Reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus among intensive care patients: a prospective observational study.

PURPOSE: Herpesvirus reactivation has been documented among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly for cytomegalovirus (CMV). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been poorly studied despite >95% of the population being seropositive. Our preliminary study suggested an association between EBV reactivation and increased morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to investigate this association among patients admitted to the ICU. METHODS: In this multicenter prospective study, polymerase chain reaction was performed to quantify EBV in patients upon ICU admission and then twice a week during their stay. Follow-up was 90 days. RESULTS: The study included 129 patients; 70 (54.3%) had EBV reactivation. On day 90, there was no difference in mortality rates between patients with and without reactivation (25.7% vs 15.3%, p = 0.22). Patients with EBV reactivation at admission had increased mortality compared with those without reactivation and those with later reactivation. EBV reactivation was associated with increased morbidity. Patients with EBV reactivation had fewer ventilator-free days at day 28 than those without reactivation (18 [1-22] vs. 21 days [5-26], p = 0.037) and a higher incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (34.3% vs. 17%, p = 0.04), infections (92.9% vs. 78%, p = 0.03), and septic shock (58.6% vs. 32.2%, p = 0.004). More patients with EBV reactivation required renal replacement therapy (30% vs. 11.9%, p = 0.02). EBV reactivation was also associated with a more inflammatory immune profile. CONCLUSION: While EBV reactivation was not associated with increased 90-day mortality, it was associated with significantly increased morbidity.

Study of the Relationship Between Liver Function Markers and Traumatic Rhabdomyolysis: A Retrospective Study of Hemorrhagic Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit in a Level I Trauma Center.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic rhabdomyolysis (RM) is common and contributes to the development of medical complications, of which acute renal failure is the best described. Some authors have described an association between elevated aminotransferases and RM, suggesting the possibility of associated liver damage. Our study aims to evaluate the relationship between liver function and RM in hemorrhagic trauma patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study conducted in a level 1 trauma center analyzing 272 severely injured patients transfused within 24 hours and admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2015 to June 2021. Patients with significant direct liver injury (abdominal Abbreviated Injury Score [AIS] >3) were excluded. Clinical and laboratory data were reviewed, and groups were stratified according to the presence of intense RM (creatine kinase [CK] >5000 U/L). Liver failure was defined by a prothrombin time (PT)-ratio <50% and an alanine transferase (ALT) >500 U/L simultaneously. Correlation analysis was performed using Pearson's or Spearman's coefficient depending on the distribution after log transformation to evaluate the association between serum CK and biological markers of hepatic function. Risk factors for the development of liver failure were defined with a stepwise logistic regression analysis of all relevant explanatory factors significantly associated with the bivariate analysis. RESULTS: RM (CK >1000 U/L) was highly prevalent in the global cohort (58.1%), and 55 (23.2%) patients presented with intense RM. We found a significant positive correlation between RM biomarkers (CK and myoglobin) and liver biomarkers (aspartate transferase [AST], ALT, and bilirubin). Log-CK was positively correlated with log-AST (r = 0.625, P < .001) and log-ALT (r = 0.507, P < .001) and minimally with log-bilirubin (r = 0.262, P < .001). Intensive care unit stays were longer for intense RM patients (7 [4-18] days vs 4 [2-11] days, P < .001). These patients required increased renal replacement therapy use (4.1% vs 20.0%, P < .001) and transfusion requirements. Liver failure was more common (4.6% vs 18.2%, P < .001) for intense RM patients. It was associated with bivariate and multivariable analysis with intense RM (odds ratio [OR], 4.51 [1.11-19.2]; P = .034), need for renal replacement therapy, and Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment Score (SOFA) score on day 1. CONCLUSIONS: Our study established the presence of an association between trauma-related RM and classical hepatic biomarkers. Liver failure was associated with the presence of intense RM in bivariate and multivariable analysis. Traumatic RM could have a role in the development of other system failures, specifically at the hepatic level, in addition to the already known and well-described renal failure.

Who's Who in the Trauma Bay? Association between Wearing of Identification Jackets and Trauma Teamwork Performance: A Simulation Study.

Introduction: Trauma is the leading cause of under-45 mortality worldwide, and the leading cause of years of life lost. To manage the severe trauma patients, trauma teams require both improved technical and nontechnical skills, such as communication, leadership, teamwork, and team resource management. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of the identification of trauma team members on teamwork performance. The hypothesis was that wearing identification jackets was associated with better teamwork performance. Methods: The study was conducted from 2015 to 2019 at the Percy Army Training Hospital, a trauma center in the Ile-de-France region. In 2016, the protocol for receiving severe trauma patients was modified, including the obligation to wear identification jackets. Thus, each member of the trauma team wore a jacket identifying his or her function. This study was carried out by analyzing videos of medical simulation sessions during the reception of trauma patients in the trauma bay. The study compared the teamwork performance before 2016, a period with no identification jackets wearing, with the teamwork performance after 2016, a period with identification jackets wearing. The Team Emergency Assessment Measure (TEAM)Scale was used. This TEAM scale is a benchmark measure of teamwork performance, particularly adapted to the context of trauma. Results: A total of 48 participants were included in the study. Six videos of medical simulation sessions "arrival of severe trauma patients" were analyzed and divided into two groups. A first group of three videos with no identification jackets wearing was the GROUP ID(-). A second group of three videos with identification jackets wearing was the GROUP ID(+). An 11-item TEAM scale was used to rate each video for a total of 33 scores per group. The distribution of the median scores for the GROUP ID(+) was significantly different from the distribution of the median scores for the GROUP ID(-) (P = 0.001). These results were consistent with those of other single-center studies conducted in operating theaters and in emergency departments, where clearly identifying the roles of each member of the medical teams was associated with less communication errors. The main limits of this study were its single-center nature and a limited data sample. Conclusion: In this single-center simulation study, wearing identification jackets was associated with an improvement in the trauma team performance TEAM scores. Further studies are needed to confirm these results but they already encourage the consideration of nontechnical skills in the management of severe trauma patients.

Renal Microcirculation and Function in a Pig Model of Hemorrhagic Shock Resuscitation with Norepinephrine.

Rationale: Norepinephrine (NE) is commonly used in combination with fluid during resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock, but its impact on kidney microcirculation, oxygenation, and function is still unknown in this setting. Objectives: During hemorrhagic shock resuscitation, does a combination of fluid and NE affect kidney oxygenation tension, kidney microcirculatory perfusion, and 48-hour kidney function, as compared with fluid alone? Methods: Hemorrhagic shock was induced in 24 pigs, and 8 pigs were included as a sham group. Resuscitation of hemorrhagic shock was performed, using a closed-loop device, either by fluid alone (0.9% NaCl; fluid group) or associated with the administration of NE at two doses (moderate dose: mean rate of 0.64 µg ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1; high dose: mean rate of 1.57 µg ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1) to obtain a target systolic arterial pressure of 80 to 90 mm Hg. Resuscitation was followed by transfusion of the withdrawn blood. Measurements and Main Results: The amount of fluid required to reach the target systolic arterial pressure was lower in the NE groups than in the fluid group, with subsequently less hemodilution. NE restored kidney microcirculation, oxygenation, and function in a manner comparable to that achieved with fluid resuscitation alone. There were no histologic differences between animals resuscitated with fluid and those resuscitated with NE. Conclusions: In pigs with hemorrhagic shock, resuscitation with a combination of NE and fluid restored kidney microcirculation and oxygenation, as well as renal function, in a manner comparable to fluid resuscitation alone and without differences between the two NE doses. NE administration led to a fluid volume-sparing effect with subsequently less hemodilution.

Relationship between creatine kinase and liver enzymes in war wounded with rhabdomyolysis.

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyolysis is a frequent complication in war wounded. Its complex pathophysiology suggests that it not only affects kidneys but also other organs such as the liver. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between creatine kinase (CK) and liver enzymes in war wounded with rhabdomyolysis. METHODS: War wounded admitted to the intensive care unit of Percy Military Hospital between 2009 and 2017 with a rhabdomyolysis (CK peak >1,000 U/L) were included. They were divided in two groups: mild (CK peak <10,000 U/L) and severe rhabdomyolysis (CK peak ≥10,000 U/L). Demographic characteristics, peaks in transaminases, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, and CK were recorded. Mann Whitney-U test and, Fisher's exact test were used as appropriate. A Pearson's correlation test was used to determine the correlation between CK and liver enzymes after a log-normal transformation of the data. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were included (31 in the mild and 20 in the severe rhabdomyolysis group). Patients in the severe rhabdomyolysis group were more likely victims of explosions (85% vs 39%, p = 0.003). The transaminases peak was significantly higher in the severe rhabdomyolysis group (median AST peak 398 (270-944) vs 91 (63-157) U/L, p <0.0001, and median ALT peak 106 (77-235) vs 45 (34-71) U/L, p<0.0001). Bilirubin and ALP were higher in the severe rhabdomyolysis group (39 (25-49) vs 14(11-23) U/L, p = 0.0031 and 84 (55-170) vs 52 (39-85) U/L, p = 0.0063, respectively). We found a significant positive linear correlation between CK and ALT (r = 0.73, p<0.0001), AST (r = 0.89, p<0.0001), ALP (r = 0.41, p = 0.0035), and bilirubin (r = 0.37, p = 0.0083). CONCLUSION: We found a statistically significant positive correlation between CK and liver enzymes in rhabdomyolysis war wounded, indicating that hepatic damage occurs when rhabdomyolysis is severe and associated with elevated bilirubin and ALP. Further studies are needed to confirm this phenomenon and elucidate the pathophysiological mechanism. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV STUDY TYPE: Diagnostic.

Terror in Paris: Incidence and risk factors for infections related to high-energy ammunition injuries.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the incidence and the risk factors for secondary wound infections associated to high-energy ammunition injuries (HEAI) in the cohort of civilian casualties from the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris. METHODS: This retrospective multi-centric study included casualties presenting at least one HEAI who underwent surgery during the first 48 h following hospital admission. HEAI-associated infection was defined as a wound infection occurring within the initial 30 days following trauma. Risk factors were assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Among the 200 included victims, the rate of infected wounds was 11.5%. The median time between admission and the surgical revision for secondary wound infection was 11 days [IQR 9-20]. No patient died from an infectious cause. Infections were polymicrobial in 44% of the cases. The major risk factors for secondary wound infection were ISS (p < 0.001), SAPS II (p < 0.001), MGAP (p < 0.001), haemorrhagic shock (p = 0.003), use of vasopressors (p < 0.001), blood transfusion (p < 0.001), abdominal penetrating trauma (p = 0.003), open fracture (p = 0.01), vascular injury (p = 0.001), duration of surgery (p = 0.009), presence of surgical material (p = 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the SAPS II score (OR 1.07 [1.014-1.182], p = 0.019) and the duration of surgery (OR 1.005 [1.000-1.012], p = 0.041) were the only risk factors identified. CONCLUSION: We report an 11.5% rate of secondary wound infection following high-energy ammunition injuries. Risk factors were an immediately severe condition and a prolonged surgery.

Early hyperoxemia is associated with lower adjusted mortality after severe trauma: results from a French registry.

BACKGROUND: Hyperoxemia has been associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients, but little is known about its effect in trauma patients. The objective of this study was to assess the association between early hyperoxemia and in-hospital mortality after severe trauma. We hypothesized that a PaO2 ≥ 150 mmHg on admission was associated with increased in-hospital mortality. METHODS: Using data issued from a multicenter prospective trauma registry in France, we included trauma patients managed by the emergency medical services between May 2016 and March 2019 and admitted to a level I trauma center. Early hyperoxemia was defined as an arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) above 150 mmHg measured on hospital admission. In-hospital mortality was compared between normoxemic (150 > PaO2 ≥ 60 mmHg) and hyperoxemic patients using a propensity-score model with predetermined variables (gender, age, prehospital heart rate and systolic blood pressure, temperature, hemoglobin and arterial lactate, use of mechanical ventilation, presence of traumatic brain injury (TBI), initial Glasgow Coma Scale score, Injury Severity Score (ISS), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical health class > I, and presence of hemorrhagic shock). RESULTS: A total of 5912 patients were analyzed. The median age was 39 [26-55] years and 78% were male. More than half (53%) of the patients had an ISS above 15, and 32% had traumatic brain injury. On univariate analysis, the in-hospital mortality was higher in hyperoxemic patients compared to normoxemic patients (12% versus 9%, p < 0.0001). However, after propensity score matching, we found a significantly lower in-hospital mortality in hyperoxemic patients compared to normoxemic patients (OR 0.59 [0.50-0.70], p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In this large observational study, early hyperoxemia in trauma patients was associated with reduced adjusted in-hospital mortality. This result contrasts the unadjusted in-hospital mortality as well as numerous other findings reported in acutely and critically ill patients. The study calls for a randomized clinical trial to further investigate this association.

Severe Sympathomimetic Toxidrome in a French Soldier: How Caffeine Overdose Can Lead to Severe Consequences.

We report the case of a French soldier, 29-yr-old, hospitalized in intensive care unit at Begin Military Hospital for the management of a sympathomimetic syndrome associated with severe metabolic disorders. Diagnosis of voluntary caffeine overdose was made. The evolution was favorable after metabolic disorders correction, without the need for dialysis. Caffeine is a molecule free of serious adverse effects when consumed at low doses. However, when consumed at high doses, it can become toxic and lead to death. Caffeine consumption has increased in recent years and especially in French Army. This toxicity remains unknown by a large part of population. We must be vigilant because this substance misuse can lead to serious consequences.