The detection of microbial DNA but not cultured bacteria is associated with increased mortality in patients with suspected sepsis-a prospective multi-centre European observational study.

OBJECTIVES: Blood culture results inadequately stratify the mortality risk in critically ill patients with sepsis. We sought to establish the prognostic significance of the presence of microbial DNA in the bloodstream of patients hospitalized with suspected sepsis. METHODS: We analysed the data collected during the Rapid Diagnosis of Infections in the Critically Ill (RADICAL) study, which compared a novel culture-independent PCR/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) assay with standard microbiological testing. Patients were eligible for the study if they had suspected sepsis and were either hospitalized or were referred to one of nine intensive care units from six European countries. The blood specimen for PCR/ESI-MS assay was taken along with initial blood culture taken for clinical indications. RESULTS: Of the 616 patients recruited to the RADICAL study, 439 patients had data on outcome, results of the blood culture and PCR/ESI-MS assay available for analysis. Positive blood culture and PCR/ESI-MSI result was found in 13% (56/439) and 40% (177/439) of patients, respectively. Either a positive blood culture (p 0.01) or a positive PCR/ESI-MS (p 0.005) was associated with higher SOFA scores on enrolment to the study. There was no difference in 28-day mortality observed in patients who had either positive or negative blood cultures (35% versus 32%, p 0.74). However, in patients with a positive PCR/ESI-MS assay, mortality was significantly higher in comparison to those with a negative result (42% versus 26%, p 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Presence of microbial DNA in patients with suspected sepsis might define a patient group at higher risk of death.

Successful readministration of trastuzumab after severe immune reactions in two breast cancer patients.

Trastuzumab is a standard treatment in breast cancer overexpressing Her2 oncogene. However, its administration carries the risk of severe immune adverse events which often lead to the discontinuation of trastuzumab. There is no clear guideline on how patients experiencing trastuzumab-related reaction should be rechallenged with the monoclonal antibody. Here, we present two case reports of patients who have presented severe anaphylactic reactions during trastuzumab infusion. Both of them have been successfully rechallenged in intensive care units with premedication, lower rate of infusion and vitals monitoring. Thereafter, trastuzumab could be continued without any serious adverse reaction. Given the positive impact of trastuzumab on patients' survival, treatment rechallenge should be carefully considered in patients who presented anaphylactic reactions.

[Burnout-associated factors in anesthesia and intensive care medicine. 2009 survey of the French Society of anesthesiology and intensive care]. / Facteurs associés au burnout en anesthésie-réanimation. Enquête 2009 de la Société française d'anesthésie et de réanimation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess factors related to burnout in anesthesia and intensive care. DESIGN: National prospective observational study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaire posted on the French Society of anesthesia website from 3rd June 2009 to 27th August 2009: Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Fast Alcohol Consumption Evaluation (FACE) and The Harvard National Depression Screening Day Scale (HANDS) scales and questions to assess health, work and personal life. RESULTS: One thousand six hundred and three questionnaires returned: 1091 anesthetists (67.6%), 241 intensivists (14.9%), 204 nurses (12.6%), emergency physicians (2.8%), supervisor nurses (0.9%). Seven hundred and sixty three in a university hospital (47.3%), 259 in a regional hospital (16.1%), 405 in a private structure (25.1%), 71 in a non-lucrative private structure (4.4%), 75 in a military hospital (4.6%). Rest of safety: 69.2% of institutions. Depression: 38.7%. Drug or chemicals addicted: 10.6%. Alcohol addicts: 10.6%. Among them, 62.3% of individuals were in burnout. Burnout was linked to fragmented sleep (P<0.00001), interpersonal conflicts (P<0.00001), perception of rest of safety (P<0.02), mental history (P<0.00001), suicidal ideations (P<0.00001), depression (P=0.00001), alcohol (P<0.002), drug consumption (P<0.00002), and accidents after a nightshift (P<0.05). Subjects in burnout intended more frequently to leave the profession (P<0.00001). Leaving in couple had a protective effect (P<0.005). The logistic regression model retained seven covariates independently associated with burnout: quality of work, of personal life, of fatigue, depression, conflicts with colleagues and patients, regretting the choice of specialty. CONCLUSION: This study of the largest cohort of anesthesia personnel performed in France detects a high proportion of burnout. It highlights links with tensors that may constitute possibilities of prevention of the burnout syndrome.

[Glucose variability in intensive care unit]. / La variabilité glycémique en réanimation.

Hyperglycemia is significantly associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients and then, strict control of blood glucose (BG) concentration is important. Lowering of BG levels with intensive insulin therapy (IIT) was recommended in order to improve patient outcomes. But recently, some recent prospective trials failed to confirm the initial data, showing conflicting results (significantly increased mortality with IIT, more hypoglycemic episodes). So there is no consensus about efficiency and safety of IIT. Significant associations between glucose variability and mortality have been confirmed by several recent studies. A difference in variability of BG control could explain why the effect of IIT varied from beneficial to harmful. Managing and decreasing this BG variability could be an important goal of BG control in critically ill patients. Clinicians have to consider definitions, physiopathology and impacts of glucose variability, in order to improve patient outcomes.

[Low-pressure tamponade mimicking cholecystitis]. / Tamponnade à pression basse mimant une cholécystite.

Low-pressure tamponade is rare and little known with difficult clinical recognition. We report a case of this pathology in a patient admitted for abdominal severe sepsis. Pericardiocentesis led to identification of Salmonella typhimurium pericarditis. This case report emphasizes the clinical recognition difficulty and the interest of early fast echography in case of hemodynamic emergency.

Auscultation in flight: comparison of conventional and electronic stethoscopes.

OBJECTIVES: The ability to auscultate during air medical transport is compromised by high ambient-noise levels. The aim of this study was to assess the capabilities of a traditional and an electronic stethoscope (which is expected to amplify sounds and reduce ambient noise) to assess heart and breath sounds during medical transport in a Boeing C135. METHODS: We tested one model of a traditional stethoscope (3MTM Littmann Cardiology IIITM) and one model of an electronic stethoscope (3MTM Littmann Stethoscope Model 3000). We studied heart and lung auscultation during real medical evacuations aboard a medically configured C135. For each device, the quality of auscultation was described using a visual rating scale (ranging from 0 to 100 mm, 0 corresponding to "I hear nothing," 100 to "I hear perfectly"). Comparisons were accomplished using a t-test for paired values. RESULTS: A total of 36 comparative evaluations were performed. For cardiac auscultation, the value of the visual rating scale was 53 ± 24 and 85 ± 11 mm, respectively, for the traditional and electronic stethoscope (paired t-test: P = .0024). For lung sounds, quality of auscultation was estimated at 27 ± 17 mm for traditional stethoscope and 68 ± 13 for electronic stethoscope (paired t-test: P = .0003). The electronic stethoscope was considered to be better than the standard model for hearing heart and lung sounds. CONCLUSION: Flight practitioners involved in air medical evacuation in the C135 aircraft are better able to practice auscultation with this electronic stethoscope than with a traditional one.

[Is there any place for hypertonic saline for fluid resuscitation in septic shock]. / Il y a-t-il une place pour le sérum salé hypertonique dans les états septiques graves?

Fluid loading is the first step, necessary to care for severe sepsis. Two main classes of solutions are currently available: crystalloids and colloids. The concept of small volume resuscitation with hypertonic saline has emerged these last years in the care of traumatic haemorrhagic shock. The main benefits are the restoration of intravascular volume, improvement of cardiac output and improvement of regional circulations. Many experiments highlight modulation of immune and inflammatory cascades. We report the mechanisms of action of hypertonic saline based on experimental human and animal studies, which advocate its use in septic shock.

[Promotility drugs use in critical care: indications and limits?]. / Utilisation des médicaments prokinétiques en réanimation: indications et limites?

Enteral feeding is often limited by gastric and intestinal motility disturbances in critically ill patients, particularly in patients with shock. So, promotility agents are frequently used to improve tolerance to enteral nutrition. This review summaries the pathophysiology, presents the available pharmacological strategies, the clinical data, the counter-indications and the principal limits. The clinical data are poor. No study demonstrates a positive effect on clinical outcomes. Metoclopramide and erythromycin seems to be the more effective. Considering the risk of antibiotic resistance, the first line use of erythromycin should be avoided in favor of metoclopramide.

[Interest of Ineurope syringe for nerve agent intoxication]. / Intérêt de la seringue Ineurope devant une intoxication par neurotoxique de guerre.

Chemical weapons represent an ever-growing threat, not only for military forces but also for civilian populations. Nerve agents such as those used in terrorist attacks by the Aum sect in Tokyo are among the deadliest of those non conventional weapons. The French military health service has developed a new auto-injector presenting as a self-usable dual-chamber syringe and successfully obtained a new drug approval to provide this new emergency treatment for the military and civilians. After a short review of the pathophysiology and clinical presentation of acute nerve agent, the authors report the development and the process of new drug application. They finally suggest a clinical guideline for practical use in case of terrorist attack.

[Anaesthesic management of vaginal delivery in a parturient with C1 esterase deficiency]. / Prise en charge anesthésique d'un accouchement chez une patiente atteinte d'un déficit en inhibiteur de C1 estérase.

Hereditary and acquired angioedema (HAE/AAE) are the clinical translation of a qualitative or a quantitative deficit of C1 esterase inhibitor (C1 INH). The frequency and severity of clinical manifestations vary greatly, ranging from a moderate swelling of the extremities to obstruction of upper airway. Anaesthesiologists and intensivists must be prepared to manage acute manifestations of this disease in case of life-threatening laryngeal edema. Surgery, physical trauma and labour are classical triggers of the disease. The anaesthesiologists should be aware of the drugs used as prophylaxis and treatment of acute attacks when considering labour and caesarean section. Androgens are contraindicated during pregnancy. If prophylaxis is required, tranexamic acid may be used with caution. The safest obstetric approach appears to be to administer a predelivery infusion of C1 INH concentrate. It is important to avoid manipulation of the airway as much as possible by relying on regional techniques. We report the case of a patient suffering from an HAE discovered during pregnancy. The management included administration of C1 INH during labor and early epidural analgesia for pain relief. A short review of the pathophysiology and therapeutic options follows.

[Successful treatment of life-threatening Panton-Valentine leucocidin positive Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia with antibiotics and immunoglobulins targeting the toxin production]. / Pneumopathie nécrosante à Stapholococcus aureus sécréteur de la leucocidine de Panton-Valentine: traitement avec succès par antibiotiques et immunoglobulines à visée anti-toxinique.

We report a patient who presented a severe Panton-Valentine-secreting methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia with threatening multi-organ failure including acute respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac failure, renal failure and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Clinical and biological disease course using empiric therapy with treatment directed against toxin production (linezolid, clindamycin and intravenous immunoglobulins) was found to be quickly effective.

[Acute meningoencephalitis revealing a Behçet's disease]. / Méningoencéphalite aiguë révélatrice d'une maladie de Behçet.

We report a 69-year-old man admitted in intensive care unit for aseptic meningoencephalitis. Initially, suspicion of an infectious etiology led to introduce an anti-infectious treatment. Behçet's disease was diagnosed during hospitalization incited to screen for noninfectious etiologies. A high dose steroid therapy was rapidly effective. The diagnosis of neuro-Behçet's disease was entertained.

[Antitoxin treatments for necrotizing pneumonia due to Panton-Valentine leukocidin-secreting Staphylococcus aureus]. / Traitements antitoxiniques et pneumopathies nécrosantes àStaphylococcus aureus sécréteurs de leucocidine de Panton-Valentine.

Staphylococcus aureus is responsible for two main clinical presentations in humans: suppurative infections and toxigenic diseases. A small percentage of S. aureus strains secrete Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). This toxin is implicated in skin infections, furunculosis, osteoarticular infections, and particularly, in serious pulmonary infections known as necrotizing pneumonia, which affect immunocompetent patients with no comorbidity. A clear outline of the clinical presentation was described recently. Necrotizing pneumonia caused by PVL-secreting S. aureus strains is characterized by a combination of fever, hemoptysis, multilobar alveolar infiltrations, and leukopenia. The disease usually progresses to toxic shock or refractory hypoxemia. A number of interesting therapies targeting leukocidin have been proposed over the past few years based on in vitro data. This review focuses on the physiopathological basis and on the therapeutic relevance of various drugs.