Compliance With the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Bundle: A Multicenter Study From Turkey.

Objectives Sepsis bundle compliance is not clear. We evaluated rates of compliance with sepsis bundle protocols among health care providers in Turkey. Methods Our study was carried out retrospectively. Forty-five intensive care units (ICU) participated in this study between March 2, 2018 and October 1, 2018. Results One hundred thirty-eight ICUs were contacted and 45 ICUs agreed to participate. The time taken for the diagnosis of sepsis was less than six hours in 384 (59.8%) patients, while it was more than six hours in 258 (40.2%) patients. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] times for initial antibiotic administration, culturing, vasopressor initiation, and second lactate measurement were 120.0 (60-300) minutes, 24 (12-240) minutes, 40 (20-60) minutes, and 24 (18-24) hours, respectively. The rate of compliance with tissue and organ perfusion follow-up in the first six hours was 0%. The rates of three- and six-hour sepsis bundle protocol compliance were both 0%. The ICU mortality rates for sepsis and septic shock were 22% and 78%, respectively. The ICU mortality rates for sepsis and septic shock were 22% and 78%, respectively. Conclusions The rate of compliance with sepsis bundle protocols was evaluated in Turkey for the first time and determined to be 0%.

Evaluation of the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of pediatric chronic critical illness.

Our aim was to determine characteristics of children with chronic critical illness (CCI) admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care children's hospital in Turkey. The current study was a multicenter retrospective cohort study that was done from 2014 to 2017. It involved three university hospitals PICUs in which multiple criteria were set to identify pediatric CCIs. Pediatric patients staying in the ICU for at least 14 days and having at least one additional criterion, including prolonged mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, sepsis, severe wound (burn) or trauma, encephalopathy, traumatic brain injury, status epilepticus, being postoperative, and neuromuscular disease, was accepted as CCI. In order to identify the newborn as a chronic critical patient, a stay in the intensive care unit for at least 30 days in addition to prematurity was required. Eight hundred eighty seven (11.14%) of the patients who were admitted to the PICU met the definition of CCI and 775 of them (87.3%) were discharged to their home. Of CCI patients, 289 (32.6%) were premature and 678 (76.4%) had prolonged mechanical ventilation. The total cost values for 2017 were statistically higher than the other years. As the length of ICU stay increased, the costs also increased. Interestingly, high incidence rates were observed for PCCI in our hospitals and these patients occupied 38.01% of the intensive care bed capacity. In conclusion, we observed that prematurity and prolonged mechanical ventilation increase the length of ICU stay, which also increased the costs. More work is needed to better understand PCCI.

Severe burnout among critical care workers in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for burnout in the intensive care units (ICU) staff in Turkey. Burnout is prevelant in physicians and nurses in the ICU worldwide. Most ICU workers with burnout plan to leave their professions. Frequent replacement of ICU staff increases cost and decreases the quality of care. Prevalence and risk factors of burnout in ICU staff in Turkey are largely unknown. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were gathered using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) which was distributed during August 2018, among all 1161 ICU workers in Turkey. RESULTS: Burnout was detected in at least one subscale in 99% of participants and in all 3 subscales in 15% of the participants. Risk factors for emotional exhaustion included female gender (odds ratio [OR]=1.87 [95% CI: 1.26-2.78]; p less than 0.01), alternate-day shift (OR=3.93 [95% CI: 1.66-9.30]; p less than 0.01), and incidence of end of life care (OR=1.01 [95% CI: 1.00-1.03]; p less than 0.01). For depersonalization it included alternate-day shift (OR=2.22 [95% CI: 1.15-4.26]; p less than 0.05), incidence of end of life care (OR=1.02 [95% CI: 1.01-1.03]; p less than 0.01), and for reduced personal accomplishment it included incidence of end of life care (OR=0.97 [95% CI: 0.96-0.98]; p less than 0.01). Conclusion: The results indicated that ICU staff in Turkey had a high rate of burnout.

Current Statement of Intensive Care Units in Turkey: Data obtained from 67 Centers.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to obtain information about the characteristics of the ICUs in our country via a point prevalence study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was planned by the Respiratory Failure and Intensive Care Assembly of Turkish Thoracic Society. A questionnaire was prepared and invitations were sent from the association's communication channels to reach the whole country. Data were collected through all participating intensivists between the October 26, 2016 at 08:00 and October 27, 2016 at 08:00. RESULTS: Data were collected from the 67 centers. Overall, 76.1% of the ICUs were managed with a closed system. In total, 35.8% (n=24) of ICUs were levels of care (LOC) 2 and 64.2% (n=43) were LOC 3. The median total numbers of ICU beds, LOC 2, and LOC 3 beds were 12 (8-23), 14 (10-25), and 12 (8-20), respectively. The median number of ventilators was 12 (7-21) and that of ventilators with non-invasive ventilation mode was 11 (6-20). The median numbers of patients per physician during day and night were 3.9 (2.3-8) and 13 (9-23), respectively. The median number of patients per nurse was 2.5 (2-3.1); 88.1% of the nurses were certified by national certification corporation. CONCLUSION: In terms of the number of staff, there is a need for specialist physicians, especially during the night and nurses in our country. It was thought that the number of ICU-certified nurses was comparatively sufficient, yet the target was supposed to be 100% for this rate.

Increased DNA damage and increased apoptosis and necrosis in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

PURPOSE: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) has a key role in the pathogenesis of sepsis. We wanted to evaluate ROS-associated lymphocyte necrosis and apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 51 patients were included in the study, 29 in the patient group and 22 in the control group. Blood samples were taken from patients in the patient group during severe sepsis or septic shock, then again once they had recovered. Oxidative DNA damage was evaluated by 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients were evaluated with a microscope immediately. The rate of apoptosis and necrosis of lymphocytes were evaluated according to the number of cells in the peripheral. RESULTS: The level of 8-OHdG increased with severe sepsis or septic shock. There were significant differences between the pre- and post-treatment values for apoptotic cell frequency (4.21±3.15 vs. 3.82±3.07, P<0.05) and necrotic cell frequency (4.75±3.61 vs. 4.09±3.37, P<0.05). Apoptosis and necrosis was increased during severe sepsis and septic shock, and apoptosis increase also continued after recovery, but necrosis decreased following disease recovery. CONCLUSiONS: In patients with severe sepsis or septic shock, apoptosis and necrosis were increased along with increased 8-OHdG level.