Impact of cholangitis on survival of patients with malignant biliary obstruction treated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of cholangitis on survival of patients with gastrointestinal cancer and malignant biliary obstruction treated with percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). METHODS: A retrospective registry study was performed at a tertiary center from 2000 to 2016 in Northern Finland. RESULTS: The study included 588 patients, 258 (43.9%) patients with pancreatic cancer, 222 (37.7%) with biliary tract cancer, and 108 (18.4%) with metastasis from gastrointestinal cancers. Patient mean age was 70 years, range 26 - 93 years. There were 288 [49.0%] women. The 30-day mortality rate was 30.8% for 156 patients with cholangitis before PTBD, 19.5% for 215 patients with cholangitis after PTBD and 25.8% for 217 patients without cholangitis (P = 0.039). The median survival was 1.8 months for patients with cholangitis before PTBD, 3.0 months for patients with cholangitis after PTBD, and 3.2 months for patients without cholangitis (P = 0.002). The hazard ratio (HR) for 1-year mortality for patients with cholangitis before PTBD was 1.3 (95% CI 1.06 - 1.67, P = 0.015) compared to patients with cholangitis after PTBD. After successful PTBD, 54 out of 291 patients received chemotherapy; the median survival was 5.2 months with cholangitis before PTBD, 9.4 months with cholangitis after PTBD and 15.3 months without cholangitis. CONCLUSION: In gastrointestinal cancers with malignant biliary obstruction, survival is poorer if cholangitis occurs before PTBD compared to cholangitis after PTBD. An oncologist's consultation is essential for assessing the possibility of chemotherapy in successfully treated PTBD patients, because of the notable survival benefit.

The Toxicity of Wiped Dust and Airborne Microbes in Individual Classrooms Increase the Risk of Teachers' Work-Related Symptoms: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The causes and pathophysiological mechanisms of building-related symptoms (BRS) remain open. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate the association between teachers' individual work-related symptoms and intrinsic in vitro toxicity in classrooms. This is a further analysis of a previously published dataset. METHODS: Teachers from 15 Finnish schools in Helsinki responded to the symptom survey. The boar sperm motility inhibition assay, a sensitive indicator of mitochondrial dysfunction, was used to measure the toxicity of wiped dust and cultured microbial fallout samples collected from the teachers' classrooms. RESULTS: 231 teachers whose classroom toxicity data had been collected responded to the questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, smoking, and atopy showed that classroom dust intrinsic toxicity was statistically significantly associated with the following 12 symptoms reported by teachers (adjusted ORs in parentheses): nose stuffiness (4.1), runny nose (6.9), hoarseness (6.4), globus sensation (9.0), throat mucus (7.6), throat itching (4.4), shortness of breath (12.2), dry cough (4.7), wet eyes (12.7), hypersensitivity to sound (7.9), difficulty falling asleep (7.6), and increased need for sleep (7.7). Toxicity of cultured microbes was found to be associated with nine symptoms (adjusted ORs in parentheses): headache (2.3), nose stuffiness (2.2), nose dryness (2.2), mouth dryness (2.8), hoarseness (2.2), sore throat (2.8), throat mucus (2.3), eye discharge (10.2), and increased need for sleep (3.5). CONCLUSIONS: The toxicity of classroom dust and airborne microbes in boar sperm motility inhibition assay significantly increased teachers' risk of work-related respiratory and ocular symptoms. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms of BRS are discussed.

Chemotherapy Improves Survival After Percutaneous Biliary Drainage in Patients With Pancreatic or Biliary Tract Cancer With Biliary Obstruction.

BACKGROUND: The survival benefit of chemotherapy compared to best supportive care (BSC) after percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) was evaluated in patients with pancreatic or biliary tract cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective registry study was conducted at a tertiary-level university hospital. The endpoint was survival measured from the PTBD and the initiation of chemotherapy. RESULTS: Among 158 patients (mean age=74 years, range=43-93 years; 51.9% women), 82 (51.9%) had pancreatic cancer and 76 (48.1%) had biliary tract cancer. After PTBD, 32 (20.3%) patients received chemotherapy and had a median survival of 11.7 months; 126 (79.7%) patients received only BSC resulting in a median survival of 1.7 months. The hazard ratio for survival at 1 year for patients who received chemotherapy compared to BSC was 0.22 (95% confidence interval=0.12-0.41, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: After PTBD, patients with pancreatic or biliary tract cancer should be critically evaluated by an oncologist to determine whether chemotherapy is possible, as it seems to significantly improve survival compared to BSC.

Teachers' work-related non-literature-known building-related symptoms are also connected to indoor toxicity: A cross-sectional study.

A previous study showed that classical building-related symptoms (BRS) were related to indoor dust and microbial toxicity via boar sperm motility assay, a sensitive method for measuring mitochondrial toxicity. In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed whether teachers' most common work-related non-literature-known BRS (nBRS) were also associated with dust or microbial toxicity. Teachers from 15 schools in Finland completed a questionnaire evaluating 20 nBRS including general, eye, respiratory, hearing, sleep, and mental symptoms. Boar sperm motility assay was used to measure the toxicity of extracts from wiped dust and microbial fallout samples collected from teachers' classrooms. 231 teachers answered a questionnaire and their classroom toxicity data were recorded. A negative binomial mixed model showed that teachers' work-related nBRS were 2.9-fold (95% CI: 1.2-7.3) higher in classrooms with highly toxic dust samples compared to classrooms with non-toxic dust samples (p = 0.024). The RR of work-related nBRS was 1.8 (95% CI: 1.1-2.9) for toxic microbial samples (p = 0.022). Teachers' BRS appeared to be broader than reported in the literature, and the work-related nBRS were associated with toxic dusts and microbes in classrooms.

Use and outcome of empiric echinocandins in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: Echinocandins are recommended as a first-line empiric treatment for fungal infections of patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) with critical illness. The primary aim of the study was to compare outcomes among ICU patients treated with empiric anidulafungin (ANI), caspofungin (CASPO), or micafungin (MICA). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study in a mixed adult ICU. Patient demographics, reason for ICU admission, ICU risk scores and organ support therapies were analyzed. Outcome parameters included ICU and hospital stay, 30-day mortality and 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Empiric echinocandin therapy was given to 367 patients (ANI; 73 patients, CASPO; 84 patients, and MICA; 210 patients) with a median duration of 3 days in an ICU. Patient median age was 60.7 years. As a first-line therapy, 52% of patients received fluconazole. Positive Candida cultures were found in the following samples: blood, 16 (4.4%); central line, 27 (7.4%); deep site, 92 (25.1%). Median ICU stay (ANI 6.4 days, CASPO 5.3 days, MICA 8.1 days), hospital stay (ANI 33 days, CASPO 30 days, MICA 30 days), 30-day mortality (ANI 27%, CASPO 32%, MICA 32%), and 1-year mortality (ANI 33%, CASPO 44%, MICA 45%) did not differ between the groups . The cost of antifungal therapy during the ICU period was similar in the three echinocandin groups (ANI; €1 872, CASPO; €1 799, and MICA; €1783). CONCLUSION: Our results show that ICU, hospital stay, and mortality (hospital, 30-day and 1-year) did not differ among patients with empiric anidulafungin, caspofungin, or micafungin treatment in a mixed adult ICU.

Changes in the incidence and outcome of multiple organ failure in emergency non-cardiac surgical admissions: a 10-year retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: During the past decades, epidemiologic data of independent predictors of multiple organ failure (MOF), incidence, and mortality have changed. The aim of the study was to assess the potential changes in the incidence and outcomes of MOF for one decade (2008-2017). In addition, resource utilization was considered. METHODS: Patients were eligible for inclusion if they were adults, admitted to the ICU between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2017, and had complete data sets regarding MOF. MOF was defined as organ failure separately with and without central nervous system (CNS) failure. The onset of MOF was defined as being early (≤48 h of ICU admission) and late (>48 h after ICU admission). RESULTS: Of a total of 13,270 patients enclosed in this study, 44.6% of the patients developed MOF with and 31.4% without CNS failure. MOF-related mortality decreased in patients with (adjusted IRR 0.972 [95% CI 0.948 to 0.996], P=0.022) and without (adjusted IRR 0.957 [95% CI 0.931 to 0.983], P=0.0013) CNS failure. In addition, the incidence (adjusted IRR 0.970 [95% CI 0.950 to 0.991], P=0.006) and mortality (adjusted IRR 0.968 [95% CI 0.940 to 0.996], P=0.025) of early-onset MOF decreased, while the incidence and mortality of late-onset MOF remained constant. The length of ICU (P=0.024) and hospital (P=0.032) stays decreased while the length of mechanical ventilation remained constant (P=0.41). CONCLUSIONS: Despite all improvements in intensive care during the last decades, the incidence of late-onset MOF remains a resource-intensive, morbid, and lethal condition. More research on etiologies, signs of organ failure, and where and when to start treatment is needed to improve the prognosis of late-onset MOF.

The role of managers in promoting good hand hygiene in a Finnish tertiary care hospital.

BACKGROUND: Hospital managers play an essential role in implementing strategies to promote good hand hygiene (HH) among health care workers. We investigated the managers' views on their roles, challenges and developmental ideas in promoting good HH practice. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study with an online survey of both medical and nursing managers was conducted within a single tertiary care hospital in Finland. Three open-ended questions were analyzed using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 78 managers out of 168 responded to the survey (response rate 46%). Managers helped promote HH practices by enabling the proper environment for adherence to good HH, visible commitment, and using various means to instruct staff about HH. Challenges included the acute hospital setting and practical problems related to the managers' numerous responsibilities. Developmental ideas included information communication technology applications for monitoring HH as an indicator of the quality of care, versatile responses to HH audits, and clarifying the roles of different management levels. CONCLUSIONS: Managers are committed to and use various methods to promote HH. Managers would benefit from information communication technology applications to provide easy and targeted information regarding compliance with HH.

Hand-hygiene compliance by hospital staff and incidence of health-care-associated infections, Finland.

OBJECTIVE: To determine changes in hand-hygiene compliance after the introduction of direct observation of hand-hygiene practice for doctors and nurses, and evaluate the relationship between the changes and the incidence of health-care-associated infections. METHODS: We conducted an internal audit survey in a tertiary-care hospital in Finland from 2013 to 2018. Infection-control link nurses observed hand-hygiene practices based on the World Health Organization's strategy for hand hygiene. We calculated hand-hygiene compliance as the number of observations where necessary hand-hygiene was practised divided by the total number of observations where hand hygiene was needed. We determined the incidence of health-care-associated infections using a semi-automated electronic incidence surveillance programme. We calculated the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) to evaluate the relationship between the incidence of health-care-associated infections and compliance with hand hygiene. FINDINGS: The link nurses made 52 115 hand-hygiene observations between 2013 and 2018. Annual hand-hygiene compliance increased significantly from 76.4% (2762/3617) in 2013 to 88.5% (9034/10 211) in 2018 (P < 0.0001). Over the same time, the number of health-care-associated infections decreased from 2012 to 1831, and their incidence per 1000 patient-days fell from 14.0 to 11.7 (P < 0.0001). We found a weak but statistically significant negative correlation between the monthly incidence of health-care-associated infections and hand-hygiene compliance (r = -0.48; P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The compliance of doctors and nurses with hand-hygiene practices improved with direct observation and feedback, and this change was associated with a decrease in the incidence of health-care-associated infections. Further studies are needed to evaluate the contribution of hand hygiene to reducing health-care-associated infections.

Brain tight junction protein expression in sepsis in an autopsy series.

BACKGROUND: Neuroinflammation often develops in sepsis along with increasing permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which leads to septic encephalopathy. The barrier is formed by tight junction structures between the cerebral endothelial cells. We investigated the expression of tight junction proteins related to endothelial permeability in brain autopsy specimens in critically ill patients deceased with sepsis and analyzed the relationship of BBB damage with measures of systemic inflammation and systemic organ dysfunction. METHODS: The case series included all (385) adult patients deceased due to sepsis in the years 2007-2015 with available brain specimens taken at autopsy. Specimens were categorized according to anatomical location (cerebrum, cerebellum). The immunohistochemical stainings were performed for occludin, ZO-1, and claudin. Patients were categorized as having BBB damage if there was no expression of occludin in the endothelium of cerebral microvessels. RESULTS: Brain tissue samples were available in 47 autopsies, of which 38% (18/47) had no expression of occludin in the endothelium of cerebral microvessels, 34% (16/47) developed multiple organ failure before death, and 74.5% (35/47) had septic shock. The deceased with BBB damage had higher maximum SOFA scores (16 vs. 14, p = 0.04) and more often had procalcitonin levels above 10 µg/L (56% vs. 28%, p = 0.045) during their ICU stay. BBB damage in the cerebellum was more common in cases with C-reactive protein (CRP) above 100 mg/L as compared with CRP less than 100 (69% vs. 25%, p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: In fatal sepsis, damaged BBB defined as a loss of cerebral endothelial expression of occludin is related with severe organ dysfunction and systemic inflammation.

The proportion of understaffing and increased nursing workload are associated with multiple organ failure: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: To determine whether nurse staffing and nursing workload are associated with multiple organ failure and mortality. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study was conducted in a single tertiary-level teaching hospital during 2008-2017. The association between nurse staffing, nursing workload and prognosis was determined using daily nurse-to-patient ratios, Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System scores, Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System scores and Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System indexes. In addition, the timing of intensive care unit admission was considered. Multiple organ failure was defined according to the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score. RESULTS: During the study period, 10,230 patients were included in the final analysis. Generally, the mean daily highest Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System score and Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System score were significantly higher in patients with multiple organ failure and in non-survivors. The proportion of understaffing was significantly more common in patients with multiple organ failure than in those without. The mean daily lowest nurse-to-patient ratio and the mean daily highest Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System index did not differ between survivors and non-survivors. The levels of nursing associated with workload and understaffing were at their worst on weekends. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of understaffing and increased nursing workload are associated with multiple organ failure, demonstrating that an adequate level of nurse staffing in relation to patient complexity is a prerequisite for the availability and quality of critical care services. The proportion of understaffing did not differ between survivors and non-survivors. IMPACT: This is the first study that evaluates nurse staffing and nursing workload as potential risk factors for multiple organ failure and mortality. There is a need to ensure that intensive care units are consistently staffed based on real patient needs, 7 days a week and that personnel and services are available at all times for high-risk patients.

Asthma Case Cluster during Renovation of a Water-Damaged and Toxic Building.

BACKGROUND: An association between fungal exposure at work and asthma onset has been shown, but a causal relationship between them has not beTanle en established. METHODS: The study describes an asthma cluster in workers in a building under renovation. Before renovation the work site had significant water damage, technical deficiencies, and ventilation problems. Worker protection was insufficient during renovation. In the building, toxicity was determined from dust as well as from cultured dust. Toxicity analysis was conducted in vitro using the boar spermatozoa motility assay. RESULTS: During the 8-month renovation period, among 290 workers, 21 (7.2%) experienced new-onset asthma (9 women, 42.9%; 12 men, 57.1%; median age, 43 years (range, 30-60 years)). At the renovation site, they had been exposed to areas where remarkable toxicity was demonstrated in vitro. One year later, 13 (61.9%) of them still had moderate disease, and three (14.8%) had severe disease. Most patients had a poor response to inhaled corticosteroids. CONCLUSIONS: This study documents a clear temporal association between occupational exposure during renovation of a water-damaged building and a cluster of 21 new occupational asthma cases. In addition, dust and cultured dust from their work spaces showed remarkable toxicity based on inhibition of boar sperm motility in vitro.

Implementation of strategies to liberate patients from mechanical ventilation in a tertiary-level medical center.

BACKGROUND: Considerable discrepancies have been observed in the implementation of strategies to liberate patients from mechanical ventilation. The aim of this study was to describe critical care nurses' knowledge of and self-reported and documented adherence to lung-protective ventilation, daily sedation interruption, and daily assessment of readiness to extubate and evaluate how these practices differ between patients with and without ventilator-associated pneumonia and between survivors and nonsurvivors. METHODS: The survey was conducted in a tertiary-level hospital in Finland from October 2014 to June 2015. Actual adherence was evaluated based on documentation of performed practices. RESULTS: A total of 86 critical care nurses responded to the survey, and 85 patients were followed. The levels of knowledge of and self-reported adherence to low tidal ventilation were 84.5% and 90.2%, respectively, and the median tidal volume was at a target level in 74.4% of patients. Regarding daily sedation interruption, the level of knowledge was 85.7%, the level of self-reported adherence was 77.3%, and documented adherence was 33.3%. The levels of knowledge and self-reported adherence regarding spontaneous breathing trials were 61.9% and 71.6%, respectively. Adherence to lung-protective ventilation, daily sedation interruption, and daily assessment of readiness to extubate did not differ between patients with (n = 20) and without (n = 65) ventilator-associated pneumonia and between survivors (n = 55) and nonsurvivors (n = 30). CONCLUSIONS: Lung-protective ventilation, including low-tidal ventilation and avoidance of high inspiratory plateau pressures, was well implemented and adhered to. The levels of knowledge and self-reported adherence versus documented adherence regarding daily sedation interruption and spontaneous breathing trial demonstrated insufficient implementation of local guidelines. There was no effect on the outcome.

Infection triples the cost of a primary joint arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: In Europe few studies have analyzed the costs of treating aseptic revisions and prosthetic joint infections with either debridement, antibiotics and implant retention or two-stage revision, as compared to the cost of a primary total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: The purpose was to analyze the costs of total joint arthroplasties, aseptic revisions and prosthetic joint infections treated with debridement, antibiotics and implant retention or a two-stage revision. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients who had a total joint arthroplasty in the Oulu University Hospital during the three-year period from 2013 to 2015. The costs were divided to specific services (e.g. procedure costs, ward care costs, laboratory). Actual costs obtained from the hospital's financial database were used for analysis. RESULTS: There were 1708 total joint arthroplasties without complications, 18 aseptic revisions and 42 prosthetic joint infections eligible for analysis. The mean cost of a total joint arthroplasty was €7200, the excess cost of an aseptic revision was €10,900 and the excess cost of a prosthetic joint infection was €18,900 (total joint arthroplasty vs. infection, p < .0001). The excess cost was €12,800 for debridement, antibiotics and implant retention treatment and €44,600 for a two-stage revision (p < .0001). The two most expensive services were ward care and procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Infection tripled the cost of a total joint arthroplasty. The cost of two-stage revisions were triple that of debridement, antibiotics and implant retention treatment.

Elevated serum S-100ß in patients with septic shock is associated with delirium.

BACKGROUND: A high prevalence of delirium is observed in sepsis, yet specific markers for this brain dysfunction in sedated patients are still lacking. Cytoplasmic low molecular weight calcium-binding protein, S-100ß, is a commonly used nonspecific marker for brain injury. Here, we evaluated whether delirium is associated with increases in S-100ß levels. METHODS: This observational study included 22 patients with septic shock. Delirium was assessed by CAM-ICU and blood samples were obtained to measure inflammatory (CRP, PCT, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α) and cerebral biomarkers (S-100ß, NSE, HAB42, SUBP). Patients were categorized according to the presence of delirium. RESULTS: Delirium was present in 10/22 of the patients (45.5%). Serum S-100ß levels were above the laboratory cutoff value of 0.15 µg/L in 13/22 (59.1%) of the patients. The odds ratio for risk of developing delirium in cases with an S-100ß >0.15 µg/L was 18.0 (95%CI, 1.7-196.3, P = 0.011). Patients with delirium had higher plasma levels of IL-6 compared to those without; 138.3 pg/mL [28.0-296.7] vs 53.6 pg/mL [109.3-505, P = 0.050]. There was a positive correlation between S100 ß and IL-6 levels (r = 0.489, P = 0.021). Delirium patients had higher SOFA scores; 10 [5-9] vs 7[8-10.5], P = 0.036. CONCLUSIONS: Delirium in septic shock was associated with an elevated protein S-100ß when using a laboratory cutoff value of 0.15 µg/L and with more severe organ dysfunction during the ICU stay.

Interleukin-5, interleukin-6, interferon induced protein-10, procalcitonin and C-reactive protein among mechanically ventilated severe community-acquired viral and bacterial pneumonia patients.

BACKGROUND: The serum cytokine levels among 45 mechanically ventilated, intensive care unit (ICU)-treated severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) patients with known microbial etiology in three different etiology groups were assessed. METHODS: Blood samples for C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, IL-10, human interferon gamma induced protein (IP)-10, and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha) were collected at time points 0, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after study inclusion. RESULTS: There were 21 (43%) pure bacterial infections (bacterial group, BG), 5 (10%) pure viral infections (viral group, VG), and 19 (39%) mixed bacterial-viral infections (mixed group, MG) among 45 mechanically ventilated SCAP patients. CRP and PCT levels were significantly higher in the MG and values decreased with time in all groups. PCT differed also in time and group analysis (P = 0.001), the highest being in the MG. IL-5 levels were significantly higher in the VG compared to others (Ptime = 0.001, Pgroup = 0.051 and Ptimexgroup = 0.016). IL-6 and IP-10 levels decreased over time (Ptime = 0.003 and Ptime = 0.021), but there were no differences between groups. CONCLUSION: SCAP patients with viral etiology have higher IL-5 levels. Patients with mixed viral and bacterial group have higher PCT compared to other etiologies.

Association of nurse staffing and nursing workload with ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality: a prospective, single-center cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Nurse understaffing and increased nursing workload have been associated with increased risk of adverse patient outcomes and even mortality. AIM: To determine whether nurse staffing and nursing workload are associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality. METHODS: This prospective, observational cohort study was conducted in a single tertiary-level teaching hospital in Finland during 2014-2015. The association between nurse staffing, nursing workload and prognosis was determined using daily nurse-to-patient ratios, Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System and Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System scores, and Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System indices. Ventilator-associated pneumonia was defined according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. FINDINGS: Evaluable data was available for 85 patients. The overall ventilator-associated pneumonia and 28-day mortality rates were 23.5% and 35.3%, respectively. Nurse staffing, measured as the daily lowest nurse-to-patient ratio (P = 0.006) and median Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System index (P = 0.046), were significantly lower in patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia. In addition, nursing workload, measured as median scores obtained by the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (P = 0.009) and Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System (P = 0.03), was significantly higher in infected patients. The median (P = 0.02) and daily highest (P = 0.03) Intensive Care Nursing Scoring System scores were significantly higher in non-survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Lower nurse staffing and increased nursing workload are associated with ventilator-associated pneumonia and mortality, demonstrating that adequate staffing is a prerequisite for the availability and quality of critical care services.

Is Palliative Percutaneous Drainage for Malignant Biliary Obstruction Useful?

BACKGROUND: Malignant biliary obstruction is a challenging problem for cancer patients. Here we evaluate predictive factors for survival following percutaneous drainage for malignant biliary obstruction in patients in whom endoscopic drainage was unsuccessful or insufficient. METHODS: A retrospective register study in a tertiary-level university hospital. RESULTS: A total of 643 cancer patients (317 females and 326 males) with malignant biliary obstruction were treated with percutaneous drainage at our hospital between 1999 and 2016. Their median overall survival rate was 2.6 months, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2.2-3.0. Independent factors predicting poor outcome were metastatic cancer, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 2.2 (95% CI 1.8-2.7); Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) of 2 (HR 2.3; 95% CI 1.8-2.8); ECOG PS of 3-4 (HR 3.5; 95% CI 2.8-4.4), American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA) of 4 (HR 2.1; 95% CI 1.5-2.9); and bilirubin of ≥60.0 µmol/L within 30 days post-drainage (HR 1.3; 95% CI 1.1-1.6). During the time periods 1999-2004 and 2005-2010, patients had poorer outcomes (HR 1.4; 95% CI 1.1-1.7 and HR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2-1.8) than during the last period 2011-2016. CONCLUSION: Patients with cancer who underwent percutaneous biliary drainage for biliary obstruction had a poor median overall survival. The usefulness of biliary drainage, especially in patients with metastatic cancer, poor ECOG PS, and high ASA class, should be critically considered.

Critical care nurses' knowledge of, adherence to, and barriers toward institution-specific ventilator bundle.

BACKGROUND: Although evidence-based practices are known to improve the quality of care, making it cost-efficient and improving clinical results, barriers to transferring research into clinical practice have hindered this process. AIMS: To evaluate critical care nurses' knowledge of, adherence to, and barriers toward institution-specific ventilator bundle. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 2015, we conducted an institution-specific, cross-sectional study in a 26-bed adult mixed medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in Finland using quantitative survey of knowledge and self-reported adherence with qualitative gathering of barrier data. A pre-validated multiple-choice Ventilator Bundle Questionnaire was distributed to all registered nurses who were direct care providers (n = 155). RESULTS: The final response rate was 55.5% (n = 86), and 47.2% (n = 34) of respondents had more than 10 years of ICU experience. The levels of knowledge and self-reported adherence were 71.1% and 65.8% of the total score, respectively. The level of knowledge was higher among respondents who had received in-service education about ventilator bundle compared with respondents who had not received in-service education (27.0 vs 24.0 [P = .012]). Less experienced nurses reported significantly higher adherence than nurses with more ICU experience (29.0 vs 25.0 [P = .034]). The correlation between knowledge and adherence scores was low (ρ 0.48 [P <.001]). The most well-known and adhered-to guidelines described patient positioning, daily chlorhexidine-based oral care, and strict hand hygiene. The least-known guidelines and those least adhered to described respiratory equipment, management of sedation and analgesia, and practices prior to and during endotracheal suctioning. The main barriers were related to the nurse respondents (e.g., lack of education [25.9%]), environment (e.g., role ambiguities [36.4%] and inadequate resources [21.1%]), and patients (e.g., patient discomfort [4.8%] and fear of adverse effects [4.6%]). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported adherence did not correlate with knowledge and was not related to work experience. Most of the barriers toward evidence-based guidelines indicated a need for changes that are beyond the control of individual nurses.

Neutrophil CD64, C-reactive protein, and procalcitonin in the identification of sepsis in the ICU - Post-test probabilities.

PURPOSE: We were interested in whether C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) distinguish sepsis from non-septic controls and whether a combination of CRP, PCT, and neutrophil CD64 improves identification of sepsis in the intensive care unit (ICU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the CRP and PCT concentrations from 27 patients with sepsis and 15 ICU controls. In addition, CD64 on neutrophils was measured using quantitative flow cytometry. We present a multiple marker analysis for sepsis diagnostics combining neutrophil CD64, CRP, and PCT using post-test analysis. RESULTS: The CRP and PCT values separated sepsis and non-septic ICU patients. In post-test analysis, CRP provided a positive probability of 0.48 and a negative probability of 0.053 for sepsis in the ICU; while, the corresponding values were 0.35 and 0.0059, respectively, for PCT and 0.62 and 0.0013, respectively, for neutrophil CD64. When neutrophil CD64 was analyzed with PCT and CRP, the probabilities were 0.98 and <0.001, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neutrophil CD64 expression was superior to PCT and CRP for the identification of sepsis in ICU. Positive post-test probability for any combinations of simultaneously analyzed CRP, PCT and CD64 showed improved diagnostic accuracy for sepsis. This approach may be useful for guiding antibiotic treatment in ICU.

ICU-treated influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 infections more severe post pandemic than during 2009 pandemic: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: We compared in a single mixed intensive care unit (ICU) patients with influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 between pandemic and postpandemic periods. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in 2009-2016. Data are expressed as median (25th-75th percentile) or number (percentile). RESULTS: Seventy-six influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 patients were admitted to the ICU: 16 during the pandemic period and 60 during the postpandemic period. Postpandemic patients were significantly older (60 years vs. 43 years, p < 0.001) and less likely to have epilepsy or other neurological diseases compared with pandemic patients (5 [8.3%] vs. 6 [38%], respectively; p = 0.009). Postpandemic patients were more likely than pandemic patients to have cardiovascular disease (24 [40%] vs. 1 [6%], respectively; p = 0.015), and they had higher scores on APACHE II (17 [13-22] vs. 14 [10-17], p = 0.002) and SAPS II (40 [31-51] vs. 31 [25-35], p = 0.002) upon admission to the ICU. Postpandemic patients had higher maximal SOFA score (9 [5-12] vs. 5 [4-9], respectively; p = 0.03) during their ICU stay. Postpandemic patients had more often septic shock (40 [66.7%] vs. 8 [50.0%], p = 0.042), and longer median hospital stays (15.0 vs. 8.0 days, respectively; p = 0.006). During 2015-2016, only 18% of the ICU- treated patients had received seasonal influenza vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Postpandemic ICU-treated A(H1N1) pdm09 influenza patients were older and developed more often septic shock and had longer hospital stays than influenza patients during the 2009 pandemic.