Risk Factors For Septic Shock Research Articles

Neuroimmune modulation by tryptophan derivatives in neurological and inflammatory disorders

The nervous and immune systems are highly developed, and each performs specialized physiological functions. However, they work together, and their dysfunction is associated with various diseases. Specialized molecules, such as neurotransmitters, cytokines, and more general metabolites, are essential for the appropriate regulation of both systems. Tryptophan, an essential amino acid, is converted into functional molecules such as serotonin and kynurenine, both of which play important roles in the nervous and immune systems. The role of kynurenine metabolites in neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases has recently received particular attention. Recently, we found that hyperactivity of the kynurenine pathway is a critical risk factor for septic shock. In this review, we first outline neuroimmune interactions and tryptophan derivatives and then summarized the changes in tryptophan metabolism in neurological disorders. Finally, we discuss the potential of tryptophan derivatives as therapeutic targets for neuroimmune disorders.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors for septic shock in patients with pyometra: A retrospective multicenter cohort study

BackgroundPyometra is a disease characterized by the collection of pus in the uterus. The clinical characteristics and etiology of pyometra have not been sufficiently described. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, outcomes, and risk factors of septic shock in patients with pyometra. MethodsPatients with pyometra admitted to one of four university-affiliated hospitals between January 2010 to August 2022 were enrolled. Pyometra cases associated with peripartum infection and surgical site infection were excluded. Clinical characteristics and outcomes of pyometra were described, and pyometra patients with or without septic shock were compared. ResultsA total of 192 patients was included. Twenty-eight-day all-cause mortality was 5.0%, and the 1-year recurrence rate was 6.3%. Median patient age was 77.5 years. The two most common symptoms were abdominal pain (49.0%) and vaginal discharge (47.9%). Escherichia coli (40.1%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.7%), and Streptococcus spp.(16.0%) were the pathogens most frequently isolated by conventional culture; those isolated from polymerase chain reaction were Mycoplasma hominis (48.0%), and Ureaplasma spp. (32.0%). In multivariable analysis, fever, uterine perforation, and dementia were associated with increased incidence of septic shock, while vaginal discharge was associated with a lower incidence of septic shock. ConclusionsOur findings suggest that pyometra is a unique gynecological infectious syndrome in post-menopausal individuals. The most common associated pathogens are similar to those involved in urinary tract infections rather than those of sexually transmitted diseases. Decreased cognitive function could delay early diagnosis of pyometra and lead to septic shock and higher mortality.

Presepsin as a predictor of septic shock and mortality in patients with urinary tract infection according to the Sepsis-3 definitions

The objective of this study was to investigate whether presepsin can serve as a useful biomarker for predicting septic shock and mortality rates in patients with urinary tract infections (UTI) as defined by the Third International Consensus Definitions for Sepsis and Septic Shock (Sepsis-3). This single-center and prospective observational study was carried out between December 2019 and December 2022 and included 171 UTI patients divided into two groups: a non-septic shock group (n = 121) and a septic shock group (n = 50). The primary outcome of this study was the development of septic shock; the secondary outcome was 30-day hospital mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and multivariate regression analyses were performed to investigate the predictive value of presepsin levels for septic shock and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the risk factors for 30-day hospital mortality in UTI patients. Septic shock patients had significantly higher serum levels of presepsin when compared to the non-septic shock group (p < 0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, presepsin demonstrated its independent role as a risk factor for septic shock (odds ratio (OR): 1.002; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.001–1.002; p < 0.001). The multivariate Cox proportional hazards model indicated that presepsin represents a significant predictor of 30-day hospital mortality in septic shock patients (hazard ratio (HR): 1.0005; 95% CI: 1.0001–1.001; p < 0.05). The ROC curve for diagnosing septic shock had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.739 with a cutoff value of 447 pg/mL for presepsin. For the prediction of 30-day hospital mortality in patients with UTI, an optimal presepsin cutoff of 709 pg/mL was determined; ROC curve analysis yielded an AUC of 0.744. When applying the Sepsis-3 criteria, presepsin levels represented a significant independent risk factor for septic shock and 30-day hospital mortality in UTI patients.

208. Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors for Septic Shock in Patients with Pyometra: A Retrospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Abstract Background Pyometra is a disease of pus collection in the uterine cavity. The clinical characteristics and etiology of pyometra have not been well-described. In this study, we investigated the clinical characteristics, epidemiology, outcomes, and risk factors of septic shock in patients with pyometra. Methods The study population was selected from adult patients (≥ 18 years old) diagnosed with the International Classification of Diseases 10th code for inflammatory disease of the uterus (N71) in four academic hospitals between 2010 and 2021. Only patients with definitive pus collection in the uterus confirmed by imaging tests were included. Intra-or post-partum infection and surgical site infection were excluded. The primary endpoint was all-cause 28-day mortality, and the secondary endpoint was a 1-year recurrence. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were compared among patients with or without septic shock. Results Among 406 patients diagnosed with the N71 code, 193 patients were classified as pyometra. 28-day all-cause mortality was 5.0%, and the 1-year recurrence rate was 6.1%. The median patient age was 74.5 years. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (48.7%) and vaginal discharge (48.2%). The most common pathogens isolated from culture were Escherichia coli (39.9%), Streptococcus spp.(16.6%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae(16.0%) and isolated from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were Mycoplasma spp., and Ureaplasma spp. Patients with septic shock were older and have a shorter interval between symptom onset (or discovery) and diagnosis. These patients had larger pyometra diameters, more frequent uterine perforation, more dementia, and were more frequently referred from long-term care facilities. The 28-survival rate was lower in patients with septic shock (72.8%) than without septic shock (98.7%, P < 0.001) Conclusion Our study suggested pyometra is a unique gynecological infectious syndrome in post-menopausal women. The most common pathogen was similar to pathogens causing urinary tract infections. Risk factors with septic shock suggested that decreased cognitive functions could delay early diagnosis of pyometra, and lead to more septic shock and higher mortality. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Perforation with a Poor Prognosis.

Despite medical progress, mortality from gastrointestinal perforation was relatively high. Our study's objective was to identify risk factors associated with a poor prognosis for gastrointestinal perforation. Patients diagnosed with gastrointestinal perforation at the Longchuan County People's Hospital between January 2019 and February 2022 were the subject of a retrospective analysis of their laboratory data. Patients were grouped based on length of hospital stay, septic shock, and mortality. A total of 240 patients participated in our study. Using univariate and multivariate analysis, we identified several risk factors for gastrointestinal perforation associated with a dismal prognosis. Lower digestive tract perforation (OR=2.418, 95% CI 1.119-5.227, P=0.025), low total protein (OR=0.934, 95% CI 0.879-0.992, P=0.026) and low hemoglobin (OR=0.985, 95% CI 0.971-0.999, P=0.039) were linked to a longer length of stay, especially hemoglobin (OR=0.978, 95% CI 0.966-0.991, P=0.001) in upper digestive tract. High ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes (NLR) (OR=1.043, 95% CI 1.012-1.076, P=0.007), high lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) (OR=2.158, 95% CI 1.495-3.115, P<0.001) and low prognostic nutrition index (PNI) (OR=0.814, 95% CI 0.751-0.833, P<0.001) predicted septic shock. In upper digestive tract, PLR (OR=1.001, 95% CI 1.000-1.002, P=0.067), LMR (OR=2.160, 95% CI 1.440-3.240, P<0.001) and PNI (OR=0.843, 95% CI 0.767-0.926, P<0.001) were risk factors for septic shock, and total protein (OR=0.796, 95% CI 0.686-0.923, P=0.003) was a risk factor for septic shock in lower digestive tract. High NLR (OR=1.056, 95% CI 1.019-1.093, P=0.003), high LMR (OR=1.760, 95% CI 1.177-2.632, P=0.006) and low PNI (OR=0.832, 95% CI 0.754-0.918, P<0.001) were the risk factors of mortality. In subgroup analysis of perforation site, albumin (OR=0.820, 95% CI 0.719-0.934, P=0.003) and LMR (OR=1.506, 95% CI 1.069-2.123, P=0.019) were risk factors for mortality in upper digestive tract and PNI (OR=0.636, 95% CI 0.445-0.908, P=0.013) was a risk factor for mortality in lower digestive tract. Our research found that the perforation site, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, NLR, LMR, PLR and PNI were risk factors for gastrointestinal perforation with a poor prognosis.

Prognostic models for estimating severity of disease and predicting 30-day mortality of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae infections: a bicentric retrospective study.

Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKP) is emerging globally and can cause various, severe infections in healthy individuals. However, the clinical manifestations of hvKP infections are nonspecific, and there is no gold standard for differentiating hvKP strains. Our objective was to develop prognostic models for estimating severity of disease and predicting 30-day all-cause mortality in patients with hvKP infections. We enrolled 116 patients diagnosed with hvKP infections and obtained their demographic and clinical data. Taking septic shock and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) as the primary outcomes for disease severity and 30-day all-cause mortality as the primary outcome for clinical prognosis, we explored the influencing factors and constructed prognostic models. The results showed that increased Acute Physiologic and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score [odds ratio (OR) = 1.146; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.059-1.240], decreased albumin (ALB) level (OR = 0.867; 95% CI, 0.758-0.990), diabetes (OR = 9.591; 95% CI, 1.766-52.075) and high procalcitonin (PCT) level (OR = 1.051; 95%CI, 1.005-1.099) were independent risk factors for septic shock. And increased APACHE II score (OR = 1.254; 95% CI, 1.110-1.147), community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (OR = 11.880; 95% CI, 2.524-55.923), and extrahepatic lesion involved (OR = 14.718; 95% CI, 1.005-215.502) were independent risk factors for ARDS. Prognostic models were constructed for disease severity with these independent risk factors, and the models were significantly correlated with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) duration, vasopressor duration, mechanical ventilator duration and length of ICU stay. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate in our study was 28.4%. Younger age [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.947; 95% CI, 0.923-0.973)], increased APACHE II score (HR = 1.157; 95% CI, 1.110-1.207), and decreased ALB level (HR = 0.924; 95% CI, 0.869-0.983) were the independent risk factors for 30-day all-cause mortality. A prediction model for 30-day mortality was constructed, which had a good validation effect. We developed validated models containing routine clinical parameters for estimating disease severity and predicting 30-day mortality in patients with hvKP infections and confirmed their calibration. The models may assist clinicians in assessing disease severity and estimating the 30-day mortality early.

The New Changes of Epidemiology, Etiology, and Clinical Characteristics of Pyogenic Liver Abscesses: A Retrospective Study in a Hospital in Northern China.

To investigate the epidemiology, etiology, and clinical characteristics of patients with pyogenic liver abscesses (PLA) and provide guidance for clinical treatments. A retrospective study was performed on a cohort of 402 hospitalized patients diagnosed with PLAs at the Affiliated Hospital of Chengde Medical College between January 2016 and December 2021. Patient demographics, drug sensitivity profiles, and microbiological culture results of drainage and blood samples were thoroughly analyzed to identify significant patterns or trends. Furthermore, clinical characteristics and treatments for patients with PLA were comprehensively assessed. Patients aged 50-69 years had the highest incidence of PLA, accounting for 59.9% of all cases, and 91.5% of them had a fever. Bacterial culture analysis of the 200 patients revealed that Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) was the most predominant pathogen, detected in 70.5% of cases, exhibiting an upward trend. Escherichia coli (E. coli) was the second most frequently detected pathogen, identified in 14.5% of cases, showing a downward trend. Coexisting diabetes mellitus (DM) was found to be the most common comorbidity for PLA, occurring in most patients with the condition. Patients with a history of abdominal surgery and malignancy had an increased risk for PLA, while those with gallstones had a decreased risk. Drainage combined with antibiotic therapy was identified as the primary treatment of PLA. In addition, multivariate analysis demonstrated that coexisting DM and the presence of gas in the abscess cavity were independent risk factors for septic shock in patients with PLA. This study reveals a shift in the proportions of pathogens and risk factors in patients with PLA, underscoring the necessity for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Postoperative sepsis and septic shock after hip fracture surgery

IntroductionThere is a paucity of research in the rates for sepsis and septic shock in the hip fracture population specifically, despite marked clinical and prognostic differences between these conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, risk factors, and mortality rates for sepsis and septic shock as well as evaluate potential infectious causes in the surgical hip fracture population. MethodsThe ACS-NSQIP (2015–2019) was queried for patients who underwent hip fracture surgery. A backward elimination multivariate regression model was used to identify risk factors for sepsis and septic shock. Multivariate regression that controlled for preoperative variables and comorbidities was used to calculate the odds of 30-day mortality. ResultsOf 86,438 patients included, 871 (1.0%) developed sepsis and 490 (0.6%) developed septic shock. Risk factors for both postoperative sepsis and septic shock were male gender, DM, COPD, dependent functional status, ASA class ≥3, anemia, and hypoalbuminemia. Unique risk factors for septic shock were CHF and ventilator dependence. The 30-day mortality rate was 4.8% in aseptic patients, 16.2% in patients with sepsis, and 40.8% in patients who developed septic shock (p < 0.001). Patients with sepsis (OR 2.87 [95% CI 2.37–3.48], p < 0.001) and septic shock (OR 11.27 [95% CI 9.26–13.72], p < 0.001) had increased odds of 30-day mortality compared to patients without postoperative septicemia. Infections that preceded a diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock included urinary tract infections (24.7%, 16.5%), pneumonia (17.6%, 30.8%), and surgical site infections (8.5%, 4.1%). ConclusionsThe incidence of sepsis and septic shock after hip fracture surgery was 1.0% and 0.6%, respectively. The 30-day mortality rate was 16.2% in patients with sepsis and 40.8% in patients with septic shock. Potentially modifiable risk factors for both sepsis and septic shock were anemia and hypoalbuminemia. Urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and surgical site infections preceded the majority of cases of sepsis and septic shock. Prevention, early identification, and successful treatment of sepsis and septic shock are paramount to lowering mortality after hip fracture surgery.

Is early time to positivity of blood culture associated with clinical prognosis in patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection?

The association between time to positivity (TTP) of blood culture and the clinical prognosis of patients with Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infection (BSI) remains unclear. A retrospective study of 148 inpatients with BSI caused by K. pneumoniae was performed at Shanghai Tongji Hospital, China, from October 2016-2020. The total in-hospital fatality rate was 32%. The median TTP was 11.0 (7.7-16.1) h and the optimal cutoff for prediction of in-hospital mortality was 9.4 h according to the ROC curve. Early TTP (<9.4 h) was a risk factor for in-hospital mortality by univariate analysis (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.0, P = 0.01), but not by multivariate analysis (OR = 2.7, 95% CI 1.0-7.4, P = 0.06). Old age, serum creatinine, white blood cells, and C-reactive protein values were risk factors for in-hospital mortality by multivariate analysis. Early TTP was not a risk factor for septic shock (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 0.6-5.1, P = 0.27) or ICU admission (OR = 1.0, 95% CI 1.0-1.0, P = 0.32). In conclusion, the in-hospital fatality rate of patients with K. pneumoniae BSI was relatively high and associated with an early TTP of blood cultures. However, no increased risk of mortality, septic shock or ICU admission was evident in early TTP patients.

Clinical usefulness of biomarkers for diagnosis and prediction of prognosis in sepsis and septic shock.

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition and remains a major cause of mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of biomarkers in the diagnosis of sepsis and septic shock in patients admitted to the emergency department (ED). Medical records of patients who underwent measurement of serum biomarkers including lactic acid, C-reactive protein, procalcitonin (PCT), and presepsin in the ED between May 2019 and May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were subdivided into 3 groups; non-sepsis, sepsis, and septic shock according to the new definition using the sequential organ failure assessment score. The mean age was 69.3 years, and 55.8% of the study population was female. Of 249 subjects, 98 patients confined to sepsis group, and 35.7% of them were septic shock. In the multivariable analysis, a high level of PCT was an independent predictor of sepsis (odds ratio [OR], 1.028; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.006-1.051; P = .011) along with a simplified acute physiology score III (SAPS III) (OR, 1.082; 95% CI, 1.062-1.103, P < .001). PCT was also an independent risk factor for septic shock (OR, 1.043; 95% CI, 1.016-1.071, P = .02). In the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the area under the curve of PCT to predict sepsis and septic shock were 0.691 (P < .001) and 0.734 (P < .001), respectively. The overall 30-days mortality rate was 8.8%, and the mortality rate was significantly higher in the sepsis group (sepsis vs non-sepsis, 15.3% vs 4.6%; P = .004). In the multivariate Cox analysis, a higher level of lactic acid (hazard ratio [HR], 1.328; 95% CI, 1.061-1.663, P = .013), predisposing chronic pulmonary diseases (HR, 7.035; 95% CI, 1.687-29.341, P = .007), and a high SAPSIII value (HR, 1.046; 95% CI, 1.015-1.078, P = .003) were independent risk factors for mortality in sepsis patients. PCT was a useful biomarker for predicting sepsis and septic shock in the ED. A higher level of lactic acid, predisposing chronic pulmonary diseases, and a high SAPS III score were associated with a greater mortality risk in patients with sepsis.

Predictive values of the SOFA score and procalcitonin for septic shock after percutaneous nephrolithotomy

To investigate the value of combination of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score and procalcitonin (PCT) for prediction of septic shock after percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). A total of 1328 patients receiving PCNL for renal calculi were allocated into control group (without septic shock) and septic shock group, and related data were retrospectively collected. Univariate analysis was firstly performed, and the variables with two sided P < 0.10 were then included in logistic regression analysis to determine independent risk factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to evaluate the predictive values. Area under curve (AUC) was compared using Z test. Postoperative septic shock was developed in 61 patients (4.6%) and not developed in 1267 patients (95.3%). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that SOFA score (OR: 1.316, 95% CI 1.125–1.922), PCT (OR: 1.205, 95% CI 1.071–1.696) and operative time (OR: 1.108, 95% CI 1.032–1.441) were independent risk factors for septic shock with adjustment for sex, history of urolithiasis surgery, positive history of urine culture and history of PCNL. The ROC curves demonstrated that the AUCs of SOFA score and PCT for predicting septic shock after PCNL were 0.896 (95% CI 0.866–0.927) and 0.792 (95% CI 0.744–0.839), respectively. The AUC of their combination was 0.971 (95% CI 0.949–0.990), which was higher than those of individual predictions (vs 0.896, Z = 4.086, P < 0.001; vs 0.792, Z = 6.983, P < 0.001). Both the SOFA score and PCT could be applied in predicting septic shock after PCNL, and their combination could further elevate the diagnostic ability.

Epidemiological analysis of septic shock in the plateau region of China.

PurposeLittle epidemiological data exist on patients with severe infection in the plateau region of China, and the data that do exist are lacking in quality. Using the medical records of patients with severe infection in the Department of Intensive Medicine (intensive care unit; ICU) of the People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region, this study analyzed the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with septic shock in plateau area (Tibet), with the ultimate aim of reducing the incidence and mortality from this condition.MethodsClinical data on 137 patients with septic shock in the studied ICU from November 2017 to October 2019 were retrospectively analyzed using SPSS, Version 21.0.ResultsAmong the 137 patients with septic shock, there were 47 survivors and 90 in-hospital or post-discharge deaths. There were 91 male patients and 46 female patients. The incidence of septic shock was 11.3%, and mortality rate was 65.7%. Median age was 55 years old, median APACHE-II score on the day of admission was 17, median SOFA score was 11, and median number of organ injuries was one. APACHE-II score (P = 0.02), SOFA score (P < 0.001), and the number of organ injuries (P < 0.001) were higher among patients who died than among survivors. The infections were mainly pulmonary and abdominal, and the main pathogen was gram-negative bacteria.ConclusionThe incidence and mortality of septic shock in ICU wards in Tibet are very high. The APACHE-II score, SOFA score, and the number of organ damage on the first day after diagnosis are independent risk factors for septic shock. To some extent, this study reflects the epidemiological characteristics of septic shock in the plateau region of China (≥ 3,650 m above sea level) and provides data that can support the prevention and treatment of sepsis in the future. More and deeper epidemiological studies of septic shock are necessary.

Construction and efficacy evaluation of an early warning scoring system for septic shock in patients with digestive tract perforation: A retrospective cohort study.

ObjectiveTo establish an early warning scoring system for septic shock in patients with digestive tract perforation (DTP) and evaluate its diagnostic efficacy.MethodsPatients with surgically confirmed or clinically diagnosed DTP admitted to the Department of Intensive Care Medicine of Fujian Provincial Hospital from June 2012 to October 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. General demographic characteristics, perforation-related information, vital signs, common laboratory indicators, and common ICU scores (Glasgow Coma Scale score, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation-II score,Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score) were collected. The patients were divided into shock group and non-shock group according to whether the patients had septic shock during hospitalization. The risk factors of septic shock were screened by basic statistical analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. The receiver operating characteristic curve was drawn to determine the cut-off value of the continuous indicators and discretized with reference to clinic, and the corresponding score was set according to the β regression coefficient of each variable.ResultsA total of 176 patients with DTP were included. The average age of the patients was 64.13 ± 14.67 years old, and 74.40% were males. The incidence of septic shock was 30.11% (53/176). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the highest heart rate≥105 beats/min, Glasgow Coma Scale score≤14 points, lactic acid≥5.75 mmol/L, procalcitonin≥41.47 ug/L, C-reactive protein≥222.5 mg/L were independent risk factors for septic shock in patients with DTP. The total score of clinical diagnostic scoring system of septic shock in patients with DTP was 6 points, including the highest heart rate≥105 beats/min (1 point), lactic acid≥5.75 mmol/L (two points), procalcitonin≥41.47 ug/L (one point), C-reactive protein≥222.5 mg/L (1 point), and Glasgow Coma Scale score≤14 points (1 point). The area under ROC curve (AUC) of this scoring system was 0.789 and the 95% confidence interval was 0.717–0.860 (P < 0.001); when the optimal cut-off value was 2.5, the sensitivity and specificity were 54.70 and 87.80%, respectively.ConclusionThis new score system has its certain clinical value and has important guiding significance for clinicians to judge the prognosis of patients with DTP in time.

Risk Factors for Septic Shock After Irinotecan-Containing Chemotherapy: An Exploratory Case-Control Study.

Irinotecan sometimes causes lethal septic shock but the risk factors remain unclear. This retrospective case-control study explored the potential risk factors for septic shock following irinotecan treatment. All women who received irinotecan-containing chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies at Shizuoka General Hospital from October 2014 to September 2020 were investigated. The clinical backgrounds and blood test results of those who developed septic shock after irinotecan-containing chemotherapy were compared with those who did not. Odds ratios (ORs) for developing septic shock after receiving irinotecan were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), using univariable logistic regression analysis. During the study period, 147 women received irinotecan-containing chemotherapy. Three women developed septic shock due to neutropenic enterocolitis after irinotecan treatment, and 144 did not. The three patients with septic shock had recurrent cervical cancer, heterozygous variants in the uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) gene (two patients had *1/*6, one had *1/*28 variants), a history of concurrent chemoradiation therapy, 50-60 Gy of pelvic irradiation, and platinum-combined chemotherapy. A history of pelvic irradiation was identified as a possible risk factor for developing septic shock after irinotecan-containing chemotherapy (OR 63.0, 95% CI 5.71-8635; p<0.001). The OR of UGT1A1 polymorphism for septic shock was 9.09 (95% CI 0.86-1233; p=0.070) in the complete case analysis. Medical personnel involved in cancer therapy should consider the possible risk of septic shock developing due to neutropenic enterocolitis when administering irinotecan-containing chemotherapy in patients with a history of pelvic irradiation.

Study on the value of prothrombin time for predicting the severity and prognosis of septic patients

To explore the predictive efficacy of prothrombin time (PT) with regarding for the severity and prognosis of septic patients, along with comparing with other routine coagulation parameters. A retrospective analysis was conducted. The clinical data of 302 septic patients who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology from January 1 to December 31 in 2019 were enrolled. Demographic and basic clinical data were collected. Laboratory data, including PT, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen (FIB), D-dimer, fibrin (fibrinogen) degradation product (FDP), antithrombin (AT), platelet count (PLT) at ICU admission were recorded, and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) score within 24 hours of admission to ICU were also collected. What's more, some major clinical events, such as septic shock, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), etc. during ICU stay were also monitored. A follow-up 28 days observation of prognosis was performed. The patients were divided into the septic shock group and the non-septic shock group according to the occurrence of septic shock, and they were divided into the survival group and the non-survival group according to the 28-day prognosis. The differences in terms of above parameters between each two groups were compared. Spearman correlation method was used to analyze the correlation between routine coagulation parameters and SOFA score or APACHE II score. Receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC curve) was plotted to determine the predictive efficacy of each routine coagulation parameter with regarding to predict septic shock and 28-day mortality. Based on the cut-off value of PT, the septic patients were divided into two risk stratifications, and then the major clinical and end point outcome were compared. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis was applied to investigate the difference of the 28-day cumulated survival rate based on the different risk stratifications of PT level. Finally, multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore whether prolonged PT level was an independent risk factor for septic shock and 28-day mortality. The 302 patients were all enrolled, including 120 patients with septic shock and 182 patients without. Seventy-five patients died within 28 days, while 227 survived. Comparing with the non-septic shock group or the survival group, the septic shock group or the non-survival group patients both had longer PT, APTT and TT, higher D-dimer, FDP and lower PLT, FIB and AT. Correlation analysis revealed that PT and PLT were better correlated with SOFA score (r values were 0.503 and -0.524, both P < 0.01), and PT was better correlated with APACHE II score (r = 0.407, P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that PT had the most powerful predictive efficacy for septic shock and 28-day mortality. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were 0.831 (0.783-0.879) and 0.739 (0.674-0.805), respectively. The cut-off value were 16.8 s and 16.3 s, respectively, with the sensitivity of 64.2%, 72.0% and the specificity of 89.0%, 70.9%, respectively. Risk stratification based on PT level revealed that the patients with PT > 16.5 s (n = 103) had higher rate of 28-day mortality, incidence of septic shock and DIC, and score of SOFA and APACHE II comparing to those with PT ≤ 16.5 s (n = 199). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the 28-day cumulative survival rate was significantly lower in the patients with PT > 16.5 s than those with PT ≤ 16.5 s (52.43% vs. 86.93%; Log-Rank test: χ2 = 49.428, P < 0.001). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that PT > 16.5 s was an independent risk factor both for septic shock and 28-day mortality [model 1 (enrolled SOFA score): odds ratio (OR) and 95%CI were 6.003 (3.040-11.855), 4.842 (2.114-11.089); model 2 (enrolled APACHE II score): OR and 95%CI were 7.675 (4.007-14.702), 5.160 (2.258-11.793)]. Compared with other routine coagulation parameters, PT has the potential best predictive value for evaluating the severity of sepsis and the prognosis. When a patient is diagnosed with sepsis and has a result of PT longer than 16.5 s at ICU admission, the patient may have a higher risk of progression to septic shock and short-term death.

Tissue-Type Plasminogen Activator-Inhibitor Complex as an Early Predictor of Septic Shock: A Retrospective, Single-Center Study.

Background Sepsis can progress to septic shock and death, and identifying biomarkers of this progression may permit timely intervention to prevent it. This study explored whether levels of tissue-type plasminogen activator-inhibitor complex (t-PAIC) in serum can predict septic shock early. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 311 sepsis patients who had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at our tertiary care hospital between May 2018 and April 2021, and we divided them into those who progressed to septic shock (n = 203) or not (n = 108) based on sepsis-3 definition. After matching patients in the two groups based on propensity scoring, we screened for risk factors of septic shock using logistic regression. We assessed potential predictors of such shock based on the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC), Kaplan-Meier survival curves, and correlation analysis. Results After propensity score matching to generate two equal groups of 108 patients, we found that serum t-PAIC was significantly higher in septic shock patients. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression identified t-PAIC as an independent risk factor for septic shock (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.09–1.19, P < 0.001) and a biomarker that predicted it with an AUC up to 0.875 (95% CI, 0.829-0.920). Based on the optimal cut-off of t‐PAIC = 17.9 ng/mL, we found that patients at or above this threshold had significantly higher lactate levels and scores on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA). Such patients also had significantly worse survival (HR 2.4, 95% CI 1.38–4.34, P = 0.004). Spearman's correlation coefficients were 0.66 between t-PAIC and lactate, and 0.52 between t-PAIC and SOFA. Conclusions Serum levels of t-PAIC may be an independent risk factor for septic shock, and they may correlate with the severity of such shock.

Risks of chronic steroid or immunosuppressive therapy on total shoulder arthroplasty patients.

Patients on chronic corticosteroids/immunosuppressants (SI) undergoing orthopaedic surgery are at an increased risk for surgical complications and worse outcomes. However, whether or not chronic preoperative SI use increases the risk for 30-day complications in patients undergoing primary total shoulder arthroplasty (SA) has yet to be explored. From 2006 to 2019, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to identify all patients who underwent primary SA (anatomic TSA and reverse TSA). Patients were stratified into two cohorts: chronic preoperative SI users and those without use. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were utilized in this study. Of the 26,979 patients who underwent primary SA, 25,656 (95.1%) patients did not have SI usage whereas 1323 (4.9%) patients had chronic preoperative SI usage. Following adjustment on multivariate analyses, compared to the non-SI usage cohort, patients who used SI had an increased risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) (OR 1.87; p = 0.009) and septic shock (OR 7.14; p = 0.002). There were no differences in mortality between the two cohorts (p = 0.058). Chronic pre-operative SI use is an independent risk factor for septic shock and UTIs following primary SA. Surgeons and patients should be aware of these risks to better inform patient counseling and surgical decision making.

How likely is septic shock to develop in a patient with Fournier's gangrene? A risk prediction model based on a 7-year retrospective study.

BackgroundFournier’s gangrene (FG) is a rare life-threatening form of necrotizing fasciitis. The risk factors for septic shock in patients with FG are unclear. This study aimed to identify potential risk factors and develop a prediction model for septic shock in patients with FG.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included patients who were treated for FG between May 2013 and May 2020 at the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (Guangzhou, China). The patients were divided into a septic shock group and a non-septic shock group. An L1-penalized logistic regression model was used to detect the main effect of important factors and a penalized Quadratic Discriminant Analysis method was used to identify possible interaction effects between different factors. The selected main factors and interactions were used to obtain a logistic regression model based on the Bayesian information criterion.ResultsA total of 113 patients with FG were enrolled and allocated to the septic shock group (n = 24) or non-septic shock group (n = 89). The best model selected identified by backward logistic regression based on Bayesian information criterion selected temperature, platelets, total bilirubin (TBIL) level, and pneumatosis on pelvic computed tomography/magnetic resonance images as the main linear effect and Na+ × TBIL as the interaction effect. The area under the ROC curve of the probability of FG with septic shock by our model was 0.84 (95% confidence interval, 0.78–0.95). The Harrell's concordance index for the nomogram was 0.864 (95% confidence interval, 0.78–0.95).ConclusionWe have developed a prediction model for evaluation of the risk of septic shock in patients with FG that could assist clinicians in identifying critically ill patients with FG and prevent them from reaching a crisis state.

Monocyte-to-HDL ratio and non-HDL cholesterol were predictors of septic shock in newborns

BackgroundThe association between lipoprotein levels and late-onset neonatal sepsis has shown controversial results. The aims are to assess lipid profile, cytokines, and Monocyte-to-HDL (M/H) ratio as diagnostic and prognostic markers for late-onset neonatal sepsis. MethodsThis prospective study included 49 septic neonates and 17 controls. Cholesterol (CT), Triglyceride (TG), Very-Low-Density (VLDLc), Low-Density (LDLc), and High-Density Lipoproteins (HDLc) were measured at admission (D0) and on days 3, 7 and 10 to evaluate septic shock outcomes. Cytokines and monocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry. ResultsSeptic newborns showed higher IL-6 and IL-8 at D0 and CT levels on D7 and on D10, which also presented higher TG, VLDLc and non-HDL cholesterol concentrations than controls. The septic shock group (n = 22) revealed a higher number of male subjects, CRP, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 levels, while lower TG, HDLc, monocyte numbers and M/H ratio at admission compared to the non-shock group (n = 27). M/H ratio and non-HDL cholesterol on D0 were risk factors for septic shock (OR = 0.70, 0.49‒0.99; OR = 0.96, 0.92‒0.99, respectively). Decreasing levels from D0 to D3 of CT (OR = 0.96, 0.93‒0.99), VLDLc (OR = 0.91, 0.85‒0.98), and non-HDL cholesterol (OR = 0.92, 0.87‒0.98) were also predictors of septic shock. ConclusionsLower M/H ratios and non-HDL cholesterol at admission and decreasing levels of cholesterol, VLDLc and non-HDL cholesterol during a hospital stay are associated with the development of septic shock in newborns with late-onset neonatal sepsis.

Urine Output Is Associated With In-hospital Mortality in Intensive Care Patients With Septic Shock: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Background: The relationship between urine output (UO) and in-hospital mortality in intensive care patients with septic shock is currently inconclusive.Methods: The baseline data, UO, and in-hospital prognosis of intensive care patients with septic shock were retrieved from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. By drawing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and comparing the areas under the ROC curves (AUC) to determine the predictive value of UO for in-hospital mortality, and by drawing the Kaplan-Meier curves to compare the difference in in-hospital mortality between different groups of UO.Results: Before and after the propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, UO was always a risk factor for in-hospital mortality in patients with septic shock. The AUC of UO was comparable to the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scoring system, while the AUC of combining UO and SOFA was greater than that of SOFA. The median survival time of the high-UO group (UO > 0.39 ml/kg/h, before PSM; UO > 0.38 ml/kg/h, after PSM) was longer than that of the low-UO group. Compared with the high-UO group, the hazard ratios (HR) of the low-UO group were 2.6857 (before PSM) and 1.7879 (after PSM).Conclusions: UO is an independent risk factor for septic shock. Low levels of UO significantly increase the in-hospital mortality of intensive care patients with septic shock. The predictive value of UO is comparable to the SOFA scoring system, and the combined predictive value of the two surpasses SOFA alone.