Clinical Features and Outcomes of Monobacterial and Polybacterial Episodes of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia Due to Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Aspiration pneumonia; Multidrug-resistance; PolymicrobialNeumonía por aspiración; Resistencia a múltiples fármacos; PolimicrobianoPneumònia per aspiració; Resistència a múltiples fàrmacs; PolimicrobianaMultidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB) VAP has high morbidity and mortality, and the rates are constantly increasing globally. Mono- and polybacterial MDRAB VAP might differ, including outcomes. We conducted a single-center, retrospective (January 2014–December 2016) study in the four ICUs (12–18–24 beds each) of a reference Lithuanian university hospital, aiming to compare the clinical features and the 30-day mortality of monobacterial and polybacterial MDRAB VAP episodes. A total of 156 MDRAB VAP episodes were analyzed: 105 (67.5%) were monomicrobial. The 30-day mortality was higher (p < 0.05) in monobacterial episodes: overall (57.1 vs. 37.3%), subgroup with appropriate antibiotic therapy (50.7 vs. 23.5%), and subgroup of XDR A. baumannii (57.3 vs. 36.4%). Monobacterial MDRAB VAP was associated (p < 0.05) with Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 (67.6 vs. 47.1%), respiratory comorbidities (19.0 vs. 5.9%), obesity (27.6 vs. 9.8%), prior hospitalization (58.1 vs. 31.4%), prior antibiotic therapy (99.0 vs. 92.2%), sepsis (88.6 vs. 76.5%), septic shock (51.9 vs. 34.6%), severe hypoxemia (23.8 vs. 7.8%), higher leukocyte count on VAP onset (median [IQR] 11.6 [8.4–16.6] vs. 10.9 [7.3–13.4]), and RRT need during ICU stay (37.1 vs. 17.6%). Patients with polybacterial VAP had a higher frequency of decreased level of consciousness (p < 0.05) on ICU admission (29.4 vs. 14.3%) and on VAP onset (29.4 vs. 11.4%). We concluded that monobacterial MDRAB VAP had different demographic/clinical characteristics compared to polybacterial and carried worse outcomes. These important findings need to be validated in a larger, prospective study, and the management implications to be further investigated

Diagnosis and management of temperature abnormality in ICUs: a EUROBACT investigators' survey.

Although fever and hypothermia are common abnormal physical signs observed in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU), little data exist on their optimal management. The objective of this study was to describe contemporary practices and determinants of management of temperature abnormalities among patients admitted to ICUs. Site leaders of the multi-national EUROBACT study were surveyed regarding diagnosis and management of temperature abnormalities among patients admitted to their ICUs. Of the 162 ICUs originally included in EUROBACT, responses were received from 139 (86%) centers in 23 countries in Europe (117), South America (8), Asia (5), North America (4), Australia (3) and Africa (2). A total of 117 (84%) respondents reported use of a specific temperature threshold in their ICU to define fever. A total of 14 different discrete levels were reported with a median of 38.2°C (inter-quartile range, IQR, 38.0°C to 38.5°C). The use of thermometers was protocolized in 91 (65%) ICUs and a wide range of methods were reportedly used, with axillary, tympanic and urinary bladder sites as the most common as primary modalities. Only 31 (22%) of respondents indicated that there was a formal written protocol for temperature control among febrile patients in their ICUs. In most or all cases practice was to control temperature, to use acetaminophen, and to perform a full septic workup in febrile patients and that this was usually directed by physician order. While reported practice was to treat nearly all patients with neurological impairment and most patients with acute coronary syndromes and infections, severe sepsis and septic shock, this was not the case for most patients with liver failure and fever. A wide range of definitions and management practices were reported regarding temperature abnormalities in the critically ill. Documenting temperature abnormality management practices, including variability in clinical care, is important to inform planning of future studies designed to optimize infection and temperature management strategies in the critically ill

Evidence of historical seismicity and volcanism in the Armenian Highland (from Armenian and other sources)

This work presents a summary on the development of studies of historical earthquakes in Armenia and adjacent parts of Turkey and Iran. Since ancient times, this region has been an arena where active geodynamic and seismic history intermingled with no less active and dynamic evolution of human cultures and societies. A long-term historical record in this region beginning as early as the 8th century B.C. provides abundant evidence that can make an inestimable contribution to studies of historical seismicity and volcanism in the area. We discuss the main research methodology and sources used, and dwell on the principal catalogues of historical earthquakes compiled to date

Epidemiology of intra-abdominal infection and sepsis in critically ill patients: "AbSeS", a multinational observational cohort study and ESICM Trials Group Project.

PURPOSE: To describe the epidemiology of intra-abdominal infection in an international cohort of ICU patients according to a new system that classifies cases according to setting of infection acquisition (community-acquired, early onset hospital-acquired, and late-onset hospital-acquired), anatomical disruption (absent or present with localized or diffuse peritonitis), and severity of disease expression (infection, sepsis, and septic shock). METHODS: We performed a multicenter (n = 309), observational, epidemiological study including adult ICU patients diagnosed with intra-abdominal infection. Risk factors for mortality were assessed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The cohort included 2621 patients. Setting of infection acquisition was community-acquired in 31.6%, early onset hospital-acquired in 25%, and late-onset hospital-acquired in 43.4% of patients. Overall prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was 26.3% and difficult-to-treat resistant Gram-negative bacteria 4.3%, with great variation according to geographic region. No difference in prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was observed according to setting of infection acquisition. Overall mortality was 29.1%. Independent risk factors for mortality included late-onset hospital-acquired infection, diffuse peritonitis, sepsis, septic shock, older age, malnutrition, liver failure, congestive heart failure, antimicrobial resistance (either methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Gram-negative bacteria, or carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria) and source control failure evidenced by either the need for surgical revision or persistent inflammation. CONCLUSION: This multinational, heterogeneous cohort of ICU patients with intra-abdominal infection revealed that setting of infection acquisition, anatomical disruption, and severity of disease expression are disease-specific phenotypic characteristics associated with outcome, irrespective of the type of infection. Antimicrobial resistance is equally common in community-acquired as in hospital-acquired infection

Neumonía nosocomial causada por Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina [Hospital-acquired pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is an increasingly common cause of hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) and the second most frequently isolated pathogen from patients who die from HAP. High-risk units for MRSA colonization such as intensive care (ICU's) are the most affected. Multiple risk factors for transmission of MRSA have been identified, including colonization pressure and severity of illness at ICU admission. On the other hand, the most important predisposing factor for MRSA infection is prolonged mechanical ventilation and/or previous antibiotic therapy. Controlling the spread of MRSA remains a major challenge for hospitals. Screening programs, together with contact precautions for cases with MRSA and judicious antimicrobial use are major factors for a successful control. Early appropriate initial therapy is of crucial importance and improves outcome. The standard therapy has been glycopeptides but, in spite of its in vitroactivity, mortality in critically ill patients treated with glycopeptides has consistently been reported high, mainly due to their poor lung penetration. Linezolid shows better clinical cure and survival rates, but further studies are needed. As the treatment options for MRSA pneumonia are limited and inadequate, development of more effective drugs is mandatory

Lefamulin. Comment on: “Novel Antibiotics for Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Positive Microorganisms. Microorganisms, 2019, 7, 270”

On 18 August 2019, an article was published in Microorganisms presenting novel, approved anti-Gram-positive antibiotics. On 19 August 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the approval of lefamulin, a representative of a new class of antibiotics, the pleuromutilins, for the treatment of adult community-acquired bacterial pneumonia. We present a brief description of lefamulin

Hospital-acquired pneumonia in the 21st century: a review of existing treatment options and their impact on patient care

Hospital-acquired pneumonia is a common nosocomial infection, with significant morbidity and mortality, and represents a major therapeutic challenge to clinicians. The therapeutic approach must be patient-oriented and institution-specific. The specific risk factors of each patient, such as previous antibiotic exposure, underlying diseases, length of hospital stay and the local patterns of antimicrobial resistance, should guide physicians in their decision of the initial optimal empirical therapy. Delays in the initiation or inappropriate/inadequate initial therapy are related to increased mortality and worse outcomes. In responding patients, as soon as culture data are available, efforts should be made to change the initial broad spectrum antibiotic regimen to a more targeted one (de-escalation). The optimal duration of treatment is a matter of debate, but courses longer than 1 week are rarely justified