Purpose
Identifying modifiable factors for sepsis-associated encephalopathy may help improve patient care and outcomes.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospective multicenter ...database. Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) was defined by a score on the Glasgow coma scale (GCS) <15 or when features of delirium were noted. Potentially modifiable risk factors for SAE at ICU admission and its impact on mortality were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazard modeling, respectively.
Results
We included 2513 patients with sepsis at ICU admission, of whom 1341 (53%) had sepsis-associated encephalopathy. After adjusting for baseline characteristics, site of infection, and type of admission, the following factors remained independently associated with sepsis-associated encephalopathy: acute renal failure adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.41, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19–1.67, hypoglycemia <3 mmol/l (aOR = 2.66, 95% CI 1.27–5.59), hyperglycemia >10 mmol/l (aOR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.09–1.72), hypercapnia >45 mmHg (aOR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.53–2.38), hypernatremia >145 mmol/l (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.48–3.57), and
S. aureus
(aOR = 1.54, 95% CI 1.05–2.25). Sepsis-associated encephalopathy was associated with higher mortality, higher use of ICU resources, and longer hospital stay. After adjusting for age, comorbidities, year of admission, and non-neurological SOFA score, even mild alteration of mental status (i.e., a score on the GCS of 13–14) remained independently associated with mortality (adjusted hazard ratio = 1.38, 95% CI 1.09–1.76).
Conclusions
Acute renal failure and common metabolic disturbances represent potentially modifiable factors contributing to sepsis-associated encephalopathy. However, a true causal relationship has yet to be demonstrated. Our study confirms the prognostic significance of mild alteration of mental status in patients with sepsis.
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) enables recovery of viruses from airways of patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), although their clinical impact remains uncertain.
Among ...consecutive adult patients who had undergone a mPCR within 72 hours following their admission to one intensive care unit (ICU), we retrospectively included those with a final diagnosis of CAP. Four etiology groups were clustered: bacterial, viral, mixed (viral-bacterial) and no etiology. A composite criterion of complicated course (hospital death or mechanical ventilation > 7 days) was used. A subgroup analysis compared patients with bacterial and viral-bacterial CAP matched on the bacterial pathogens.
Among 174 patients (132 men 76 %, age 63 53-75 years, SAPSII 38 27;55, median PSI score 106 78;130), bacterial, viral, mixed and no etiology groups gathered 46 (26 %), 53 (31 %), 45 (26 %) and 30 (17 %) patients, respectively. Virus-infected patients displayed a high creatine kinase serum level, a low platelet count, and a trend toward more frequent alveolar-interstitial infiltrates. A complicated course was more frequent in the mixed group (31/45, 69 %), as compared to bacterial (18/46, 39 %), viral (15/53, 28 %) and no etiology (12/30, 40 %) groups (p < 0.01). In multivariate analysis, the mixed (viral-bacterial) infection was independently associated with complicated course (reference: bacterial pneumonia; OR, 3.58; CI 95 %, 1.16-11; p = 0.03). The subgroup analysis of bacteria-matched patients confirmed these findings.
Viral-bacterial coinfection during severe CAP in adults is associated with an impaired presentation and a complicated course.
Background
Sepsis is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The associated incidence, mortality and trends do not differ greatly between documented reports. The purpose of this study was to ...provide an in-depth description of patients with sepsis and septic shock hospitalized in France from 2010 to 2015 and to explore the temporal trends of their clinical characteristics, costs and outcomes.
Methods
Retrospective cohort study of the French hospital administrative database in which organ failure therapies and severity scores are systematically registered. All patients admitted between 2010 and 2015 for sepsis and septic shock as defined by an ICD-10 code for infection, and for organ failure or the use of organ failure supplementation were included. Incidence, outcomes and trends were analyzed. Subgroup analyses based on several coding strategies and adjusted for severity scores were performed.
Results
A total of 737,147 patients with sepsis and 492,902 patients with septic shock were included. From 2010 to 2015, the incidence of sepsis and septic shock increased, respectively, from 206 to 243 and from 135 to 171 cases per 100,000 population. Case fatality remained at 34% for sepsis, but decreased from 46 to 44% for septic shock.
Median hospital stay costs amounted to €11,400 (IQR: 5036; 24,364) for patients with sepsis and €16,439 (IQR: 7339; 29,360) for patients with septic shock.
After adjustment for case-mix and illness severity, the risk of death was stable for sepsis (0.08% − 0.04; 0.20 per year), but decreased for sepsis patients admitted to the intensive care unit and for cases of septic shock (− 0.33% − 0.40; − 0.27 per year).
Conclusions
Sepsis is common, frequently fatal and expensive to treat. Its incidence has increased. Case fatality has decreased in most severely affected patients, owing partly to general improvements in care.
In severe COVID-19 pneumonia, the appropriate timing and dosing of corticosteroids (CS) is not known. Patient subgroups for which CS could be more beneficial also need appraisal. The aim of this ...study was to assess the effect of early CS in COVID-19 pneumonia patients admitted to the ICU on the occurrence of 60-day mortality, ICU-acquired-bloodstream infections(ICU-BSI), and hospital-acquired pneumonia and ventilator-associated pneumonia(HAP-VAP). We included patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to 11 ICUs belonging to the French OutcomeRea.sup.TM network from January to May 2020. We used survival models with ponderation with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). The study population comprised 303 patients having a median age of 61.6 (53-70) years of whom 78.8% were male and 58.6% had at least one comorbidity. The median SAPS II was 33 (25-44). Invasive mechanical ventilation was required in 34.8% of the patients. Sixty-six (21.8%) patients were in the Early-C subgroup. Overall, 60-day mortality was 29.4%. The risks of 60-day mortality (.sub.IPTW HR = 0.86;95% CI 0.54 to 1.35, p = 0.51), ICU-BSI and HAP-VAP were similar in the two groups. Importantly, early CS treatment was associated with a lower mortality rate in patients aged 60 years or more (.sub.IPTW HR, 0.53;95% CI, 0.3-0.93; p = 0.03). In contrast, CS was associated with an increased risk of death in patients younger than 60 years without inflammation on admission (.sub.IPTW HR = 5.01;95% CI, 1.05, 23.88; p = 0.04). For patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, early CS treatment was not associated with patient survival. Interestingly, inflammation and age can significantly influence the effect of CS.
Community Acute Bacterial Meningitis (CABM) is a rare infectious disease leading to important impairments. Our aim was to describe CABM survivors' quality of life (QOL) 12 months post-CABM and to ...assess its associations with CABM sequelae.
Patients included in the CABM COMBAT cohort were evaluated one year after the CABM episode. Data were collected by questionnaire, via phone calls with the patients. The WHOQOL-BREF was used to measure CABM survivors' QOL. Hierarchical multivariate linear regressions were performed.
Study population was composed of 284 patients. At 12 months, 53.9% (153/284) reported at least incident headache/worsening headache intensity at 12 months post-CABM, and/or incident hearing impairment, and/or unfavourable disability outcome (GOS). Unfavourable disability outcome was associated with lower physical health QOL (B = -30.35, p<0.001), lower mental health QOL (B = -15.31, p<0.001), lower environmental QOL (B = -11.08, p<0.001) and lower social relationships QOL (B = -9.62, p<0.001). Incident headache/worsening headache since meningitis onset was associated with lower psychological health (B = -5.62, p = 0.010). Incident hearing impairment was associated with lower physical QOL (B = -5.34, p = 0.030). Hierarchical regressions showed that CABM impairments significantly increase explanatory power of multivariate models (for physical health R2 change = 0.42, p<0.001, for psychological health R2 change = 0.23, p<0.001, for social relationships R2 change = 0.06, p<0.001 and for environment domain R2 change was 0.15, p<0.001).
12 month-CABM burden is heavy. Early detection and management of CABM impairments should be performed in clinical practice as early as possible to optimize patients' psychological and psychosocial functioning.
NCT01730690.
COVID-19 Related Acute Respiratory Syndrome (C-ARDS) is characterized by a mismatch between respiratory mechanics and hypoxemia, suggesting increased dead-space fraction (DSF). Prone position is a ...cornerstone treatment of ARDS under invasive mechanical ventilation reducing mortality. We sought to investigate the impact of prone position on DSF in C-ARDS in a cohort of patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation.
we retrospectively analysed data from 85 invasively mechanically ventilated patients with C-ARDS in supine and in prone positions, hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit (Reims University Hospital), between November, 1st 2020 and November, 1st 2022. DSF was estimated via 3 formulas usable at patients' bedside, based on partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO2).
there was no difference of DSF between supine and prone position, using the 3 formulas. According to Enghoff, Frankenfield and Gattinoni equations, DSF in supine vs. prone position was in median respectively IQR: 0.29 0.13-0.45 vs. 0.31 0.19-0.51 (p = 0.37), 0.5 0.48-0.52 vs. 0.51 0.49-0.53 (p = 0.43), and 0.71 0.55-0.87 vs. 0.69 0.57-0.81, (p = 0.32).
prone position did not change DSF in C-ARDS.
Abstract Background We assessed the effect of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) on mortality and length of stay after high flow nasal oxygenation (HFNO) failure among patients with severe hypoxemic ...COVID-19 pneumonia. Methods In this multicenter, retrospective study, we enrolled COVID-19 patients admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) for severe COVID-19 pneumonia with a HFNO failure from December 2020 to January 2022. The primary outcome was to compare the 90-day mortality between patients who required a straight intubation after HFNO failure and patients who received NIV after HFNO failure. Secondary outcomes included ICU and hospital length of stay. A propensity score analysis was performed to control for confounding factors between groups. Exploratory outcomes included a subgroup analysis for 90-day mortality. Results We included 461 patients with HFNO failure in the analysis, 233 patients in the straight intubation group and 228 in the NIV group. The 90-day mortality did not significantly differ between groups, 58/228 (25.4%) int the NIV group compared with 59/233 (25.3%) in the straight intubation group, with an adjusted hazard ratio (HR) after propensity score weighting of 0.82 95%CI, 0.50–1.35 ( p = 0.434). ICU length of stay was significantly shorter in the NIV group compared to the straight intubation group, 10.0 days IQR, 7.0-19.8 versus 18.0 days IQR,11.0–31.0 with a propensity score weighted HR of 1.77 95%CI, 1.29–2.43 ( p < 0.001). A subgroup analysis showed a significant increase in mortality rate for intubated patients in the NIV group with 56/122 (45.9%), compared to 59/233 (25.3%) for patients in the straight intubation group ( p < 0.001). Conclusions In severely hypoxemic COVID-19 patients, no significant differences were observed on 90-day mortality between patients receiving straight intubation and those receiving NIV after HFNO failure. NIV strategy was associated with a significant reduction in ICU length of stay, despite an increase in mortality in the subgroup of patients finally intubated.
Despite antiviral therapy (ART), 800,000 deaths still occur yearly and globally due to HIV infection. In parallel with the good virological control and the aging of this population, multiple ...comorbidities HIV-associated-non-AIDS (HANA) conditions may now be observed.
HIV adult patients hospitalized in intensive care unit (ICU) from all the French region from university and non-university hospital who participate to the OutcomeRea™ database on a voluntary basis over a 24-year period.
Of the 24,298 stays registered, 630 (2.6%) were a first ICU stay for HIV patients. Over time, the mean age and number of comorbidities (diabetes, renal and respiratory history, solid neoplasia) of patients increased. The proportion of HIV diagnosed on ICU admission decreased significantly, while the median duration of HIV disease as well as the percentage of ART-treated patients increased. The distribution of main reasons for admission remained stable over time (acute respiratory distress > shock > coma). We observed a significant drop in the rate of active opportunistic infection on admission, while the rate of active hemopathy (newly diagnosed or relapsed within the last 6 months prior to admission to ICU) qualifying for AIDS increased-nonsignificantly-with a significant increase in the anticancer chemotherapy administration in ICU. Admissions for HANA or non-HIV reasons were stable over time. In multivariate analysis, predictors of 60-day mortality were advanced age, chronic liver disease, past chemotherapy, sepsis-related organ failure assessment score > 4 at admission, hospitalization duration before ICU admission > 24 h, AIDS status, but not the period of admission.
Whereas the profile of ICU-admitted HIV patients has evolved over time (HIV better controlled but more associated comorbidities), mortality risk factors remain stable, including AIDS status.
Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is the most frequent life-threatening nosocomial infection in intensive care units. The diagnostic is difficult because radiological and clinical signs are ...inaccurate and could be associated with various respiratory diseases. The concept of infection-related ventilator-associated complication has been proposed as a surrogate of VAP to be used as a benchmark indicator of quality of care. Indeed, bundles of prevention measures are effective in decreasing the VAP rate. In case of VAP suspicion, respiratory secretions must be collected for bacteriological secretions before any new antimicrobials. Quantitative distal bacteriological exams may be preferable for a more reliable diagnosis and therefore a more appropriate use antimicrobials. To improve the prognosis, the treatment should be adequate as soon as possible but should avoid unnecessary broad-spectrum antimicrobials to limit antibiotic selection pressure. For empiric treatments, the selection of antimicrobials should consider the local prevalence of microorganisms along with their associated susceptibility profiles. Critically ill patients require high dosages of antimicrobials and more specifically continuous or prolonged infusions for beta-lactams. After patient stabilization, antimicrobials should be maintained for 7-8 days. The evaluation of VAP treatment based on 28-day mortality is being challenged by regulatory agencies, which are working on alternative surrogate endpoints and on trial design optimization.
Most vascular catheter-related infections (CRIs) occur extraluminally in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Chlorhexidine-impregnated and strongly adherent dressings may decrease catheter ...colonization and CRI rates.
To determine if chlorhexidine-impregnated and strongly adherent dressings decrease catheter colonization and CRI rates.
In a 2:1:1 assessor-masked randomized trial in patients with vascular catheters inserted for an expected duration of 48 hours or more in 12 French ICUs, we compared chlorhexidine dressings, highly adhesive dressings, and standard dressings from May 2010 to July 2011. Coprimary endpoints were major CRI with or without catheter-related bloodstream infection (CR-BSI) with chlorhexidine versus nonchlorhexidine dressings and catheter colonization rate with highly adhesive nonchlorhexidine versus standard nonchlorhexidine dressings. Catheter-colonization, CR-BSIs, and skin reactions were secondary endpoints.
A total of 1,879 patients (4,163 catheters and 34,339 catheter-days) were evaluated. With chlorhexidine dressings, the major-CRI rate was 67% lower (0.7 per 1,000 vs. 2.1 per 1,000 catheter-days; hazard ratio HR, 0.328; 95% confidence interval CI, 0.174-0.619; P = 0.0006) and the CR-BSI rate 60% lower (0.5 per 1,000 vs. 1.3 per 1,000 catheter-days; HR, 0.402; 95% CI, 0.186-0.868; P = 0.02) than with nonchlorhexidine dressings; decreases were noted in catheter colonization and skin colonization rates at catheter removal. The contact dermatitis rate was 1.1% with and 0.29% without chlorhexidine. Highly adhesive dressings decreased the detachment rate to 64.3% versus 71.9% (P < 0.0001) and the number of dressings per catheter to two (one to four) versus three (one to five) (P < 0.0001) but increased skin colonization (P < 0.0001) and catheter colonization (HR, 1.650; 95% CI, 1.21-2.26; P = 0.0016) without influencing CRI or CR-BSI rates.
A large randomized trial demonstrated that chlorhexidine-gel-impregnated dressings decreased the CRI rate in patients in the ICU with intravascular catheters. Highly adhesive dressings decreased dressing detachment but increased skin and catheter colonization. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01189682).
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