Outcome and prognostic factors of patients with right-sided infective endocarditis requiring intensive care unit admission.

BACKGROUND: Right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) is an uncommon diagnosis accounting for less than 10% of cases of infective endocarditis. Optimal management for severely ill patients with RSIE remains challenging because few studies reported on management and outcome. The goal of our study was to determine outcome and associated prognostic factors in a population of ICU patients with a diagnosis of definite, active and severe RSIE. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study in 10 French ICUs between January 2002 and December 2012. Main outcome was mortality at 30 days after ICU admission. Significant variables associated with 30-days mortality in the bivariate analysis were included in a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients were studied. Mean age was 47.9 ± 18.4 years. Mean SAPS II, SOFA score and Charlson comorbidity index were 32.4 ± 17.4, 6.3 ± 4.4 and 3.1 ± 3.4, respectively. Causative pathogens, identified in 34 patients, were mainly staphylococci (n = 29). The source of endocarditis was a catheter related infection in 10 patients, intravenous drug abuse in 8 patients, cutaneous in 7 patients, urinary tract related in one patient and has an unknown origin in 7 patients. Vegetation size was higher than 20 mm for 14 patients. Valve tricuspid regurgitation was classified as severe in 11 patients. All patients received initial appropriate antimicrobial therapy. Aminoglycosides were delivered in combination with ß-lactam antibiotics or vancomycin in 22 patients. Surgical procedure was performed in 14 patients. Eight patients (21.6%) died within 30 days following ICU admission. One independent prognostic factor was identified: use of aminoglycosides was associated with improved outcome (OR = 0.1; 95%CI = 0.0017-0.650; p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: Mortality of patients with RSIE needing ICU admission is high. Aminoglycosides used in combination with ß-lactam or vancomycin could reduce 30 days mortality.

Does inferior vena cava respiratory variability predict fluid responsiveness in spontaneously breathing patients?

INTRODUCTION: We have almost no information concerning the value of inferior vena cava (IVC) respiratory variations in spontaneously breathing ICU patients (SBP) to predict fluid responsiveness. METHODS: SBP with clinical fluid need were included prospectively in the study. Echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound were used to record the aortic velocity-time integral (VTI), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO) and IVC collapsibility index (cIVC) ((maximum diameter (IVCmax)- minimum diameter (IVCmin))/ IVCmax) at baseline, after a passive leg-raising maneuver (PLR) and after 500 ml of saline infusion. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients (30 males and 29 females; 57 ± 18 years-old) were included in the study. Of these, 29 (49 %) were considered to be responders (≥10 % increase in CO after fluid infusion). There were no significant differences between responders and nonresponders at baseline, except for a higher aortic VTI in nonresponders (16 cm vs. 19 cm, p = 0.03). Responders had a lower baseline IVCmin than nonresponders (11 ± 5 mm vs. 14 ± 5 mm, p = 0.04) and more marked IVC variations (cIVC: 35 ± 16 vs. 27 ± 10 %, p = 0.04). Prediction of fluid-responsiveness using cIVC and IVCmax was low (area under the curve for cIVC at baseline 0.62 ± 0.07; 95 %, CI 0.49-0.74 and for IVCmax at baseline 0.62 ± 0.07; 95 % CI 0.49-0.75). In contrast, IVC respiratory variations >42 % in SBP demonstrated a high specificity (97 %) and a positive predictive value (90 %) to predict an increase in CO after fluid infusion. CONCLUSIONS: In SBP with suspected hypovolemia, vena cava size and respiratory variability do not predict fluid responsiveness. In contrast, a cIVC >42 % may predict an increase in CO after fluid infusion.

Enterococci increase the morbidity and mortality associated with severe intra-abdominal infections in elderly patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVES: Enterococci may increase morbidity and mortality in elderly patients with intra-abdominal infections (IAIs) hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A single-centre, retrospective evaluation of an ICU database (1997-2007) of elderly ICU patients (≥75 years) with a severe IAI was performed. Demographics, severity scores, underlying diseases, microbiology and outcomes were recorded. Patients with enterococci isolated in peritoneal fluid (E+ group) were compared with those lacking enterococci in peritoneal fluid (E- group). Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to identify independent factors associated with mortality. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty patients were included (mean ±â€ŠSD age 82 ±â€Š5 years; n = 72 in the E+ group). The E+ group was more severely ill than the E- group, with higher Simplified Acute Physiologic Score 2 (61 ±â€Š20 versus 48 ±â€Š16, P = 0.0001) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (8 ±â€Š3 versus 5 ±â€Š3, P = 0.0001), a greater postoperative infection rate (58.3% versus 34.1%, P = 0.01), a higher incidence of inappropriate empirical antimicrobial therapies (33.3% versus 19.3%, P = 0.04), a longer duration of mechanical ventilation (11.8 ±â€Š10.9 versus 7.8 ±â€Š10.2 days, P = 0.02) and greater vasopressor use (7.2 ±â€Š7.1 versus 3.3 ±â€Š4.1 days, P = 0.001). ICU mortality was higher in the E+ group than in the E- group (54.2% versus 38.6%, P = 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, E+ status was independently associated with mortality (odds ratio 2.24; 95% confidence interval 1.06-4.75; P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In severely ill, elderly patients in the ICU for an IAI, the isolation of enterococci was associated with increased disease severity and morbidity and was an independent risk factor for mortality.

The passive leg-raising maneuver cannot accurately predict fluid responsiveness in patients with intra-abdominal hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: The passive leg-raising maneuver is a reversible fluid-loading procedure used to predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated patients. The aim of the present study was to determine whether intra-abdominal hypertension (which impairs venous return) reduces the ability of passive leg raising to detect fluid responsiveness in critically ill ventilated patients. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: The medical and surgical intensive care unit of a university medical center. PATIENTS: Forty-one mechanically ventilated patients with a pulse pressure variation of >12%. INTERVENTIONS: Stroke volume was continuously monitored by esophageal Doppler. Intra-abdominal pressure was measured via bladder pressure. After a passive leg-raising maneuver and a return to baseline, fluid loading with 500 mL of saline was performed. Hemodynamic parameters were recorded at each step. Nonresponders to volume loading were not analyzed (10 patients). Thirty-one patients were classified into two groups according to their response to passive leg raising: responders to passive leg raising (at least a 12% increase in stroke volume) and nonresponders to passive leg raising. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sixteen patients (52%) were responders to passive leg raising, and 15 (48%) were nonresponders to passive leg raising (i.e., false negatives). At baseline, the median intra-abdominal pressure was significantly higher in the nonresponders to passive leg raising than in the responders to passive leg raising (20 [6.5] vs. 11.5 [5.5], respectively; p < .0001). The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve was 0.969 +/- 0.033. An intra-abdominal pressure cutoff value of 16 mm Hg discriminated between responders to passive leg raising and nonresponders to passive leg raising with a sensitivity of 100% (confidence interval, 78-100) and a specificity of 87.5% (confidence interval, 61.6-98.1). An intra-abdominal pressure of > or =16 mm Hg was the only independent predictor of nonresponse to passive leg raising in a multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 2.6 [confidence interval, 1.1-6.6]; p = .04). CONCLUSIONS: An intra-abdominal pressure of > or =16 mm Hg seems to be responsible for false negatives to passive leg raising. Hence, the intra-abdominal pressure should be measured in critically ill ventilated patients, especially before performing passive leg raising.

Femoral vs jugular venous catheterization and risk of nosocomial events in adults requiring acute renal replacement therapy: a randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT: Based on concerns about the risk of infection, the jugular site is often preferred over the femoral site for short-term dialysis vascular access. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether jugular catheterization decreases the risk of nosocomial complications compared with femoral catheterization. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS: A concealed, randomized, multicenter, evaluator-blinded, parallel-group trial (the Cathedia Study) of 750 patients from a network of 9 tertiary care university medical centers and 3 general hospitals in France conducted between May 2004 and May 2007. The severely ill, bed-bound adults had a body mass index (BMI) of less than 45 and required a first catheter insertion for renal replacement therapy. INTERVENTION: Patients were randomized to receive jugular or femoral vein catheterization by operators experienced in placement at both sites. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates of infectious complications, defined as catheter colonization on removal (primary end point), and catheter-related bloodstream infection. RESULTS: Patient and catheter characteristics, including duration of catheterization, were similar in both groups. More hematomas occurred in the jugular group than in the femoral group (13/366 patients [3.6%] vs 4/370 patients [1.1%], respectively; P = .03). The risk of catheter colonization at removal did not differ significantly between the femoral and jugular groups (incidence of 40.8 vs 35.7 per 1000 catheter-days; hazard ratio [HR], 0.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.62-1.16; P = .31). A prespecified subgroup analysis demonstrated significant qualitative heterogeneity by BMI (P for the interaction term < .001). Jugular catheterization significantly increased incidence of catheter colonization vs femoral catheterization (45.4 vs 23.7 per 1000 catheter-days; HR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.13-3.91; P = .017) in the lowest tercile (BMI <24.2), whereas jugular catheterization significantly decreased this incidence (24.5 vs 50.9 per 1000 catheter-days; HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.23-0.69; P < .001) in the highest tercile (BMI >28.4). The rate of catheter-related bloodstream infection was similar in both groups (2.3 vs 1.5 per 1000 catheter-days, respectively; P = .42). CONCLUSION: Jugular venous catheterization access does not appear to reduce the risk of infection compared with femoral access, except among adults with a high BMI, and may have a higher risk of hematoma. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00277888.

Diagnosis of central hypovolemia by using passive leg raising.

OBJECTIVE: Suspected central hypovolemia is a frequent clinical situation in hospitalized patients, and no simple bedside diagnostic test in spontaneously breathing patients is available. We tested the value of passive leg raising to predict hemodynamic improvement after fluid expansion in patients with suspected central hypovolemia. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective study in four intensive care units at the Amiens university hospital. Thirty-four spontaneously breathing patients with suspected hypovolemia were included and were classified as responders (cardiac output increased by 12% or more after fluid expansion) or nonresponders. Patients were analyzed in the supine position during 30 degrees leg raising and after fluid expansion. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Stroke volume and cardiac output determined by echocardiographic and Doppler techniques and heart rate and blood pressure were measured at baseline, during passive leg raising and after fluid expansion. An increase of cardiac output or stroke volume by 12% or more during passive leg raising was highly predictive of central hypovolemia (AUC 0.89+/-0.06, 95% CI 0.73-0.97 for cardiac output and AUC 0.9+/-0.06, 95% CI 0.74-0.97 for stroke volume). Sensitivity and specificity values were 63% and 89% for cardiac output and 69%, 89% for stroke volume respectively. A close correlation (r=0.75; p<0.0001) was observed between cardiac output changes during leg raising and changes in cardiac output after fluid expansion. CONCLUSIONS: Bedside measurement of cardiac output or stroke volume by Doppler techniques during passive leg raising was predictive of a positive hemodynamic effect of fluid expansion in spontaneously breathing patients with suspected central hypovolemia.

Use of aztreonam in association with cefepime for the treatment of nosocomial infections due to multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to ß-lactams in ICU patients: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: Resistance to all ß-lactams is emerging among Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) clinical isolates. Aztreonam and cefepime act synergistically in vitro against AmpC overproducing PA isolates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of this treatment in ICU patients infected with multidrug-resistant PA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study (2 years, 2 ICUs) in a tertiary university hospital. Inclusion criteria were proven infection with evidence of a bacterial strain of PA resistant to all ß-lactams and treated with the association of at least aztreonam plus cefepime. Treatment was considered effective for pneumonia using CPIS scores at the end of treatment and for other infections, using the SOFA score and signs of infection improvement at the end of treatment. Infectious episodes were classified as cure or failure. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were included (10 nosocomial pneumonia, 3 nosocomial intra-abdominal infections). The median [25th-75th percentiles] admission SAPS2 score was 54 [51-69] and the median SOFA score at the beginning of infection was 7 [4-8]. The median CPIS scores for pneumonia at the beginning and end of treatment were 9 [7-10.5] and 2 [0.75-5.5]. The duration of treatment with the combination of aztreonam plus cefepime was 14 days [9.5-16]. Nine episodes were classified as cures and 4 as failures, indicating a clinical efficacy of 69.2%. Overall mortality was 38.5%. DISCUSSION: These data suggest that the association of cefepime plus aztreonam could be an attractive alternative in the treatment of infections with multidrug-resistant PA to all ß-lactams with a clinical efficacy rate of 69%.

Ultrasound-guided central venous cannulation is superior to quick-look ultrasound and landmark methods among inexperienced operators: a prospective randomized study.

OBJECTIVE: Quick-look ultrasound with a skin mark (UM) has been frequently used for central vein cannulation. The aim of this study is to compare this method with landmark (LM) and ultrasound-guided (UG) cannulation of jugular and femoral veins by inexperienced operators. DESIGN: Prospective randomized single-center study. SETTING: A medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a university medical center. PATIENTS: Patients requiring jugular or femoral central cannula placement. INTERVENTION: Each inexperienced resident randomly inserted a central venous line using the UM, LM or UG technique. MEASUREMENTS AND FINDINGS: The primary outcome was the success rate, and secondary outcomes were the placement time, number of attempts, mechanical complication rate, and catheter colonization rate. A total of 118 patients were randomly assigned to the three groups. The mean age of patients included in the study was 65 ± 15 years, and the mean Simplified Acute Physiology Score 2 (SAPS2) was 57 ± 20. The success rate was higher in the UG group than in the LM and UM groups (100, 74, and 73 %, respectively; p = 0.01). The total number of mechanical complications was higher in the LM and UM groups than in the UG group (24 and 36 versus 0 %, respectively; p = 0.01). The number of attempts and the access time were higher in the LM group than in the UG group, but not compared with the UM group. No difference in terms of catheter colonization was observed between the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided cannulation of the internal jugular or femoral vein by inexperienced residents appears to be more reliable than the LM or UM methods and was associated with a lower mechanical complication rate among ICU patients.

Improvement of left ventricular relaxation as assessed by tissue Doppler imaging in fluid-responsive critically ill septic patients.

PURPOSE: Left ventricular (LV) diastolic function is often impaired in critically ill septic patients. The peak velocity of the mitral annulus early wave during diastole (E'), measured by Doppler echocardiography, is a major tool to evaluate LV relaxation, the ATP-dependent part of diastole. The authors hypothesized that if volume expansion (VE) is followed by an increase in stroke volume (SV) ("adequate" VE), LV relaxation and consequently E' may be increased. METHODS: This was a prospective study in which 83 mechanically ventilated septic patients with circulatory failure were enrolled. Doppler echocardiography was performed before and after the infusion of 500 ml of saline over 20 min. Patients were then classified into two groups according to their response to VE: responders (R) were those in whom SV increased by at least 15 %; all others were considered to be non-responders (NR). SV, mitral flow early wave velocity (E), E' and the E/E' ratio were measured before and after VE. VE-induced variations (∆) in all parameters were compared in R and NR. Patients with an E' < 0.12 m/s were considered to have LV diastolic dysfunction. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients (71 %) were R and 24 (29 %) were NR. Fifty-six percent of R patients and 58 % of NR patients had LV diastolic dysfunction. For patients with LV diastolic dysfunction (n = 47), ∆E' was significantly higher in the R group (29 ± 5 vs. 5 ± 8 %; p = 0.01) whilst ∆E/E' was higher in the NR group (35 ± 9 vs. 2 ± 6 %; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: E' maximal velocity increased with adequate VE, suggesting an improvement of LV relaxation with the correction of hypovolaemia in patients with septic shock.