Impact of COVID-19 on posttraumatic stress disorder in ICU survivors: a prospective observational comparative cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) can affect one in five ICU survivors. At the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, admission to the ICU for COVID-19 was stressful due to the severity of this disease. This study assessed whether admission to the ICU for COVID-19 was associated with a higher prevalence of PTSD compared with other causes of ICU admission after adjustment for pre-ICU psychological factors. METHODS: This prospective observational comparative cohort study included 31 ICUs. Eligible patients were adult ICU survivors hospitalized during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in France, regardless of the reason for admission. The prevalence of presumptive diagnosis of PTSD at 6 months was assessed using the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Sociodemographics, clinical data, history of childhood trauma (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire [CTQ]), and exposure to potentially traumatic events (Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 [LEC-5]) were assessed. RESULTS: Of the 778 ICU survivors included during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in France, 417 and 361 were assigned to the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 cohorts, respectively. Fourteen (4.9%) and 11 (4.9%), respectively, presented with presumptive diagnosis of PTSD at 6 months (p = 0.976). After adjusting for age, sex, severity score at admission, use of invasive mechanical ventilation, ICU duration, CTQ and LEC-5, COVID-19 status was not associated with presumptive diagnosis of PTSD using the PCL-5. Only female sex was associated with presumptive diagnosis of PTSD. However, COVID-19 patients reported significantly more intrusion and avoidance symptoms than non-COVID patients (39% vs. 29%, p = 0.015 and 27% vs. 19%, p = 0.030), respectively. The median PCL-5 score was higher in the COVID-19 than non-COVID-19 cohort (9 [3, 20] vs. 4 [2, 16], p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Admission to the ICU for COVID-19 was not associated with a higher prevalence of PTSD compared with admission for another cause during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in France. However, intrusion and avoidance symptoms were more frequent in COVID-19 patients than in non-COVID-19 patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT03991611, registered on June 19, 2019.

Ultra-lung-protective ventilation and biotrauma in severe ARDS patients on veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Ultra-lung-protective ventilation may be useful during veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vv-ECMO) for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) to minimize ventilator-induced lung injury and to facilitate lung recovery. The objective was to compare pulmonary and systemic biotrauma evaluated by numerous biomarkers of inflammation, epithelial, endothelial injuries, and lung repair according to two ventilator strategies on vv-ECMO. METHODS: This is a prospective randomized controlled study. Patients were randomized to receive during 48 h either ultra-lung-protective ventilation combining very low tidal volume (1-2 mL/kg of predicted body weight), low respiratory rate (5-10 cycles per minute), positive expiratory transpulmonary pressure, and 16 h of prone position or lung-protective-ventilation which followed the ECMO arm of the EOLIA trial (control group). RESULTS: The primary outcome was the alveolar concentrations of interleukin-1-beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, surfactant protein D, and blood concentrations of serum advanced glycation end products and angiopoietin-2 48 h after randomization. Enrollment was stopped for futility after the inclusion of 39 patients. Tidal volume, respiratory rate, minute ventilation, plateau pressure, and mechanical power were significantly lower in the ultra-lung-protective group. None of the concentrations of the pre-specified biomarkers differed between the two groups 48 h after randomization. However, a trend to higher 60-day mortality was observed in the ultra-lung-protective group compared to the control group (45 vs 17%, p = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a significant reduction in the mechanical power, ultra-lung-protective ventilation during 48 h did not reduce biotrauma in patients with vv-ECMO-supported ARDS. The impact of this ventilation strategy on clinical outcomes warrants further investigation. Trial registration Clinical trial registered with www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov ( NCT03918603 ). Registered 17 April 2019.

Prevalence of pressure injuries among critically ill patients and factors associated with their occurrence in the intensive care unit: The PRESSURE study.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of pressure injuries (PIs) in critically ill patients has been extensively studied, but there is uncertainty regarding the risk factors. The main objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of PIs in critically ill patients. Secondary objectives were to describe PI, use of preventive measures for PI, and factors associated with occurrence of PI in the intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a 1-day point-prevalence study performed on a weekday in June 2017 in ICUs in France. On the same day, we noted the presence or absence of PI in all hospitalised patients of the participating ICUs, data on the ICUs, and the characteristics of patients and of PI. RESULTS: Eighty-six participating ICUs allowed the inclusion of 1228 patients. The prevalence of PI on the study day was 18.7% (95% confidence interval: 16.6-21.0). PIs acquired in the ICU were observed in 12.5% (95% confidence interval: 10.6-14.3) of critically ill patients on the study day. The most frequent locations of PI were the sacrum (57.4%), heel (35.2%), and face (8.7%). Severe forms of PI accounted for 40.8% of all PIs. Antiulcer mattresses were used in 91.5% of the patients, and active and/or passive mobilisation was performed for all the patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified longer length of stay in the ICU, a higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score, higher body weight, motor neurological disorder, high-dose steroids, and absence of oral nutrition on the study day as factors independently associated with occurrence of PI in the ICU. CONCLUSION: This large point-prevalence study shows that PIs are found in about one of five critically ill patients despite extensive use of devices for preventing PI. Acquisition of PI in the ICU is strongly related to the patient's severity of illness on admission to the ICU and length of stay in the ICU.

[How to promote the construction of knowledge in intensive care?] / Valoriser la construction des savoirs en réanimation.

The nursing profession is based on the acquisition of knowledge and skills. The rapid evolution of scientific knowledge requires regular updating of knowledge in order to base practice on solid and reliable data. The intensive care nurses point out the lack of adequacy between the initial training and the reality of daily life, which is sometimes a source of deviation from good practices. In intensive care, a field where care techniques evolve very rapidly, nurses must be able to update their knowledge and participate in the construction of new knowledge.

Effects of a Multimodal Program Including Simulation on Job Strain Among Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Nurses working in an intensive care unit (ICU) are exposed to occupational stressors that can increase the risk of stress reactions, long-term absenteeism, and turnover. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a program including simulation in reducing work-related stress and work-related outcomes among ICU nurses. Design, Setting, and Participants: Multicenter randomized clinical trial performed at 8 adult ICUs in France from February 8, 2016, through April 29, 2017. A total of 198 ICU nurses were included and followed up for 1 year until April 30, 2018. Interventions: The ICU nurses who had at least 6 months of ICU experience were randomized to the intervention group (n = 101) or to the control group (n = 97). The nurses randomized to the intervention group received a 5-day course involving a nursing theory recap and situational role-play using simulated scenarios (based on technical dexterity, clinical approach, decision making, aptitude to teamwork, and task prioritization), which were followed by debriefing sessions on attitude and discussion of practices. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the prevalence of job strain assessed by combining a psychological demand score greater than 21 (score range, 9 [best] to 36 [worst]) with a decision latitude score less than 72 (score range, 24 [worst] to 96 [best]) using the Job Content Questionnaire and evaluated at 6 months. There were 7 secondary outcomes including absenteeism and turnover. Results: Among 198 ICU nurses who were randomized (95 aged ≤30 years [48%] and 115 women [58%]), 182 (92%) completed the trial for the primary outcome. The trial was stopped for efficacy at the scheduled interim analysis after enrollment of 198 participants. The prevalence of job strain at 6 months was lower in the intervention group than in the control group (13% vs 67%, respectively; between-group difference, 54% [95% CI, 40%-64%]; P < .001). Absenteeism during the 6-month follow-up period was 1% in the intervention group compared with 8% in the control group (between-group difference, 7% [95% CI, 1%-15%]; P = .03). Four nurses (4%) from the intervention group left the ICU during the 6-month follow-up period compared with 12 nurses (12%) from the control group (between-group difference, 8% [95% CI, 0%-17%]; P = .04). Conclusions and Relevance: Among ICU nurses, an intervention that included education, role-play, and debriefing resulted in a lower prevalence of job strain at 6 months compared with nurses who did not undergo this program. Further research is needed to understand which components of the program may have contributed to this result and to evaluate whether this program is cost-effective. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02672072.

Response to Prone Position in COVID-19 and Non-COVID-19 Patients with Severe ARDS Supported by vvECMO.

BACKGROUND: For moderate to severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), lung-protective ventilation combined with prolonged and repeated prone position (PP) is recommended. For the most severe patients for whom this strategy failed, venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vv-ECMO) allows a reduction in ventilation-induced lung injury and improves survival. Some aggregated data have suggested a benefit regarding survival in pursuing PP during vv-ECMO. The combination of PP and vv-ECMO has been also documented in COVID-19 studies, although there is scarce evidence concerning respiratory mechanics and gas exchange response. The main objective was to compare the physiological response of the first PP during vv-ECMO in two cohorts of patients (COVID-19-related ARDS and non-COVID-19 ARDS) regarding respiratory system compliance (CRS) and oxygenation changes. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective, and ambispective cohort study in the ECMO center of Marseille, France. ECMO was indicated according to the EOLIA trial criteria. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were included, 60 in the non-COVID-19 ARDS group and 25 in the COVID-19-related ARDS group. Lung injuries of the COVID-19 cohort exhibited significantly higher severity with a lower CRS at baseline. Concerning the main objective, the first PP during vv-ECMO was not associated with a change in CRS or other variation in respiratory mechanic variables in both cohorts. By contrast, oxygenation was improved only in the non-COVID-19 ARDS group after a return to the supine position. Mean arterial pressure was higher during PP as compared with a return to the supine position in the COVID-19 group. CONCLUSION: We found distinct physiological responses to the first PP in vv-ECMO-supported ARDS patients according to the COVID-19 etiology. This could be due to higher severity at baseline or specificity of the disease. Further investigations are warranted.

[The National Federation of Intensive Care Nurses]. / La Fédération nationale des infirmiers de réanimation.

In France, unlike most other European countries, the speciality of critical care nurse does not exist. The increase in the skills of nurses, which is essential for the care of patients in these units, is not certified by any diploma. These positions are filled by  general care nurses. The French Federation of Critical Care Nurses was created in 2020 around the  project of recognition and valorisation of the specificity of the work of intensive care nurses.

[COVID-19 epidemic, a challenge successfully overcome by intensive care nurses]. / L'épidémie de Covid-19, une mise à l'épreuve réussie pour les infirmiers de réanimation.

The COVD-19 wave of spring 2020 had a major impact on French intensive care departments. The intense activity, the support of reinforcements in the acquisition of the necessary skills and their capacity to adapt made intensive care nurses key players in this crisis. Grouped together within the French National Federation of Intensive Care Nurses, they are campaigning to have the specificity of their practice to be recognised and for the creation of certified training in order to meet public healthcare needs not currently fulfilled.

Using an ultraviolet cabinet improves compliance with the World Health Organization's hand hygiene recommendations by undergraduate medical students: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate hand hygiene (HH) is key to reducing healthcare-acquired infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends education and training to improve HH knowledge and compliance. Physicians are ranked among the worst of all healthcare workers for compliant handrubbing with its origin probably being the failure to learn this essential behavior during undergraduate medical studies. This study evaluated if the use of Ultraviolet-cabinets (UVc) for fluorescent-alcohol-based handrubs (AHR) during an undergraduate medical student training improved the compliance rate to the WHO hand hygiene recommendations (completeness of AHR application and HH opportunities). METHODS: This randomized trial compared a HH training with personal feedback (using UVc) to a control group. The first year, the students (2nd degree) were convened by groups (clusters) of 6-9 for a demonstration of the correct execution of WHO procedure. Randomization by cluster was done prior HH training. In the control group, the students hand rubbed under visual supervision of a tutor. In the intervention group after the same visual supervision, completeness of fluorescent-AHR hand application was recorded under UVc and was shown to the student. The intervention group had free access to the UVc until complete application. HH practices were included in simulation sessions for the both groups. One year after (3rd degree), all the students were asked to hand rub with fluorescent-AHR. A tutor (blinded to the study group) assessed the completeness of hand application under UVc and the compliance with the WHO opportunities. Complete application of AHR was defined as fluorescence for all the surfaces of hands and wrists. RESULTS: 242 students participated (140 in the intervention group and 102 in the control group). One year after the initial training, the rate of complete application of AHR was doubled in the intervention group (60.0% vs. 30.4%, p < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis which included gender, additional HH or UVc training, surgical traineeship and regular use of AHR, the hazard ratio for the intervention was 3.84 (95%CI: 2.09-7.06). The compliance with the HH WHO's opportunities was increased in the intervention group (58.1% vs. 42.4%, p < 0.018). CONCLUSION: Using UVc for undergraduate medical students education to hand hygiene improves their technique and compliance with WHO recommendations.

How to reduce cisatracurium consumption in ARDS patients: the TOF-ARDS study.

BACKGROUND: Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) have been shown to improve the outcome of the most severely hypoxemic, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients. However, the recommended dosage as well as the necessity of monitoring the neuromuscular block is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of a nurse-directed protocol of NMBA administration based on a train-of-four (TOF) assessment to ensure a profound neuromuscular block and decrease cisatracurium consumption compared to an elevated and constant dose regimen. A prospective open labeled study was conducted in two medical intensive care units of two French university hospitals. Consecutive ARDS patients with a PaO2/FiO2 ratio less than 120 with a PEEP ≥5 cm H2O were included. Cisatracurium administration was driven by the nurses according to an algorithm based on TOF monitoring. The primary endpoint was cisatracurium consumption. The secondary endpoints included the quality of the neuromuscular block, the occurrence of adverse events, and the evolution of ventilatory and blood gas parameters. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included. NMBAs were used for 54 ± 30 h. According to this new algorithm, the initial dosage of cisatracurium was 11.8 ± 2 mg/h, and the final dosage was 14 ± 4 mg/h, which was significantly lower than in the ACURASYS study protocol (37.5 mg/h with a constant infusion rate (p < 0.001). The overall cisatracurium dose used was 700 ± 470 mg in comparison with 2040 ± 1119 mg for patients had received the ACURASYS dosage for the same period (p < 0.001). A profound neuromuscular block (TOF = 0, twitches at the ulnar site) was obtained from the first hour in 70% of patients. Modification of the cisatracurium dosage was not performed from the beginning to the end of the study in 60% of patients. Patient-ventilator asynchronies occurred in 4 patients. CONCLUSION: A nurse-driven protocol based on TOF monitoring for NMBA administration in ARDS patients was able to decrease cisatracurium consumption without significantly affecting the quality of the neuromuscular block.