Sepsis in end-stage renal disease patients: are they at an increased risk of mortality?

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to examine the outcome of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients admitted with sepsis to the intensive care unit (ICU). DESIGN: Single centre, retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Intensive Care Department of King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. PARTICIPANTS: Data were extracted from a prospectively collected ICU database from 2002 to 2017. Patients were considered to have sepsis based on the sepsis-3 definition and were stratified into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of ESRD. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES: The primary outcome of the study was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included ICU mortality, ICU and hospital lengths of stay, and mechanical ventilation duration. RESULTS: A total of 8803 patients were admitted to the ICU with sepsis during the study period. 730 (8.3%) patients had ESRD. 49.04% of ESRD patients with sepsis died within their hospital stay vs. 31.78% of non-ESRD patients. ESRD septic patients had 1.44 greater odds of dying within their hospital stay as compared to septic non-ESRD patients (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.03-1.53). Finally, the predictors of hospital mortality in septic ESRD patients were found to be mechanical ventilation (OR 3.36; 95% CI 2.27-5.00), a history of chronic liver disease (OR 2.26; 95% CI 1.26-4.07), and use of vasopressors (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.19-2.54). Among patients with ESRD, hospital mortality was higher in subgroups of patients with chronic cardiac (OR 1.86 (1.36-2.53) vs. 1.19 (0.96-1.47)) and chronic respiratory illnesses (OR 2.20 (1.52-3.20) vs. 1.21 (0.99-1.48)). CONCLUSION: ESRD patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sepsis are at greater odds of mortality compared to patients with non-ESRD. This risk is particularly increased if these patients have a concomitant history of chronic cardiac and respiratory illnesses.Key MessagesSepsis and bacterial infections are very common in ESRD patients and following cardiovascular disease; sepsis is the second leading cause of death in patients with ESRD.This study aims to examine the outcome of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients admitted with sepsis to the intensive care unit (ICU).The results of this study have shown that end-stage renal disease is associated with greater odds of ICU and hospital mortality among septic patients admitted to an intensive care unit.ESRD patients were also more likely to be started on vasopressors and mechanical ventilation.

Giant Inflatable Colon Model Enhances Lebanese Community Knowledge and Intention for Colorectal Cancer Screening.

PURPOSE: To assess the knowledge and intention for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening within the Lebanese community before and after a guided tour through an inflatable colon model. METHODS: The Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in collaboration with AMALOUNA educational nongovernmental organization launched awareness campaigns during which a walk-through inflatable colon was displayed. Pre- and post-surveys related to the age of screening, risk factors, symptoms, and CRC prevention were collected anonymously before and after touring the inflatable colon to assess the effectiveness of this educational tool. RESULTS: Compiled data collected from 782 participants revealed that older age and higher education were predictors of favorable CRC screening knowledge and behaviors before entering the inflatable colon. Interestingly, touring the inflatable colon model significantly improved participants' awareness and knowledge about CRC. Most importantly, it increased their willingness for screening and social engagement and comfort discussing and promoting CRC screening. CONCLUSION: Overall, these results indicate that the interactive colon is an effective educational tool that can make a positive impact by improving the community CRC awareness and interest in CRC screening. They also highlight the importance of such educational efforts conducted in the community to create more awareness about CRC and emphasize the importance of its prevention.