Clinical and Financial Impact of Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing in Blood Cultures

The rapid identification of pathogens that cause bloodstream infections plays a vital role in the modern clinical microbiology laboratory. Despite demonstrating a significant reduction in turnaround time and a significant effect on clinical decisions, most methods do not provide complete antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) information. We employed rapid identification (ID) and AST using the Accelerate PhenoTest on positive blood cultures containing Gram-negative bacilli. The length of stay (LOS) significantly decreased from an average of 12.1 days prior to implementation to 6.6 days post-implementation (p = 0.02), representing potential total savings of USD 666,208.00. All-cause mortality did not differ significantly, 27 (19%) versus 18 (12%), p = 0.11. We also observed an associated decrease in the use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials, including meropenem and quinolones. The implementation of a rapid ID and AST method, along with a well-established antimicrobial stewardship program, has the potential to decrease LOS, broad-spectrum antibiotic use, and costs to the healthcare system, with no observable impact on mortality

Ticagrelor and Acetylsalicylic Acid after Placement of Pipeline Embolization Device for Cerebral Aneurysm: A Case Series

ABSTRACTBackground: Dual antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and a P2Y12-receptor antagonist is often used to prevent thrombotic complications after placement of a Pipeline embolization device (PED) for cerebral aneurysm. Although clopidogrel is common in this setting, high rates of nonresponse to this drug have made ticagrelor a potentially attractive alternative. Objective: To describe safety and efficacy outcomes for ticagrelor following PED placement, including measurement of platelet function.Methods: A retrospective analysis of data was completed for patients who underwent PED placement for cerebral aneurysm at a single centre between November 2015 and March 2017, with subsequent prescription of ticagrelor and ASA as dual antiplatelet therapy. The primary end point was any ischemic stroke or death within 1 year after the procedure. Intracranial hemorrhage was a secondary end point. Additionally, measurement of and values for platelet reactivity units (PRUs) during receipt of ticagrelor and ASA were evaluated.Results: A total of 29 patients were included in this retrospective study. One patient experienced ischemic stroke 226 days after placement of the PED. In addition, 3 patients died during the 1-year follow-up period for causes unrelated to stroke or bleeding complications. No cases of intra -cranial hemorrhage were observed. Samples for measurement of P2Y12 levels were drawn at the discretion of the neurointerventionalists, and the PRU value was measured at least once for 28 (97%) of the 29 patients. The mean number of PRU measurements per patient after initiation of ticagrelor was 2.1 (standard deviation [SD] 1). Mean PRU value after initiation of ticagrelor was 65 (SD 57). Conclusions: In this case series describing the use of ticagrelor and ASA as dual antiplatelet therapy after PED placement for cerebral aneurysm, there was just one ischemic stroke, which occurred after the dual antiplatelet therapy had been discontinued. Further prospective trials are needed to describe the utility of ticagrelor use after PED placement, as well as its dosing and monitoring.RÉSUMÉContexte : Une bithérapie antiplaquettaire composée d’acide acétylsali-cylique (AAS) et d’un inhibiteur du récepteur P2Y12 est fréquemment utilisée pour prévenir les complications thrombotiques après la mise en place d’un dispositif d’embolisation Pipeline pour traiter un anévrisme cérébral. Quoique le clopidogrel soit souvent utilisé dans ce contexte, des taux élevés d’absence de réponse à ce médicament ont fait du ticagrélor une solution de rechange potentiellement intéressante. Objectif : Décrire les résultats relatifs à la sécurité et à l’efficacité du ticagrélor après la mise en place d’un dispositif d’embolisation, y compris l’analyse de la fonction plaquettaire.Méthodes : Une analyse rétrospective de données a été réalisée dans un seul centre entre novembre 2015 et mars 2017 à l’aide des dossiers médicaux de patients chez qui a été posé un dispositif d’embolisation Pipeline comme traitement pour un anévrisme cérébral et à qui a ensuite été prescrite une bithérapie antiplaquettaire de ticagrélor et d’AAS. Le critère d’évaluation principal était les cas d’infarctus cérébral ou de décès durant l’année suivant l’opération. Les cas d’hémorragie intracrânienne ont servi de critère d’évaluation secondaire. De plus, l’analyse a porté sur l’évaluation de la réactivité plaquettaire et sa quantification en unités de réaction au P2Y12 pendant la prise de ticagrélor et d’AAS.Résultats : Au total, 29 patients ont été admis à la présente étude rétrospective. Un patient a subi un infarctus cérébral 226 jours après la mise en place d’un dispositif d’embolisation Pipeline. De plus, 3 patients sont décédés au cours de la période de suivi d’un an en raison de causes sans lien avec des complications liées à un accident vasculaire cérébral ou à une hémorragie. Aucun cas d’hémorragie intracrânienne n’a été observé. Les échantillons destinés à la mesure des unités de réaction au P2Y12 ont été prélevés selon le jugement des neuro-intervenants et l’évaluation de la réactivité plaquettaire a été réalisée au moins une fois chez 28 (97 %) des 29 patients. Le nombre moyen de mesures des unités de réaction au P2Y12 par patient était de 2,1 (écart-type de 1). Après l’amorce d’un traitement par ticagrélor, le résultat moyen en unités de réaction au P2Y12 était de 65 (écart-type de 57).Conclusions : Dans la présente série de cas décrivant l’utilisation d’une bithérapie antiplaquettaire composée de ticagrélor et d’AAS après la mise en place d’un dispositif d’embolisation Pipeline comme traitement pour un anévrisme cérébral, seul un cas d’infarctus cérébral a été observé et il s’est produit après l’arrêt de la bithérapie antiplaquettaire. De plus amples études prospectives sont nécessaires pour décrire l’utilité et la posologie du ticagrélor ainsi que le suivi du traitement après la mise en place d’un dis-positif d’embolisation Pipeline

Ketamine Infusion Therapy as an Alternative Pain Control Strategy in Patients with Multi-Trauma including Rib Fracture; Case Report and Literature Review

Ketamine is a promising alternative agent for pain control that offers benefit to traditional strategies, particularly in the setting of rib fracture. Current pharmacologic therapies have clear adverse effects, and other options may be invasive, cost prohibitive, or marginally effective. We describe three consecutive patients with traumatic injuries including rib fracture for which a ketamine infusion was utilized as part of their pain control strategy. For each patient, use of a ketamine infusion trended toward reduced opioid requirements with stable pain scores. One patient experienced a dissociative adverse effect prompting decrease and discontinuation of ketamine. No pulmonary complications in the form of emergent intubation or new diagnosis of pneumonia were observed. We believe the addition of ketamine infusion to be a valid alternative strategy for managing pain associated with rib fracture

Derivation of urine output thresholds that identify a very high risk of AKI in patients with septic shock.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To promote early detection of AKI, recently proposed pretest probability models combine sub–Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI criteria with baseline AKI risk. The primary objective of this study was to determine sub-KDIGO thresholds that identify patients with septic shock at highest risk for AKI. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: This was a retrospective analysis of 390 adult patients admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary, academic medical center with septic shock between January 2008 and December 2010. Hourly urine output was collected from the time of septic shock recognition (hour 0) to hour 96, urine catheter removal, or ICU discharge (whichever occurred first). All available serum creatinine (SCr) measurements were collected until hour 96. The AKI pretest probability model was assessed during the first 12 hours of resuscitation and included the initial episode of oliguria, increase from baseline to peak SCr level, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score in a multivariable receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. The primary outcome was the incidence of stage II or III (stage II+) AKI defined by KDIGO criteria. Secondary outcomes included the need for RRT and 28-day mortality. RESULTS: Ninety-eight (25%) patients developed stage II+ AKI after septic shock recognition. APACHE III score and increase in SCr level in the first 12 hours were not statistically associated with stage II+ AKI in multivariable ROC analysis. Consecutive oliguria for 3 hours had fair predictive ability for achieving stage II+ AKI criteria (area under ROC curve, 0.73; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.68 to 0.78), and oliguria for 5 hours demonstrated optimal accuracy (82%; 95% CI, 79% to 86%). CONCLUSIONS: Three to 5 hours of consecutive oliguria in patients with septic shock may provide a valuable measure of AKI risk. Further validation to support this finding is needed