Indian Intensive Care Unit Research Articles

Understanding the Factors Contributing to a Deadly Klebsiella pneumoniae Outbreak in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in India

Understanding the Factors Contributing to a Deadly Klebsiella pneumoniae Outbreak in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in India

Salt Based or BaLanced SolUtion–Trends Existing in Indian Intensive Care Units: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Cohort Study (SOLUTE Study)

Salt Based or BaLanced SolUtion–Trends Existing in Indian Intensive Care Units: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Cohort Study (SOLUTE Study)

Impact of Shared Decision-Making on Family Satisfaction With Intensive Care Services: 'Share With Care' has a New Meaning in ICU.

Background: Physician's clinical inputs and informed bystander opinions are essential for successful intensive care unit (ICU) patient outcomes. There is insufficient data regarding the impact of shared decision-making on treatment outcomes and family satisfaction in Indian ICU settings. We aimed to determine the effect of shared decision-making factors on family satisfaction with ICU services. Patients and Methods: Family bystanders of 336 ICU patients with a stay >72 hours were conveniently surveyed across 13 months prospectively using Family Satisfaction in the Intensive Care Unit 24 Revised (FS-ICU 24R) questionnaire. We analyzed the responses to determine shared decision-making factors impacting family satisfaction. Results: Univariate analysis of ten variables of FS-ICU 24R questionnaire decision-making subscale revealed that consistency of information (OR 8.71, P < 0.001), honesty of information (OR 7.04, P < 0.001), and frequency of communication with doctors (OR 6.25, P < 0.001) were associated with highest odds of family involvement and satisfaction. Multivariable logistic regression showed that consistency of information (adjusted OR 3.85, P < 0.001) and frequent doctor communication (adjusted OR 2.22, P = 0.02) were independent predictors associated with family satisfaction. The number of decision-makers (P = 0.463) or family's prior ICU experience (P = 0.430) was not associated with family satisfaction. Conclusion: A consistent and honest effort to cater to the family's information needs and frequent physician-bystander interaction is essential for family's satisfaction with ICU services. This even outweighs other decision-making factors such as number of decision-makers and their prior ICU experience. Incorporating shared decision-making in counseling should be a continuing practice.Trial registry name: Clinical Trials Registry - India.Registration number: CTRI/2022/09/045571.

“Antimicrobial utilization in a paediatric intensive care unit in India: A step towards strengthening antimicrobial stewardship practices"

Antimicrobials are frequently used in critically ill children admitted to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The antimicrobial use data from Indian PICUs is limited using standard metrics such as Days of therapy (DOT). This study aimed to determine the baseline trend of antimicrobial use in PICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Raipur district of Chhattisgarh, India using standard metrics with the goal of developing facility-wide antibiotic policy and strengthening the antimicrobial stewardship activities. This active surveillance was conducted over a period of 18 months, from November 1, 2019, to March 21, 2021, in patients aged one month to 14 years who were admitted for ≥ 48 hours to the PICU at a tertiary care teaching hospital of Raipur District. Data on patient characteristics, antimicrobial indications, antimicrobial prescription information, and clinical outcomes were collected using pre-designed data abstraction forms. The descriptive statistic was used to represent the results. The antimicrobial consumption was analyzed according to the WHO AWaRe Class (Access, Watch, and Reserve groups) of antibiotics. The antimicrobial consumption was expressed as DOT/1000 patient-days (PD). A total of 216 patients were surveyed during the study period. The average number of antimicrobials prescribed per hospitalisation was 2.60 (range: 1–12), with 97.22% administered via parenteral route. Overall, DOT/1000-PD was 1318. The consumption of Watch Group antimicrobials was highest with 949 DOT/1000-PD, followed by Access (215) and Reserve Group (154), respectively. Ceftriaxone (208 DOT/1000 PD) was the most commonly prescribed antimicrobial agent, followed by Vancomycin (201), Meropenem (175), Piperacillin-Tazobactam (122) and Colistin (91). The patients who were escalated (28.24%) from empirical antimicrobial therapy had longer median PICU stay (8 days) compared those who were de-escalated (23.6%). Targeted therapy was given in 10.2% patients. The overall mortality rate was 14.35% and was higher (29.3%) in patients in whom empirical therapy was escalated compared to those who were de-escalated or continued. The study established a benchmark for antimicrobials use in the PICU and highlighted priority areas for antimicrobial stewardship intervention to enhance de-escalation rates, enhance targeted therapy, and reduce the overuse of antimicrobials especially belonging to the reserve group.

Candidaemia and Central Line-Associated Candidaemia in a Network of Indian ICUs: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic.

Candidaemia is a potentially life-threatening emergency in the intensive care units (ICUs). Surveillance using common protocols in a large network of hospitals would give meaningful estimates of the burden of candidaemia and central line associated candidaemia in low resource settings. We undertook this study to understand the burden and epidemiology of candidaemia in multiple ICUs of India, leveraging the previously established healthcare-associated infections (HAI) surveillance network. Our aim was also to assess the impact that the pandemic of COVID-19 had on the rates and associated mortality of candidaemia. This study included adult patients from 67 Indian ICUs in the AIIMS-HAI surveillance network that conducted BSI surveillance in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 ICUs during and before the COVID-19 pandemic periods. Hospitals identified healthcare-associated candidaemia and central line associated candidaemia and reported clinical and microbiological data to the network as per established and previously published protocols. A total of 401,601 patient days and 126,051 central line days were reported during the study period. A total of 377 events of candidaemia were recorded. The overall rate of candidaemia in our network was 0.93/1000 patient days. The rate of candidaemia in COVID-19 ICUs (2.52/1000 patient days) was significantly higher than in non-COVID-19 ICUs (1.05/patient days) during the pandemic period. The rate of central line associated candidaemia in COVID-19 ICUs (4.53/1000 central line days) was also significantly higher than in non-COVID-19 ICUs (1.73/1000 central line days) during the pandemic period. Mortality in COVID-19 ICUs associated with candidaemia (61%) was higher than that in non-COVID-19 ICUs (41%). A total of 435 Candida spp. were isolated. C. tropicalis (26.7%) was the most common species. C. auris accounted for 17.5% of all isolates and had a high mortality. Patients in ICUs with COVID-19 infections have a much higher risk of candidaemia, CLAC and its associated mortality. Network level data helps in understanding the true burden of candidaemia and will help in framing infection control policies for the country.

Assessment and management of dysphagia in the neonatal intensive care units in India: A survey report

BackgroundEvidence-based assessment and management of dysphagia in neonates, especially those in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), are limited. Understanding existing clinical practices may be the first step toward developing a consensus. The current study aimed to identify clinical practice patterns of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) in India towards facilitating the development of feeding skills and assessment and management of dysphagia among neonates. MethodAn electronic survey questionnaire comprising 46 questions categorized into two main sections (demographics and a hypothetical case scenario) was emailed to 35 SLPs practicing in the NICU. The hypothetical clinical case was created to include considerations of assessment and management of dysphagia in the NICU, and the participants answered questions about clinical decision-making. ResultsAs many as 22 individuals completed the survey. The responses were analyzed descriptively to identify themes and trends in practice patterns. Our results revealed varied practice patterns in the clinical swallowing assessment and management approaches for neonatal dysphagia. ConclusionThere is a need to develop a consensus statement and standard guidelines for the assessment and intervention for dysphagia by the SLP in the NICU. Translation of current evidence-based research into clinical practice is critical to patient care.

A study to assess the psychosocial needs of patient family members in the intensive care unit in India.

Admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) is considered a mental crisis for patients and their families as they are unprepared for such a stressful and difficult situation. Hence, the objectives of this study are to assess the psychosocial needs of patient family members in the ICU in various dimensions such as assurance, proximity, information, support, and comfort; and to associate their psychosocial needs with their socio-demographic variables and clinical variables of the patient. This was a cross-sectional analytical study conducted between December 2021 and January 2022 among 188 family members of patients admitted to the ICU using a convenience sampling technique in a tertiary hospital in Puducherry, India. The modified Critical Care Family Needs Inventory (CCFNI) questionnaire was administered to all consenting family members to determine their needs. The overall most important need among the five dimensions of modified CCFNI scores identified by the family members is the need for assurance (2.71±0.38). Using analysis of variance, statistical significances were found as follows. Education and comfort (F-statistic and P-value): 2.76 (0.029); relationship with the patient and assurance: 2.61 (0.036); relationship with the patient and support: 2.44 (0.048); level of consciousness and comfort: 4.63 (0.010); ICU visit restriction and assurance: 3.28 (0.022); ICU visit restriction and comfort: 8.08 (<0.001). Since family members are essential members of the treatment teams, nurses should concentrate on reassuring them, assisting them in emerging from crises through appropriate communication, offering support, and attending to their needs.

Rectal screening for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in an intensive care unit in India

Rectal screening for carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in an intensive care unit in India

Acute Gastrointestinal Injury in Critically Ill Patients in a South Indian Intensive Care Unit: A Prospective, Observational, Preliminary Study.

Introduction The acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI) score was proposed by the Working Group on Abdominal Problems of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) as a tool to define and grade gut dysfunction. There have not been any studies in India to validate this tool. The objectiveof this preliminary study was primarily to study the frequency of AGI in the first week of ICU stay in critically ill patients in ourintensive care unit (ICU). We also sought to determine the risk factors predisposing to the development of AGIand to determine the prognostic implication of gastrointestinal (GI) injury in critically ill patients. Materials and methods A prospective, observational, preliminary, single-center study was conducted on critically ill patients (APACHE II > 8) who were on enteral tube feeds and admitted to a mixed ICU of a tertiary care hospital. Anthropometric data, admission diagnosis, APACHE II score, and comorbidities were recorded. Data of daily heart rate, mean arterial pressure, dose of vasopressors, intra-abdominal pressure, fluid balance, feeding intolerance, mechanical ventilation, and laboratory tests were noted for the first seven days of ICUstay or till ICU discharge, whichever was earlier. The occurrence of AGIscore (1-4) during the first seven days of critical illness was the primary outcome of interest. Patient outcome at 28 days was recorded and the impact of the occurrence of AGI on patient outcome was analyzed using the Chi-square test. The patient characteristics associated with AGI were characterized as risk factors and analyzed using a multivariate model. Results Data were collected from 33 patients over 201 patient days. The frequency of acute GI dysfunction in the first seven days of ICU stay in our group of patients was 45.45% (15/33). APACHE II, fluid balance, creatinine, and lactate were identified as possible predictors ofGI injury based on existing literature. These four variables were entered into an ordinal logistic regression model to assess their ability to predict the occurrence ofGI Injury. When fitted into a predictive model, only fluid balance and creatinine were predictive of the final model (p-value < 0.05). A greater fluid balance was predictive in the final model of the development ofGI injury;however,it showed negligible clinical significance (OR: 1.00033, 95% CI: 1.000051-1.00061). Lower creatinine levels were predictive in the final model of the development of AGI Injury,as demonstrated by the negative coefficient. Creatinine also had a greater clinical significance (OR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.44-0.90) in the development ofAGI. The impact of the AGI scores on mortality was analyzed. The number of patient days with higher AGI scores was significantly associated with increased mortality at 28 days (p-value < 0.001). Conclusion The study showed that nearly half of the critically ill patients included in the study developed acute GI dysfunction.We could not identify any predictors ofGI injury based on our results. The result suggested an association between the severity of GI dysfunction and mortality at 28 days.

Aerosol drug therapy in critically ill patients (Aero-in-ICU study): A multicentre prospective observational cohort study.

In recent years, a significant understanding of delivering optimal aerosol therapy and the availability of various drugs and devices have led to an increase in its use in clinical practice. There are only a few studies available regarding their use in critically ill patients from a few parts of the world. We aimed to study the practice pattern of aerosol therapy in critically ill patients from Indian intensive care units (ICUs). After ethical approval, this multi-centric prospective observational study was performed over a study period of four weeks. Newly admitted adult patients considered who had an artificial airway and/or ventilation (including non-invasive). Patients were followed up for the next 14 days or until ICU discharge/death (whichever came first) for details of each aerosol therapy, including ongoing respiratory support, drug type, and aerosol-generating device. From the nine participating centers across India, 218 patients were enrolled. Of 218 enrolled patients, 72.48% received 4884 aerosols with 30.91 ± 27.15 (95%CI: 26.6-35.1) aerosols per patient over 1108 patient days. Approximately 62.7% during IMV, 30.2% during NIV, 2.3% in spontaneously breathing patients with an artificial airway during weaning, and 4.7% were given without an artificial airway after weaning or decannulation. In 59%, a single drug was used, and bronchodilators were the most frequent. The jet nebulizer was the most common, followed by the ultrasonic and vibrating mesh aerosol generator. The ventilator setting was changed in only 6.6% of the aerosol sessions with IMV and none with NIV. Aerosol therapy is frequently used with a wide variation in practices; bronchodilators are the most commonly used drugs, and jet nebulizers are the most widely used.

Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Pregnant Women with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Admitted to Intensive Care Units in India (Preg-CoV): A Multicenter Study.

The aim was to examine the outcomes of pregnant women admitted to intensive care unit with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic in India. The primary outcome of the study was maternal mortality at day 30. The secondary outcomes were the intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay, fetal mortality and preterm delivery. This was a retrospective multicentric cohort study. Ethical clearance was obtained. All pregnant women of the 15-45-year age admitted to ICUs with SARS-CoV-2 infection during 1st March 2020 to 31st October, 2021 were included. Data were collected from nine centers and for 211 obstetric patients admitted to the ICU with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. They were divided in to two groups as per their SpO2 (saturation of peripheral oxygen) level at admission on room air, that is, normal SpO2 group (SpO2 > 90%) and low SpO2 group (SpO2 < 90%). The mean age was (30.06 ± 4.25) years and the gestational age was 36 ± 8 weeks. The maternal mortality rate was10.53%. The rate of fetal death and preterm delivery was 7.17 and 28.22%, respectively. The average ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS) were 6.35 ± 8.56 and 6.78 ± 6.04 days, respectively. The maternal mortality (6.21 vs 43.48%, p < 0.001), preterm delivery (26.55 vs 52.17%, p = 0.011) and fetal death (5.08 vs 26.09%, p = 0.003) were significantly higher in the low SpO2 group. The overall maternal mortality among critically ill pregnant women affected with COVID-19 infection was 10.53%. The rate of preterm birth and fetal death were 28.22 and 7.17%, respectively. These adverse maternal and fetal outcomes were significantly higher in those admitted with low SpO2 (<90%) at admission compared with those with normal SpO2. Sinha S, Paul G, Shah BA, Karmata T, Paliwal N, Dobariya J, et al. Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Pregnant Women with SARS-CoV-2 Infections Admitted to Intensive Care Units in India (Preg-CoV): A Multicenter Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(3):265-272.

Terminal Extubation or Terminal Weaning: Is it Feasible in Indian Intensive Care Units?

Kumar A, Bhat RS, Mani RK. Terminal Extubation or Terminal Weaning: Is it Feasible in Indian Intensive Care Units? Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(2):103-105.

Biochemical profiles and organ dysfunction in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy post-hoc analysis of the THIN trial

BackgroundTherapeutic hypothermia for infants with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is well established as standard of care in high-income countries. Trials from low- and middle-income countries have shown contradictory results, and variations in the level of intensive care provided may partly explain these differences. We wished to evaluate biochemical profiles and clinical markers of organ dysfunction in cooled and non-cooled infants with moderate/severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy.MethodsThis secondary analysis of the THIN (Therapeutic Hypothermia in India) study, a single center randomized controlled trial, included 50 infants with moderate to severe hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy randomized to therapeutic hypothermia (n = 25) or standard care with normothermia (n = 25) between September 2013 and October 2015. Data were collected prospectively and compared by randomization groups. Main outcomes were metabolic acidosis, coagulopathies, renal function, and supportive treatments during the intervention.ResultsCooled infants had lower pH than non-cooled infants at 6–12 h (median (IQR) 7.28 (7.20–7.32) vs 7.36 (7.31–7.40), respectively, p = 0.003) and 12–24 h (median (IQR) 7.30 (7.24–7.35) vs 7.41 (7.37–7.43), respectively, p < 0.001). Thrombocytopenia (< 100 000) was, though not statistically significant, twice as common in cooled compared to non-cooled infants (4/25 (16%) and 2/25 (8%), respectively, p = 0.67).No significant difference was found in the use of vasopressors (14/25 (56%) and 17/25 (68%), p = 0.38), intravenous bicarbonate (5/25 (20%) and 3/25 (12%), p = 0.70) or treatment with fresh frozen plasma (10/25 (40%) and 8/25 (32%), p = 0.56)) in cooled and non-cooled infants, respectively. Urine output < 1 ml/kg/h was less common in cooled infants compared to non-cooled infants at 0–24 h (7/25 (28%) vs. 16/23 (70%) respectively, p = 0.004).ConclusionsThis post hoc analysis of the THIN study support that cooling of infants with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in a level III neonatal intensive care unit in India was safe. Cooled infants had slightly lower pH, but better renal function during the first day compared to non-cooled infants. More research is needed to identify the necessary level of intensive care during cooling to guide further implementation of this neuroprotective treatment in low-resource settings.Trial registrationData from this article was collected during the THIN-study (Therapeutic Hypothermia in India; ref. CTRI/2013/05/003693 Clinical Trials Registry – India).

Prevalence of secondary infections, antimicrobial susceptibility and predictors for mortality among critically ill COVID 19 patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit in India

Background: Critically ill COVID 19 patients requiring intensive care unit admission are at an increased risk of secondary infections owing to the need for invasive or non invasive oxygen therapy, prolonged indwelling catheters and long stay in intensive care unit. Secondary infections can further alter the clinical course and outcomes of these patients Aims: In this study we aimed to investigate the prevalence, characteristics and factors associated with mortality in critically ill COVID 19 patients with secondary infections. Methods: This was a single centre retrospective cohort study of adult critically ill COVID 19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital in India during one year period from May 2020 to April 2021. Results: Among the 285 patients admitted to the intensive care unit 124 patients were identified with secondary infection. Out of the 250 isolates, 72.3% were gram negative bacilli with highest number of isolates recognised from blood (n=112, 44.8%). The most common organisms identified in our cohort were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Candida species and Enterococcus faecalis. Anti-microbial resistance was detected in 58.8% (n=147) of the isolates and majority of the patients received Carbapenem and Polymyxin. Patients with secondary infections were at increased risk of developing septic shock, acute kidney injury and also experienced higher mortality (50%, P-value &lt;0.001). In our study cohort, increasing cumulative dose of steroids [OR 1.002, 95% CI: 1.001-1.004)] and increasing length of intensive care unit stay [OR 1.071, (95% CI: 1.030-1.113)] were found to be predictive of mortality among patients with secondary infection. Conclusion: Secondary infections were high among the critically ill COVID 19 patients with high antimicrobial resistance and lead to high mortality. This being a single centre retrospective study, prospective evaluation with proper anti-microbial stewardship is needed for more precise results.

Diagnostic utility of lung ultrasound in predicting the need for surfactant therapy in preterm neonates with respiratory distress.

Lung ultrasound is an accurate and early predictor for surfactant replacement therapy in respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) as compared to clinical parameters and chest x-ray. However, lung pathologies for respiratory distress at birth have overlapping symptomatology and low middle-income countries have a higher incidence of congenital pneumonia, in addition to RDS, making the immediate diagnosis difficult. Thus, there is a need for assessing a cutoff for lung ultrasound scores in the given setting. The primary objective was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of the lung ultrasound score (LUS) in predicting the need for surfactant therapy in preterm neonates with respiratory distress. Secondary objectives were to correlate LUS with corresponding oxygen saturation to the fraction of inspired oxygen ratio (SpO2/FiO2), arterial/Alveolar oxygen pressure ratio (a/A), and chest x-ray (CXR) findings. A prospective observational study was carried out at a tertiary-level neonatal intensive care unit in India in 2022 enrolling 100 neonates <34 weeks gestational age with respiratory distress at birth. After initial stabilization of the neonate, LUS was performed and baseline parameters were noted. Surfactant was administered as per the 2019 European Consensus guidelines and LUS was repeated after 6 h of therapy. The mean gestation of enrolled neonates was 31.06 ± 2.12 weeks and the mean birthweight was 1,412 ± 391 g. Approximately 58% were diagnosed with RDS and 30% had congenital pneumonia. Surfactant was administered to 40% of neonates. The cutoff LUS for surfactant therapy was 7 [area under the curve (AUC) 0.977; 95% CI, 0.947-1; P < 0.001; with sensitivity 92.5%, specificity 96.67%, PPV 94.87%, and NPV 95.08%] and the cutoff LUS for the second dose of surfactant was 10 (AUC 0.964; 95% CI, 0.913-1; P < 0.001). The score decreased by 3.24 (2.44-4.05) after 6 h of the first dose and correlated significantly with SpO2/FiO2 ratio (-0.750), a/A ratio (-0.650), and CXR findings (0.801). The study predicted an optimal LUS cutoff of 7 and 10 for the need for the first dose of surfactant and re-treatment, respectively, in neonates <34 weeks gestational age with respiratory distress.

A Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravenous Vitamin C in Adults with Sepsis in the Intensive Care Unit: The Lessening Organ Dysfunction with Vitamin C-India (LOVIT-India) Trial.

The burden of sepsis is high in India and is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Vitamin C, an endogenous antioxidant, may improve patient outcomes. This was a parallel-group pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial conducted at 2 intensive care units in India. Adult patients (≥18 years) with proven or suspected infection as the main diagnosis and needing a continuous intravenous vasopressor infusion were randomized to intravenous vitamin C (50 mg/kg every 6 hours for a maximum of 16 doses) or matching placebo. Primary outcomes were related to protocol adherence and feasibility (enrollment per month). The key secondary outcome was the composite of mortality or persistent organ dysfunction (POD) at day 28 after randomization. 60 patients were screened, 51 were eligible, 32 were randomized, and 30 were included in the analysis (randomized/eligible ratio: 0.63). The overall rate of enrollment was 1.5 patients per month. The median (IQR) age was 63.5 (51.0, 70.0) and 70.0% of the patients were male. In both arms, all patients received ≥90% of scheduled doses of the study drug. No patient received open-label vitamin C and there were no deviations from the glucose monitoring protocol. The composite outcome of mortality or POD at day 28 occurred in 56.3% (9/16) in the vitamin C arm as compared to 42.9% (6/14) in the placebo arm [RR: 1.31 (95% CI: 0.62, 2.76), p = 0.47]. In this pilot feasibility randomized controlled trial of vitamin C for adult patients with sepsis, protocol adherence was excellent and feasibility endpoints were met. CTRI/2020/03/024371. Vijayaraghavan BKT, Venkataraman R, Ramanathan Y, Margabandhu S, Jayakumar D, Ramachandran P, et al. A Pilot Feasibility Randomized Controlled Trial of Intravenous Vitamin C in Adults with Sepsis in the Intensive Care Unit: The Lessening Organ Dysfunction with Vitamin C-India (LOVIT-India) Trial. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(12):910-916.

724. Prevalence and Risk Factors for Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacterales Colonization on Admission to Two Intensive Care Units in India

Abstract Background Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infections are endemic in Indian hospitals however, studies examining intestinal colonization of CRE on admission to intensive care units (ICUs) are very limited. This study examines the prevalence and risk factors for CRE colonization on admission to two ICUs in a tertiary-care hospital in India. Methods Peri-rectal swabs were collected from consented patients prospectively enrolled between December 16, 2022 and March 31, 2023 in the medical ICU (MICU) and surgical ICU (SICU). Swabs were plated on selective agar (CHROMagarTMmSuperCARBATM) within 24 hours of collection for CRE isolation. Identification and susceptibility of presumed CRE isolates were confirmed by VITEK2. The modified carbapenem inactivation (mCIM) test and the EDTA carbapenem inactivation method (eCIM) were used to assess carbapenemase production. Information on CRE colonization risk factors (hospitalization and ICU stay in last one year, transfer from outside hospital, long-term hemodialysis) was collected. Results A total of 453 patients were admitted to both ICUs during the study period and 158 patients gave consent. Overall CRE prevalence among 158 patients was 54% (86/158). Peri-rectal swab was obtained within 48 hours of admission for 78 patients (Figure 1), and CRE prevalence in this cohort was 42% [33/78], with significantly higher prevalence noted among patients in the MICU compared to SICU (63% [17/27] vs 31% [16/51], p=0.007). Hospitalization, or ICU admission within the last 1 year, and long-term dialysis were significantly associated with CRE colonization (Table 1). Among 33 patients with CRE colonization on admission, the most common CRE isolated was Klebsiella pneumoniae (59% [20/34 isolates]) followed by Escherichia coli (38% [13/34 isolates]). Among the 34 CRE isolates, 19 were metallo-beta-lactamase producers and 15 were serine carbapenemase producers. Table 1 Conclusion High prevalence of CRE colonization on admission was observed in the two ICUs, with prior hospitalization significantly associated with CRE colonization. Significantly higher proportion of CRE colonization was seen in the MICU as compared to SICU. Future studies should examine the risk factors associated with CRE acquisition during hospitalization to design interventions. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Practice Patterns in the Diagnosis and Management of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in Indian Intensive Care Units.

Gopaldas JA, Padyana M, Rai PP. Practice Patterns in the Diagnosis and Management of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in Indian Intensive Care Units. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(11):816-820.

Financial burden in the form of medical and non-medical out-of-pocket expenses on the family of children admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit in India

BackgroundPediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions can have significant repercussions on families, including financial burdens and psychological distress. Not only do they face the overwhelming concern for their child’s health and well-being, but they are also confronted with a range of practical and financial difficulties. Coping strategies play a vital role in mitigating the negative impact of PICU admissions on families. Various coping mechanisms, such as seeking social support, engaging in problem-solving, and utilizing emotional regulation techniques, can help families navigate the challenges they face. The objectives of the study are to understand the array of financial implications in the form of out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE) and to quantify with a better understanding of the composition of out-of-pocket expenses in the form of medical and non-medical expenses. It also aimed to determine the loss of productive hours in a family and to understand the burden of OOPE in relation to the income of the family.MethodsThis prospective observational study was conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care hospital over a period of 6 months after obtaining permission from the institutional ethics committee. Data pertaining to financial burden was collected with the help of Structured questionnaires which included the following categories travel, meals, accommodation, and incidental expenses were considered as non-medical expenses while all medicine costs and investigations were considered as medical expenses. The quantitative data were presented as the means ± SD as median with 25th and 75th percentiles (interquartile range) and were analyzed using ANOVA (for more than two groups) and independent t test (for two groups).ResultsMore than half of the children (39(55.71%)) were not enrolled under any government scheme. The mean value of total medical and non-medical costs was 2525 ± 4035.28 and 2234.29 ± 846.84 Indian rupees. The mean value of total out-of-pocket expenses incurred per day (Indian rupees) on day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4, and day 5 were 1304 ± 587.2, 1208.86 ± 3773.84, 814.57 ± 565.03, 807.71 ± 522.76, and 699.86 ± 807.02 respectively.ConclusionFamilies of children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit incurred catastrophic health expenditure with the cost of medicine contributing a major share. The lowest income brackets had much higher, more than twice the financial burden compared to the higher income group. Almost all families experienced a high loss of productivity in the form of a number of days lost due to the PICU admission of a child. Enrolment in government schemes helped to reduce OOPEs though better coverage of these schemes is needed.

Xpert Carba-R Assay on Flagged Blood Culture Samples: Clinical Utility in Intensive Care Unit Patients with Bacteremia Caused by Enterobacteriaceae.

Rapid molecular diagnostics to predict carbapenem resistance well before the availability of routine drug sensitivity testing (DST) can serve as an antimicrobial stewardship tool in the context of high rates of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). A retrospective observational study of patients more than 18 years of age on whom Xpert Carba-R (FDA approved for rectal swab specimen) was done on gram-negative bacteria (GNB) flagged blood culture samples, in an Indian intensive care unit between January 2015 and November 2018. We analyzed the performance of Xpert Carba-R in comparison with routine DST. A total of 164 GNBs were isolated from 160 patients. Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli were the predominant isolates. Carba-R was positive in 35.36% of samples and 45.34% were carbapenem-resistant (CR) on routine DST. The distribution of the CR gene was: Oxacillinase (OXA) (50%), NDM (32.7%) followed by OXA and NDM co-expression (15.51%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of Carba-R were 90.74, 93.15, 13.25, 0.10, 83.58 and 96.31% for Enterobacteriaceae. The median time to obtain the Carba-R report was 30 hours 34 minutes vs 74 hours and 20 minutes for routine DST. Based on the Carba-R report, 9.72% of patients had escalation and 27.08% had de-escalation of antibiotics. Xpert Carba-R serves as a rapid diagnostic tool for predicting carbapenem resistance in intensive care unit patients with bacteremia caused by Enterobacteriaceae. Rajendran S, Gopalakrishnan R, Tarigopula A, Kumar DS, Nambi PS, Sethuraman N, et al. Xpert Carba-R Assay on Flagged Blood Culture Samples: Clinical Utility in Intensive Care Unit Patients with Bacteremia Caused by Enterobacteriaceae. Indian J Crit Care Med 2023;27(9):655-662.