Corynebacterium bacteremia in patients with hematologic disorders: a case series and systematic literature review.

Corynebacterium is generally considered a contaminant in clinical practice. However, it may cause bacteremia in patients with hematologic disorders, and factors that contribute to its mortality are unclear. A case series and systematic literature review identified 96 cases of Corynebacterium bacteremia inhematologic disorderpatients. The median age was 50.5 years (range: 2-93 years), with 79 (82%) patients 18 years or older, and 64 (67%) patients male. Most cases involved hematologic malignancies, and neutropenia was observed in approximately 75% cases. The most common sites of infection/symptoms were skin and soft tissue, respiratory, and catheter-related bloodstream infection. The infection-related mortality was 23%, and univariate analysis showed that age, respiratory infection/symptoms, and source control were significantly associated with infection-related mortality. Multivariate analysis indicates that infection-related mortality was significantly reduced by source control (OR: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.06-0.97, p = 0.046). Therefore, when Corynebacterium infections are suspected, early source control should be considered.

Data quality review of the Brazilian nosocomial infections surveillance system.

BACKGROUND: Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is an essential component of hospital infection prevention and control systems. We aimed to assess the quality of the data compiled by the Brazilian HAI Surveillance System from pediatric (PICUs) and neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), between 2012 and 2021. METHODS: Data Quality Review, including adherence, completeness, internal consistency, consistency over time, and consistency of population trend, were computed at both national and state levels based on quality metrics from World Health Organization Toolkit. Incidence rates (or incidence density) of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) were obtained from the Brazilian National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system. Data on sepsis-related mortality, spanning the period from 2012 to 2021, were extracted from the Brazilian National Health Service database (DATASUS). Additionally, correlations between sepsis-related mortality and incidence rates of VAP or CLABSI were calculated. RESULTS: Throughout the majority of the study period, adherence to VAP reporting remained below 75%, exhibiting a positive trend post-2016. Widespread outliers, as well as inconsistencies over time and in population trends, were evident across all 27 states. Only four states maintained consistent adherence levels above 75% for more than 8 years regarding HAI incidence rates. Notably, CLABSI in NICUs boasted the highest reporting adherence among all HAIs, with 148 periods out of 270 (54.8%) exhibiting reporting adherence surpassing 75%. Three states achieved commendable metrics for CLABSI in PICUs, while five states demonstrated favorable results for CLABSI in NICUs. CONCLUSIONS: While adherence to HAI report is improving among Brazilian states, an important room for improvement in the Brazilian NNIS exists. Additional efforts should be made by the Brazilian government to improve the reliability of HAI data, which could serve as valuable guidance for hospital infection prevention and control policies.

Bacteremia associated with non-tunneled central venous catheters in children undergoing chronic hemodialysis. / Bacteriemia asociada a catéteres venosos centrales no tunelizados en niños en hemodiálisis crónica.

Introduction. Central venous catheter (CVC)-related infection is the main complication observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis with this type of venous access. Objective. To estimate the incidence of non-tunneled CVC-related bacteremia, analyze the frequency of causative agents, and explore associated risk factors in children undergoing hemodialysis. Population and methods. Retrospective study in children receiving hemodialysis via a non-tunneled CVC between June 1st, 2015 and June 30th, 2019. A logistic regression was carried out to assess risk factors that were predictors of CVC-related bacteremia. Independent risk factors were described as odds ratios with their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. A total of 121 non-tunneled CVCs were included in this study. The incidence of bacteremia was 3.15 per 1000 catheter-days. The most commonly isolated microorganism was Staphylococcus epidermidis (16 cases, 51.5%). Prior catheter infection was the only independent risk factor for the development of bacteremia associated with non-tunneled CVC (OR: 2.84, 95% CI: 1.01-7.96, p = 0.04). Conclusions. Prolonged use of non-tunneled CVCs for chronic hemodialysis was associated with a low incidence of bacteremia. Gram-positive microorganisms prevailed among causative agents. A prior CVC infection almost trebled the risk for CVC-related bacteremia in our pediatric population receiving hemodialysis.

Introducción. La infección asociada a catéter venoso central (CVC) es la principal complicación que presentan los pacientes en hemodiálisis en los que se usa este tipo de acceso. Objetivo. Estimar la incidencia de bacteriemia asociada a CVC no tunelizado, analizar la frecuencia de agentes causales y explorar factores de riesgo asociados en niños en hemodiálisis. Población y métodos. Estudio retrospectivo realizado en niños en hemodiálisis por CVC no tunelizado entre el 1 junio de 2015 y el 30 de junio de 2019. Para evaluar factores de riesgo predictores de bacteriemia asociada a CVC, se realizó regresión logística. Los factores de riesgo independiente se expresaron con odds ratio con sus respectivos intervalos de confianza del 95 %. Se consideró estadísticamente significativo un valor de p <0,05. Resultados. En este estudio se incluyeron 121 CVC no tunelizados. La incidencia de bacteriemia fue de 3,15 por 1000 días de catéter. El microorganismo aislado con mayor frecuencia fue Staphylococcus epidermidis (16 casos, 51,5 %). La infección previa del catéter fue el único factor de riesgo independiente encontrado para el desarrollo de bacteriemia asociada a CVC no tunelizado (OR: 2,84; IC95%: 1,017,96; p =0,04). Conclusiones. El uso prolongado de los CVC no tunelizados para hemodiálisis crónica se asoció con una incidencia baja de bacteriemia. Los gérmenes grampositivos predominaron como agentes causales. La presencia de infección previa del CVC aumentó en casi 3 veces el riesgo de bacteriemia asociada a CVC en nuestra población pediátrica en hemodiálisis.

Design and content validation of a checklist about infection-prevention performance of intensive care nurses in simulation-based scenarios.

OBJECTIVE: To design, develop and validate a new tool, called NEUMOBACT, to evaluate critical care nurses' knowledge and skills in ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) and catheter-related bacteraemia (CRB) prevention through simulation scenarios involving central venous catheter (CVC), endotracheal suctioning (ETS) and mechanically ventilated patient care (PC) stations. BACKGROUND: Simulation-based training is an excellent way for nurses to learn prevention measures in VAP and CRB. DESIGN: Descriptive metric study to develop NEUMOBACT and analyse its content and face validity that followed the COSMIN Study Design checklist for patient-reported outcome measurement instruments. METHODS: The first version was developed with the content of training modules in use at the time (NEUMOBACT-1). Delphi rounds were used to assess item relevance with experts in VAP and CRB prevention measures, resulting in NEUMOBACT-2. Experts in simulation methods then assessed feasibility, resulting in NEUMOBACT-3. Finally, a pilot test was conducted among 30 intensive care unit (ICU) nurses to assess the applicability of the evaluation tool in clinical practice. RESULTS: Seven national experts in VAP and CRB prevention and seven national simulation experts participated in the analysis to assess the relevance and feasibility of each item, respectively. After two Delphi rounds with infection experts, four Delphi rounds with simulation experts, and pilot testing with 30 ICU nurses, the NEUMOBACT-FINAL tool consisted of 17, 26 and 21 items, respectively, for CVC, ETS and PC. CONCLUSION: NEUMOBACT-FINAL is useful and valid for assessing ICU nurses' knowledge and skills in VAP and CRB prevention, acquired through simulation. RELEVANCE FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Our validated and clinically tested tool could facilitate the transfer of ICU nurses' knowledge and skills learning in VAP and CRB prevention to critically ill patients, decreasing infection rates and, therefore, improving patient safety. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Experts participated in the Delphi rounds and nurses in the pilot test.

Efficacy of disinfection procedures to reduce Acinetobacter baumanii blaOXA-23 contamination rate of needleless connectors: an in-vitro study.

Aim: This study aimed to verify the efficacy of disinfection procedures to reduce Acinetobacter baumannii blaOXA-23 bacterial load in needleless connectors that had been experimentally contaminated. Methods: Two-way intermediate extender's hub and needle-free valve were contaminated with Acinetobacter baumannii blaOXA-23. To disinfect them, the following procedures were carried out: sterile gauze with 70% ethanol, sterile gauze with Incidin®, and 70% isopropyl alcohol single-use cap, with eight times friction for 10 s, followed by 5 s drying time. The statistical tests Kruskal-Wallis and post-hoc Conover were performed using MedCalc®. Results: A total of 82 experiments were conducted. All tested disinfection procedures were efficacious in reducing the A. baumannii blaOXA-23 load. The 70% IPA single-use cap was found to be the best method for disinfecting the two-way intermediate extender's hub (87.28%), while all the methods were efficacious for the disinfection of the needle-free valve (more than 90%). During the inoculation period, A. baumannii blaOXA-23 showed less adherence to the needle-free valve during the inoculation period, probably due to the device's design. Conclusion: The three tested disinfection procedures using sterile gauze with 70% ethanol, sterile gauze with Incidin®, and 70% IPA single-use cap were found to be efficacious in reducing the bacterial load of A. baumanni blaOXA-23 in needleless connectors. Proper disinfection of needleless connectors is a crucial nursing practice to prevent bloodstream infections, as it significantly reduces the bacterial load present in the device.

A new perfusion system to reduce the burden of central-venous-line-associated bloodstream infections in neonates.

BACKGROUND: Central-venous-line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in preterm infants. As there is large variation in the reported effect of multi-modal preventive strategies, it could be relevant to propose new additional strategies. AIM: To assess the impact of a new perfusion system on CLABSI rate. METHODS: A before-and-after study was performed in infants born at <32 weeks of gestation or with birth weight <1500 g who required a multi-perfusion system connected to a central venous line. In the first 12-month period ('before'), the pre-existing perfusion system (multiple stopcocks) was used. An intervention period then occurred with implementation of a new perfusion closed system, without change in 'bundles' related to various aspects of central line care. During the second 12-month period ('after'), the CLABSI rate was assessed and compared with the pre-intervention period. FINDINGS: In total, 313 infants were included in this study (before: N=163; after: N=150), and 46% had birth weight <1000 g. The change in perfusion system resulted in a significant decrease in CLABSI rate from 11.3 to 2.2 per 1000 catheter-days (P<0.001). The period was independently associated with an 88% reduction in the risk of CLABSI after implementation of the new perfusion system [odds ratio (OR) 0.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03-0.39; P<0.001]. The duration of central line use was also associated with CLABSIs (for each additional day: OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02-1.07; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of the new perfusion system was feasible in a large neonatal unit, and reduced the CLABSI rate soon after implementation.

Impact of Intravenous Fat Emulsion Choice on Candida Biofilm, Hyphal Growth, and Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in Pediatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: Use of mixed-oil (MO) intravenous fat emulsion (IFE) was shown to inhibit Candida albicans biofilm formation and overall rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CR-BSIs) compared with soybean-oil (SO) IFE). We aimed to delineate this inhibitory mechanism and impact of IFE choice on distribution of fungal CR-BSIs. METHODS: Transcriptional profiling was conducted on C. albicans grown in SO-IFE, MO-IFE, or SO-IFE with capric acid. Overexpression strains of shared down-regulated genes were constructed using a tetracycline-off system to assess hypha and biofilm formation in IFEs. A 5-year retrospective multicenter cohort study was performed to assess differences in CR-BSIs caused by Candida species based on the IFE formulation received in pediatric patients. RESULTS: Genes significantly down-regulated in MO-IFE and SO-IFE with capric acid included CDC11, HGC1, and UME6. Overexpression of HGC1 or UME6 enabled filamentation in capric acid and MO-IFE. Interestingly, only overexpression of UME6 was sufficient to rescue biofilm growth in MO-IFE. MO-IFE administration was associated with a higher proportion of non-albicans Candida versus C. albicans CR-BSIs (42% vs 33%; odds ratio, 1.22 [95% confidence interval, .46-3.26]). CONCLUSIONS: MO-IFE affects C. albicans biofilm formation and hyphal growth via a UME6-dependent mechanism. A numerical but not statistically significant difference in distribution of Candida spp. among CR-BSIs was observed.

Delivery of carbohydrates, amino acids, and lipids via intravenous catheters is necessary for some patients to supply daily caloric needs. These nutrient-dense parenteral solutions can promote microbial biofilm growth on the catheter surface, which may seed subsequent catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI). In fact, receipt of parenteral nutrition is an established risk factor for CR-BSI caused by the polymorphic fungal pathogen Candida albicans. New intravenous fat emulsions (IFEs) have gained market share and IFEs containing capric acid (mixed-oil [MO] IFE) compared with those without (soybean-oil [SO] IFE) impair the C. albicans yeast-to-hypha switch­a trait strongly associated with pathogenicity and biofilm formation. In this study, we found that MO-IFE and capric acid reduced expression of a transcriptional regulator involved in hyphal extension (UME6) and down-regulated genes involved in cell partitioning (HGC1). Overexpression of these genes enabled hyphal growth in MO-IFE. Secondly, we sought to determine whether the type of IFE administered was associated with the clinical incidence of CR-BSIs caused by C. albicans or other common non-albicans Candida species. There was a nonsignificant numerical reduction in C. albicans infections in patients administered MO-IFE compared with SO-IFE. Collectively, this work shows that IFEs differentially affect Candida biology with potential infectious consequences for the patient.

Definition and clinical management of haemodialysis central venous catheter local infections (exit site and tunnel infection): An international consensus assessment.

AIM: To evaluate the relevance of signs and symptoms for the clinical identification of ESI and TI in HD-CVC, by means of international expert consensus, and to reach a consensus on a definition and clinical management (CM) for these infections. BACKGROUND: A recent systematic review showed a high heterogeneity in the signs/symptoms used for determining exit site infection (ESI) and tunnel infection (TI) of haemodialysis central venous catheter (HD-CVC). DESIGN: A modified Delphi ranking process was carried out between November 2020 and March 2021, consisting of four rounds using an online questionnaire with a panel of 26 experts from 12 countries. METHODS: Experts responded on the level of relevance for the identification of ESI and TI, based on a list of 22 signs/symptoms obtained from a previous systematic review, using a 4-point Likert-type scale. After reaching consensus on the signs/symptoms, they followed the same method to reach consensus on the CM. The STROBE Checklist was used to report this study. RESULTS: A high degree of consensus was reached to identify the presence of ESI based on nine signs/symptoms: presence of pain at the exit site (ES) during interdialysis period, with fever ≥38°C do not suspect other cause, local signs at the ES (inflammation, induration, swelling, hyperemia/erythema ≥2 cm from ES) and obvious abscess or purulent exudate at ES; and of TI. Likewise, 5 cm were agreed upon. CONCLUSION: This Delphi study provides international expert consensus definitions of ESI and TI in HD-CVC, laying the groundwork for the validation of an HD-CVC ES clinical assessment scale for early identification of ESI. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: In addition, this study provides a series of attitudes to consensual clinics regarding signs/symptoms of local infections in HD-CVC, which may be useful as expert opinion in clinical practice guidelines, when there is insufficient scientific evidence.

Peripheral intravenous catheter infection and failure: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral intravenous catheters are the most frequently used invasive device in nursing practice, yet are commonly associated with complications. We performed a systematic review to determine the prevalence of peripheral intravenous catheter infection and all-cause failure. METHODS: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, CINAHL, and EMBASE were searched for observational studies and randomised controlled trials that reported peripheral intravenous catheter related infections or failure. The review was limited to English language and articles published from the year 2000. Pooled estimates were calculated with random-effects models. Meta-analysis of observation studies in epidemiology guidelines and the Cochrane process for randomised controlled trials were used to guide the review. Prospero registration number: CRD42022349956. FINDINGS: Our search retrieved 34,725 studies. Of these, 41 observational studies and 28 randomised controlled trials (478,586 peripheral intravenous catheters) met inclusion criteria. The pooled proportion of catheter-associated bloodstream infections was 0.028 % (95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.009-0.081; 38 studies), or 4.40 catheter-associated bloodstream infections per 100,000 catheter-days (20 studies, 95 % CI: 3.47-5.58). Local infection was reported in 0.150 % of peripheral intravenous catheters (95 % CI: 0.047-0.479, 30 studies) with an incidence rate of 65.1 per 100,000 catheter-days (16 studies; 95 % CI: 49.2-86.2). All cause peripheral intravenous catheter failure before treatment completion occurred in 36.4 % of catheters (95 % CI: 31.7-41.3, 53 studies) with an overall incidence rate of 4.42 per 100 catheter days (78,891 catheter days; 19 studies; 95 % CI: 4.27-4.57). INTERPRETATION: Peripheral intravenous catheter failure is a significant worldwide problem, affecting one in three catheters. Per peripheral intravenous catheter, infection occurrence was low, however, with over two billion catheters used globally each year, the absolute number of infections and associated burden remains high. Substantial and systemwide efforts are needed to address peripheral intravenous catheter infection and failure and the sequelae of treatment disruption, increased health costs and poor patient outcomes.

An unusual case of Candida parapsilosis endocarditis of the native tricuspid valve secondary to a tunneled dialysis catheter.

Candida endocarditis is a severe disease associated with high mortality rates. Candida parapsilosis is frequently identified as the causative pathogen in intravenous drug users and is commonly associated with nosocomial infections, primarily due to its ability to form biofilms on catheters or other foreign bodies. Here, we present a rare case of Candida parapsilosis endocarditis affecting the native tricuspid valve in a 35-year-old male patient with end-stage chronic kidney disease (Stage V), who had a suspected fungal infection related to the left cervical catheter. The patient received treatment with caspofungin and underwent excision of a verrucous tumor on the tricuspid valve. Despite encountering postoperative complications, the patient was discharged on fluconazole treatment and scheduled for follow-up. Candida endocarditis poses a clinical challenge that necessitates a multidisciplinary approach and tailored management due to its infrequent occurrence and higher mortality rate compared to bacterial endocarditis.

La endocarditis por Candida es una enfermedad grave asociada con tasas de mortalidad elevadas. Candida parapsilosis se identifica con frecuencia como un patógeno que afecta usuarios de drogas intravenosas y está comúnmente relacionada con infecciones nosocomiales, principalmente debido a su capacidad para formar biopelículas en catéteres u otros cuerpos extraños. Se presenta un caso inusual de endocarditis por Candida parapsilosis que afecta la válvula tricúspide nativa en un paciente masculino de 35 años con enfermedad renal crónica en etapa terminal (Etapa V), quien tenía una sospecha de infección fúngica relacionada con el catéter cervical izquierdo. El paciente recibió tratamiento con caspofungina y se sometió a la extirpación de un tumor verrugoso en la válvula tricúspide. A pesar de enfrentar complicaciones posoperatorias, el paciente fue dado de alta con tratamiento de fluconazol y se programó un seguimiento. La endocarditis por Candida presenta un desafío clínico que requiere un enfoque multidisciplinario y un manejo personalizado debido a su ocurrencia infrecuente y una tasa de mortalidad más alta en comparación con la endocarditis bacteriana.

Ethanol Lock for Prevention of CVC-Related Bloodstream Infection in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Ethanol lock therapy (ELT) can be used in patients with an indwelling central line to assist in the prevention of central venous catheter (CVC)-associated infections. However, its efficacy has not been consistently demonstrated in the pediatric population. The primary objective of this review and meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy and safety of ELT in prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) in the pediatric population. A search was conducted with the PubMed, CINAHL, PSCYInfo, Cochrane Library, and Academic Search Premier databases from inception through January 21, 2022. Studies were included if they reported incidence of CVC-related infections with ELT in pediatric patients. Meta-analyses used random-effects models according to the heterogeneity of all included studies. Of 736 studies, 25 met inclusion criteria for review and 10 for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis with pre- and post-ELT treatment showed that use of ELT significantly decreased mean CVC-related infections when compared with pre-treatment with no ELT with a mean difference of -5.79 (95% CI, -9.08 to -2.51; p < 0.001). The number of CVC infections also significantly decreased (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.23-0.75; p = 0.004). Increased risk of thrombosis and increased frequency of catheter breakage, repair, and replacement were noted in several studies. Ethanol lock therapy is effective in preventing infection related to central venous catheter use in pediatric patients. Further study is warranted to determine the optimal protocol for, and incidence of, adverse events related to use of ELT.

Effects of the care given to intensive care patients using an evidence model on the prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections.

It is important to put evidence-based guidelines into practice in the prevention of central line-associated bloodstream infections in intensive care patients. In contrast to expensive and complex interventions, a care bundle that includes easy-to-implement and low-cost interventions improves clinical outcomes. The compliance of intensive care nurses with guidelines is of great importance in achieving these results. The Translating Evidence into Practice Model provides guidance in how to implement the necessary guidelines. This quasi-experimental study used a post-test control group design in nonequivalent groups and was conducted in the anesthesia intensive care unit of a tertiary-level training and research hospital. All patients who were hospitalized in the intensive care unit, who had a central line during the study, and who met the inclusion criteria were included in the sample. The care bundle comprised education, and protocols for hand hygiene and the aseptic technique, maximum sterile barrier precautions, central line insertion trolley, and management of nursing care. To analyze the data, the independent samples t-test, the Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, dependent samples t-test, rate ratio, and relative risk were used with 95% confidence intervals. The rate of central line-associated bloodstream infections was significantly lower in the intervention group (2.85/1000 central line days) than in the control group (3.35/1000 central line days) (P = 0.042). The number of accesses to the central line by the nurses decreased significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group (P < 0.001). The mean score for the nurses' evidence-based guideline post-education knowledge (70.80 ± 12.26) was significantly higher than that pre-education (48.20 ± 14.66) (P < 0.001). Compliance with the guideline recommendations in central line-related nursing interventions and in the central line insertion process was significantly better in the intervention group than in the control group in many interventions (P < 0.05). The mean score for the nurses' attitude towards evidence-based nursing increased significantly over time (59.87 ± 7.23 at the 0th month; 63.79 ± 7.24 at the 6th month) (P < 0.001). Nursing care given by implementing the central line care bundle with the Translating Evidence into Practice Model affected the measures. Thanks to the implementation of the care bundle, the rate of infections and the number of accesses to the central line decreased, while the critical care nurses' knowledge of evidence-based guidelines, compliance with the guideline recommendations in central line-related nursing interventions, and attitudes towards evidence-based nursing improved.

Complicaciones en pacientes con catéter de hemodiálisis según sitio de inserción en hospital de referencia

Introducción: Más de dos millones de personas en el mundo reciben tratamiento sustitutivo renal; la infección sanguínea representa una amenaza significativa, siendo la segunda causa de muerte en estos pacientes. La tasa de supervivencia depende en gran medida del tipo de acceso vascular utilizado. Objetivo: Determinar las complicaciones en pacientes con catéter de hemodiálisis en relación al sitio de inserción. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio de cohorte prospectivo, analítico, con medición de la frecuencia de complicaciones de pacientes con catéter de hemodiálisis a nivel yugular y femoral. Las variables se obtuvieron de los expedientes clínicos de pacientes internados ≥18 años. Resultados: Se incluyeron 203 pacientes, 66,01% masculinos; una edad media de 52 ± 15 años. 123 pacientes portaban catéter yugular y 80 pacientes, femoral. La curación se realizó cada 3 ± 5 días. La duración media de catéteres antes de signos de infección fue 4 ± 4 semanas en femorales y 9 ± 12 semanas en yugulares. Las bacterias gram positivas predominaron en los hemocultivos; aquellos con acceso femoral presentaron bacteriemia en mayor porcentaje. El cultivo de punta de catéter presentó una baja sensibilidad. Pacientes con catéter femoral presentaron mayor frecuencia de complicaciones. De las complicaciones infecciosas, la más frecuente fue el choque séptico en los portadores de catéteres femorales 57,50% vs los yugulares 4,88%. Otros: endocarditis, 7,32% en yugulares vs 2,50% en femorales; y finalmente la espondilodiscitis, con un 7,50% en femorales. La mortalidad fue mayor en aquellos con catéter femoral, 35% vs 8,94% en yugulares. Conclusión: Se ha evidenciado que el catéter femoral presenta mayor incidencia de complicaciones como choque séptico y bacteriemia, directamente relacionado con mayor tasa de mortalidad.

Introduction: More than two million people in the world receive renal replacement treatment; Blood infection represents a significant threat, being the second cause of death in these patients. The survival rate depends largely on the type of vascular access used. Objective: Determine complications in patients with hemodialysis catheter in relation to the insertion site. Materials and Methods: Prospective, analytical cohort study, measuring the frequency of complications in patients with hemodialysis catheters at the jugular and femoral levels. The variables were obtained from the clinical records of hospitalized patients ≥18 years of age. Results: 203 patients were included, 66.01% male; an average age of 52 ± 15 years. 123 patients had a jugular catheter and 80 patients had a femoral catheter. Healing was carried out every 3 ± 5 days. The mean duration of catheters before signs of infection was 4 ± 4 weeks in femoral and 9 ± 12 weeks in jugular. Gram-positive bacteria predominated in blood cultures; those with femoral access had bacteremia in a higher percentage. Catheter tip culture had low sensitivity. Patients with a femoral catheter had a higher frequency of complications. Of the infectious complications, the most frequent was septic shock in those with femoral catheters 57.50% vs jugular catheters 4.88%. Others: endocarditis, 7.32% in jugular vs 2.50% in femoral; and finally spondylodiscitis, with 7.50% in femoral bones. Mortality was higher in those with a femoral catheter, 35% vs. 8.94% in jugular catheters. Conclusion: It has been shown that the femoral catheter has a higher incidence of complications such as septic shock and bacteremia, directly related to a higher mortality rate.

Interventions to reduce peripheral intravenous catheter failure: An international e-Delphi consensus on relevance and feasibility of implementation.

BACKGROUND: Around 1 billion peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVC) fail annually worldwide before prescribed intravenous therapy is completed, resulting in avoidable complications, dissatisfaction, and avoidable costs surging to ∼€4bn. We aimed to provide an international consensus on relevance and feasibility of clinical practice guideline recommendations to reduce PIVC failure. METHODS: e-Delphi study with three rounds through an online questionnaire from March-September 2020 recruiting a multispecialty panel formed by clinicians, managers, academic researchers, and experts in implementation from seven developed and three developing countries, reflecting on experience in PIVC care and implementation of evidence. Further, we included a panel of chronic patients with previous experience in the insert, maintenance, and management of PIVC and intravenous therapy from Ireland and Spain as public and patient involvement (PPI) panel. All experts and patients scored each item on a 4-point Likert scale to assess the relevance and feasibility. We considered consensus descriptor in which the median was 4 with less than or equal to 1,5 interquartile intervals. FINDINGS: Over 90% participants (16 experts) completed the questionnaire on all rounds and 100% PPI (5 patients) completed round 1 due to high consensus they achieved. Our Delphi approach included 49 descriptors, which resulted in an agreed 30 across six domains emerged from the related to (i) general asepsis and cutaneous antisepsis (n = 4), (ii) catheter adequacy and insertion (n = 3), (iii) catheter and catheter site care (n = 6), (iv) catheter removal and replacement strategies (n = 4), (v) general principles for catheter management (n = 10), and (vi) organisational environment (n = 3). CONCLUSION: We provide an international consensus of relevant recommendations for PIVC, deemed feasible to implement in clinical settings. In addition, this methodological approach included substantial representation from clinical experts, academic experts, patient and public expertise, mitigating uncertainty during the implementation process with high-value recommendations to prevent PIVC failure based contextual and individual features, and economic resources worldwide.

Pathophysiologic Insights into the Transition from Asymptomatic Bacteriuria to Urinary Tract Infection.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) can be found in the general population but it is more common in catheterized patients. Some patients develop urinary tract infections (UTI) and others stay asymptomatic throughout time. The scientific community lacks a pathophysiologic explanation of why asymptomatic bacteriuria stays asymptomatic most of the time, and why and how it sometimes transitions to UTI. In an attempt to bridge this gap in knowledge, a summary of the current literature is conducted on the pathophysiologic differences between ASB and UTI, beyond their clinical differences. RECENT FINDINGS: ASB and UTI cannot be differentiated just by their phylogroup or number of virulence factors. The difference may be in their metabolism gene expression. The literature lacks a pathophysiological explanation of the transition from ASB to UTI, and recent discoveries suggest that metabolic gene expression may hold the key.

Predictive factors of infection in patients with chronic kidney disease using hemodialysis catheters.

Background: Infection is the most frequent complication of central venous catheters used for hemodialysis. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to the determine the central venous catheter-related infection rate at a dialysis center in the Brazilian state of Amazonas and to identify risk factors and the microbiological profile of the infections. Methods: This was an observational study with prospective data collection over a 12-month period by chart analysis and face-to-face interviews with patients undergoing hemodialysis using central venous catheters at a dialysis center. Results: 96 central venous catheters were analyzed in 48 patients. 78 of these were non-tunneled central venous catheters (81.3%) and 18 were tunneled central venous catheters (18.7%), 53.1% of the catheters were exchanged because of infection and blood cultures were obtained from 35.2% of the patients who had catheter-related infections. Gram-negative bacteria were isolated from five of the nine blood cultures in which there was bacterial growth and Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from the other four. The most commonly isolated bacteria was Staphylococcus hominis, found in 22.2% of positive blood cultures. Conclusion: The overall hemodialysis venous catheter infection rate was 10.1 episodes/1000 catheter days, 15.1 episodes/1000 catheters days in non-tunneled catheters and 3.3 episodes/1000 catheters days in tunneled catheters. The infection predisposing factors identified were use of non-tunneled catheters and having 2 hemodialysis sessions per week. Regarding the microbiological profile, over half of the bacteria isolated were Gram-negative.

The safe implementation of peripherally inserted central catheters by nurse practitioners for patients with gastroenterological diseases in Japan: a single-center retrospective study.

PURPOSE: As a safe and reliable alternative to central venous catheters (CVCs), peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are commonly used in clinical practice. However, the insertion of PICCs by nurse practitioners (NPs), especially in Japan, has not been reported extensively. Thus, we investigated the safety and efficiency of PICC insertions by NPs. METHODS: The participants were 1322 patients who underwent PICC insertion by NPs at Fujita Health University Hospital (FNPs). The basilic vein in the brachium was the preferred vein for insertion; the brachial vein was the alternative. Patients were monitored from the time of PICC insertion until its removal. Ultrasonography-guided puncture was used for all catheter insertions, and the catheter tip was replaced into the superior vena cava under fluoroscopic imaging with maximal sterile barrier precautions. The outcomes of the PICC insertions by the FNPs were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Overall, 23 FNPs inserted a collective total of 1322 PICCs, which remained in place for a collective total of 23,619 catheter days. The rate of successful PICC insertion was 99% (1310 patients). The median time taken for PICC insertion was 12 min (interquartile range, 10-15 min). Intraoperative complications occurred in two patients (0.2%). The confirmed incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection was 3.4% (45 patients), and these infections occurred on 1.9 per 1000 catheter days. The median duration of PICC placement was 15 days (range, 10-23 days). CONCLUSION: PICC insertion by NPs is safe and a potential alternative to CVC insertion by surgeons.

Incidence of infections associated with the use of invasive devices in an ICU after application of the Improvement Science Method

Objective: To reduce the incidence density of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), and catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) in the intensive care unit (ICU) using the Improvement Science method. Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. A collaborative quality improvement team developed and implemented local changes to HAI-related processes and protocols. Pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention periods were compared. The study was conducted at the Adult ICU of a hospital in southern Brazil. Variables were analyzed using interrupted time series analysis with segmented linear regression, simple correlation, and hypothesis testing. Results: There was a reduction in the incidence density of all infections. VAP was reduced from 27.2% to 7.2% (p < 0.001), CLABSI from 3.0% to 0.9% (p = 0.017), and CAUTI from 8.3% to 1.8% (p < 0.001). The ICU stay was also reduced from 6.7 to 6 days (p = 0.018). Conclusion: There was an improvement in all the evaluated parameters. Ongoing monitoring of related indicators and adherence to implemented measures are essential to sustain improvements. Applying the Improvement Science methodology can reduce the incidence of HAIs in the ICU.

Eficacia del apósito de gluconato de clorhexidina sobre las infecciones relacionadas con el catéter de hemodiálisis / Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Dressing on Catheter-Related Infections in Hemodialysis

Introducción: El uso de catéteres venosos centrales para hemodiálisis se relaciona con un mayor desarrollo de complicaciones infecciosas, por lo que las Guías de Práctica Clínica recomiendan diferentes estrategias para disminuir dichas complicaciones, sin indicación clara sobre el apósito a utilizar en la cura del orificio de salida. Objetivo: Comparar la tasa de infecciones relacionadas con el catéter de dos pautas de cura del orificio de salida del catéter venoso central de hemodiálisis: apósito con gluconato de clorhexidina al 2% frente a clorhexidina en solución al 2%, cubierta con apósito de poliuretano semipermeable autoadhesivo. Material y Método: Estudio experimental, controlado, aleatorizado en pacientes en hemodiálisis a través de catéter venoso central para comparar dos pautas de cura, grupo control: clorhexidina en solución al 2% cubierta con apósito de poliuretano semipermeable autoadhesivo y grupo intervención: apósito con gluconato de clorhexidina al 2%. Se recogieron datos socioclínicos y relacionados con las complicaciones infecciosas. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo e inferencial.. Resultados: Se estudiaron 50 pacientes, 25 en cada grupo. El grupo intervención presentó dos infecciones del orificio de salida y el grupo control, presentó doce casos (OR: 0,176, IC 95%: 0,039-0,790; p=0,013). El grupo intervención presentó un caso de bacteriemia frente a dos episodios del grupo control (OR: 0,533, IC 95%: 0,048-5,892; p=ns). Conclusión: La cura con apósito con gluconato de clorhexidina al 2% es una medida protectora frente a la infección del orificio de salida en comparación con la cura con clorhexidina en solución al 2% y apósito de poliuretano. (AU)

Introduction: The use of central venous catheters for hemodialysis is associated with a higher incidence of infectious complications, leading Clinical Practice Guidelines to recommend various strategies to reduce such complications, with no clear indication of the dressing to use for catheter exit site care. Objectives: To compare the infection rate related to the catheter exit site using two different protocols: dressing with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate versus 2% chlorhexidine solution, both covered with self-adhesive semi-permeable polyurethane dressing for central venous catheters used in hemodialysis. Material and Method: An experimental, controlled, randomized study was conducted in hemodialysis patients with central venous catheters to compare two care protocols. The control group received a 2% chlorhexidine solution covered with a self-adhesive semi-permeable polyurethane dressing, while the intervention group received a dressing with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate. Socio-clinical and infection-related data were collected, and descriptive and inferential analyses were performed. Results: A total of 50 patients were studied, with 25 in each group. The intervention group had two exit site infections, while the control group had twelve cases (OR: 0.176, 95% CI: 0.039-0.790; p=0.013). The intervention group had one case of bacteremia compared to two cases in the control group (OR: 0.533, 95% CI: 0.048-5.892; p=ns). Conclusion: Dressing with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate is a protective measure against exit site infection compared to dressing with 2% chlorhexidine solution and polyurethane dressing. (AU)