Ten Issues to Update in Nosocomial or Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia: An Expert Review.

Nosocomial pneumonia, or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) are important health problems worldwide, with both being associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. HAP is currently the main cause of death from nosocomial infection in critically ill patients. Although guidelines for the approach to this infection model are widely implemented in international health systems and clinical teams, information continually emerges that generates debate or requires updating in its management. This scientific manuscript, written by a multidisciplinary team of specialists, reviews the most important issues in the approach to this important infectious respiratory syndrome, and it updates various topics, such as a renewed etiological perspective for updating the use of new molecular platforms or imaging techniques, including the microbiological diagnostic stewardship in different clinical settings and using appropriate rapid techniques on invasive respiratory specimens. It also reviews both Intensive Care Unit admission criteria and those of clinical stability to discharge, as well as those of therapeutic failure and rescue treatment options. An update on antibiotic therapy in the context of bacterial multiresistance, in aerosol inhaled treatment options, oxygen therapy, or ventilatory support, is presented. It also analyzes the out-of-hospital management of nosocomial pneumonia requiring complete antibiotic therapy externally on an outpatient basis, as well as the main factors for readmission and an approach to management in the emergency department. Finally, the main strategies for prevention and prophylactic measures, many of them still controversial, on fragile and vulnerable hosts are reviewed.

Use of hospital resources in ICU inpatients with infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: A real clinical practice-based study in Spain / Uso de recursos hospitalarios en pacientes hospitalizados en UCI debido a infecciones causadas por bacterias gramnegativas resistentes a carbapenémicos: un estudio basado en la práctica clínica real en España

Introduction: Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CRGN) are an urgent public health threat because of the limited treatment options, its rapid spreading and high clinical impact and mortality rates. However, the burden and the use of resources of these infections have not been investigated. The aim of the current study is to understand the use of resources associated to the clinical management of CRGN infections in real clinical practice conditions. Methods: An observational retrospective chart review study was performed. Data regarding patient demographics, clinical management and use of resources associated to hospitalization were retrieved from clinical charts of ICU inpatients with a confirmed CRGN infection. Three reference Spanish hospitals were selected according to their patient volume and geographical coverage. Descriptive analyses of the clinical management and the use of resources and its cost were performed and then total costs by type of resource were calculated. Results: A total of 130 patients were included in the study. The higher number of patients (n=43; 33%) were between 61 and 70 years old. Ninety-four (72%) patients were male and 115 (88%) suffered from comorbidities. The mean total cost associated to the resources used in patients with CRGN infections hospitalized in ICU was 96,878€ per patient. These total costs included 84,140€ of total hospital stay, 11,021€ of treatments (558€ of antibiotics; 10,463€ of other treatments) and 1717€ costs of diagnostic tests. Conclusions: CRGN infection causes a high use of hospital resources, being the length of stay either in hospital wards or ICU the driver of the total costs. Diagnostic tests and treatments, including antibiotics, represent the lowest part of the use of resources and costs (13% of total costs).(AU)

Introducción: Las bacterias gramnegativas resistentes a carbapenémicos (CRGN) son una amenaza urgente de salud pública por las limitadas opciones de tratamiento, su rápida dispersión y el alto impacto clínico y tasas de mortalidad. Sin embargo, la carga y el uso de recursos de estas infecciones no han sido investigadas. El objetivo de este estudio es comprender el uso de recursos asociado al manejo clínico de las infecciones por CRGN en condiciones de práctica clínica real. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional retrospectivo de revisión de historias clínicas. Se recogieron datos demográficos, del manejo clínico y del uso de recursos asociado a la hospitalización de historias clínicas de pacientes hospitalizados en UCI con una infección confirmada por CRGN. Se seleccionaron tres hospitales españoles de referencia por su cobertura geográfica. Se realizaron análisis descriptivos del manejo clínico y el uso de recursos y sus costes en episodios de infecciones por CRGN, y se calcularon los costes totales para cada tipo de recurso. Resultados: Se incluyeron en el estudio un total de 130 pacientes. La mayoría de los pacientes (n=43;33%) tenían entre 61-70 años. Noventa y cuatro pacientes (72%) eran hombres y 115 (88%) presentaron comorbilidades. El coste medio total asociado a los recursos usados durante el episodio de infección por CRGN por paciente fue de 96.878€. Este coste total incluye 84.140€ de la estancia en el hospital, 11.021€ de los tratamientos (558€ de antibióticos y 10.463€ de otros tratamientos) y 1.717€ del coste de test diagnósticos. Conclusiones: El episodio de infección por CRGN causa un alto uso de recursos hospitalarios, siendo la duración de la estancia tanto en planta hospitalaria como en UCI el factor con mayor peso de los costes totales. Los test diagnósticos clínicos y los tratamientos, incluyendo los antibióticos, representan la parte más pequeña del uso de recursos y sus costes (13% del coste total).(AU)

Use of hospital resources in ICU inpatients with infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria: A real clinical practice-based study in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CRGN) are an urgent public health threat because of the limited treatment options, its rapid spreading and high clinical impact and mortality rates. However, the burden and the use of resources of these infections have not been investigated. The aim of the current study is to understand the use of resources associated to the clinical management of CRGN infections in real clinical practice conditions. METHODS: An observational retrospective chart review study was performed. Data regarding patient demographics, clinical management and use of resources associated to hospitalization were retrieved from clinical charts of ICU inpatients with a confirmed CRGN infection. Three reference Spanish hospitals were selected according to their patient volume and geographical coverage. Descriptive analyses of the clinical management and the use of resources and its cost were performed and then total costs by type of resource were calculated. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients were included in the study. The higher number of patients (n=43; 33%) were between 61 and 70 years old. Ninety-four (72%) patients were male and 115 (88%) suffered from comorbidities. The mean total cost associated to the resources used in patients with CRGN infections hospitalized in ICU was 96,878€ per patient. These total costs included 84,140€ of total hospital stay, 11,021€ of treatments (558€ of antibiotics; 10,463€ of other treatments) and 1717€ costs of diagnostic tests. CONCLUSIONS: CRGN infection causes a high use of hospital resources, being the length of stay either in hospital wards or ICU the driver of the total costs. Diagnostic tests and treatments, including antibiotics, represent the lowest part of the use of resources and costs (13% of total costs).

A systematic literature review and expert consensus on risk factors associated to infection progression in adult patients with respiratory tract or rectal colonisation by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria / Revisión sistemática de la literatura y consenso de expertos sobre los factores de riesgo asociados a la progresión de la infección en pacientes adultos con colonización del tracto respiratorio o rectal por bacterias gramnegativas resistentes a carbapenémicos

Objective. Risk factors (RFs) associated with infection progression in patients already colonised by carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CRGNB) have been addressed in few and disperse works. The aim of this study is to identify the relevant RFs associated to infection progression in patients with respiratory tract or rectal colonisation.Material and methods. A systematic literature review was developed to identify RFs associated with infectionprogression in patients with CRGNB respiratory tract or rectal colonisation. Identified RFs were then evaluated and discussed by the expert panel to identify those that are relevant according to the evidence and expert’s experience.Results. A total of 8 articles were included for the CRGNB respiratory tract colonisation and 21 for CRGNB rectal colonisation, identifying 19 RFs associated with pneumonia development and 44 RFs associated with infection progression, respectively. After discussion, the experts agreed on 13 RFs to be associated with pneumonia development after respiratory tract CRGNB colonisation and 33 RFs to be associated with infection progression after rectal CRGNB colonisation. Respiratory tract and rectal colonisation, previous stay in the ICU and longer stay in the ICU were classified as relevant RF independently of the pathogen and site of colonisation. Previous exposure to antibiotic therapy or previous carbapenem use were also common relevant RF for patients with CRGNB respiratory tract and rectal colonisation. (AU)

Objetivo. Los factores de riesgo (FR) asociados a la progresión de la infección en pacientes ya colonizados por bacterias gramnegativas resistentes a carbapenémicos (BGNRC) han sido abordados en pocos y dispersos trabajos. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar los factores de riesgo relevantes asociados a la progresión de la infección en pacientes con colonización del tracto respiratorio o rectal.Material y métodos. Se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura para identificar los FR asociados a la progresión de la infección en pacientes con colonización del tracto respiratorio o rectal por BGNRC. Los FR identificados fueron luego evaluados y discutidos por el panel de expertos para identificar aquellos que son relevantes según la evidencia disponible y la experiencia de los expertos.Resultados. Un total de 8 artículos fueron incluidos en el análisis de los FR en la colonización del tracto respiratorio y 21 para la colonización rectal, identificándose 19 FR asociados al desarrollo de neumonía y 44 FR asociados a la progresión de la infección respectivamente. Tras la sesión de discusión, los expertos acordaron que 13 FR se asociaban al desarrollo de neumonía tras la colonización del tracto respiratorio por BGNRC y 33 FR a la progresión de la infección tras la colonización rectal por BGNRC. La colonización del tracto respiratorio y rectal, la estancia previa en la UCI y una estancia prolongada en la UCI se clasificaron como FR relevantes independientemente del patógeno y del lugar de colonización. La exposición previa a antibióticos o el uso previo de carbapenémicos se clasificaron como FR relevantes para varios de los patógenos tanto en pacientes con colonización del tracto respiratorio como rectal. (AU)

Limitation of life support techniques at admission to the intensive care unit: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

PURPOSE: To determine the frequency of limitations on life support techniques (LLSTs) on admission to intensive care units (ICU), factors associated, and 30-day survival in patients with LLST on ICU admission. METHODS: This prospective observational study included all patients admitted to 39 ICUs in a 45-day period in 2011. We recorded hospitals' characteristics (availability of intermediate care units, usual availability of ICU beds, and financial model) and patients' characteristics (demographics, reason for admission, functional status, risk of death, and LLST on ICU admission (withholding/withdrawing; specific techniques affected)). The primary outcome was 30-day survival for patients with LLST on ICU admission. Statistical analysis included multilevel logistic regression models. RESULTS: We recruited 3042 patients (age 62.5 ± 16.1 years). Most ICUs (94.8%) admitted patients with LLST, but only 238 (7.8% [95% CI 7.0-8.8]) patients had LLST on ICU admission; this group had higher ICU mortality (44.5 vs. 9.4% in patients without LLST; p < 0.001). Multilevel logistic regression showed a contextual effect of the hospital in LLST on ICU admission (median OR = 2.30 [95% CI 1.59-2.96]) and identified the following patient-related variables as independent factors associated with LLST on ICU admission: age, reason for admission, risk of death, and functional status. In patients with LLST on ICU admission, 30-day survival was 38% (95% CI 31.7-44.5). Factors associated with survival were age, reason for admission, risk of death, and number of reasons for LLST on ICU admission. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of ICU admission with LLST is low but probably increasing; nearly one third of these patients survive for ≥ 30 days.

Coinfección pulmonar por Nocardia cyriacigeorgica y Aspergillus fumigatus / Pulmonary co-infection due to Nocardia cyriacigeorgica and Aspergillus fumigatus

Introducción. La nocardiosis pulmonar es una infección poco frecuente causada por bacterias grampositivas aerobias del género Nocardia. Nocardia sp. son microorganismos ambientales de distribución ubicua. Se han descrito unas 50 especies de Nocardia y 30 de ellas se sabe que causan infección en seres humanos. Nocardia cyriacigeorgica se describe por primera vez en 2001. Caso clínico. Presentamos un caso de infección por N. cyriacigeorgica en paciente con historia de linfoma no Hodgkin de células B y diabetes mellitus. Los hallazgos microbiológicos reflejan una posible coinfección por N. cyriacigeorgica y Aspergillus fumigatus. Conclusiones. Los datos de factores de riesgo y antecedentes son fundamentales para detectar el crecimiento de Nocardia sp. en el laboratorio. Por otra parte, el diagnóstico de la aspergilosis pulmonar invasiva es particularmente controvertida, especialmente en los paciente de unidades de cuidados intensivos. Teniendo todo en cuenta, presentamos un caso de una posible coinfección por N. cyriacigeorgica and A. fumigatus en un paciente crítico (AU)

Introduction. Pulmonary nocardiosis is an uncommon pulmonary infection caused by aerobic gram-positive bacteria of the genus Nocardia. Nocardia sp. are environmental organisms spread worldwide. Approximately 50 Nocardia species have been described to date, about 30 of which are known to cause human disease. Nocardia cyriacigeorgica was first reported in 2001. Case report. We report a case of infection caused by N. cyriacigeorgica in a patient with B-cells non-Hodgkin lymphoma and diabetes mellitus. The microbiological findings reflect a possible co-infection by N. cyriacigeorgica and Aspergillus fumigatus. Conclusions. Patient’s background and information related to risk factors are essential to detect the growth of Nocardia sp. in the laboratory. Furthermore, diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis is particularly controversial, especially in intensive care units patients. Taking everything into account, we will discuss a possible co-infection by N. cyriacigeorgica and A. fumigatus in a critically ill patient (AU)

Relationship between volume and survival in closed intensive care units is weak and apparent only in mechanically ventilated patients.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have found an association between increased volume and increased intensive care unit (ICU) survival; however, this association might not hold true in ICUs with permanent intensivist coverage. Our objective was to determine whether ICU volume correlates with survival in the Spanish healthcare system. METHODS: Post hoc analysis of a prospective study of all patients admitted to 29 ICUs during 3 months. At ICU discharge, the authors recorded demographic variables, severity score, and specific ICU treatments. Follow-up variables included ICU readmission and hospital mortality. Statistics include logistic multivariate analyses for hospital mortality according to quartiles of volume of patients. RESULTS: The authors studied 4,001 patients with a mean predicted risk of death of 23% (range at hospital level: 14-46%). Observed hospital mortality was 19% (range at hospital level: 11-35%), resulting in a standardized mortality ratio of 0.81 (range: 0.5-1.3). Among the 1,923 patients needing mechanical ventilation, the predicted risk of death was 32% (14-60%) and observed hospital mortality was 30% (12-61%), resulting in a standardized mortality ratio of 0.96 (0.5-1.7). The authors found no correlation between standardized mortality ratio and ICU volume in the entire population or in mechanically ventilated patients. Only mechanically ventilated patients in very low-volume ICUs had slightly worse outcome. CONCLUSION: In the currently studied healthcare system characterized by 24/7 intensivist coverage, the authors found wide variability in outcome among ICUs even after adjusting for severity of illness but no relationship between ICU volume and outcome. Only mechanically ventilated patients in very low-volume centers had slightly worse outcomes.

Ward mortality after ICU discharge: a multicenter validation of the Sabadell score.

BACKGROUND: Tools for predicting post-ICU patients' outcomes are scarce. A single-center study showed that the Sabadell score classified patients into four groups with clear-cut differences in ward mortality. OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: To validate the Sabadell score using a prospective multicenter approach. SETTING: Thirty-one ICUs in Spain. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All patients admitted in the 3-month study period. We recorded variables at ICU admission (age, sex, severity of illness, and do-not-resuscitate orders), during the ICU stay (ICU-specific treatments, ICU-acquired infection, and acute renal failure), and at ICU discharge (Sabadell score). Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA and multiple regression analysis with ward mortality as the dependent variable. RESULTS: We admitted 4,132 patients (mean age 61.5 +/- 16.7 years) with mean predicted mortality of 23.8 +/- 22.7%; 545 patients (13%) died in the ICU and 3,587 (87%) were discharged to the ward. Overall ward mortality was 6.7%; ward mortality was 1.5% (36/2,422) in patients with score 0 (good prognosis), 9% (64/725) in patients with score 1 (long-term poor prognosis), 23% (79/341) in patients with score 2 (short-term poor prognosis), and 64% (63/99) in patients with score 3 (expected hospital death). Variables associated with ward mortality in the multivariate analysis were predicted risk of death (OR 1.016), ICU readmission (OR 5.9), Sabadell score 1 (OR 4.7), Sabadell score 2 (OR 15.7), and Sabadell score 3 (OR 107.2). CONCLUSION: We confirm the ability of the Sabadell score at ICU discharge to define four groups of patients with very different likelihoods of hospital survival.