Anti-NMDA Receptor Autoantibody Is an Independent Predictor of Hospital Mortality but Not Brain Dysfunction in Septic Patients.

The presence of autoantibodies against neuronal cell surface or synaptic proteins and their relationship to autoimmune encephalitis have recently been characterized. These autoantibodies have been also reported in other pathologic conditions; however, their role during sepsis is not known. This study detected the presence of autoantibodies against neuronal cell surface or synaptic proteins in the serum of septic patients and determined their relationship to the occurrence of brain dysfunction and mortality. This prospective, observational cohort study was performed in four Brazilian intensive care units (ICUs). Sixty patients with community-acquired severe sepsis or septic shock admitted to the ICU were included. Blood samples were collected from patients within 24 h of ICU admission. Antibodies to six neuronal proteins were assessed, including glutamate receptors (types NMDA, AMPA1, and AMPA2); voltage-gated potassium channel complex (VGKC) proteins, leucine-rich glioma-inactivated protein 1 (LGI1), and contactin-associated protein-2 (Caspr2), as well as the GABAB1 receptor. There was no independent association between any of the measured autoantibodies and the occurrence of brain dysfunction (delirium or coma). However, there was an independent and significant relationship between anti-NMDAR fluorescence intensity and hospital mortality. In conclusion, anti-NMDAR was independently associated with hospital mortality but none of the measured antibodies were associated with brain dysfunction in septic patients.

Patient safety culture at Neonatal Intensive Care Units: perspectives of the nursing and medical team.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the assessment of the patient safety culture according to the function and length of experience of the nursing and medical teams at Neonatal Intensive Care Units. METHOD: Quantitative survey undertaken at four Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Florianópolis, Brazil. The sample totaled 141 subjects. The data were collected between February and April 2013 through the application of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. For analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square tests and Cronbach's Alpha coefficient were used. Approval for the research project was obtained from the Ethics Committee, CAAE: 05274612.7.0000.0121. RESULTS: Differences in the number of positive answers to the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, the safety grade and the number of reported events were found according to the professional characteristics. A significant association was found between a shorter Length of work at the hospital and Length of work at the unit and a larger number of positive answers; longer length of experience in the profession represented higher grades and less reported events. The physicians and nursing technicians assessed the patient safety culture more positively. Cronbach's alpha demonstrated the reliability of the instrument. CONCLUSION: The differences found reveal a possible relation between the assessment of the safety culture and the subjects' professional characteristics at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units.

Patient safety culture at neonatal intensive care units: perspectives of the nursing and medical team / Cultura de segurança do paciente em unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal: perspectivas da equipe de enfermagem e médica / Cultura de seguridad del paciente en unidades de terapia intensiva neonatal: perspectivas del equipo enfermero y médico

OBJECTIVE: to verify the assessment of the patient safety culture according to the function and length of experience of the nursing and medical teams at Neonatal Intensive Care Units. METHOD: quantitative survey undertaken at four Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Florianópolis, Brazil. The sample totaled 141 subjects. The data were collected between February and April 2013 through the application of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. For analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis and Chi-Square tests and Cronbach's Alpha coefficient were used. Approval for the research project was obtained from the Ethics Committee, CAAE: 05274612.7.0000.0121. RESULTS: differences in the number of positive answers to the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, the safety grade and the number of reported events were found according to the professional characteristics. A significant association was found between a shorter Length of work at the hospital and Length of work at the unit and a larger number of positive answers; longer length of experience in the profession represented higher grades and less reported events. The physicians and nursing technicians assessed the patient safety culture more positively. Cronbach's alpha demonstrated the reliability of the instrument. CONCLUSION: the differences found reveal a possible relation between the assessment of the safety culture and the subjects' professional characteristics at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units. .

OBJETIVO: verificar a avaliação da cultura de segurança do paciente, de acordo com o cargo e tempo de trabalho das equipes de enfermagem e médica de Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. METODOLOGIA: estudo quantitativo, tipo survey, realizado em quatro Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal de Florianópolis, Brasil. A amostra foi composta por 141 sujeitos. A coleta de dados ocorreu de fevereiro a abril de 2013, com aplicação do instrumento Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Utilizou-se para análise os testes Kruskal-Wallis, qui-quadrado e alpha de Cronbach. O projeto de pesquisa recebeu aprovação do Comitê de Ética, CAAE: 05274612.7.0000.0121. RESULTADOS: verificou-se a diferença do número de respostas positivas do Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, nota de segurança e número de eventos comunicados, conforme as características profissionais. Houve diferença significava do menor tempo de trabalho no hospital e tempo de trabalho na unidade com maior número de respostas positivas; maior tempo de trabalho na profissão representou melhores notas e menos eventos comunicados. Os médicos e técnicos de enfermagem avaliaram mais positivamente a cultura de segurança do paciente. O alpha de Cronbach demonstrou confiabilidade do instrumento. CONCLUSÃO: as diferenças encontradas nos remetem a uma possível relação da avaliação da cultura de segurança com as características profissionais dos sujeitos das Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. .

OBJETIVO: verificar la evaluación de la cultura de seguridad del paciente según el cargo y tiempo de trabajo de los equipes enfermero y médico de Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. METODOLOGÍA: estudio cuantitativo, tipo survey, desarrollado en cuatro Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal de Florianópolis, Brasil. La muestra totalizó 141 sujetos. Los datos fueron recolectados de febrero a abril de 2013, con aplicación del instrumento Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Fueron utilizadas para análisis las pruebas Kruskal-Wallis, Ji-Cuadrado y Alfa de Cronbach. El proyecto de investigación recibió aprobación del Comité de Ética, CAAE: 05274612.7.0000.0121. RESULTADOS: se verificó la diferencia del número de respuestas positivas al Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture, nota de seguridad y número de eventos comunicados, según las características profesionales. Fue encontrada diferencia significativa del menor Tiempo de trabajo en el hospital y Tiempo de trabajo en la unidad con mayor número de respuestas positivas; mayor Tiempo de trabajo en la profesión representó mejores puntuaciones y menos eventos comunicados. Los médicos y técnicos de enfermería evaluaron más positivamente la cultura de seguridad del paciente. El Alfa de Cronbach demostró confiabilidad del instrumento. CONCLUSIÓN: las diferencias encontradas nos remiten a una posible relación de la evaluación de la cultura de seguridad con las características profesionales de los sujetos de las Unidades de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal. .