Management of the patient with the open abdomen.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this study was to outline the management of the patient with the open abdomen. RECENT FINDINGS: An open abdomen approach is used after damage control laparotomy, to decrease risk for postsurgery intra-abdominal hypertension, if reoperation is likely and after primary abdominal decompression.Temporary abdominal wall closure without negative pressure is associated with higher rates of intra-abdominal infection and evisceration. Negative pressure systems improve fascial closure rates but increase fistula formation. Definitive abdominal wall closure should be considered once oedema has subsided and the patient has stabilized. Delayed abdominal closure after trauma (>24-48 h) is associated with less achievement of fascial closure and more complications. Protective lung ventilation should be employed early, particularly if respiratory compromise is evident. Conservative fluid management and less sedation may decrease delirium and increase definitive abdominal closure rates. Extubation may be performed before definitive abdominal closure in selected patients. Antibiotic therapy should be brief, targeted and guideline concordant. Survival depends on the underlying disease, the closure method and the course of hospitalization. SUMMARY: Changes in the treatment of patients with the open abdomen include negative temporary closure, conservative fluid management, early protective lung ventilation, decreased sedation and extubation before abdominal closure in selected patients.

Modification of Blood Test Draw Order to Reduce Blood Culture Contamination: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Blood culture contamination leads to unnecessary interventions and costs. It may be caused by bacteria in deep skin structures unsusceptible to surface decontamination. This study was designed to test whether diversion of blood obtained at venipuncture into a lithium heparin tube prior to aspiration of blood culture reduces contamination. METHODS: The order of blood draws for biochemistry and blood cultures was randomized. Following standard disinfection and venipuncture, blood was either aspirated into a sterile lithium heparin tube before blood culture bottles (diversion group) or blood cultures first and then lithium heparin tube (control group). All study personnel were blinded with the exception of the phlebotomist. RESULTS: After exclusions, 970 blood culture/biochemistry sets were analyzed. Contamination occurred in 24 of 480 (5.0%) control vs 10 of 490 (2.0%) diversion group cultures (P = .01). True pathogens were identified in 26 of 480 (5.4%) control vs 18 of 490 (3.7%) diversion cultures (P = .22). Despite randomization, demographic differences were apparent between the 2 groups. A post hoc analysis of 637 cultures from 610 medical patients admitted from home neutralized demographic differences. Culture contamination remained more frequent in the control vs diversion group (17/312 [5%] vs 7/325 [2%]; P = .03). Fewer diversion group patients were admitted to hospital (control: 200/299 [66.9%] vs diversion: 182/311 [58.5%]; P = .03), and length of stay was shorter (control: 30 hours [interquartile range {IQR}, 6-122] vs diversion: 22 [IQR, 5-97]; P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Use of lithium heparin tubes for diversion prior to obtaining blood cultures led to a 60% decrease in contamination. This technique is easy and inexpensive and might decrease overall hospital length of stay. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT03966534.

The Effect of Delay Following the Clinical Decision to Perform Tracheostomy in the Critical Care Setting.

BACKGROUND: Tracheostomy in patients who are critically ill is generally performed due to prolonged mechanical ventilation and expected extubation failure. However, tracheostomy criteria and ideal timing are poorly defined, including equivocal data from randomized controlled trials and median intubation to tracheostomy times that range from 7-21 d. However, a consistent finding is that only ∼50% of late tracheostomy groups actually undergo tracheostomy, with non-performance due to recovery or clinical deterioration. Unlike in many jurisdictions, elective surgical procedures in our institution require a court-appointed guardian, which necessitates an approximately 1-week delay between the decision to perform tracheostomy and surgery. This offers a unique opportunity to observe patients with potential tracheostomy during a delay between the decision and the performance. METHODS: ICU patients who were ventilated were identified for inclusion retrospectively by an application for guardianship relating to tracheostomy, the intention-to-treat point. The main outcomes of tracheostomy, extubation, or death/palliative care after inclusion were noted. Demographics, outcomes, and event timing were compared for the 3 outcome groups. RESULTS: Tracheostomy-related guardianship requests were made for 388 subjects. Of these, 195 (50%) underwent tracheostomy, whereas 127 (33%) were extubated and 66 (17%) either died before tracheostomy (46 [12%]) or were transitioned to palliative care (20 [5%]). The median time (interquartile range) from guardianship request until a defining event was the following: 6.2 (4.0-11) d for tracheostomy, 5.0 (2.9-8.2) d for extubation (P < .001 as compared to tracheostomy group), and 6.5 (2.5-11) d for death/palliative care (P = .55 as compared to tracheostomy). Neurological admissions were more common in the tracheostomy group and less common in the palliative group. Other admission demographics and hospitalization characteristics were similar. Hospital mortality was higher for subjects undergoing tracheostomy (58/195 [30%]) versus extubation (24/127 [19%]) (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Delay in performing tracheostomy due to legal requirements was associated with a 50% decrease in the need for tracheostomy. This suggests that decision-making with regard to ideal tracheostomy timing could be improved, saving unnecessary procedures.

A Retrospective Study of the Proportion of Women at High and Low Risk of Intrauterine Infection Meeting Sepsis Criteria.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign recently recommended that qSOFA not be used as a single parameter for identification of sepsis. Thus, we evaluated the efficacy of SIRS and qSOFA scores in identifying intrauterine infection. This case-control study evaluates SIRS and qSOFA criteria fulfillment in preterm premature rupture of membranes (n = 453)-at high infection risk-versus elective cesarean-at low infection risk (n = 2004); secondary outcomes included intrauterine infection and positive culture rates. At admission, 14.8% of the study group and 4.6% of control met SIRS criteria (p = 0.001), as did 12.5% and 5.5% on post-operation day (POD) 1 (p = 0.001), with no significant differences on POD 0 or 2. Medical records did not suffice for qSOFA calculation. In the study group, more cultures (29.8% versus 1.9%-cervix; 27.4% versus 1.1%-placenta; 7.5% versus 1.7%-blood; p = 0.001-all differences) and positive cultures (5.5% versus 3.0%-urine-p = 0.008; 4.2% versus 0.2%-cervix-p = 0.001; 7.3% versus 0.0%-placenta-p = 0.001; 0.9% versus 0.1%-blood-p = 0.008) were obtained. Overall, 10.6% of the study group and 0.4% of control met the intrauterine infection criteria (p = 0.001). Though a significant difference was noted in SIRS criteria fulfillment in the study group versus control, there was considerable between-group overlap, questioning the utility of SIRS in intrauterine infection diagnosis. Furthermore, the qSOFA scores could not be assessed.

Anthropogenic Disasters.

Anthropogenic disasters may be defined as any disaster caused by human action or inaction. Natural disasters occur without human interference. Injuries caused by terrorists and related criminal activities may be broadly grouped into 3 categories: blunt, blast, and penetrating trauma. Most terrorist and criminal activities that create a mass-casualty situation are performed using the weapons most readily available, such as firearms or explosives. A consistent pattern, comparing terrorism with interpersonal violence, is the greater severity of impact on the victim.

Reducing blood culture contamination using an initial specimen diversion device.

OBJECTIVES: False positive blood cultures result from contamination, consuming laboratory resources and causing unnecessary antibiotic treatment and prolonged hospital stay. Skin disinfection reduces contamination; however, bacteria colonizing human skin are also found in tissues deep into the skin surface. A diversion device diverts the initial 1-2 mL of blood to remove any potentially contaminated skin plug. This study investigates the effect of the device on culture contamination in hospitalized patients. METHODS: In this prospective controlled pragmatic study, blood cultures were obtained using an initial specimen diversion device, either via integrated needle or attachment to a newly placed intravenous catheter. Cultures taken using standard methods served as the control. RESULTS: Six hundred seventy-one blood cultures were obtained. Two hundred seven cultures were taken using an initial specimen diversion device, with 2 (1.0%) contaminated cultures. Four hundred sixty-four cultures were taken without the device, with 24 (5.2%) contaminated cultures (P < .008). No significant difference was shown in the rate of true-positive cultures. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a diversion device was associated with reduced culture contamination in hospitalized patients over a 6-month period, without concomitant reduction in true-positive cultures. This intervention may result in a reduction in costs, antibiotic use, and duration of hospital stay.

Duration of carriage of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae following hospital discharge.

BACKGROUND: Hospitalized carriers of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are cohorted under contact precautions, including in the days between rehospitalization and surveillance culture results. This study investigates duration of CRE carriage to define populations requiring precautions upon readmission. METHODS: Patients with CRE-positive culture during 2009-2010 were followed up by rectal swab cultures taken retrospectively and prospectively for the study or as part of clinical follow-up. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-seven patients met the inclusion criteria, with follow-up cultures obtained from 97. Mean time to CRE negativity was 387 days (95% confidence interval: 312-463). Seventy-eight percent of patients (64/82) had positive culture at 3 months, 65% (38/58) at 6 months, and 39% (12/30) at 1 year. Duration of carriage was affected by repeat hospitalization (P = .001) and clinical, as opposed to surveillance, culture (P = .002). CONCLUSION: CRE carriers from a previous hospitalization have a lower probability of CRE carriage upon readmission if the index specimen was a surveillance culture and 1 year passed without further hospitalization. Multiple hospitalizations and CRE disease extend duration of carriage. This study better defines patients requiring cohorting and isolation, thus limiting spread of CRE and allowing for improved allocation of infection control measures.