Inadvertent hypothermia and mortality in critically ill adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective Considering that inadvertent hypothermia (IH) is common in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients and can be followed by severe complications, this systematic review identified, appraised and synthesised the published literature about the association between IH and mortality in adults admitted to the ICU. Data sources By using key terms, literature searches were conducted in Pubmed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and EMBASE. Review methods According to PRISMA guidelines, articles published between 1980–2016 in English-language, peer-reviewed journals were considered. IH was defined as core temperature of <36.5 °C or lower, present on ICU admission or manifested during ICU stay. Outcome measure included ICU, hospital or 28-day mortality. Selected cohort studies were evaluated with the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Extracted data were summarised in tables and synthesised qualitatively and quantitatively, with adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for mortality being combined in meta-analyses. Results Eighteen observational studies met inclusion criteria. All of them had high methodological quality. In twelve out of fifteen studies, unadjusted mortality was significantly higher in hypothermic patients compared to non-hypothermic ones. Likewise, in thirteen out of sixteen studies, IH or lowest core temperature was independently associated with significantly higher mortality. High severity and long duration of IH were also associated with higher mortality. Mortality was significantly higher in patients with core temperature <36.0 °C (pooled OR 2.093, 95% CI 1.704–2.570), and in those with core temperature <35.0 °C (pooled OR 2.945, 95% CI 2.166–4.004). Conclusions These findings indicate that IH predicts mortality in critically ill adults and pose suspicion that this may contribute to adverse patient outcome. © 2017 Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Lt

Safety and effectiveness of alveolar recruitment maneuvers and positive end-expiratory pressure during general anesthesia for cesarean section: a prospective, randomized trial Alveolar recruitment during caesarean section

Introduction During cesarean section, the supine position reduces functional residual capacity and worsens lung compliance. We tested the hypothesis that alveolar recruitment maneuvers and positive end-expiratory pressure improve lung compliance in women undergoing general anesthesia for cesarean section. Methods Ninety women undergoing cesarean section were randomly assigned to one of two groups in a prospective, double-blind trial. In the alveolar recruitment maneuver group, pressure-control ventilation was used and inspiratory time was increased to 50% after delivery; positive end-expiratory pressure was increased to 20 cmH2O and peak airway inspiratory pressure gradually increased to 45–50 cmH2O. Volume-control ventilation was then used with low tidal volumes (6 mL/kg) and positive end-expiratory pressure was reduced stepwise to 8 cmH2O. In the control group, alveolar recruitment maneuvers were not used. Data were collected before and 3, 10 and 20 min after the alveolar recruitment maneuver, before extubation and postoperatively at 10 and 20 min. Results Dynamic compliance, peak airway inspiratory pressure, PaO2 and PaO2/FiO2 were significantly different in the alveolar recruitment maneuver group compared to controls at all time points during surgery except at baseline. Oxygen saturation was significantly greater in the alveolar recruitment maneuver group at 10 and 20 min and before extubation. Dynamic compliance was 29.7–42.5% higher and peak airway inspiratory pressure 3.6–10.2% lower in the alveolar recruitment maneuver group compared to controls. The PaO2, PaO2/FiO2 and oxygen saturation were higher (9.4–12%, 10.3–11.9% and 0.4–1.3%, respectively) in the alveolar recruitment maneuver group. Postoperatively, PaO2 and oxygen saturation were significantly higher in the alveolar recruitment maneuver group compared to controls (PaO2 9.2% at 10 min and 8.4% at 20 min, oxygen saturation 0.8% at 10 min and 1.1% at 20 min). There were no significant differences in hemodynamic stability or adverse events between groups. Conclusion Compared to standard care, the alveolar recruitment maneuver with positive end-expiratory pressure and low tidal volumes appears safe and effective in improving lung compliance and both intraoperative and postoperative oxygenation in women undergoing general anesthesia for elective cesarean section. © 2016 Elsevier Lt

Mortality of Pandrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Bloodstream Infections in Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Cohort of 115 Episodes.

The increased frequency of bacteraemias caused by pandrug-resistant Klebsiellapneumoniae (PDR-Kp) has significant implications. The aim of the present study was to identify predictors associated with mortality of PDR-Kp bacteraemias. Patients with monomicrobial bacteraemia due to PDR-Kp were included. K. pneumoniae was considered PDR if it showed resistance to all available groups of antibiotics. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of meropenem, tigecycline, fosfomycin, and ceftazidime/avibactam were determined by Etest, whereas for colistin, the broth microdilution method was applied. bla <sub>KPC</sub> , bla <sub>VIM</sub> , bla <sub>NDM</sub> , and bla <sub>OXA</sub> genes were detected by PCR. Among 115 PDR-Kp bacteraemias, the majority of infections were primary bacteraemias (53; 46.1%), followed by catheter-related (35; 30.4%). All isolates were resistant to tested antimicrobials. bla <sub>KPC</sub> was the most prevalent carbapenemase gene (98 isolates; 85.2%). Thirty-day mortality was 39.1%; among 51 patients with septic shock, 30-day mortality was 54.9%. Multivariate analysis identified the development of septic shock, Charlson comorbidity index, and bacteraemia other than primary or catheter-related as independent predictors of mortality, while a combination of at least three antimicrobials was identified as an independent predictor of survival. Mortality of PDR-Kp bloodstream infections was high. Administration of at least three antimicrobials might be beneficial for infections in critically ill patients caused by such pathogens

Increased incidence of candidemia in critically ill patients during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Patients with severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) are treated with corticosteroids. We aimed to evaluate the role of corticosteroid treatment in candidemia development during the COVID-19 pandemic. This retrospective study was conducted in a Greek ICU, from 2010 to August 2021, encompassing a pre-pandemic and a pandemic period (pandemic period: April 2020 to August 2021). All adult patients with candidemia were included. During the study period, 3,572 patients were admitted to the ICU, 339 patients during the pandemic period, of whom 196 were SARS-CoV-2-positive. In total, 281 candidemia episodes were observed in 239 patients, 114 in the pandemic period. The majority of candidemias in both periods were catheter-related (161; 50.4%). The incidence of candidemia in the pre-pandemic period was 5.2 episodes per 100 admissions, while in the pandemic period was 33.6 (p < 0.001). In the pandemic period, the incidence among COVID-19 patients was 38.8 episodes per 100 admissions, while in patients without COVID-19 incidence was 26.6 (p = 0.019). Corticosteroid administration in both periods was not associated with increased candidemia incidence. A significant increase of candidemia incidence was observed during the pandemic period in patients with and without COVID-19. This increase cannot be solely attributed to immunosuppression (corticosteroids, tocilizumab) of severe COVID-19 patients, but also to increased workload of medical and nursing staff

Nurse understaffing is associated with adverse events in postanaesthesia care unit patients

Aims and objectives: To investigate the associations between nurse staffing and the incidence and severity of hypoxaemia, arterial hypotension and bradycardia of postoperative patients during their postanaesthesia care unit stay. Background: Nurse understaffing has been associated with adverse patient outcomes in a variety of hospital settings. In the postanaesthesia care unit, nursing shortage is common and can be related to compromised prevention, detection and treatment of adverse events. Design: Observational, single-centre, prospective study that adhered to Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology checklist (see Supporting information Appendix S1); 2,207 patients admitted to the postanaesthesia care unit of a tertiary care hospital over a 5-month period were enrolled. Methods: Incidence of hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen saturation <95%), arterial hypotension (systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg) and bradycardia (heart rate <50 beats per minute), along with episode severity, was recorded. Patients were classified into three groups as follows: sufficient staffing, low and high understaffing. Risk for hypoxaemia, arterial hypotension and bradycardia was adjusted according to patient, anaesthesia and operation characteristics. Results: The incidence of hypoxaemia was significantly higher in the high understaffing group patients, while the incidence of arterial hypotension was significantly higher in both low and high understaffing group patients, compared to sufficient staffing group ones. In the high understaffing group patients, hypoxaemia and arterial hypotension episodes were of significantly higher severity. Conclusions: These associations between hypoxaemia and arterial hypotension and postanaesthesia care unit understaffing indicate that care quality and patient safety can be compromised in case patient acuity is not matched with sufficient nursing resources. Relevance to clinical practice: Higher incidence of hypoxaemia and arterial hypotension advocates for the prevention of imbalances between patient number and care demands and the number of available nurses. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons Lt

Molecular characteristics and predictors of mortality among Gram-positive bacteria isolated from bloodstream infections in critically ill patients during a 5-year period (2012–2016)

To identify the molecular characteristics of Gram-positive cocci isolated from blood cultures and clinical outcome among critically ill patients. This retrospective study was conducted in the general intensive care unit of the University General Hospital of Patras, Greece, during a 5-year period (2012–2016). All adult patients with a Gram-positive BSI were included. PCR was applied to identify mecA gene (staphylococci); vanA, vanB, and vanC genes (enterococci). Linezolid-resistant S. epidermidis, MRSA, and VRE were further typed by multilocus sequence typing. Mutations in region V of 23S rDNA and ribosomal protein L4were investigated by PCR and sequencing analysis. The presence of the cfr gene was tested by PCR. In total, 141 Gram-positive BSIs were included. Coagulase-negative staphylococci predominated (n = 69; 65 methicillin-resistant, 23 linezolid-resistant carrying both C2534T and T2504A mutations and belonging to the ST22 clone), followed by enterococci (n = 46; 11 vancomycin-resistant carrying vanA gene, classified into four clones), S. aureus (n = 22; 10 methicillin-resistant, classified into three clones) and streptococci (n = 4). The most common type of infection was catheter-related (66; 46.8%), followed by primary BSI (28; 19.9%). Overall 14-day fatality was 24.8%. Multivariate analysis revealed septic shock as independent predictor of fatality, while appropriate empiric antimicrobial treatment and catheter-related BSI were identified as a predictor of good prognosis. Even though most of Gram-positive cocci were multidrug-resistant, fatality rate was low, associated with catheter-related BSIs. Among CNS, LR isolates represented one-third of BSIs due to the dissemination of ST22 S. epidermidis propagated by utilization of linezolid. © 2020, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Molecular characteristics and predictors of mortality among Gram-positive bacteria isolated from bloodstream infections in critically ill patients during a 5-year period (2012-2016).

To identify the molecular characteristics of Gram-positive cocci isolated from blood cultures and clinical outcome among critically ill patients. This retrospective study was conducted in the general intensive care unit of the University General Hospital of Patras, Greece, during a 5-year period (2012-2016). All adult patients with a Gram-positive BSI were included. PCR was applied to identify mecA gene (staphylococci); vanA, vanB, and vanC genes (enterococci). Linezolid-resistant S. epidermidis, MRSA, and VRE were further typed by multilocus sequence typing. Mutations in region V of 23S rDNA and ribosomal protein L4were investigated by PCR and sequencing analysis. The presence of the cfr gene was tested by PCR. In total, 141 Gram-positive BSIs were included. Coagulase-negative staphylococci predominated (n = 69; 65 methicillin-resistant, 23 linezolid-resistant carrying both C2534T and T2504A mutations and belonging to the ST22 clone), followed by enterococci (n = 46; 11 vancomycin-resistant carrying vanA gene, classified into four clones), S. aureus (n = 22; 10 methicillin-resistant, classified into three clones) and streptococci (n = 4). The most common type of infection was catheter-related (66; 46.8%), followed by primary BSI (28; 19.9%). Overall 14-day fatality was 24.8%. Multivariate analysis revealed septic shock as independent predictor of fatality, while appropriate empiric antimicrobial treatment and catheter-related BSI were identified as a predictor of good prognosis. Even though most of Gram-positive cocci were multidrug-resistant, fatality rate was low, associated with catheter-related BSIs. Among CNS, LR isolates represented one-third of BSIs due to the dissemination of ST22 S. epidermidis propagated by utilization of linezolid

Predictors of mortality of trauma patients admitted to the ICU: a retrospective observational study☆.

Worldwide, trauma is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The aim of the present study is to identify the predictors of mortality of trauma patients requiring Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. This retrospective study was conducted in the ICU of our institution in Greece during a six-year period (2010-215). Among 326 patients, trauma was caused by road traffic accidents in .5%, followed by falls (21.1%) and violence (7.4%). Thirty-day mortality was 27.3%. Multivariate analysis showed that higher New Injury Severity Score (NISS), severe head/neck injury, acute kidney injury, septic shock and hemorrhagic shock were significantly associated with mortality while higher Revised Injury Severity Classification, version II (RISC II) and the administration of enteral nutrition were associated with survival. NISS showed the higher accuracy in predicting 30-day mortality followed by RISC II, while scores based only in physiological variables had lower predictive ability. Increased mortality was strongly associated with the severity of the injury upon admission. Traumatic brain injury, septic shock and acute kidney injury have also been found among the strongest predictors of mortality. NISS can be considered as a statistically superior score in predicting mortality of severely injured patients

Impact of Tigecycline's MIC in the Outcome of Critically Ill Patients with Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteraemia Treated with Tigecycline Monotherapy-Validation of 2019's EUCAST Proposed Breakpoint Changes.

Tigecycline is a therapeutic option for carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (CP-Kp). Our aim was to evaluate the impact of the tigecycline's minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the outcome of patients with CP-Kp bacteraemia treated with tigecycline monotherapy. Patients with monomicrobial bacteraemia due to CP-Kp that received appropriate targeted monotherapy or no appropriate treatment were included. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality. MICs of meropenem, tigecycline, and ceftazidime/avibactam were determined by Etest, whereas for colistin, the broth microdilution method was applied. PCR for bla <sub>KPC</sub> , bla <sub>VIM</sub> , bla <sub>NDM</sub> , and bla <sub>OXA</sub> genes was applied. Among 302 CP-Kp bacteraemias, 32 isolates (10.6%) showed MICs of tigecycline ≤ 0.5 mg/L, whereas 177 (58.6%) showed MICs that were 0.75-2 mg/L. Colistin and aminoglycoside susceptibility was observed in 43.0% and 23.8% of isolates, respectively. The majority of isolates carried bla <sub>KPC</sub> (249; 82.5%), followed by bla <sub>VIM</sub> (26; 8.6%), both bla <sub>KPC</sub> and bla <sub>VIM</sub> (16; 5.3%), and bla <sub>NDM</sub> (11; 3.6%). Fifteen patients with tigecycline MIC ≤ 0.5 mg/L and 55 with MIC 0.75-2 mg/L were treated with tigecycline monotherapy; 30-day mortality was 20.0% and 50.9%, respectively (p = 0.042). Mortality of 150 patients that received other antimicrobials was 24.7%; among 82 patients that received no appropriate treatment, mortality was 39.0%. No difference in 30-day mortality was observed between patients that received tigecycline (MIC ≤ 0.5 mg/L) or other antimicrobials. Tigecycline monotherapy was as efficacious as other antimicrobials in the treatment of bloodstream infections due to CP-Kp isolates with a tigecycline's MIC ≤ 0.5 mg/L