Impact of systemic antifungal therapy on the detection of Candida species in blood cultures in clinical cases of candidemia

International audienc

Hospital-wide prospective mandatory surveillance of invasive aspergillosis in a French teaching hospital (2000-2002).

A multidisciplinary working group devoted to epidemiological surveillance of invasive aspergillosis (IA) was created in January 2000 in Grenoble University Hospital. This article presents the results of a three-year IA surveillance. The multidisciplinary working group surveyed all hospitalized patients, and the mycology laboratory detected most suspected IA cases. Cases were reviewed monthly by the Aspergillosis Committee, and were classified according to international consensus criteria. Possible nosocomial acquisition was determined. Among the 490 alerts, 74 IA cases were observed: six proven cases (8%), 36 (49%) probable cases and 32 (43%) possible cases. The incidence was 4.4 (95% CI 3.4-5.4) IA/100 000 patient-days. Among the proven and probable IA cases, we observed 10 nosocomial cases and six cases of undetermined origin. No cases were noted in the protected rooms in the haematology unit. Only one cluster of cases (three nosocomial cases) was detected in the haematology unit. Forty-three percent of cases (N=32) were hospitalized in the haematology unit, and all other cases were hospitalized elsewhere. This three-year survey found a high rate of non-nosocomial IA cases and a high frequency of IA cases hospitalized in units other than haematology. Thus, this study shows the importance of IA surveillance in haematology units and all high-risk units

Does red blood cell storage time still influence ICU survival?

Objective: Few studies have shown that aged packed red blood cells (RBC) transfusion negatively influenced the outcome of ICU patients, probably related to storage lesions which could be decreased by leukodepletion of RBC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of aged leukodepleted-RBC pack, on the outcome of ICU patients. Design: Retrospective, observational, cohort study in a Medical Intensive Care Unit. Patients: Consecutive patients admitted during the years 2005 and 2006, and requiring a transfusion. We recorded patient's demographic data, number of RBC unit and age of each RBC, length of ICU, mortality during ICU stay. Results: Five hundred and thirty-four patients were included with global mortality was 26.6%, length of stay in ICU six days (3-14) and SAPS II 48 (35-62). RBC equaling to 5.9 were transfused per patients (22.7% < 14 days and 57.3% < 21 days). The number of RBC was significantly higher in the dead patients group, but the rate of RBC stored less than 21 days was not different (54% versus 60%; p = 0.21). In a multivariate logistic model, independent predictors of ICU death were SAPS II (OR = 1.02 per point, p < 0.001), number of RBC (OR = 1.08 per RBC, p < 0.001), length of stay in ICU (p < 0.001). Similar results were obtained while introducing the age of RBC as time dependent covariates in a multivariate Cox's model. Conclusions: RBC transfused in our ICU are old. The ICU outcome is independently associated with the number of leucodepleted RBC transfused, but not with their age

Non-fatal disseminated mucormycosis in a solid organ transplant

International audienceBACKGROUND: Mucormycosis is a rare fungal infection occurring most frequently in immunocompromised patients. The pathogens are filamentous fungi, order of Mucorales. Disseminated mucormycosis is a severe, life treating disease. Early diagnosis is a major determinant for prognosis, however, it remains difficult. The management consists in an early antifungal therapy using lipid formulation of amphotericin B associated with an extensive surgical debridement. Despite this therapeutic of choice, the mortality of disseminated mucormycosis remains high. OBSERVATION: We report the case of disseminated mucormycosis in a 25 years old woman 9 months after a pulmonary transplantation. The clinical presentation included pulmonary and thyroid localization and the pathogen was Absidia corymbifera. The patient survived thanks to a large surgical debridement, and an early antifungal bitherapy by lipid formulation of amphotericin B and posaconazole. CONCLUSION: The re-emergence and the high mortality of mucormycosis in solid organ transplant receiver show the necessity to find new therapeutic approaches. Posaconazole associated with liposomal amphotericin B could be an interesting option to treat disseminated mucormycosis and improve their outcome

Non-conform diagnostic management of pulmonary embolism suspected patients is responsible for a higher risk of thrombotic event occurrence.

The aim of this 3-month follow-up prospective pragmatic study was to evaluate the implementation of a pulmonary embolism (PE) diagnostic strategy in clinical practice. One thousand and one hundred thirty-four consecutive in- and outpatients with clinically suspected PE were enrolled into a sequential diagnostic algorithm in which vascular medical unit plays a pivotal role in advising physicians and suggesting the most appropriate tests according to the diagnostic algorithm. In this observational study, patients that followed the proposed work-up were attributed to a so-called "conform group". Patients in whom diagnostic work-up was not according to protocol were attributed to a "non-conform group". Nine hundred and ninety-seven patients (87.9%) had a conform work-up, and 137 patients a non-conform work-up according to the proposed diagnostic algorithm. The non-conform work-up directly increased in relation to the age of the referred patients. PE was ruled out in 907 (80%) patients of whom 787 (86.8%) were in the conform group. Of the 797 patients who did not receive anticoagulant drugs, follow-up was obtained in 792 (99.4%). Among these patients, the incidence of acute thromboembolic events during the 3-month follow-up period was different in the group of patients that had a conform work-up (1%, [95% CI, 0.5-2.1%]) from the non-conform group patients (4.5%, [95% CI, 2-10.2%]. Therefore patients from the non-conform group have an independent increased risk to develop a thromboembolic event during the follow-up, adjusted odds ratio 3.3 [1.1-10, 95% CI]. Therefore we demonstrated that a non-conform diagnostic management strategy is associated with a higher risk of thrombotic event occurrence

Intensité des soins lors des exacerbations et des complications des pathologies respiratoires chroniques

International audienceThe issue of intensive and palliative care in patients with chronic disease frequently arises. This review aims to describe the prognostic factors of chronic respiratory diseases in stable and in acute situations in order to improve the management of these complex situations. The various laws on patients’ rights provide a legal framework and define the concept of unreasonable obstinacy. For patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the most robust decision factors are good knowledge of the respiratory disease, the comorbidities, the history of previous exacerbations and patient preferences. In the case of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, it is necessary to know if there is a prospect of transplantation and to assess the reversibility of the respiratory distress. In the case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, treatment decisions depend on the presence of advance directives about the use of intubation and tracheostomy. For lung cancer patients, general condition, cancer history and the tumor treatment plan are important factors. A multidisciplinary discussion that takes into account the patient's medical history, wishes and the current state of knowledge permits the taking of a coherent decision