A program for sustained improvement in preventing ventilator associated pneumonia in an intensive care setting

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a common infection in the intensive care unit (ICU) and associated with a high mortality. Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted in a medical-surgical ICU. Multiple interventions to optimize VAP prevention were performed from October 2008 to December 2010. All of these processes, including the Institute for Healthcare Improvement’s (IHI) ventilator bundle plus oral decontamination with chlorhexidine and continuous aspiration of subglottic secretions (CASS), were adopted for patients undergoing mechanical ventilation. Results We evaluated a total of 21,984 patient-days, and a total of 6,052 ventilator-days (ventilator utilization rate of 0.27). We found VAP rates of 1.3 and 2.0 per 1,000 ventilator days respectively in 2009 and 2010, achieving zero incidence of VAP several times during 12 months, whenever VAP bundle compliance was over 90%. Conclusion These results suggest that it is possible to reduce VAP rates to near zero and sustain these rates, but it requires a complex process involving multiple performance measures and interventions that must be permanently monitored

Prospective cohort studies to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of the 2013, 2014, and 2015 seasonal influenza vaccines produced by Instituto Butantan

Annual vaccination is the most effective way to prevent seasonal influenza illness. Instituto Butantan (IB) performed clinical studies with its 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasonal trivalent influenza vaccines (inactivated split-virion). Prospective cohort studies were carried out to describe the safety and immunogenicity of Instituto Butantan influenza vaccines, in healthy adults and elderly, from 2013 to 2015. Immediately after the informed consent was signed, participants underwent blood collection followed by vaccination. On study days 1, 2 and 3 post-vaccination participants were contacted by the staff to evaluate the occurrence of solicited (local and systemic) and non-solicited adverse reactions. On study day 21 (+7) subjects returned to the clinical site for final safety assessments and blood collection to evaluate post-vaccination immunogenicity. The immunogenicity analyses were performed by means of hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. The immunogenicity endpoints were: seroprotection (SPR) and seroconversion (SCR) rates and the geometric mean HI antibody titer ratio (GMTR). The 2013 study was conducted at the Centro de Referência para Imunobiológicos Especiais (CRIE) and at the Centro de Pesquisa Clínica do Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo while the 2014 and 2015 studies were conducted at CRIE. The vaccine composition followed the WHO recommendation for the Southern hemisphere seasonal influenza vaccine. Fortyseven healthy adults and 13 elderly participated in the 2013 study, 60 healthy adults and 60 elderly in the 2014 study, and 62 healthy adults and 57 elderly in the 2015 study. In the 2013, 2014 and 2015 studies, pain was the most frequent local adverse reaction and headache the most frequent systemic adverse reaction. All observed adverse reactions were classified as mild or moderate and none as severe. SPR >70% and SPR >60% were observed in adults and elderly, respectively, for the three vaccine viruses, in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 studies. SCR >40% was observed in adults, for the three vaccine viruses, only in the 2014 study and SCR >30% was observed in the elderly, for the three vaccine viruses, only in the 2013 and 2014 studies. GMTR >2.5 among adults, for the three vaccine viruses was only observed in the 2013 study and GMTR >2.0 was observed among elderly, for the three vaccine viruses, in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 studies. The 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasonal influenza vaccines produced by Instituto Butantan were safe and immunogenic according to the immunogenicity criteria defined by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

High success and low mortality rates with non-invasive ventilation in influenza A H1N1 patients in a tertiary hospital

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2009, an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by influenza A H1N1 virus occurred worldwide. Some patients required Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission. The use of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in these patients is controversial, as the aerosol dispersion may contaminate the environment and health-care co-workers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Describe the respiratory profile, the mortality rate, and the benefit of using NIV in patients with confirmed diagnosis of influenza AH1N1 who were admitted in the ICU during the year 2009.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 1, 401 cases of influenza A H1N1 were confirmed in our hospital by real-time RT-PCR in 2009, and 20 patients were admitted to the ICU. The patients' ages ranged from 18 to 74 years (median of 42). Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) was present in 70% of patients. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score was 7 (range 7 to 25). Of the 14 patients who developed ARF, 85.7% needed NIV and 14% needed invasive MV at admission. Our success rate (41.6%) with NIV was higher than that described by others. The hospital mortality rate was 2.1%. When influenza A H1N1 arrived in Brazil, the disease was already on endemic alert in other countries. The population was already aware of the symptoms and the health-care system of the treatment. This allowed patients to be properly and promptly treated for influenza A H1N1, while health-care workers took protective measures to avoid contamination.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In our study we found a high success and low mortality rates with non-invasive ventilation in patients with influenza A H1N1.</p

Image and regional lung mechanics in two protective ventilatory strategies (ARDSNet versus PEEP adjusted by electrical impedance tomography): a long term experimental model study

Introdução: As estratégias ventilatórias protetoras têm contribuído para a redução da letalidade da Síndrome do Desconforto Respiratório Agudo (SDRA), mas ainda está em debate qual, entre as diversas existentes, é a mais eficaz. A estratégia ARDSNet, muito utilizada na prática clínica, prioriza a redução do volume corrente para minimizar a hiperdistensão. As estratégias Open Lung Approach (OLA), além de procurarem reduzir a hiperdistensão, buscam minimizar o colapso pulmonar para evitar a atelectasia cíclica. Os métodos para ajuste da PEEP ideal nas estratégias OLA apresentam imperfeições: difícil implementação, não permitem avaliação regional do pulmão ou não podem ser realizados a beira leito. Uma estratégia OLA guiada por Tomografia de Impedância Elétrica (TIE) que permite a avaliação regional pulmonar de modo contínuo e a beira leito pode trazer benefícios. Objetivo: Comparar os efeitos fisiológicos (imagem, mecânica e trocas gasosas) ao longo de 42 h entre duas estratégias ventilatórias protetoras em um modelo suíno de SDRA (estratégia ARDSNET X estratégia guiada por TIE: (PEEPTIE). Comparar a mecânica pulmonar e troca gasosa nas duas estratégias ao final das 42 h de ventilação, em uma mesma condição de ventilação, para avaliar efeitos duradouros das estratégias sobre o parênquima pulmonar. Métodos: Sete porcos foram submetidos a ventilação mecânica por 42 horas em cada uma das duas estratégias. A lesão pulmonary foi induzida com lavagem de solução fisiológica associada a ventilação lesiva. No grupo PEEPTIE, a PEEP foi ajustada pela TIE após manobra de recrutamento, mantendo o pulmão com o mínimo de colapso menor que 5%), enquanto que na estratégia ARDSNet era ajustada através da tabela PEEPxFiO2. O volume corrente foi mantido entre 4-6ml/Kg em ambas estratégias, com a pressão de platô menor que 30 cmH2O. Resultados: Oxigenação e mecânica pulmonary eram semelhantes em ambos os grupos após a lesão pulmonar. Durante as 42h de protocolo, a troca gasosa foi significativamente maior no grupo PEEPTIE quando comparado ao grupo ARDSNet tanto no início (p< 0.01) quanto ao final do protocolo(p< 0.01). A PEEP inicial não foi diferente nas duas estratégias (p= 0.14), mas foi significantemente maior no grupo PEEPTIE (p< 0.01) em grande parte do período de 42 h e também ao final. Não houve diferença na pressão de platô entre os grupos (p=0.05). O delta de pressão foi significativamente maior no grupo ARDSNet no começo (p= 0.03) e ao final do protocolo (p= 0.00). Atelectasia cíclica (p < 0.01) e a porcentagem de tecido não-aerado (p= 0.029) foram significativamente maiores no grupo ARDSNet. Ao final do protocolo, nos mesmos ajuste de ventilação, a complacência pulmonar global (p=0.021) e regional (p= 0.002) foram significativamente maiores no grupo PEEPTIE, bem como a troca gasosa (p= 0.048). Conclusões: a estratégia PEEPTIE, quando comparada a estratégia ARDSNet determinou melhor oxigenação, menor grau de colapso e de atelectasia cíclica, além de melhor mecânica pulmonar, tanto global, quanto regional. Esta melhora foi mantida ao final das 42 horas, quando os dois grupos eram ventilados com os mesmos ajustes, sugerindo que a estratégia PEEPTIE determinou menor dano pulmonarIntroduction: Protective ventilatory strategies have contributed for the reduction in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) mortality, but so far there is still debate which strategy is more effective. The ARDSNet strategy, used widely in the clinical practice, emphasizes in tidal volume reduction to minimize hiperdistension. The Open Lung Approach (OLA), besides the reduction of hiperdistension, emphasizes reduction of lung collapse to avoid tidal recruitment. The methods to adjust ideal PEEP in the OLA strategies have some imperfections: difficult implementation, do not allow regional lung evaluation or cant be performed at the bedside. The OLA strategy guided by Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) which allows a continuous and regional lung evaluation can bring benefits. Objective: Compare physiological effects (image, mechanics and gas exchange) during a period of 42 hours between two protective ventilatory strategies in an ARDS suine model (ARDSNet strategy x strategy guided by EIT PEEPTIE). Compare lung mechanics and gas exchange in both strategies at the end of 42 hours of ventilation, in the same ventilation condition, to evaluate the strategies longtime effects on lung parenchyma. Methods: Seven suines were submitted to mechanical ventilation for 42 hours in each ventilator strategy. Lung injury was induced by saline lavage associated to injurious mechanical ventilation. In the PEEPTIE arm, PEEP was selected by the electrical impedance tomography after a recruitment maneuver, trying to keep lung collapse at minimum, while the ARDSnet group followed a PEEPxFiO2 table. Tidal volume of 4-6ml/kg was maintained in both strategies, with a plateau pressure not higher than 30 cmH2O. Results: Oxygenation and lung mechanics were equally impaired in both arms after injury. During the 42 hours of protocol, gas exchange was significantly higher in the PEEPTIE arm as compared to the ARDSNet arm in the beginning (p< 0.01) and at the end of the protocol (p< 0.01). PEEP at the beginning of the protocol was similar between groups (p= 0.14), but at most part of the protocol and at the end, PEEP was significantly higher in the PEEPTIE arm (p< 0.01).There were no difference in plateau pressure (p=0.06). Driving pressure was significantly higher in the ARDSNet arm at the beginning (p= 0.03) and at the end (p= 0.00). Tidal recruitment was significantly higher in the ARDSNet arm (p < 0.01), and a higher percentage of non-aerated lung tissue (p= 0.029). At the end of the protocol, global lung compliance was significantly higher in the PEEPTIE arm (p=0.021), as for regional lung compliance (p= 0.002) and gas exchange (p= 0.048). Conclusion: The PEEPTIE strategy when compared to the ARDSNet strategy determined better gas exchange, lower percentage of collapse and tidal recruitment, besides better lung mechanics (global and regional). This improvement was maintained at the end of the 42 hours, when both groups were ventilated with the same parameters, suggesting that the PEEPTIE strategy determined less lung injur

Efeitos do uso de cateter nasal de alto fluxo na intubação e na reintubação de pacientes críticos: revisão sistemática, metanálise e análise de sequência de ensaios

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia do cateter nasal de alto fluxo na prevenção de intubação e reintubação de pacientes críticos em comparação com oxigenoterapia convencional ou ventilação não invasiva. Métodos: Esta revisão sistemática foi realizada por meio de busca eletrônica em bancos de dados incluindo trabalhos publicados entre 1966 e abril de 2018. O desfecho primário foi a necessidade de intubação ou reintubação. Os desfechos secundários foram escalonamento de terapia, mortalidade no seguimento mais longo, mortalidade hospitalar e necessidade de ventilação não invasiva. Resultados: Dezessete estudos com 3.978 pacientes foram incluídos. Não houve redução na necessidade de intubação ou reintubação (OR 0,72; IC95% 0,52 - 1,01; p = 0,056). Não houve diferença no escalonamento de terapia (OR 0,80; IC95% 0,59 - 1,08; p = 0,144), na mortalidade no seguimento mais longo (OR 0,94; IC95% 0,70 - 1,25; p = 0,667), na mortalidade hospitalar (OR 0,84; IC95% 0,56 - 1,26; p = 0,391) ou na necessidade de ventilação não invasiva (OR 0,64; IC95% 0,39 - 1,05, p = 0,075). Na análise sequencial de ensaios, o número de eventos incluídos foi menor que o tamanho ótimo de informação, com erro tipo I global > 0,05. Conclusão: No presente estudo e no cenário avaliado, o cateter nasal de alto fluxo não foi associado com redução na necessidade de intubação ou reintubação em pacientes críticos