Predictors of fifty days in-hospital mortality in patients with culture negative neutrocytic ascites.

BACKGROUND: Culture negative neutrocytic ascites is a variant of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. But there are conflicting reports regarding the mortality associated with culture negativeneutrocytic ascites. Therefore we aim to determine the predictors of mortality associated with culture negativeneutrocytic ascites in a larger sample population. METHODS: We analysed 170 patients consecutively admitted to intensive care unit with diagnosis of culture negative neutrocytic ascites. The clinical, laboratory parameters, etiology of liver cirrhosis was determined along with the scores like model for end stage liver disease, child turcotte pugh were recorded. RESULTS: The 50 day in-hospital mortality rate in culture negative neutrocytic ascites was 39.41% (n = 67). In univariate analysis, means of parameters like total leucocyte count, urea, bilirubin, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, international normalized ratio, acute kidney injury, septic shock, hepatic encephalopathy and model for end stage liver disease were significantly different among survived and those who died (P value ≤0.05). Cox proportional regression model showed the hazard ratio (HR) of acute kidney injury was 2.212 (95% CI: 1.334-3.667), septic shock (HR = 1.895, 95% CI: 1.081-3.323) and model for end stage liver disease (HR = 1.054, 95% CI: 1.020-1.090). Receiver operating characteristics curve showed aspartate aminotransferase (AST) had highest area under the curve 0.761 (95% CI: 0.625-0.785). CONCLUSION: Patients with culture negative neutrocytic ascites have a mortality rate comparable to spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), acute kidney injury (AKI), model for end stage liver disease (MELD) and septic shock are the independent predictors of 50 days in-hospital mortality in culture negative neutrocytic ascites.

Spontaneous cryptococcal peritonitis with fungemia in patients with decompensated cirrhosis: Report of two cases.

Cryptococcus neoformans is encapsulated yeast that predominately infects immunocompromised individuals. Liver disease is an under-recognized predisposition for cryptococcal disease. We report two nonalcoholic, nondiabetic, and human immunodeficiency virus - negative cirrhotic patients, with spontaneous cryptococcal peritonitis. Cryptococcus infection was diagnosed by culture of ascitic fluid and peripheral blood in both. We treated the first patient with amphotericin-B, but he expired. The second patient with earlier diagnosis, survived to discharge with fluconazole treatment. We suggest a high clinical suspicion for Cryptococcus as a possible etiology of spontaneous peritonitis in cirrhotic patients.

Development of Interventions to Support Provincial Implementation of the Baby-Friendly Initiative: A Study Protocol.

Breastfeeding is internationally recognized as the optimal form of infant nutrition. The Baby-Friendly Initiative (BFI) is an evidence-informed program that leads to improved breastfeeding outcomes. Despite the benefits of breastfeeding, Nova Scotia has one of the lowest breastfeeding rates in Canada. Additionally, only two birthing hospitals in the province have BFI designation. We aim to address this gap using a sequential qualitative descriptive design across three phases. In Phase 1, we will identify barriers and facilitators to BFI implementation through individual, semi-structured interviews with 40 health care professionals and 20 parents. An analysis of relevant policy and practice documents will complement these data. In Phase 2, we will develop implementation interventions aimed at addressing the barriers and facilitators identified in Phase 1. An advisory committee of 10-12 administrative, clinical, and parent partners will review these interventions. In Phase 3, the interventions will be reviewed by a panel of 10 experts in BFI implementation through an online survey. Feedback on the revised implementation interventions will then be sought from 20 health system and parent partners through interviews. This work will use implementation science methods to support integrated and sustained implementation of the BFI across hospital/community and rural/urban settings in Nova Scotia. This study was not registered.

Predictors of fifty days in-hospital mortality in decompensated cirrhosis patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

AIM: To determine the predictors of 50 d in-hospital mortality in decompensated cirrhosis patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP). METHODS: Two hundred and eighteen patients admitted to an intensive care unit in a tertiary care hospital between June 2013 and June 2014 with the diagnosis of SBP (during hospitalization) and cirrhosis were retrospectively analysed. SBP was diagnosed by abdominal paracentesis in the presence of polymorphonuclear cell count ≥ 250 cells/mm(3) in the peritoneal fluid. Student's t test, multivariate logistic regression, cox proportional hazard ratio (HR), receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were utilized for statistical analysis. Predictive abilities of several variables identified by multivariate analysis were compared using the area under ROC curve. P < 0.05 were considered statistical significant. RESULTS: The 50 d in-hospital mortality rate attributable to SBP is 43.11% (n = 94). Median survival duration for those who died was 9 d. In univariate analysis acute kidney injury (AKI), hepatic encephalopathy, septic shock, serum bilirubin, international normalized ratio, aspartate transaminase, and model for end-stage liver disease - sodium (MELD-Na) were significantly associated with in - hospital mortality in patients with SBP (P ≤ 0.001). Multivariate cox proportional regression analysis showed AKI (HR = 2.16, 95%CI: 1.36-3.42, P = 0.001) septic shock (HR = 1.73, 95%CI: 1.05-2.83, P = 0.029) MELD-Na (HR = 1.06, 95%CI: 1.02-1.09, P ≤ 0.001) was significantly associated with 50 d in-hospital mortality. The prognostic accuracy for AKI, MELD-Na and septic shock was 77%, 74% and 71% respectively associated with 50 d in-hospital mortality in SBP patients. CONCLUSION: AKI, MELD-Na and septic shock were predictors of 50 d in-hospital mortality in decompensated cirrhosis patients with SBP.

Influenza A/H1/N1/09 infection in patients with cirrhosis has a poor outcome: a case series.

Seasonal influenza is often unsuspected in cirrhotic patients admitted with pneumonia and acute hepatic decompensation. We report five consecutive patients with influenza A subtype H1N1 2009 strain (influenza A/H1N1/09) admitted to our intensive care unit. All had a short history of rapidly worsening respiratory symptoms, but there were no characteristic clinical or radiographic features. Secondary pulmonary infection was universal. All five patients died, despite prompt institution of oseltamivir and intensive supportive care. A high index of suspicion is needed for influenza infection among patients with decompensated cirrhosis.