The impact of healthcare-associated infections on COVID-19 mortality: a cohort study from a Brazilian public hospital.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital mortality in a cohort of patients admitted to a newly adapted intensive care unit in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective, and descriptive study. Data were obtained from electronic medical records. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was diagnosed by detecting viral ribonucleic acid using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Factors associated with the risk/protection from death were determined using the odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were admitted to the hospital. The median age of the patients was 63 years, 60% were male patients, and 54% were white patients. Sixty-seven percent of the patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. Sepsis at admission increased the chance of in-hospital death by 21 times (adjusted odds ratio=21.06 [0.79-555.2]; p=0.06). The strongest risk factor for death was the development of septic shock during hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio=98.56 [2.75-352.5]; p=0.01), and one in four patients had multidrug-resistant bacteria. Mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, neuromuscular blockers, and sedatives were also the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. The in-hospital mortality rate was 41%, and the mortality rate of patients on mechanical ventilation was 60%. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was not statistically related to the adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, the strongest risk factor for in-hospital death was the development of nosocomial septic shock. Healthcare-associated infections have a significant impact on mortality rates. Therefore, to have a better outcome, it is important to consider not only the availability of beds but also the way healthcare is delivered.

Pulmonary hypertension in systemic sclerosis: diagnosis by systematic screening and prognosis after three years follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare disease, and the presence of pulmonary hypertension can be a determining factor in prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnosis, profile, and prognosis of systemic sclerosis pulmonary hypertension (SSc-PH) diagnosed by systematic screening in a Brazilian population. METHODS: A cohort of SSc patients underwent systematic screening for SSc-PH. Patients were referred for right heart catheterization (RHC) according to transthoracic echocardiogram or a combination of diagnostic tools. The clinical, immunological, and hemodynamic features and prognosis after 3 years were evaluated. RESULTS: Twenty patients underwent RHC. SSc pulmonary arterial hypertension (SSc-PAH) was the most common group of SSc-PH. These patients had long disease duration, high urate levels and highly elevated mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) on hemodynamics. Patients with mPAP > 20- < 25 mmHg had hemodynamic features of intermediate disease. Patients with SSc-PH associated to interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD-PH) had signs of vasculopathy on hemodynamics. In patients with no-SSc-PH, the survival at 1, 2, and 3 years was 96%, 92% and 92%, respectively and in patients with SSc-PH it was 86.7%, 60% and 53.3%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Patients identified with SSc-PAH and SSc-ILD-PH in our screening had severe clinical and hemodynamic features. Mortality remains high in SSc-PH but was more related to Bo-PAH and SSc-ILD-PH, while in SSc-PAH, the prognosis was better. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN 72968188, July 8th, 2021. Retrospectively registered.

The impact of healthcare-associated infections on COVID-19 mortality: a cohort study from a Brazilian public hospital

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the risk factors for in-hospital mortality in a cohort of patients admitted to a newly adapted intensive care unit in a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro. METHODS: This was an observational, retrospective, and descriptive study. Data were obtained from electronic medical records. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was diagnosed by detecting viral ribonucleic acid using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Factors associated with the risk/protection from death were determined using the odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were admitted to the hospital. The median age of the patients was 63 years, 60% were male patients, and 54% were white patients. Sixty-seven percent of the patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. Sepsis at admission increased the chance of in-hospital death by 21 times (adjusted odds ratio=21.06 [0.79-555.2]; p=0.06). The strongest risk factor for death was the development of septic shock during hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio=98.56 [2.75-352.5]; p=0.01), and one in four patients had multidrug-resistant bacteria. Mechanical ventilation, vasopressors, neuromuscular blockers, and sedatives were also the risk factors for in-hospital mortality. The in-hospital mortality rate was 41%, and the mortality rate of patients on mechanical ventilation was 60%. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was not statistically related to the adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, the strongest risk factor for in-hospital death was the development of nosocomial septic shock. Healthcare-associated infections have a significant impact on mortality rates. Therefore, to have a better outcome, it is important to consider not only the availability of beds but also the way healthcare is delivered.

Defining prognosis in sarcoidosis.

Sarcoidosis is a multi-systemic granulomatous disease. Affected individuals can show spontaneous healing, develop remission with drug treatment within 2 years, or become chronically ill. Our main goal was to identify features that are related to prognosis.The study consisted of 101 patients, recruited at a single center, who were already diagnosed with sarcoidosis at the start of the study or were diagnosed within 48 months. Ninety individuals were followed-up for at least 24 months and were classified according to clinical outcome status (COS 1 to 9). Those with COS 1-4 and COS 5-9 were classified as having favorable and unfavorable outcomes, respectively. Unconditional logistic regression analyses were conducted to define which variables were associated with sarcoidosis outcomes. Subsequently, we established a scoring system to help predict the likelihood of a favorable or unfavorable outcome.Of our patients, 48% developed a chronic form of the disease (COS 5-9). Three clinical features were predictive of prognosis in sarcoidosis. We built a score-based model where the absence of rheumatological markers (1 point), normal pulmonary functions (2 points), and the presence of early respiratory symptoms manifestations (2 points) were associated with a favorable prognosis. We predicted that a patient with a score of 5 had an 86% (95% confidence interval [CI] 74%-98%) probability of having a favorable prognosis, while those with scores of 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0 had probabilities of 72% (95% CI 59-85%), 52% (95% CI 40-63%), 31% (95% CI 17-44%), 15% (95% CI 2-28%), and 7% (95% CI 0-16%) of having a favorable prognosis, respectively. Thus, our easy-to-compute algorithm can help to predict prognosis of sarcoidosis patients, facilitating their management.

Identification of Active Sarcoidosis Using Chitotriosidase and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme.

PURPOSE: Activity/remission differentiation is a great challenge in the follow-up and treatment of sarcoidosis patients. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were proposed as sarcoidosis biomarkers. More recently, chitotriosidase (CHITO) has been described as a better alternative. This study has the aim to evaluate the association of CHITO activity, ACE, hs-CRP or a combination of these biomarkers and to construct a clinical algorithm to differentiate between sarcoidosis activity/remission status. METHODS: Forty-six patients with either active sarcoidosis or sarcoidosis in remission and 21 healthy individuals were included. ACE, hs-CRP, and CHITO were evaluated in serum samples. Comparisons of the laboratory variable means among groups were performed by linear models. The cutoff points of the biomarkers for activity/remission differentiation were calculated using the Youden's index. Biomarker cutoff points and decision tree classifier (DTC) performance were estimated by their leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV) accuracy (Acc), sensitivity (Se), and specificity (Sp). RESULTS: A 55% mean Se and a 100% mean Sp were found for CHITO, while an 88% Se and a 47% Sp were found for ACE, and a 66% Se and a 68% Sp for hs-CRP cutoff points for activity/remission differentiation. The DTC algorithm with CHITO, hs-CRP, and ACE information had an LOOCV mean Acc of 82%, Se of 78%, and Sp of 89% for sarcoidosis activity/remission differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: The algorithm involving CHITO, hs-CRP, and ACE could be a suitable strategy for differentiation between sarcoidosis activity/remission status.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome) as a differential diagnosis of hypereosinophilic syndromes.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a rare systemic disease situated between primary small vessel vasculitides associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) and hypereosinophilic syndromes (HES). Here, we present a case of EGPA in a 38-year-old male, with a previous diagnosis of asthma, who presented with fever, migratory lung infiltrates and systemic eosinophilia that was refractory to previous courses of antibiotics. This case highlights the importance of the primary care physician understanding the differential diagnosis of pulmonary eosinophilic syndromes.

Tratamento Endoscópico com Válvulas Endobrônquicas nos Pacientes com Enfisema Pulmonar / Endoscopic treatment with endobronchial valves in patients with pulmonary emphysema

A doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC) é uma patologia de grande prevalência na sociedade contemporânea, causando grande morbimortalidade e consumo de recursos em saúde. Apesar de flagrante melhora no entendimento de sua fisiopatologia e acréscimo no arsenal terapêutico experimentado nas últimas duas décadas, ainda existe grande parcela de doentes que convivem com limitação funcional extrema a despeito de tratamento clínico otimizado, reabilitação cardiopulmonar e oxigenoterapia suplementar. Tratam-se dos pacientes com doença em estágio avançado, que até pouco tempo só tinham como alternativa terapêutica o transplante pulmonar ou cardiopulmonar. Porém, nos últimos dez anos, esse panorama sombrio vem ganhando mais uma alternativa viável e factível, mesmo em pacientes com comorbidades limitantes e em países como o nosso, onde a realização de transplante pulmonar em larga escala não é uma realidade. Trata-se do tratamento endoscópico do enfisema pulmonar. Dentre as modalidades de terapia disponíveis atualmente, discutiremos o uso de válvulas endobrônquicas, método dos mais estudados, já com diversas publicações importantes e recentemente incluído no documento GOLD como opção terapêutica nos pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a highly prevalent pathology in contemporary society, causing great morbidity, mortality and consumption of health resources. Despite a striking improvement in the understanding of its pathophysiology and increase in the therapeutic arsenal experienced in the last two decades, there is still a large number of patients living with extreme functional limitation despite optimal clinical treatment, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and supplemental oxygen therapy. They are those patients with advanced disease that until recently had only as a therapeutic alternative the lung or cardiopulmonary transplantation. However, in the last ten years, this bleak picture has been gaining yet another viable and feasible alternative, even in patients with limiting comorbidities and in countries such as ours, where large-scale lung transplantation is not a reality. It is the endoscopic treatment of pulmonary emphysema. Among the modalities of therapy currently available, we will discuss the use of endobronchial valves, a method most studied, already with several important publications and recently included in the GOLD document as a therapeutic possibility in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Ultrassom Endobrônquico (EBUS): superando desafios no diagnóstico e estadiamento do câncer de pulmão / Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS): Overcoming Challenges in the Diagnosis and Staging of Lung Cancer

Os corretos diagnósticos e estadiamento do câncer de pulmão são verdadeiros desafios na prática clínica diária do pneumologista e do cirurgião de tórax. O surgimento de técnicas endoscópicas minimamente invasivas como o ultrassom endobrônquico (EBUS) e a técnica de aspiração transbrônquica por agulha fina guiada por ultrassom endobrônquico (EBUS-TBNA) vem mudando significativamente a abordagem da neoplasia pulmonar. Desde sua descrição na literatura médica há cerca de uma década, inúmeros trabalhos, incluindo ensaios clínicos controlados, revisões sistemáticas e metanálises têm demonstrado a importância do método. A propagação da técnica de EBUS-TBNA pelo mundo e sua incorporação por serviços de referência em pneumologia no Rio de Janeiro e no Brasil torna importante uma revisão atual das características técnicas do procedimento e dados relevantes da literatura sobre o tema.

The correct diagnosis and staging of lung cancer are real challenges in the daily clinical practice of the pulmonologist and the chest surgeon. The emergence of minimally invasive endoscopic techniques such as endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) and the endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration technique (EBUS-TBNA) have significantly changed the approach of pulmonary neoplasia. Since its description in the medical literature about a decade ago, countless studies, including controlled clinical trials, systematic reviews and meta-analyzes have demonstrated the importance of the method. The spread of the EBUS-TBNA technique throughout the world and its incorporation by pneumology referral services in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil makes it important to have a current review of the technical characteristics of the procedure and relevant literature data on the subject.

Amiloidose pulmonar: relato de dois casos com apresentações radiológicas distintas / Pulmonary amyloidosis: case report of two cases with diferent radiologic presentation

A amiloidose é doença caracterizada por depósitos extracelulares de proteínas amilóides. Mais frequentemente, sua apresentação ocorre de forma sistêmica, porém essa enfermidade também pode manifestar-se de forma localizada, em determinado órgão ou sistema. Neste trabalho, os autores relatam dois casos da forma pulmonar, com manifestações clínico-radiológicas distintas.

The amyloidosis is a disease characterized by extracellular deposits of amyloid proteins. More frequently the presentation takes place in a systemic way, however this illness also can happen in a located form in a determined organ or system. In this work, the authors report two cases of the pulmonary form with different clinical and radiographically patterns.

Asma grave e eosinofilia persistente / A case of severe asthma and persistent eosinophilia

As vasculites são sempre casos que desafiam e fascinam, até mesmo os clínicos mais experientes, por suas apresentações nem sempre evidentes, desde o início da investigação diagnóstica. Os autores relatam um caso de início tardio de asma grave, associado à doença de vias aéreas altas, eosinofilia persistente, nódulos pulmonares, neuropatia periférica e hematúria com dismorfismo eritrocitário. Uma análise dos dados obtidos durante a investigação levou ao diagnóstico de Síndrome de Churg-Strauss.

Cavitação pulmonar infectada em pacientes com silicoesclerodermia (síndrome de Erasmus) / Infected pulmonary cavity in a patient with silica induced scleroderma (Erasmus' syndrome)

Inicialmente descrita em 1957, a associação entre silicose e esclerose sistêmica (síndrome de Erasmus) ocorre, possivelmente, por alterações humorais e celulares, desencadeadas pela toxicidade da sílica. Neste relato, os autores descrevem o caso de um homem de 41 anos, com síndrome de Erasmus, admitido com uma cavitação pulmonar infectada.