Contribution of Candida biomarkers and DNA detection for the diagnosis of invasive candidiasis in ICU patients with severe abdominal conditions.

BACKGROUND: To assess the performance of Candida albicans germ tube antibody (CAGTA), (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucan (BDG), mannan antigen (mannan-Ag), anti-mannan antibodies (mannan-Ab), and Candida DNA for diagnosing invasive candidiasis (IC) in ICU patients with severe abdominal conditions (SAC). METHODS: A prospective study of 233 non-neutropenic patients with SAC on ICU admission and expected stay ≥ 7 days. CAGTA (cutoff positivity ≥ 1/160), BDG (≥80, 100 and 200 pg/mL), mannan-Ag (≥60 pg/mL), mannan-Ab (≥10 UA/mL) were measured twice a week, and Candida DNA only in patients treated with systemic antifungals. IC diagnosis required positivities of two biomarkers in a single sample or positivities of any biomarker in two consecutive samples. Patients were classified as neither colonized nor infected (n = 48), Candida spp. colonization (n = 154) (low-grade, n = 130; high-grade, n = 24), and IC (n = 31) (intra-abdominal candidiasis, n = 20; candidemia, n = 11). RESULTS: The combination of CAGTA and BDG positivities in a single sample or at least one of the two biomarkers positive in two consecutive samples showed 90.3 % (95 % CI 74.2-98.0) sensitivity, 42.1 % (95 % CI 35.2-98.8) specificity, and 96.6 % (95 % CI 90.5-98.8) negative predictive value. BDG positivities in two consecutive samples had 76.7 % (95 % CI 57.7-90.1) sensitivity and 57.2 % (95 % CI 49.9-64.3) specificity. Mannan-Ag, mannan-Ab, and Candida DNA individually or combined showed a low discriminating capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Positive Candida albicans germ tube antibody and (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucan in a single blood sample or (1 → 3)-ß-D-glucan positivity in two consecutive blood samples allowed discriminating invasive candidiasis from Candida spp. colonization in critically ill patients with severe abdominal conditions. These findings may be helpful to tailor empirical antifungal therapy in this patient population.

A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of preemptive antifungal therapy for the prevention of invasive candidiasis following gastrointestinal surgery for intra-abdominal infections.

BACKGROUND: Patients undergoing emergency gastrointestinal surgery for intra-abdominal infection are at risk of invasive candidiasis (IC) and candidates for preemptive antifungal therapy. METHODS: This exploratory, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessed a preemptive antifungal approach with micafungin (100 mg/d) in intensive care unit patients requiring surgery for intra-abdominal infection. Coprimary efficacy variables were the incidence of IC and the time from baseline to first IC in the full analysis set; an independent data review board confirmed IC. An exploratory biomarker analysis was performed using logistic regression. RESULTS: The full analysis set comprised 124 placebo- and 117 micafungin-treated patients. The incidence of IC was 8.9% for placebo and 11.1% for micafungin (difference, 2.24%; [95% confidence interval, -5.52 to 10.20]). There was no difference between the arms in median time to IC. The estimated odds ratio showed that patients with a positive (1,3)-ß-d-glucan (ßDG) result were 3.66 (95% confidence interval, 1.01-13.29) times more likely to have confirmed IC than those with a negative result. CONCLUSIONS: This study was unable to provide evidence that preemptive administration of an echinocandin was effective in preventing IC in high-risk surgical intensive care unit patients with intra-abdominal infections. This may have been because the drug was administered too late to prevent IC coupled with an overall low number of IC events. It does provide some support for using ßDG to identify patients at high risk of IC. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT01122368.

Empirical antifungal therapy with an echinocandin in critically-ill patients: prospective evaluation of a pragmatic Candida score-based strategy in one medical ICU.

BACKGROUND: Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a life-threatening ICU-acquired infection. A strong correlation between time to antifungal therapy (AFT) administration and outcome has been established. Empirical therapy benefit should be balanced with the risk of echinocandin overuse. We assessed therefore a decision rule that aimed at guiding empirical therapy. METHODS: A 45-month prospective cohort study in a teaching medical ICU. All of the patients with suspected IC (uncontrolled sepsis despite broad spectrum antibiotics without any bacterial proven infection in patients with Candida score ≥ 3 points including multifocal Candida sp. colonization) were eligible. The primary endpoint was proven IC diagnosis (i.e., candidemia) following treatment onset. Timing of AFT administration was also investigated in those latter patients. Antifungal therapy step-down and discontinuation was done according to international guidelines in patients with candidemia. Otherwise, echinocandin discontinuation was encouraged in patients without proven IC, excepting when a clinical improvement was achieved without any other explanation that antifungals initiation (i.e., probable IC). In addition, a survival multivariate analysis using a Cox model was conducted. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients were given an echinocandin with respect to our decision rule. Among them, candidemia was diagnosed thereafter in 9 patients. Over the same period, antifungal therapy was triggered by candidemia announcement (i.e., definite therapy) in 12 patients who did not fulfill criteria for empirical therapy before. Time elapsed from candidemia onset to echinocandin therapy initiation was shortened (0.4 [0.5] vs. 2.4 [2.8] hours; p = 0.04) when it was given empirically. In addition, 18 patients clinically improved under empirical antifungal therapy without any obvious other explanation, despite IC remained unproven. Moreover, echinocandin exposure duration was independently related to survival in those patients. Over the same period, our predefined criteria for empirical therapy were overruled in 55 cases. None of them develop IC thereafter. Finally, Our decision rule allowed IC early recognition of proven/probable IC with sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of 69.2%, 82.1%, 69.2% and 82.1%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Implementation of pragmatic guidelines for empirical AFT based on CS and fungal colonization assessment could be useful in selecting patients who really benefit from an echinocandin.

Assessment of candidemia-attributable mortality in critically ill patients using propensity score matching analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Candidemia in critically ill patients is usually a severe and life-threatening condition with a high crude mortality. Very few studies have focused on the impact of candidemia on ICU patient outcome and attributable mortality still remains controversial. This study was carried out to determine the attributable mortality of ICU-acquired candidemia in critically ill patients using propensity score matching analysis. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted of all consecutive non-neutropenic adult patients admitted for at least seven days to 36 ICUs in Spain, France, and Argentina between April 2006 and June 2007. The probability of developing candidemia was estimated using a multivariate logistic regression model. Each patient with ICU-acquired candidemia was matched with two control patients with the nearest available Mahalanobis metric matching within the calipers defined by the propensity score. Standardized differences tests (SDT) for each variable before and after matching were calculated. Attributable mortality was determined by a modified Poisson regression model adjusted by those variables that still presented certain misalignments defined as a SDT > 10%. RESULTS: Thirty-eight candidemias were diagnosed in 1,107 patients (34.3 episodes/1,000 ICU patients). Patients with and without candidemia had an ICU crude mortality of 52.6% versus 20.6% (P < 0.001) and a crude hospital mortality of 55.3% versus 29.6% (P = 0.01), respectively. In the propensity matched analysis, the corresponding figures were 51.4% versus 37.1% (P = 0.222) and 54.3% versus 50% (P = 0.680). After controlling residual confusion by the Poisson regression model, the relative risk (RR) of ICU- and hospital-attributable mortality from candidemia was RR 1.298 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88 to 1.98) and RR 1.096 (95% CI 0.68 to 1.69), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: ICU-acquired candidemia in critically ill patients is not associated with an increase in either ICU or hospital mortality.

Early treatment of candidemia in adults: a review.

Invasive candidiasis is associated with high mortality, particularly in adults. Retrospective studies show that shorter times to treatment are correlated with a lower risk of death. A number of factors can be used to predict which patients would benefit from antifungal prophylaxis or early (pre-emptive or empirical) therapy. Detection of the fungal cell wall component (1→3)-ß-D-glucan (BDG) shows promise as an early biomarker of invasive fungal infection and may be useful in identifying patients who would benefit from early antifungal treatment. To date, no consistent early treatment strategy has evolved. Proof-of-concept studies are needed to assess the role of pre-emptive and empirical therapy in ICU patients and the relevance of BDG as an early marker of infection.

Direct association between pharyngeal viral secretion and host cytokine response in severe pandemic influenza.

BACKGROUND: Severe disease caused by 2009 pandemic influenza A/H1N1virus is characterized by the presence of hypercytokinemia. The origin of the exacerbated cytokine response is unclear. As observed previously, uncontrolled influenza virus replication could strongly influence cytokine production. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between host cytokine responses and viral levels in pandemic influenza critically ill patients. METHODS: Twenty three patients admitted to the ICU with primary viral pneumonia were included in this study. A quantitative PCR based method targeting the M1 influenza gene was developed to quantify pharyngeal viral load. In addition, by using a multiplex based assay, we systematically evaluated host cytokine responses to the viral infection at admission to the ICU. Correlation studies between cytokine levels and viral load were done by calculating the Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Fifteen patients needed of intubation and ventilation, while eight did not need of mechanical ventilation during ICU hospitalization. Viral load in pharyngeal swabs was 300 fold higher in the group of patients with the worst respiratory condition at admission to the ICU. Pharyngeal viral load directly correlated with plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-12p70, IFN-γ, the chemotactic factors MIP-1ß, GM-CSF, the angiogenic mediator VEGF and also of the immuno-modulatory cytokine IL-1ra (p < 0.05). Correlation studies demonstrated also the existence of a significant positive association between the levels of these mediators, evidencing that they are simultaneously regulated in response to the virus. CONCLUSIONS: Severe respiratory disease caused by the 2009 pandemic influenza virus is characterized by the existence of a direct association between viral replication and host cytokine response, revealing a potential pathogenic link with the severe disease caused by other influenza subtypes such as H5N1.

[Guidelines for the treatment of Invasive Candidiasis and other yeasts. Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC). 2010 Update]. / Recomendaciones sobre el tratamiento de la candidiasis invasiva y otras infecciones por levaduras de la Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica (SEIMC). Actualización 2011.

These guidelines are an update of the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) that were issued in 2004 (Enferm Infecc Microbiol Clin. 2004, 22:32-9) on the treatment of Invasive Candidiasis and infections produced by other yeasts. This 2010 update includes a comprehensive review of the new drugs that have appeared in recent years, as well as the levels of evidence for recommending them. These guidelines have been developed following the rules of the SEIMC by a working group composed of specialists in infectious diseases, clinical microbiology, critical care medicine, paediatrics and oncology-haematology. It provides a series of general recommendations regarding the management of invasive candidiasis and other yeast infections, as well as specific guidelines for prophylaxis and treatment, which have been divided into four sections: oncology-haematology, solid organ transplantation recipients, critical patients, and paediatric patients.

Five-year outcome of peripherally inserted central catheters in adults: a separated infectious and thrombotic complications analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess infectious and thrombotic complications of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) in adults. DESIGN: A 5-year prospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary-care teaching hospital in Seville, Spain. PATIENTS: Adult patients undergoing PICC insertion. METHODS: Catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI) including catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI), primary bacteremia (PB), and upper extremity deep vein thrombosis (UEDVT) were recorded. Independent predictors of complications were assessed by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: In total, 1,142 PICCs were inserted, with 153,191 catheter days (median, 79). Complications included 66 cases of CABSI (5.78%; 0.43‰ catheter days), 38 cases of CRBSI (3.33%; 0.25‰ catheter days), 28 cases of PB (2.45%; 0.18‰ catheter days), and 23 cases of UEDVT (2.01%; 0.15‰ catheter days). The median times to infection were 24, 41, and 60 days for CRBSI, PB, and UEDVT, respectively. Parenteral nutrition (odds ratio [OR], 3.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.77-6.52) and admission to the hematology ward (OR, 4.90; 95% CI, 2.25-10.71) were independently associated with CRBSI and PB, respectively. Admission to the hematology ward (OR, 12.46; 95% CI, 2.49-62.50) or to the oncology ward (OR, 7.89; 95% CI, 1.77-35.16) was independently associated with UEDVT. The crude mortality rate was 24.8%. Only 2 patients died of complications. CONCLUSIONS: PICCs showed a low rate of thrombotic and infectious complications. Compared to PB, CRBSI showed significantly different risk factors, a higher incidence density per catheter days, and a shorter median time to infection. Separate analyses of CRBSI and PB are more specific and clinically useful when analyzing infectious complications.

Host adaptive immunity deficiency in severe pandemic influenza.

INTRODUCTION: Pandemic A/H1N1/2009 influenza causes severe lower respiratory complications in rare cases. The association between host immune responses and clinical outcome in severe cases is unknown. METHODS: We utilized gene expression, cytokine profiles and generation of antibody responses following hospitalization in 19 critically ill patients with primary pandemic A/H1N1/2009 influenza pneumonia for identifying host immune responses associated with clinical outcome. Ingenuity pathway analysis 8.5 (IPA) (Ingenuity Systems, Redwood City, CA) was used to select, annotate and visualize genes by function and pathway (gene ontology). IPA analysis identified those canonical pathways differentially expressed (P < 0.05) between comparison groups. Hierarchical clustering of those genes differentially expressed between groups by IPA analysis was performed using BRB-Array Tools v.3.8.1. RESULTS: The majority of patients were characterized by the presence of comorbidities and the absence of immunosuppressive conditions. pH1N1 specific antibody production was observed around day 9 from disease onset and defined an early period of innate immune response and a late period of adaptive immune response to the virus. The most severe patients (n = 12) showed persistence of viral secretion. Seven of the most severe patients died. During the late phase, the most severe patient group had impaired expression of a number of genes participating in adaptive immune responses when compared to less severe patients. These genes were involved in antigen presentation, B-cell development, T-helper cell differentiation, CD28, granzyme B signaling, apoptosis and protein ubiquitination. Patients with the poorest outcomes were characterized by proinflammatory hypercytokinemia, along with elevated levels of immunosuppressory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-10 and IL-1ra) in serum. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an impaired development of adaptive immunity in the most severe cases of pandemic influenza, leading to an unremitting cycle of viral replication and innate cytokine-chemokine release. Interruption of this deleterious cycle may improve disease outcome.

Usefulness of the "Candida score" for discriminating between Candida colonization and invasive candidiasis in non-neutropenic critically ill patients: a prospective multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of the "Candida score" (CS) for discriminating between Candida species colonization and invasive candidiasis (IC) in non-neutropenic critically ill patients. A rate of IC <5% in patients with CS <3 was the primary end point. DESIGN: Prospective, cohort, observational study. SETTING: Thirty-six medical-surgical intensive care units of Spain, Argentina, and France. PATIENTS: A total of 1,107 non-neutropenic adult intensive care unit patients admitted for at least 7 days between April 2006 and June 2007. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Clinical data, surveillance cultures for fungal growth, and serum levels of (1-3)-beta-d-glucan and anti-Candida antibodies (in a subset of patients) were recorded. The CS was calculated as follows (variables coded as absent = 0, present = 1): total parenteral nutrition x1, plus surgery x1, plus multifocal Candida colonization x1, plus severe sepsis x2. A CS >or=3 accurately selected patients at high risk for IC. The colonization index was registered if >or=0.5. The rate of IC was 2.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-3.54) among patients with CS <3, with a linear association between increasing values of CS and IC rate (p 7 days, with a CS <3 and not receiving antifungal treatment, the rate of IC was <5%. Therefore, IC is highly improbable if a Candida-colonized non-neutropenic critically ill patient has a CS <3.

Estudio Anatómico y Prevalencia del Canalis sinuosus Evaluado Mediante Cone Beam CT en Pacientes Chilenos / Anatomical Study and Prevalence of Canalis sinuosus Evaluated by Cone Beam CT in Chilean Patients

Canalis sinuosus, canal intraóseo localizado en región maxilar anterior, contiene elementos vasculonerviosos alveolares anterosuperiores. Diversas intervenciones en región maxilar anterior como colocación de implantes, exodoncias, instalación de microtornillos ortodóncicos, procedimientos quirúrgicos, entre otros, pueden comprometer al Canalis sinuosus y/o sus canales accesorios dañando los elementos contenidos en su interior causando complicaciones como hemorragias, parestesia, disestesia, etc. Dado el gran desconocimiento de su existencia, el Canalis sinuosus frecuentemente es confundido con lesiones patológicas y/o endodónticas. Clásicamente la literatura lo describe como una variación anatómica variación anatómica, sin embargo, presenta elevadas prevalencias (51,7 %-100 %), siendo cuestionada esta aseveración. Determinar prevalencia y característica s anatómicas del Canalis sinuosus mediante Cone Beam CT en pacientes chilenos del centro radiológico IMAPROX® entre 2017- 2021. Análisis retrospectivo de 220 CBCT maxilares anonimizados, considerando variables sexo, presencia del Canalis sinuosus, Canalis sinuosus uni/bilateral, diámetro mayor del Canalis sinuosus, presencia/número de accesorios. Análisis estadístico uni y bivariado. 100 % de prevalencia del Canalis sinuosus en ambos sexos, presencia bilateral 100 %. Diámetro mayor promedio del Canalis sinuosus: 2,58 mm. El 76,8 % presentó accesorios, siendo más prevalente la presencia de 2 CA (34,1 %). Una estructura anatómica normal habitual debe presentar sobre 50 % de prevalencia para ser considerada como tal, pero no hay consensos en criterios empleados para definir variación anatómica o estructura anatómica normal habitual. Literatura describe al Canalis sinuosus como variación anatómica, pero estudios actuales muestran elevadas prevalencias: Rusia 67 %, Brasil 88 %, Turquía, Colombia y Chile 100 %. Este estudio encontró 100 % de prevalencia, sugiriendo que Canalis sinuosus es una estructura anatómica normal habitual. Sin embargo, Canalis sinuosus es poco conocido asociándose a numerosas complicaciones por procedimientos odontológicos y/o quirúrgicos en RMA pudiendo generar hemorragias, parestesia/disestesia, dolor agudo, etc. Elevadas prevalencias reportadas sugieren que Canalis sinuosus es una estructura anatómica normal habitual y no una variación anatómica, pero se requieren más estudios y consensos para aseverarlo. Es de relevancia clínica conocer la existencia y localización del Canalis sinuosus para evitar complicaciones.

Canalis sinuosus, an intraosseous canal located in the anterior maxillary region, contains anterosuperior alveolar vascular-nervous elements. Various interventions in anterior maxillary region such as implant placement, extractions, installation of orthodontic microscrews, surgical procedures, among others, can compromise the Canalis sinuosus and/or its accessory canals, damaging the elements contained inside, causing complications such as bleeding, paresthesia, dysesthesia, etc. Given the great ignorance of its existence, Canalis sinuosus is frequently confused with pathological and/or endodontic lesions. Classically, the literature describes it as an anatomical variation, however, it presents high prevalence (51.7 %-100 %), this assertion being questioned. Objective: to determine the prevalence and anatomical characteristics of Canalis sinuosus using Cone Beam CT in Chilean patients from the IMAPROX® radiological center between 2017-2021. Retrospective analysis of 220 anonymous maxillary CBCT, considering variables sex, presence of Canalis sinuosus, uni/bilateral Canalis sinuosus, largest diameter of Canalis sinuosus, presence/number of accessory canals. Univariate and bivariate statistical analysis. The 100 % prevalence of Canalis sinuosus in both sexes, 100 % bilateral presence. Canalis sinuosus average major diameter: 2.58 mm, 76.8 % presented accessory canals, with the presence of 2 accessory canals being more prevalent (34.1 %). A habitual normal anatomical structure must have a prevalence of over 50 % to be considered as such, but there is no consensus on the criteria used to define anatomical variation or normal anatomical structure. Literature describes Canalis sinuosus as anatomical variation, but current studies show high prevalence: Russia 67 %, Brazil 88 %, Turkey, Colombia and Chile 100 %. This study found 100 % prevalence, suggesting that Canalis sinuosus is an normal anatomical structure. However, Canalis sinuosus is little known as it is associated with numerous complications from dental and/or surgical procedures in anterior maxillary region, which can cause bleeding, paresthesia/ dysesthesia, acute pain, etc. High reported prevalences suggest that Canalis sinuosus is an normal anatomical structure and not an anatomical variation, but more studies and consensus are required to confirm this. It is clinically relevant to know the existence and location of Canalis sinuosus to avoid complications.

Intensive care medicine research agenda on invasive fungal infection in critically ill patients.

PURPOSE: To describe concisely the current standards of care, major recent advances, common beliefs that have been contradicted by recent trials, areas of uncertainty, and clinical studies that need to be performed over the next decade and their expected outcomes with regard to Candida and Aspergillus infections in non-neutropenic patients in the ICU setting. METHODS: A systematic review of the medical literature taking account of national and international guidelines and expert opinion. RESULTS: Severe invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are becoming increasingly frequent in critically ill patients. Approximately 80% of IFIs are due to Candida spp. and 0.3-19% to Aspergillus spp. Recent observations emphasize the necessity of building a worldwide sentinel network to monitor the emergence of new fungal species and changes in susceptibility. Robust data on the attributable mortality are essential for the design of clinical studies with mortality endpoints. Although early antifungal therapy for Candida has been recommended in patients with risk factors, sepsis of unknown cause, and positive Candida serum biomarkers [ß-1 â†’ 3-D-glucan (BDG) and Candida albicans germ tube antibody (CAGTA)], its usefulness and influence on outcome need to be confirmed. Future studies may specifically address the optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for patients with abdominal candidiasis. Better knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of antifungal molecules and tissue penetration is a key issue for intensivists. Regarding invasive aspergillosis, further investigation is needed to determine its incidence in the ICU, its relationship with influenza outbreaks, the clinical impact of rapid diagnosis, and the significance of combination treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Fundamental questions regarding IFI have to be addressed over the next decade. The clinical studies described in this research agenda should provide a template and set priorities for the clinical investigations that need to be performed.

Successful treatment of Candida parapsilosis mural endocarditis with combined caspofungin and voriconazole.

BACKGROUND: Fungal mural endocarditis is a rare entity in which the antemortem diagnosis is seldom made. Seven cases of mural endocarditis caused by Candida spp. have been collected from literature and six of these patients died after treatment with amphotericin B. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of mural endocarditis diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiogram and positive blood cultures to Candida parapsilosis. Because blood cultures continued to yield C. parapsilosis despite caspofungin monotherapy, treatment with voriconazole was added. CONCLUSION: This is the first description of successful treatment of C. parapsilosis mural endocarditis with caspofungin and voriconazole.

Prevention and diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia: a survey on current practices in Southern Spanish ICUs.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the implementation of selected ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention strategies, and to learn how VAP is diagnosed in the ICUs of Southern Spain. DESIGN: Multicentric survey. SETTING: The ICUs of 32 hospitals of the public health-care system of Southern Spain. PATIENTS OR PARTICIPANTS: Directors of ICUs. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Twenty-eight ICUs (87.5%) returned completed questionnaires. Ventilator circuits were changed every 72 h or longer in 75% of ICUs. Use of heat and moisture exchangers and open endotracheal suction systems were reported in 96% of ICUs. Subglottic secretion drainage was never used, and 57% of ICUs checked endotracheal tube cuff pressure at least daily. Semi-recumbent position was common (93%), and 67.5% of ICUs used frequently noninvasive ventilation. Continuous enteral feeding was reported in all ICUs. Sedative infusions were usually interrupted every day in 11% of ICUs. Seventy-five percent of ICUs had specific guidelines for antibiotic therapy of VAP, but rotation of antibiotics was uncommon (11%). Twenty-nine percent of ICUs diagnosed VAP without microbiological confirmation. The most used technique for microbiologic diagnosis was qualitative culture of endotracheal aspirates (42.8%). The centers with a larger structural complexity reported using VAP therapy guidelines more frequently than the smaller centers, but they did not utilized bronchoscopic techniques for diagnosing VAP. CONCLUSIONS: Common prevention and diagnostic procedures in clinical practice, including large teaching institutions, significantly differed from evidence-based recommendations and reports by research groups of excellence. In addition, our study suggests that clinical practice for preventing and diagnosing VAP is variable and many opportunities exist to improve the care of patients receiving mechanical ventilation.

Isolation of Aspergillus spp. from the respiratory tract in critically ill patients: risk factors, clinical presentation and outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Our aims were to assess risk factors, clinical features, management and outcomes in critically ill patients in whom Aspergillus spp. were isolated from respiratory secretions, using a database from a study designed to assess fungal infections. METHODS: A multicentre prospective study was conducted over a 9-month period in 73 intensive care units (ICUs) and included patients with an ICU stay longer than 7 days. Tracheal aspirate and urine samples, and oropharyngeal and gastric swabs were collected and cultured each week. On admission to the ICU and at the initiation of antifungal therapy, the severity of illness was evaluated using the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score. Retrospectively, isolation of Aspergillus spp. was considered to reflect colonization if the patient did not fulfil criteria for pneumonia, and infection if the patient met criteria for pulmonary infection and if the clinician in charge considered the isolation to be clinically valuable. Risk factors, antifungal use and duration of therapy were noted. RESULTS: Out of a total of 1756 patients, Aspergillus spp. were recovered in 36. Treatment with steroids (odds ratio = 4.5) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (odds ratio = 2.9) were significantly associated with Aspergillus spp. isolation in multivariate analysis. In 14 patients isolation of Aspergillus spp. was interpreted as colonization, in 20 it was interpreted as invasive aspergillosis, and two cases were not classified. The mortality rates were 50% in the colonization group and 80% in the invasive infection group. Autopsy was performed in five patients with clinically suspected infection and confirmed the diagnosis in all of these cases. CONCLUSION: In critically ill patients, treatment should be considered if features of pulmonary infection are present and Aspergillus spp. are isolated from respiratory secretions.

Infrared ear thermometry in the critically ill patient.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this clinical study was to determine the accuracy of infrared tympanic membrane thermometry compared to axillary temperature (tempAx) for detecting body temperature reliably in critically ill patients in the daily practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty adult patients admitted to a medical-surgical intensive care unit of an acute-care teaching hospital in Seville, Spain, during a 2-month period underwent prospective and simultaneous measurements of body temperature using a mercury-in-glass thermometer placed at the axilla of the dominant arm for at least 3 minutes and an infrared thermometer (ThermoScan 07, Braun Corporation, Kronberg, Germany) in both ears. RESULTS: A total of 429 simultaneous measurements of axillary temperature (tempAx) and tympanic temperature (tempTT) were made. The mean +/- SD tempAx was 36.90 degrees C +/- 1.06 degrees C and the mean tempTT was 36.94 degrees C +/- 0.97 degrees C ( P = NS; 95% CI, -0.18 to 0.10), with a difference between tempTT and tempAx means of 0.04 degrees C. There was a statistically significant correlation between tempAx and tempTT ( r = 0.813, P < .0005). When 20 extreme readings of both methods (<34.2 degrees C and >39.8 degrees C) were excluded, the mean tempAx was 36.91 degrees C +/- 0.86 degrees C and the mean tempTT was 36.9 degrees C +/- 0.89 degrees C ( P = NS; 95% CI, -0.05 to 0.06), with a difference of 0.01 degrees C and a statistically significant correlation between both measurements ( r = 0.80, P < .0005). The sensitivity and specificity of tempTT for different thresholds were 74% and 85% for 37 degrees C, 70% and 95% for 38 degrees C, and 25% and 99.8% for 39 degrees C, respectively. The negative predictive value for 39 degrees C was 99%. CONCLUSIONS: In adult intensive care unit patients, the infrared tympanic thermometer (ThermoScan 07) produced highly reliable measurements when compared to tempAx measured using a conventional mercury-in-glass thermometer. Both methods correlated positively and significantly.