Understanding clinical outcomes and factors influencing mortality in intensive care unit patients with COVID-19-associated candidemia.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID pandemic, research has shown an increase in candidemia cases following severe COVID infection and the identification of risk factors associated with candidemia. However, there is a lack of studies that specifically explore clinical outcomes and mortality rates related to candidemia after COVID infection. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this international study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and identify factors influencing mortality in patients who developed candidemia during their COVID infection. PATIENTS/METHODS: This study included adult patients (18 years of age or older) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and diagnosed with COVID-associated candidemia (CAC). The research was conducted through ID-IRI network and in collaboration with 34 medical centres across 18 countries retrospectively, spanning from the beginning of the COVID pandemic until December 2021. RESULTS: A total of 293 patients diagnosed with CAC were included. The median age of the patients was 67, and 63% of them were male. The most common Candida species detected was C. albicans. The crude 30-day mortality rate was recorded at 62.4%. The logistic regression analysis identified several factors significantly impacting mortality, including age (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.07, p < .0005), SOFA score (OR 1.307, 95% CI 1.17-1.45, p < .0005), invasive mechanical ventilation (OR 7.95, 95% CI 1.44-43.83, p < .017) and duration of mechanical ventilation (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-0.99, p < .020). CONCLUSIONS: By recognising these prognostic factors, medical professionals can customise their treatment approaches to offer more targeted care, leading to improved patient outcomes and higher survival rates for individuals with COVID-associated candidemia.

Risk factors for Gram-negative bacterial infection of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices: multicentre observational study (CarDINe Study).

BACKGROUND: Infections of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIED) are mainly due to Gram-positive bacteria (GPB). Data about Gram-negative bacteria CIED (GNB-CIED) infections are limited. This study aimed to investigate risk factors, clinical and diagnostic characteristics, and outcome of patients with GNB-CIED. METHODS: A multicentre, international, retrospective, case-control-control study was performed on patients undergoing CIED implantation from 2015 to 2019 in 17 centres across Europe. For each patient diagnosed with GNB-CIED, one matching control with GPB-CIED infection and two matching controls without infection were selected. RESULTS: A total of 236 patients were enrolled: 59 with GNB-CIED infection, 59 with GPB-CIED infection and 118 without infection. No between-group differences were found regarding clinical presentation, diagnostic and therapeutic management. A trend toward a higher rate of fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) positivity was observed among patients with GNB than in those with GPB-CIED infection (85.7% vs. 66.7%; P = 0.208). Risk factors for GNB-CIED infection were Charlson Comorbidity Index Score (relative risk reduction, RRR = 1.211; P = 0.011), obesity (RRR = 5.122; P = 0.008), ventricular-pacing ventricular-sensing inhibited-response pacemaker implantation (RRR = 3.027; P = 0.006) and right subclavian vein site of implantation (RRR = 5.014; P = 0.004). At 180-day survival analysis, GNB-CIED infection was associated with increased mortality risk (HR = 1.842; P = 0.067). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity, high number of comorbidities and right subclavian vein implantation site were associated with increased risk of GNB-CIED infection. A prompt therapeutic intervention that may be guided using FDG PET/CT is suggested in patients with GNB-CIED infection, considering the poorer outcome observed in this group.

Creating blood conservation for a cardiothoracic surgical hospital: when you have to start from scratch!

BACKGROUND: This improvement report presents a hospital blood-management programme, a hospital-specific model that differs from patient blood managment and was aimed at improving operational standards of transfusion. We identified the challenges of the transfusion process and suggest practical strategies for improving them. The aim of this article was to investigate the effect of the programme on the transfusion of blood components. METHODS: In January 2019, the programme was started to improve the transfusion process. The data before and after the start of the programme were compared. Frequency distribution was obtained for each variable for statistical analysis and the chi-squared test with continuity correction was used to compare these variables for the years 2018 and 2019. RESULTS: Transfusion of total blood components decreased by 23.2%, fresh whole blood by 46.7%, fresh frozen plasma by 38.4%, pooled platelets by 14.0% and red blood cells by 9.66%. Autologous transfusion increased 11.7-fold. The emergency department (76.0%) and intensive care unit transfusion rate (9.26%) decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: This programme is an example for hospitals where patient blood management cannot be applied. The programme can be considered the first step for blood management and may be applied to blood management in institutions worldwide. The difficulty of blood supply and increased cost will increase the importance of hospital blood-management programmes in the coming years.

Self-reported antibiotic stewardship and infection control measures from 57 intensive care units: An international ID-IRI survey.

We explored the self-reported antibiotic stewardship (AS), and infection prevention and control (IPC) activities in intensive care units (ICUs) of different income settings. A cross-sectional study was conducted using an online questionnaire to collect data about IPC and AS measures in participating ICUs. The study participants were Infectious Diseases-International Research Initiative (IDI-IR) members, committed as per their institutional agreement form. We analyzed responses from 57 ICUs in 24 countries (Lower-middle income (LMI), n = 13; Upper-middle income (UMI), n = 33; High-income (HI), n = 11). This represented (~5%) of centers represented in the ID-IRI. Surveillance programs were implemented in (76.9%-90.9%) of ICUs with fewer contact precaution measures in LMI ones (p = 0.02); (LMI:69.2%, UMI:97%, HI:100%). Participation in regional antimicrobial resistance programs was more significantly applied in HI (p = 0.02) (LMI:38.4%,UMI:81.8%,HI:72.2%). AS programs are implemented in 77.2% of institutions with AS champions in 66.7%. Infectious diseases physicians and microbiologists are members of many AS teams (59%&50%) respectively. Unqualified healthcare professionals(42.1%), and deficient incentives(28.1%) are the main barriers to implementing AS. We underscore the existing differences in IPC and AS programs' implementation, team composition, and faced barriers. Continuous collaboration and sharing best practices on APM is needed. The role of regional and international organizations should be encouraged. Global support for capacity building of healthcare practitioners is warranted.

Lung transplantation for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in Turkey: An initial institutional experience.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Lung transplantation is a well-established treatment in patients who have bronchiectasis with diffuse involvement, and with a progressive decline in respiratory function despite maximal medical therapy. We have aimed to present pre-transplantation factors and our results of lung transplantation for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. METHODS: Patients who underwent lung transplantation for non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis between the dates of December 2016 and July 2019 were included. The patients' clinical parameters, pulmonary function tests, microbiological results, cardiac parameters, intraoperative data, and lung transplant outcomes were assessed retrospectively. RESULTS: Bilateral lung transplantation for bronchiectasis were performed in eleven patients. The mean age was 36.5 years (range 22-57 years). There were 4 (36.4%) female patients and 7 (63.6%) male patients. All patients had a high score as per the bronchiectasis severity index (BSI). The FACED score was moderate in six patients and severe in five patients. Preoperative colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed in five patients. Hospital mortality was 18.2% (2/11). The 1-year mortality was 27.2% (3/11). Eight patients were alive. The mean follow-up period of patients with survival was 28.2 months (range 13-42 months). One patient was diagnosed with chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). The 3-year survival rates were 73%. CONCLUSION: Lung transplantation for bronchiectasis with end-stage lung disease can improve the quality of life and increase survival in selected patients. Further studies are needed to identify the optimal time for lung transplantation referral due to the availability of limited data.