynamic (PD) target attainment considering both antibiotics serum concentrations and measured MICs in these patients. Method: A multicentric prospective open-label trial conducted in 11 French ICUs involved patients with Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) confirmed by quantitative cultures. Results: We included 117 patients. Causative GNBs were P. aeruginosa (40%), Enterobacter spp. (23%), E. coli (20%), and Klebsiella spp. (16%). Hence, 117 (100%) patients received ß-lactams, 65 (58%) aminoglycosides, and two (1.5%) fluoroquinolones. For ß-lactams, 83% of the patients achieved a Cmin/MIC > 1 and 70% had a Cmin/MIC > 4. In the case of high creatinine clearance (CrCL > 100 mL/min/1.73 m2), 70.4% of the patients achieved a Cmin/MIC ratio > 1 versus 91% otherwise (p = 0.041), and 52% achieved a Cmin/MIC ratio > 4 versus 81% (p = 0.018). For aminoglycosides, 94% of the patients had a Cmax/MIC ratio > 8. Neither ß-lactams nor aminoglycosides PK/PD parameters were associated clinical outcomes, but our data suggest a correlation between ß-lactams Cmin/MIC and microbiological success. Conclusion: In our ICU patients treated for GNB VAP, using recommended antibiotic dosage led in most cases to PK/PD targets attainment for aminoglycosides and ß-lactams. High creatinine clearance should encourage clinicians to focus on PK/PD issues.

Prevention of pulmonary complications after aortic surgery: evaluation of prophylactic noninvasive perioperative ventilation.

BACKGROUND: In 40% of the cases, pulmonary complications are encountered after aortic surgery in patients suffering from chronic obstructive broncho-pneumopathy (COBP). The factors aggravating the occurrence of these complications are cumulated tobacco addiction of ≥40 packets per year and surgery for aneurysm. The aim of our prospective study was to evaluate the effect of pre- and postoperative noninvasive ventilation (NIV) preparation on the respiratory function of patients presenting with high pulmonary risks. METHODS: Between September 2007 and May 2010, 30 patients were included in the present study. Inclusions criteria were male gender, patients suffering from COBP with tobacco addiction of ≥40 packets per year, and aortic surgery for aneurysm with or without occlusive lesions. In all, 14 of the 15 patients had effectively performed the preparation before and after surgery according to a fixed protocol (NIV group). We compared the respiratory rate complications and the mean hospital length of stay in intensive care with the non-NIV control group (15 patients). RESULTS: Mean age, severity of COBP according to the classification of the French Society for Pneumology, surgery duration, and blood losses were comparable between the two groups. Conversely, pulmonary complications were significantly lower in the NIV group (0/14 [0%] vs. 5/15 [33%], p = 0.004). Hospital length of stay in intensive care was shorter in the NIV group (2.5 vs. 6.5 days, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Preliminary results are encouraging, in favor of pulmonary preparation before aortic surgery with NIV at home, and carried on postoperatively in hospital for patients with COBP. These results prompt us to propose a multicenter study to validate these first observations.

A long-term clinical evaluation of autoflow during assist-controlled ventilation: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Many new mechanical ventilation modes are proposed without any clinical evaluation. "Dual-controlled" modes, such as AutoFlow™, are supposed to improve patient- ventilator interfacing and could lead to fewer alarms. We performed a long-term clinical evaluation of the efficacy and safety of AutoFlow during assist-controlled ventilation, focusing on ventilator alarms. METHODS: Forty-two adult patients, receiving mechanical ventilation for more than 2 days with a Dräger Evita 4 ventilator were randomized to conventional (n = 21) or AutoFlow (n = 21) assist-controlled ventilation. Sedation was given using a nurse-driven protocol. Ventilator-generated alarms were exhaustively recorded from the ventilator logbook with a computer. Daily blood gases and ventilation outcome were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 403 days of mechanical ventilation were studied and 45,022 alarms were recorded over a period of 8074 hours. The course of respiratory rate, minute ventilation, Fio(2), positive end-expiratory pressure, Pao(2)/Fio(2), Paco(2), and pH and doses and duration of sedation did not differ between the 2 groups. Outcome (duration of mechanical ventilation, ventilator-associated pneumonia, course of Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, or death) was not different between the 2 groups. The number of alarms per hour was lower with AutoFlow assist-controlled ventilation: 3.3 [1.5 to 17] versus 9.1 [5 to 19], P < 0.0001 (median [quartile range]). In multivariate analysis, a low alarm rate was associated with activation of AutoFlow and a higher midazolam dose. CONCLUSIONS: This first long-term clinical evaluation of the AutoFlow mode demonstrated its safety with regard to gas exchange and patient outcome. AutoFlow also allowed a very marked reduction in the number of ventilator alarms.

Pulmonary embolism or thrombosis in ARDS COVID-19 patients: A French monocenter retrospective study.

Hypercoagulability and endotheliopathy reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) combined with strict and prolonged immobilization inherent to deep sedation and administration of neuromuscular blockers for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) may expose critically ill COVID-19 patients to an increased risk of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE). We aimed to assess the rate and to describe the clinical features and the outcomes of ARDS COVID-19 patients diagnosed with PE during ICU stay. From March 13th to April 24th 2020, a total of 92 patients (median age: 61 years, 1st-3rd quartiles [55-70]; males: n = 73/92, 79%; baseline SOFA: 4 [3-7] and SAPS II: 31 [21-40]; invasive mechanical ventilation: n = 83/92, 90%; ICU mortality: n = 45/92, 49%) were admitted to our 41-bed COVID-19 ICU for ARDS due to COVID-19. Among them, 26 patients (n = 26/92, 28%) underwent a Computed Tomography Pulmonary Angiography which revealed PE in 16 (n = 16/26, 62%) of them, accounting for 17% (n = 16/92) of the whole cohort. PE was bilateral in 3 (19%) patients and unilateral in 13 (81%) patients. The most proximal thrombus was localized in main (n = 4, 25%), lobar (n = 2, 12%) or segmental (n = 10, 63%) pulmonary artery. Most of the thrombi (n = 13/16, 81%) were located in a parenchymatous condensation. Only three of the 16 patients (19%) had lower limb venous thrombosis on Doppler ultrasound. Three patients were treated with alteplase and anticoagulation (n = 3/16, 19%) while the 13 others (n = 13/16, 81%) were treated with anticoagulation alone. ICU mortality was higher in patients with PE compared to that of patients without PE (n = 11/16, 69% vs. n = 2/10, 20%; p = 0.04). The low rate of lower limb venous thrombosis together with the high rate of distal pulmonary thrombus argue for a local immuno-thrombotic process associated with the classic embolic process. Further larger studies are needed to assess the real prevalence and the risk factors of pulmonary embolism/thrombosis together with its prognostic impact on critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Amikacin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic in intensive care unit: a prospective database.

BACKGROUND: Aminoglycosides have a concentration-dependent therapeutic effect when peak serum concentration (Cmax) reaches eight to tenfold the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). With an amikacin MIC of 8 mg/L, the Cmax should be 64-80 mg/L. This objective is based on clinical breakpoints and not on measured MIC. This study aimed to assess the proportion of patients achieving the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) target Cmax/MIC ≥ 8 using the measured MIC in critically ill patients treated for documented Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) infections. METHODS: Retrospective analysis from February 2016 to December 2017 of a prospective database conducted in 2 intensive care units (ICU). All patients with documented severe GNB infections treated with amikacin (single daily dose of 25 mg/kg of total body weight (TBW)) with both MIC and Cmax measurements at first day of treatment (D1) were included. Results are expressed in n (%) or median [min-max]. RESULTS: 93 patients with 98 GNB-documented infections were included. The median Cmax was 55.2 mg/L [12.2-165.7] and the median MIC was 2 mg/L [0.19-16]. Cmax/MIC ratio ≥ 8 was achieved in 87 patients (88.8%) while a Cmax ≥ 64 mg/L was achieved in only 38 patients (38.7%). Overall probability of PK/PD target attainment was 93%. No correlation was found between Cmax/MIC ratio and clinical outcome at D8 and D28. CONCLUSION: According to PK/PD parameters observed in our study, single daily dose of amikacin 25 mg/kg of TBW appears to be sufficient in most critically ill patients treated for severe GNB infections.

Association of systemic secondary brain insults and outcome in patients with convulsive status epilepticus: A post hoc study of a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between systemic factors (mean arterial blood pressure, arterial partial pressures of carbon dioxide and oxygen, body temperature, natremia, and glycemia) on day 1 and neurologic outcomes 90 days after convulsive status epilepticus. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of the Evaluation of Therapeutic Hypothermia in Convulsive Status Epilepticus in Adults in Intensive Care (HYBERNATUS) multicenter open-label controlled trial, which randomized 270 critically ill patients with convulsive status epilepticus requiring mechanical ventilation to therapeutic hypothermia (32°C-34°C for 24 hours) plus standard care or standard care alone between March 2011 and January 2015. The primary endpoint was a Glasgow Outcome Scale score of 5, defining a favorable outcome, 90 days after convulsive status epilepticus. RESULTS: The 172 men and 93 women had a median age of 57 years (45-68 years). Among them, 130 (49%) had a history of epilepsy, and 59 (29%) had a primary brain insult. Convulsive status epilepticus was refractory in 86 (32%) patients, and total seizure duration was 67 minutes (35-120 minutes). The 90-day outcome was unfavorable in 126 (48%) patients. In multivariate analysis, none of the systemic secondary brain insults were associated with outcome; achieving an unfavorable outcome was associated with age >65 years (odds ratio [OR] 2.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.20-3.85; p = 0.01), refractory convulsive status epilepticus (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.04-3.85; p = 0.04), primary brain insult (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.02-4.00; p = 0.047), and no bystander-witnessed seizure onset (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.05-5.59; p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In our population, systemic secondary brain insults were not associated with outcome in critically ill patients with convulsive status epilepticus. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01359332.

Bacterial and viral co-infections in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia admitted to a French ICU.

BACKGROUND: Data on the prevalence of bacterial and viral co-infections among patients admitted to the ICU for acute respiratory failure related to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia are lacking. We aimed to assess the rate of bacterial and viral co-infections, as well as to report the most common micro-organisms involved in patients admitted to the ICU for severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this monocenter retrospective study, we reviewed all the respiratory microbiological investigations performed within the first 48 h of ICU admission of COVID-19 patients (RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2) admitted for acute respiratory failure. RESULTS: From March 13th to April 16th 2020, a total of 92 adult patients (median age: 61 years, 1st-3rd quartiles [55-70]; males: n = 73/92, 79%; baseline SOFA: 4 [3-7] and SAPS II: 31 [21-40]; invasive mechanical ventilation: n = 83/92, 90%; ICU mortality: n = 45/92, 49%) were admitted to our 40-bed ICU for acute respiratory failure due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Among them, 26 (28%) were considered as co-infected with a pathogenic bacterium at ICU admission with no co-infection related to atypical bacteria or viruses. The distribution of the 32 bacteria isolated from culture and/or respiratory PCRs was as follows: methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (n = 10/32, 31%), Haemophilus influenzae (n = 7/32, 22%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 6/32, 19%), Enterobacteriaceae (n = 5/32, 16%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 2/32, 6%), Moraxella catarrhalis (n = 1/32, 3%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (n = 1/32, 3%). Among the 24 pathogenic bacteria isolated from culture, 2 (8%) and 5 (21%) were resistant to 3rd generation cephalosporin and to amoxicillin-clavulanate combination, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We report on a 28% rate of bacterial co-infection at ICU admission of patients with severe SARSCoV-2 pneumonia, mostly related to Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Enterobacteriaceae. In French patients with confirmed severe SARSCoV-2 pneumonia requiring ICU admission, our results encourage the systematic administration of an empiric antibiotic monotherapy with a 3rd generation cephalosporin, with a prompt de-escalation as soon as possible. Further larger studies are needed to assess the real prevalence and the predictors of co-infection together with its prognostic impact on critically ill patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia.

Bedside adherence to clinical practice guidelines in the intensive care unit: the TECLA study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess adherence to clinical practice guidelines for three interventions routinely used in critical care medicine. DESIGN AND SETTING: Multicenter, 1-day cross-sectional observational study in 44 intensive care units in four countries. PATIENTS: A total of 419 patients hospitalized in participating ICUs on the day of the survey. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Red blood cell transfusion (n = 29) was performed appropriately in 22 patients (76%), while among the 390 patients who received no transfusion 4 (1%) had a valid indication. Setting of tidal volume in acute respiratory distress syndrome, assessed in 45 patients, was deemed appropriate in 37 cases (82%). Prescription of stress ulcer prophylaxis (n = 128) was appropriate in only 24 patients (19%), while among the 268 patients who were not treated 28 (10%) had an indication. CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of recommendations varies across different domains of care. While the adherence to current recommendations in routine practice is acceptable as regards tidal volume settings in acute respiratory distress syndrome, it is suboptimal for blood transfusion and prevention of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Practice surveys are useful to inform strategies currently developed to assess practices of health-care professionals and develop strategies for more effective dissemination of medical knowledge.

Clinical features and outcome of patients with acute respiratory failure revealing anti-synthetase or anti-MDA-5 dermato-pulmonary syndrome: a French multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Anti-synthetase (AS) and dermato-pulmonary associated with anti-MDA-5 antibodies (aMDA-5) syndromes are near one of the other autoimmune inflammatory myopathies potentially responsible for severe acute interstitial lung disease. We undertook a 13-year retrospective multicenter study in 35 French ICUs in order to describe the clinical presentation and the outcome of patients admitted to the ICU for acute respiratory failure (ARF) revealing AS or aMDA-5 syndromes. RESULTS: From 2005 to 2017, 47 patients (23 males; median age 60 [1st-3rd quartiles 52-69] years, no comorbidity 85%) were admitted to the ICU for ARF revealing AS (n = 28, 60%) or aMDA-5 (n = 19, 40%) syndromes. Muscular, articular and cutaneous manifestations occurred in 11 patients (23%), 14 (30%) and 20 (43%) patients, respectively. Seventeen of them (36%) had no extra-pulmonary manifestations. C-reactive protein was increased (139 [40-208] mg/L), whereas procalcitonine was not (0.30 [0.12-0.56] ng/mL). Proportion of patients with creatine kinase ≥ 2N was 20% (n = 9/47). Forty-two patients (89%) had ARDS, which was severe in 86%, with a rate of 17% (n = 8/47) of extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation requirement. Proportion of patients who received corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, rituximab, intravenous immunoglobulins and plasma exchange were 100%, 72%, 15%, 21% and 17%, respectively. ICU and hospital mortality rates were 45% (n = 21/47) and 51% (n = 24/47), respectively. Patients with aMDA-5 dermato-pulmonary syndrome had a higher hospital mortality than those with AS syndrome (n = 16/19, 84% vs. n = 8/28, 29%; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Intensivists should consider inflammatory myopathies as a cause of ARF of unknown origin. Extra-pulmonary manifestations are commonly lacking. Mortality is high, especially in aMDA-5 dermato-pulmonary syndrome.

Evaluation of the Binax NOW Streptococcus pneumoniae urinary antigen assay in intensive care patients hospitalized for pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of Binax Now S. pneumoniae urinary antigen rapid immunochromatographic membrane test (ICT) for patients with suspicion of community-acquired pneumonia hospitalized in intensive care and to assess the impact of prior antibiotics on its diagnostic performance. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study in a medicosurgical ICU in a 700-bed general hospital. PATIENTS: Charts of patients with ICT performed (result blinded) were reviewed between May 2002 and July 2004. ICT has been performed in 140 of the 1,006 patients hospitalized in the unit; two-thirds had received antibiotics prior to admission. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Diagnosis of pneumonia was made according to usual criteria. All patients had at least one microbiological test. Pneumonia diagnosis confirmed in 108 patients including 32 pneumococcal. ICT was positive in 23 of 32 patients with pneumococcal pneumonia, in 11 of 108 without, and in none of the 32 patients without pneumonia, resulting in sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of, respectively: 72%, 90%, 68% and 92%. Positive likelihood ratios were comparable among patients with or without prior antibiotics (respectively 6 and 12 for 7 in the overall population). CONCLUSIONS: This first clinical evaluation of ICT in intensive care patients hospitalized for suspicion of community-acquired pneumonia, demonstrated performance in accordance with published data even in the case of prior antibiotics. Its clinical interest and impact on antibiotics policy remain to be refined.

Impact of Resident Rotations on Critically Ill Patient Outcomes: Results of a French Multicenter Observational Study.

PURPOSE: The impact of resident rotation on patient outcomes in the intensive care unit (ICU) has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to address this question using a large ICU database. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the French CUB-REA database. French residents rotate every six months. Two periods were compared: the first (POST) and fifth (PRE) months of the rotation. The primary endpoint was ICU mortality. The secondary endpoints were the length of ICU stay (LOS), the number of organ supports, and the duration of mechanical ventilation (DMV). The impact of resident rotation was explored using multivariate regression, classification tree and random forest models. RESULTS: 262,772 patients were included between 1996 and 2010 in the database. The patient characteristics were similar between the PRE (n = 44,431) and POST (n = 49,979) periods. Multivariate analysis did not reveal any impact of resident rotation on ICU mortality (OR = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.94; 1.07, p = 0.91). Based on the classification trees, the SAPS II and the number of organ failures were the strongest predictors of ICU mortality. In the less severe patients (SAPS II<24), the POST period was associated with increased mortality (OR = 1.65, 95%CI = 1.17-2.33, p = 0.004). After adjustment, no significant association was observed between the rotation period and the LOS, the number of organ supports, or the DMV. CONCLUSION: Resident rotation exerts no impact on overall ICU mortality at French teaching hospitals but might affect the prognosis of less severe ICU patients. Surveillance should be reinforced when treating those patients.