Utilidad del lavado broncoalveolar para la detección microbiológica, y factores asociados, en receptores de trasplante de precursores hematopoyéticos: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo

Introducción: Las opacidades pulmonares en receptores de trasplante de precursores hematopoyéticos (TPH) representan un desafío diagnóstico y son una causa de morbimortalidad. Existen grandes discrepancias con respecto a la sensibilidad diagnóstica del lavado broncoalveolar (LBA), sus complicaciones, y los factores asociados a la identificación microbiológica. Objetivo: Conocer la utilidad del estudio microbiológico del LBA en el diagnóstico, modificación de la conducta médica y estimar las complicaciones y mortalidad asociada al procedimiento, en receptores de TPH con opacidades pulmonares. Pacientes y Métodos: Estudio de cohorte, retrospectivo, en adultos receptores de TPH a los que se les realizó una broncoscopía con LBA por presentar opacidades pulmonares, en el Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires entre el 01/01/2011 y el 31/12/2020. Resultados: De los 189 procedimientos analizados, en 79 se logró un hallazgo microbiológico (41,8%) y 122 permitieron modificar la conducta médica (64,6%). En 11 casos se observaron complicaciones graves dentro de las 12 horas (5,8%) de efectuado el LBA. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue de 16,8% (N = 21/125). El valor de neutrófilos en sangre previo al LBA (p = 0,037) y la presencia de nódulos pulmonares como lesión tomográfica predominante (p = 0,029) se asociaron independientemente al hallazgo microbiològico global. Conclusiones: Nuestra investigación apoya la realización del LBA como herramienta diagnóstica en pacientes que reciben un TPH y presentan opacidades pulmonares.

Background: Lung opacities are a cause of morbimortality in bone marrow transplant patients, and represent a diagnostic challenge. There are large discrepancies regarding the diagnostic sensitivity of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), its complications, and the factors associated with microbiological detection. Aim: To know the usefulness of the microbiological study of BAL in the diagnosis, in the modification in medical behavior and to estimate the complications and associated mortality of this diagnostic procedure in patients transplanted with hematopoietic progenitor cells with pulmonary opacities. Methods: Retrospective cohort study in bone marrow transplant adult patients who underwent bronchoscopy with BAL due to lung opacities at Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires between 01/01/2011 and 12/31/2020. Results: Of the 189 BAL analyzed, 79 presented a microbiological detection (41.8%) and 122 allowed to modify the medical behavior (64.6%). Severe complications were observed within 12 hours after the procedure in11 cases (5.8%). In-hospital mortality was 16,8% (N = 21/125). The value of blood neutrophils prior to bronchoalveolar lavage (p = 0.037) and the presence of pulmonary nodules as the predominant tomographic lesion (p = 0.029) were independently associated with global microbiological detection. Conclusion: Our research supports the performance of BAL as a diagnostic tool in bone marrow transplant patients with lung opacities.

Evaluation of the discrimination and calibration of predictive scores of mortality in ECMO for patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The criteria for the selection of COVID-19 patients that could benefit most from ECMO organ support are yet to be defined. In this study, we evaluated the predictive performance of ECMO mortality predictive models in patients with COVID-19. We also performed a cost-benefit analysis depending on the mortality predicted probability. We conducted a retrospective cohort study in COVID-19 patients who received ECMO at two tertiary care hospitals between March 2020 to July 2021. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the discrimination (C-statistic), calibration (Cox calibration), and accuracy of the prediction of death due to severe ARDS in V-V ECMO score (PRESERVE), the Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Survival Score (RESP) score, and the PREdiction of Survival on ECMO Therapy-Score (PRESET) score. In addition, we compared the RESP score with Plateau pressure instead of Peak pressure. RESULTS: We included a total of 36 patients, 29 (80%) of them male and with a median (IQR) APACHE of 10 (8-15). The PRESET score had the highest discrimination (AUROCs 0.81 [95%CI 0.67-0.94]) and calibration (calibration-in-the-large 0.5 [95%CI -1.4 to 0.3]; calibration slope 2.2 [95%CI 0.7/3.7]). The RESP score with Plateau pressure had higher discrimination than the conventional RESP score. The cost per QALY in the USA, adjusted to life expectancy, was higher than USD 100 000 in patients older than 45 years with a PRESET > 10. CONCLUSION: The PRESET score had the highest predictive performance and could help in the selection of patients that benefit most from this resource-demanding and highly invasive organ support.

Percepciones de personas económicamente activas obligadas a realizar trabajo remoto durante la pandemia de COVID-19 por tener una comorbilidad: estudio cualitativo / Perceptions of economically active people who had to do remote work during the COVID19 pandemic due to having a comorbidity: a qualitative study

Introducción: la probabilidad de presentar una forma grave de COVID-19 es mayor en personas con algunas condiciones preexistentes. En la Argentina, las personas con alguna de estas comorbilidades realizaron un trabajo remoto y diferenciado respecto de sus compañeros. Esta estrategia se denomina shielding y tiene resultados heterogéneos, ya que ­si bien evita las infecciones­ puede tener algún impacto en las vivencias y salud de las personas. Métodos: investigación exploratoria a través de un diseño cualitativo basado en entrevistas semiestructuradas. Resultados: se realizaron 21 entrevistas. Se organizaron los conceptos en ejes temáticos de análisis. Como principales hallazgos se identificó que la salud general de las personas empeoró durante la pandemia a pesar de realizar trabajo diferenciado, y que durante el período explorado surgieron múltiples emergentes que incluyeron hábitos no saludables y estrategias positivas de afrontamiento. Respecto de lo laboral predominaron los sentimientos negativos. Conclusión: la implementación de shielding resulta insuficiente como única medida para la preservación de la salud de las personas con mayor riesgo de desarrollar formas graves de COVID-19. (AU)

Introduction: people with some pre-existing conditions are more likely to have a severe form of COVID-19. In Argentina, people with any of these comorbidities performed remote and differentiated work compared to their peers. This strategy is known as shielding and has heterogeneous results, since although it prevents infections it can have some impact on people's experiences and health. Methods: exploratory research through a qualitative design based on semi-structured interviews. Results: 21 interviews were conducted. The concepts were organized in thematic axes of analysis. As the main findings, we identified that the general health of the people worsened during the pandemic despite performing differentiated work, and that during the period explored, emerged both unhealthy habits and positive coping strategies. Regarding work, negative feelings predominated over positives. Conclusion: the implementation of shielding is insufficient as the only measure for the preservation of the health of people at higher risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. (AU)