Single-drug therapy or selective decontamination of the digestive tract as antifungal prophylaxis in critically ill patients: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study was to determine and compare the effectiveness of different prophylactic antifungal therapies in critically ill patients on the incidence of yeast colonisation, infection, candidemia, and hospital mortality. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted of prospective trials including adult non-neutropenic patients, comparing single-drug antifungal prophylaxis (SAP) or selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) with controls and with each other. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were included (11 SAP and 22 SDD; 5,529 patients). Compared with control groups, both SAP and SDD reduced the incidence of yeast colonisation (SAP: odds ratio [OR] 0.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.20 to 0.70; SDD: OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.29) and infection (SAP: OR 0.54, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.75; SDD: OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.45). Treatment effects were significantly larger in SDD trials than in SAP trials. The incidence of candidemia was reduced by SAP (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.82) but not by SDD (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.40). In-hospital mortality was reduced predominantly by SDD (OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.93, numbers needed to treat 15; SAP: OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.00). Effectiveness of prophylaxis reduced with an increased proportion of included surgical patients. CONCLUSION: Antifungal prophylaxis (SAP or SDD) is effective in reducing yeast colonisation and infections across a range of critically ill patients. Indirect comparisons suggest that SDD is more effective in reducing yeast-related outcomes, except for candidemi

Failure of available scoring systems to predict ongoing infection in patients with abdominal sepsis after their initial emergency laparotomy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To examine commonly used scoring systems, designed to predict overall outcome in critically ill patients, for their ability to select patients with an abdominal sepsis that have ongoing infection needing relaparotomy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data from a RCT comparing two surgical strategies was used. The study population consisted of 221 patients at risk for ongoing abdominal infection. The following scoring systems were evaluated with logistic regression analysis for their ability to select patients requiring a relaparotomy: APACHE-II score, SAPS-II, Mannheim Peritonitis Index (MPI), MODS, SOFA score, and the acute part of the APACHE-II score (APS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The proportion of patients requiring a relaparotomy was 32% (71/221). Only 2 scores had a discriminatory ability in identifying patients with ongoing infection needing relaparotomy above chance: the APS on day 1 (AUC 0.61; 95%CI 0.52-0.69) and the SOFA score on day 2 (AUC 0.60; 95%CI 0.52-0.69). However, to correctly identify 90% of all patients needing a relaparotomy would require such a low cut-off value that around 80% of all patients identified by these scoring systems would have negative findings at relaparotomy.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>None of the widely-used scoring systems to predict overall outcome in critically ill patients are of clinical value for the identification of patients with ongoing infection needing relaparotomy. There is a need to develop more specific tools to assist physicians in their daily monitoring and selection of these patients after the initial emergency laparotomy.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>ISRCTN: <a href="http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN 51729393">ISRCTN 51729393</a></p

Preoperative screening and prehabilitation strategies prior to ileocolic resection in patients with Crohn’s disease are not incorporated in routine care

Purpose: Recently, recommendations on perioperative care have been published to optimize postoperative outcomes in preoperative patients with inflammatory bowel disease. This study evaluated the current use of preoperative screening and prehabilitation strategies (PS) prior to elective ileocolic resection (ICR) in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Methods: Patients with CD who underwent an elective ICR were identified from a Dutch prospective cohort study. Primary endpoint was to evaluate to what extent IBD-relevant PS were applied in patients with CD prior to ICR according to the current recommendations. Results: In total, 109 CD patients were included. Screening of nutritional status was performed in 56% of the patients and revealed malnutrition in 46% of these patients. Of the malnourished patients, 46% was referred to a dietitian. Active smoking and alcohol consumption were reported in 20% and 28%; none of these patients were referred for a cessation program. A preoperative anemia was diagnosed in 61%, and ferritin levels were assessed in 26% of these patients. Iron therapy was started in 25% of the patients with an iron deficiency anemia. Exposure to corticosteroids at time of ICR was reported in 29% and weaned off in 3%. Consultation of a dietitian, psychologist, and physiotherapist was reported in 36%, 7%, and 3%. Physical fitness was assessed in none of the patients. Conclusion: PS are not routinely applied and not individually tailored in the preoperative setting prior to elective ICR in patients with CD. Prior to implementation, future research on the costs and effectiveness of PS on postoperative outcomes and quality of life is necessary.</p

Prognostic Value of the Modified Rutgeerts Score for Long-Term Outcomes After Primary Ileocecal Resection in Crohn’s Disease

IntroductionThe prognostic value of the modified Rutgeerts score (mRS) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) needs to be further elucidated. This study assessed the prognostic value of the mRS for long-term outcomes after primary ileocecal resection in patients with CD.METHODS: Patients with CD after primary ileocecal resection with an available mRS at first postoperative ileocolonoscopy (index mRS) were retrospectively included. The primary outcome was surgical recurrence. Secondary outcomes were clinical recurrence and progression to severe endoscopic recurrence (‡i3). Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between index mRS and outcomes. RESULTS: Six hundred fifty-two patients were included (mean follow-up: 6.4 years, SD: 4.6). Surgical recurrence rates were 7.7%, 5.3%, 12.9%, 19.1%, 28.8%, 47.8% for index mRS i0, i1, i2a, i2b, i3, and i4, respectively. Clinical recurrence occurred in 42.2% (i0), 53.7% (i1), 58.5% (i2a), 80.2% (i2b), 79.4% (i3), and 95.3% (i4) of patients. Progression to severe endoscopic recurrence occurred in 21.1% (i0), 33.9% (i1), 26.8% (i2a), and 33.3% (i2b) of patients. An index mRS of i2b (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.0; 1.5–5.6), i3 (aHR 4.0; 2.0–7.9) and i4 (aHR 8.0; 4.0–16.0) were associated with surgical recurrence. An index mRS of i1 (aHR 1.7; 1.2–2.4), i2a (aHR 1.7; 1.2–2.4), i2b (aHR 4.4; 3.2–6.0), i3 (aHR 3.6; 2.5–5.2), and i4 (aHR 7.3; 4.8–10.9) were associated with clinical recurrence. An index mRS of i1 (aHR 2.0; 1.1–3.7) or i2b (aHR 2.5; 1.4–4.6) was associated with progression to severe endoscopic recurrence.DISCUSSION: The increasing mRS corresponds closely with the risk of surgical and clinical recurrence. An index mRS ‡ i2b is associated with surgical recurrence, an index mRS ‡ i1 is associated with clinical recurrence, and i1 or i2b with progression to severe endoscopic recurrence. These results support tight monitoring of disease activity and treatment optimization in patients with ileal lesions and a more conservative management in patients with anastomotic lesions.</p

Prognostic Value of the Modified Rutgeerts Score for Long-Term Outcomes After Primary Ileocecal Resection in Crohn’s Disease

IntroductionThe prognostic value of the modified Rutgeerts score (mRS) in patients with Crohn's disease (CD) needs to be further elucidated. This study assessed the prognostic value of the mRS for long-term outcomes after primary ileocecal resection in patients with CD.METHODS: Patients with CD after primary ileocecal resection with an available mRS at first postoperative ileocolonoscopy (index mRS) were retrospectively included. The primary outcome was surgical recurrence. Secondary outcomes were clinical recurrence and progression to severe endoscopic recurrence (‡i3). Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess the association between index mRS and outcomes. RESULTS: Six hundred fifty-two patients were included (mean follow-up: 6.4 years, SD: 4.6). Surgical recurrence rates were 7.7%, 5.3%, 12.9%, 19.1%, 28.8%, 47.8% for index mRS i0, i1, i2a, i2b, i3, and i4, respectively. Clinical recurrence occurred in 42.2% (i0), 53.7% (i1), 58.5% (i2a), 80.2% (i2b), 79.4% (i3), and 95.3% (i4) of patients. Progression to severe endoscopic recurrence occurred in 21.1% (i0), 33.9% (i1), 26.8% (i2a), and 33.3% (i2b) of patients. An index mRS of i2b (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 3.0; 1.5–5.6), i3 (aHR 4.0; 2.0–7.9) and i4 (aHR 8.0; 4.0–16.0) were associated with surgical recurrence. An index mRS of i1 (aHR 1.7; 1.2–2.4), i2a (aHR 1.7; 1.2–2.4), i2b (aHR 4.4; 3.2–6.0), i3 (aHR 3.6; 2.5–5.2), and i4 (aHR 7.3; 4.8–10.9) were associated with clinical recurrence. An index mRS of i1 (aHR 2.0; 1.1–3.7) or i2b (aHR 2.5; 1.4–4.6) was associated with progression to severe endoscopic recurrence.DISCUSSION: The increasing mRS corresponds closely with the risk of surgical and clinical recurrence. An index mRS ‡ i2b is associated with surgical recurrence, an index mRS ‡ i1 is associated with clinical recurrence, and i1 or i2b with progression to severe endoscopic recurrence. These results support tight monitoring of disease activity and treatment optimization in patients with ileal lesions and a more conservative management in patients with anastomotic lesions.</p

Health related quality of life six months following surgical treatment for secondary peritonitis – using the EQ-5D questionnaire

Background: To compare health related quality of life (HR-QoL) in patients surgically treated for secondary peritonitis to that of a healthy population. And to prospectively identify factors associated with poorer (lower) HR-QoL. Design: A prospective cohort of secondary peritonitis patients was mailed the EQ-5D and EQ-VAS 6-months following initial laparotomy. Setting: Multicenter study in two academic and seven regional teaching hospitals. Patients: 130 of the 155 eligible patients (84%) responded to the HR-QoL questionnaires. Results: HR-QoL was significantly worse on all dimensions in peritonitis patients than in a healthy reference population. Peritonitis characteristics at initial presentation were not associated with HR-QoL at six months. A more complicated course of the disease leading to longer hospitalization times and patients with an enterostomy had a negative impact on the mobility (p = 0.02), self-care (p <0.001) and daily activities: (p = 0.01). In a multivariate analysis for the EQ-VAS every doubling of hospital stay decreases the EQ-VAS by 3.8 points (p = 0.015). Morbidity during the six-month follow-up was not found to be predictive for the EQ-5D or EQ-VAS. Conclusion: Six months following initial surgery, patients with secondary peritonitis report more problems in HR-QoL than a healthy reference population. Unfavorable disease characteristics at initial presentation were not predictive for poorer HR-QoL, but a more complicated course of the disease was most predictive of HR-QoL at 6 month

Factors associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms in a prospective cohort of patients after abdominal sepsis: a nomogram

Objective: To determine to what extent patients who have survived abdominal sepsis suffer from symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, and to identify potential risk factors for PTSD symptoms. Design and setting: PTSD and depression symptoms were measured using the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Post-Traumatic Symptom Scale 10 (PTSS-10) and the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). Patients and participants: A total of 135 peritonitis patients were eligible for this study, of whom 107 (80%) patients completed the questionnaire. The median APACHE-II score was 14 (range 12-16), and 89% were admitted to the ICU. Measurements and results: The proportion of patients with "moderate" PTSD symptom scores was 28% (95% CI 20-37), whilst 10% (95% CI 6-17) of patients had "high" PTSD symptom scores. Only 5% (95% CI 2-12) of the patients expressed severe depression symptoms. Factors associated with increased PTSD symptoms in a multivariate ordinal regression model were younger age (0.74 per 10 years older, p = 0.082), length of ICU stay (OR = 1.4 per doubling of duration, p = 0.003) and having some (OR = 4.9, p = 0.06) or many (OR = 55.5, p < 0.001) traumatic memories of the ICU or hospital stay. Conclusion: As many as 38% of patients after abdominal sepsis report elevated levels of PTSD symptoms on at least one of the questionnaires. Our nomogram may assist in identifying patients at increased risk for developing symptoms of PTSD

A decision rule to aid selection of patients with abdominal sepsis requiring a relaparotomy

Accurate and timely identification of patients in need of a relaparotomy is challenging since there are no readily available strongholds. The aim of this study is to develop a prediction model to aid the decision-making process in whom to perform a relaparotomy. Data from a randomized trial comparing surgical strategies for relaparotomy were used. Variables were selected based on previous reports and common clinical sense and screened in a univariable regression analysis to identify those associated with the need for relaparotomy. Variables with the strongest association were considered for the prediction model which was constructed after backward elimination in a multivariable regression analysis. The discriminatory capacity of the model was expressed with the area under the curve (AUC). A cut-off analysis was performed to illustrate the consequences in clinical practice. One hundred and eighty-two patients were included; 46 were considered cases requiring a relaparotomy. A prediction model was build containing 6 variables. This final model had an AUC of 0.80 indicating good discriminatory capacity. However, acceptable sensitivity would require a low threshold for relaparotomy leading to an unacceptable rate of negative relaparotomies (63%). Therefore, the prediction model was incorporated in a decision rule were the interval until re-assessment and the use of Computed Tomography are related to the outcome of the model. To construct a prediction model that will provide a definite answer whether or not to perform a relaparotomy seems a utopia. However, our prediction model can be used to stratify patients on their underlying risk and could guide further monitoring of patients with abdominal sepsis in order to identify patients with suspected ongoing peritonitis in a timely fashio