Strategies for increasing diagnostic yield of community-onset bacteraemia within the emergency department: A retrospective study

Bloodstream infections (BSI) are associated with high mortality. Therefore, reliable methods of detection are of paramount importance. Efficient strategies to improve diagnostic yield of bacteraemia within the emergency department (ED) are needed. We conducted a retrospective analysis of all ED encounters in a high-volume, city-centre university hospital within Germany during a five-year study period from October 2013 to September 2018. A time-series analysis was conducted for all ED encounters in which blood cultures (BCs) were collected. BC detection rates and diagnostic yield of community-onset bacteraemia were compared during the study period (which included 45 months prior to the start of a new diagnostic Antibiotic Stewardship (ABS) bundle and 15 months following its implementation). BCs were obtained from 5,191 out of 66,879 ED admissions (7.8%). Bacteraemia was detected in 1,013 encounters (19.5% of encounters where BCs were obtained). The overall yield of true bacteraemia (defined as yielding clinically relevant pathogens) was 14.4%. The new ABS-related diagnostic protocol resulted in an increased number of hospitalised patients with BCs collected in the ED (18% compared to 12.3%) and a significant increase in patients with two or more BC sets taken (59% compared to 25.4%), which resulted in an improved detection rate of true bacteraemia (2.5% versus 1.8% of hospital admissions) without any decrease in diagnostic yield. This simultaneous increase in BC rates without degradation of yield was a valuable finding that indicated success of this strategy. Thus, implementation of the new diagnostic ABS bundle within the ED, which included the presence of a skilled infectious disease (ID) team focused on obtaining BCs, appeared to be a valuable tool for the accurate and timely detection of community-onset bacteraemia

Postextrasystolic Blood Pressure Potentiation Predicts Poor Outcome of Cardiac Patients

Background Postextrasystolic blood pressure potentiation (PESP), the pulse wave augmentation after an extrasystolic beat, is typically enhanced in heart failure (HF) patients. This study prospectively tested the association of PESP and mortality in cardiac patients. Methods and Results Consecutive patients (n=941; mean age, 61 years; 19% female) presenting with acute myocardial infarction were enrolled between May 2000 and March 2005 and followed up until August 2010. The main study outcome was 5-year all-cause mortality. Patients underwent noninvasive 30-minute recordings of ECG and continuous blood pressure. PESP presence was based on the ratio between the first postectopic pulse wave amplitude and the mean of the subsequent 9 pulse wave amplitudes. A ratio above 1 was prospectively defined as PESP present. Ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) suitable for PESP quantification were present in recordings of 220 patients. PESP was present in 62 of these patients. Patients without suitable VPCs were classified as PESP absent. During the follow-up, 72 patients died. Among the 220 patients in whom PESP was measurable, 27 died. Under univariable analysis, PESP was a significant predictor of death (P<0.001) as were GRACE score (P<0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (P<0.001), and the number of recorded VPCs (P<0.001). Under multivariable analysis, PESP (P<0.001), GRACE score (P<0.001), and LVEF (P=0.001) were independently associated with outcome. The combination of PESP presence and LVEF ≤35% identified a subgroup of patients with a particularly high mortality of 46.7%. Separate validation reproduced the finding in an unrelated population of 146 HF patients. Conclusions PESP, which likely reflects abnormalities of myocardial calcium cycling, predicts the mortality risk in postinfarction patients

Risk of Serious Infections in Patients with Psoriasis on Biologic Therapies: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A comprehensive evaluation of the risk of serious infections in biologic therapies for psoriasis is lacking. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and prospective cohort studies reporting serious infections in people taking any licensed biologic therapy for psoriasis compared with those taking placebo, nonbiologic therapy, or other biologic therapies. The quality of the studies was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation criteria. No significant heterogeneity was detected in data from 32 RCTs (n = 13,359 participants) and one cohort study (n = 4,993 participants). In adults, low- to very-low-quality RCT data showed no significant difference between any biologic therapy and placebo at weeks 12–16 (overall pooled Peto odds ratio = 0.71, 95% confidence interval = 0.36–1.41) and weeks 20–30 (odds ratio = 2.27, 95% confidence interval = 0.45–11.49). No significant differences were found in any of the other comparisons in underpowered RCT data. Prospective cohort study data of low quality suggests that only adalimumab (adjusted hazard ratio [adjHR] = 2.52, 95% confidence interval = 1.47–4.32) was associated with a significantly higher risk of serious infection compared with retinoid and/or phototherapy in adults. No association between biologic therapies and serious infections in patients with psoriasis who were eligible for RCTs was detected. Further observational studies are needed to inform the uncertainty around this risk in the real world

Off-Label Biologic Regimens in Psoriasis: A Systematic Review of Efficacy and Safety of Dose Escalation, Reduction, and Interrupted Biologic Therapy

Objectives: While off-label dosing of biologic treatments may be necessary in selected psoriasis patients, no systematic review exists to date that synthesizes the efficacy and safety of these off-label dosing regimens. The aim of this systematic review is to evaluate efficacy and safety of off-label dosing regimens (dose escalation, dose reduction, and interrupted treatment) with etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, ustekinumab, and alefacept for psoriasis treatment

National Psoriasis Foundation COVID-19 Task Force guidance for management of psoriatic disease during the pandemic: Version 2—Advances in psoriatic disease management, COVID-19 vaccines, and COVID-19 treatments

This article is made available for unrestricted research re-use and secondary analysis in any form or by any means with acknowledgement of the original source. These permissions are granted for the duration of the World Health Organization (WHO) declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic.Objective To update guidance regarding the management of psoriatic disease during the COVID-19 pandemic. Study Design The task force (TF) includes 18 physician voting members with expertise in dermatology, rheumatology, epidemiology, infectious diseases, and critical care. The TF was supplemented by nonvoting members, which included fellows and National Psoriasis Foundation staff. Clinical questions relevant to the psoriatic disease community were informed by inquiries received by the National Psoriasis Foundation. A Delphi process was conducted. Results The TF updated evidence for the original 22 statements and added 5 new recommendations. The average of the votes was within the category of agreement for all statements, 13 with high consensus and 14 with moderate consensus. Limitations The evidence behind many guidance statements is variable in quality and/or quantity. Conclusions These statements provide guidance for the treatment of patients with psoriatic disease on topics including how the disease and its treatments affect COVID-19 risk, how medical care can be optimized during the pandemic, what patients should do to lower their risk of getting infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (including novel vaccination), and what they should do if they develop COVID-19. The guidance is a living document that is continuously updated by the TF as data emerge

National Psoriasis Foundation COVID-19 Task Force Guidance for Management of Psoriatic Disease During the Pandemic: Version 1

Objective To provide guidance about management of psoriatic disease during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Study design A task force (TF) of 18 physician voting members with expertise in dermatology, rheumatology, epidemiology, infectious diseases, and critical care was convened. The TF was supplemented by nonvoting members, which included fellows and National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) staff. Clinical questions relevant to the psoriatic disease community were informed by questions received by the NPF. A Delphi process was conducted. Results The TF approved 22 guidance statements. The average of the votes was within the category of agreement for all statements. All guidance statements proposed were recommended, 9 with high consensus and 13 with moderate consensus. Limitations The evidence behind many guidance statements is limited in quality. Conclusion These statements provide guidance for the management of patients with psoriatic disease on topics ranging from how the disease and its treatments impact COVID-19 risk and outcome, how medical care can be optimized during the pandemic, what patients should do to lower their risk of getting infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and what they should do if they develop COVID-19. The guidance is intended to be a living document that will be updated by the TF as data emerge

Die Wirkung von Procalcitonin auf die glatte Muskulatur von Rattenaorten in vitro

HINTERGRUND: Es ist bekannt, dass bei septischen Patienten die Procalcitonin(PCT)-Konzentration im Blut erhöht ist. Die Mikrozirkulation dieser Patienten ist verschlechtert. Diese Veränderung der arteriellen Reaktivität könnte unter anderem mit den erhöhten PCT-Werten in Verbindung stehen. Wir testeten in vitro den direkten Effekt von PCT auf die isometrische Spannung von gesunden Rattenaorten. METHODE: Zu den in unseren Versuchsaufbau in Krebslösung eingespannten 2-3mm langen Aortenringen gaben wir PCT in ansteigenden Dosen; zum Teil präkontrahierten wir die Ringe mit 5*10-7M Phenylephrin (PE), um auch eine mögliche relaxierende Wirkung von PCT festzustellen. Nach Inkubation (30 Minuten oder 24 Stunden) in 5µg/ml PCT wurde die Dosis-Wirkbeziehung von PE mit der Kontrollgruppe verglichen. Für alle weiteren Versuche inkubierten wir die eine Hälfte der Präparationen mit 5µg PCT über 24 Stunden (zum Vergleich wurde die andere Hälfte in reiner Krebslösung inkubiert). Den Präparationen einer Versuchsreihe wurde das Endothel vor Inkubation mechanisch entfernt. Nach Präkontraktion mit PE 5*10-8M bzw. 5*10-7M wurden Veränderungen der Relaxation von Natrium-Nitroprussid (SNP) im Vergleich zur Kontrolle untersucht. In anderen Versuchen inkubierten wir (nach Präkontraktion mit PE) mit Thapsigargin (Ca-ATPase-Hemmer am sakroplasmatischen Retikulum)10-6M, L-NAME (NO-Synthase-Hemmer) 5*10-4M, SQ (cAMP-Produktions-Hemmer)10-4M, bzw. ODQ 10-5M (cGMP-Produktions-Hemmer) über 10 Minuten, um dann SNP in ansteigenden Dosen zu geben. Außerdem relaxierten wir die Ringe mit Isoproterenol (ISO) und Natriumazid (SA), und kontrahierten sie mit Natrium-orthovanadat (SOV). ERGEBNISSE: Es lässt sich für die direkte Gabe von PCT weder eine signifikante Relaxation bzw. Kontraktion feststellen. Des Weiteren hat PCT keinen Effekt auf die Kontraktion mit PE (weder nach 30minütiger bzw. 24stündiger Inkubation). Nach Kontraktion mit PE 5*10-8M lassen sich die Aortenringe mit SNP relaxieren, wobei die in PCT inkubierte Aortenringe (EC50:13,3 ± 0,22) im Vergleich zur Kontrollgruppe (13,5 ± 0,19) signifikant schlechter relaxieren (Mittelwert ± Standardfehlervon EC50; p< 0,024; n=12). Auch nach Präkontraktion mit PE 5*10-7M ist eine signifikante Verschlechterung der Relaxation der inkubierten Gruppe zu erkennen (EC50: 8,2 ± 0,05 für die Inkubation vs. 8,5 ± 0,06 für die Kontrolle; p< 0,017; n=8). Durch den Zusatz von Thapsigargin, L-NAME bzw. SQ nach Präkontraktion mit PE lässt sich der Unterschied, der bei Relaxation mit SNP zwischen den beiden Gruppen bestand, aufheben. Auch die Entfernung des Endothels führt zu einer Angleichung der Dosis-Wirkbeziehung von SNP in beiden Gruppen. ODQ inhibiert die Wirkung von SNP an den Präparationen, und es kommt zu keiner Relaxation. PCT hatte keinen signifikanten Einfluss auf die Relaxationen mit ISO und SA, bzw. Kontraktionen mit SOV. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNG: PCT hatte keinen direkten Effekt auf die glatte Muskulatur der Aortenringe. Aber nach langer Inkubation (24Stunden) kommt es zur Hemmung der Wirkung von SNP. Es lässt sich vermuten, dass PCT eine Inhibition der Wirkungskaskade von SNP hervorruft. Diesem Effekt könnte die erhöhte intrazelluläre Ca2+-Konzentration und/oder die verminderte Bereitstellung von NO in der glatten Muskelzelle zu Grunde liegen. Begründet werden kann diese These mit der Tatsache, dass nach Inkubation mit Thapsigargin, L-NAME und SQ, bzw. nach Endothelentfernung die SNP-Wirkung nicht beeinflusst wird.Background. The septic patients display, between numbers of other disturbances, vascular hyporeactivity. They often have an increased blood level of procalcitonin (PCT) but the mechanisms responsible for that increase and possible effects of PCT, particularly on the blood vessels, are not known. We examined whether PCT could have influence on normal rat blood vessel tension in vitro. Methods. Aortal rings, 2mm breit, with or without endothelium (-Endo), were suspended in an organ bath and isometric tension registered. Direct effects of the PCT and the effects of incubation with PCT on various contracting or relaxing agents were examined. Results. At rest or following pre-contraction with phenylephrine (PE, 10-8 or 10-7) PCT had no direct effect on rat aortal tension. Similarly pre-incubation (short, 30 min or long, 24 hours) with PCT (5µg/ml) did not influence responses to PE. Short incubationit with PCT also did not influence sodium nitroprusside (SNP) relaxation. However, long pre-incubation with PCT partially inhibited the relaxing effects of SNP of the preparations pre-contracted with PE. (PCT v.s. Controls, PE 5x10-8 EC50: 13.34 ± 0.22 v.s. 13.51 ± 0.19 (p< 0.02; n=12,) or by PE 5x10-7: 8.21 ± 0,05 vs. 8.53 ± 0.06; p< 0.02; n=8). These effects were abolished in preparations (–Endo), or following pre-incubated with Thapsigargin (10-6; SERCA inhibitor), SQ (10-4; cAMP synthesis inhibitor), or L-NAME (5x10-4, NO-synthesis inhibitor). The ODQ (10-5; cGMP synthesis inhibitor) completely inhibited the relaxing effects of SNP while relaxation with ISO (10-9-10-3M, beta adrenergic agonist) and contraction induced by sodium orthovanadate (10-8-10-3M; tyrosine-phosphatase inhibitor) were not affected by PCT incubation. The sodium azide (inhibitor of the mitochondrial Ca++ removal) had slight relaxing effects independent of PCT incubation. Conclusion. The PCT partially inhibited the relaxing effects of the SNP in rat aorta in vitro. These effects seam to be endothelium-dependent and may be linked to NO and intracellular Ca++ removal pathways