Intensive Care Unit Of Tertiary Hospital Research Articles

Echocardiographic features of right ventricle in septic patients with elevated central venous pressure

BackgroundElevated central venous pressure (CVP) is deemed as a sign of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction. We aimed to characterize the echocardiographic features of RV in septic patients with elevated CVP, and quantify associations between RV function parameters and 30-day mortality.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed a cohort of septic patients with CVP ≥ 8 mmHg in a tertiary hospital intensive care unit. General characteristics and echocardiographic parameters including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) as well as prognostic data were collected. Associations between RV function parameters and 30-day mortality were assessed using Cox regression models.ResultsEchocardiography was performed in 244 septic patients with CVP ≥ 8 mmHg. Echocardiographic findings revealed that various types of abnormal RV function can occur individually or collectively. Prevalence of RV systolic dysfunction was 46%, prevalence of RV enlargement was 34%, and prevalence of PVR increase was 14%. In addition, we collected haemodynamic consequences and found that prevalence of systemic venous congestion was 16%, prevalence of RV-pulmonary artery decoupling was 34%, and prevalence of low cardiac index (CI) was 23%. The 30-day mortality of the enrolled population was 24.2%. In a Cox regression analysis, TAPSE (HR:0.542, 95% CI:0.302–0.972, p = 0.040) and PVR (HR:1.384, 95% CI:1.007–1.903, p = 0.045) were independently associated with 30-day mortality.ConclusionsEchocardiographic findings demonstrated a high prevalence of RV-related abnormalities (RV enlargement, RV systolic dysfunction and PVR increase) in septic patients with elevated CVP. Among those echocardiographic parameters, TAPSE and PVR were independently associated with 30-day mortality in these patients.

SOFA and APACHE II scoring systems for predicting outcome of neurological patients admitted in a tertiary hospital intensive care unit.

The field of neurology encompasses the study and treatment of disorders that affect the nervous system, and patients with neurological conditions often require specialized care, particularly in the ICU. Predictive scoring systems are measures of disease severity used to predict patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the discriminative power of commonly used scoring systems, namely the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II) in the ICU of a tertiary care hospital. This retrospective study included patients with neurological disorders in the ICUs of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022. A total of 153 patients were included. The mean age of the patients was 54.76 ± 17.32 years with higher male predominance (60.78%). Ischaemic stroke was the most common neurological disorder. There were 58 patients (37.9%) who required mechanical ventilation and all-cause mortality was 20.9%. The mean SOFA score was significantly higher (P=0.002) in survivors, whereas the mean APACHE II did not show a significant difference (P=0.238). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed the area of curve (AUC) of SOFA score was 0.765 and of APACHE II was 0.722. SOFA score had comparatively higher discriminative power than APACHE II. Assessment of the performance of scoring systems in a specific ICU setting improves the sensitivity and applicability of the model to these settings.

Optimized Antibiotic Management of Critically Ill Patients with Severe Pneumonia Following Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Testing: A Prospective Clinical Exploratory Trial.

Molecular diagnostic testing is assumed to enable fast respiratory pathogen identification and contribute to improved pneumonia management. We set up a prospective clinical trial at a tertiary hospital intensive care unit including adult patients suspected of severe pneumonia from whom a lower respiratory tract sample could be obtained. During control periods (CPs), routine testing was performed, and during intervention periods (IPs), this testing was completed with the FilmArray Pneumonia Panel plus test (FA-PNEU) executed 24/7. The main objective was to measure the impact of FA-PNEU results in terms of reduced time to targeted antimicrobial treatment administration. Over a 10-month period, analysis was performed on 35 CP and 50 IP patients. The median time to targeted antimicrobial treatment administration was reduced to 4.3 h in IPs compared to 26.4 h in CPs, with 54% of IP patients having FA-PNEU results that led to a treatment modification, of which all but one were targeted. Modifications included 10 (37%) de-escalations, 7 (25.9%) escalations, 3 (11.1%) regimen switches, and 7 (25.9%) complete antimicrobial discontinuations. FA-PNEU results were available with a 42.3 h gain compared to routine identification. This prospective study confirmed retrospective data demonstrating the benefit of FA-PNEU testing in severe pneumonia management of critically ill patients through improved antimicrobial use.

1437. Successful Control of Candida auris Outbreak in a Tertiary Hospital Intensive Care Unit in Greece

Abstract Background Candida auris is an emerging pathogen, which can spread efficiently and cause outbreaks in healthcare settings.The purpose of this study is to highlight the importance of strict infection control measures to prevent in-hospital C. auris transmission. Methods Single-center retrospective observational study in hospitalized patients at the 2nd Department of Intensive Care Medicine (ICU) of G. Papanikolaou General Hospital from 02-11-2022 until 28-02-2023. Patient outcomes and epidemiologic indices were recorded. In total 79 surveillance cultures in 18 patients (male: 75%, median age: 51 years) were performed, while 187 surface samples were collected. Results After C. auris isolation from the index patient, colonization screening was performed in all ICU patients. C. auris was detected in a neighboring patient, 24 hours later, and in another patient from a central venous catheter tip culture 2 months later. An environmental culture from a pulse oximeter, was also positive. Immediately, an epidemiologic investigation was conducted, and an intensive infection control program was implemented in the ICU. Measures included strict adherence to standard and contact precautions and hand hygiene, isolation of positive cases, dedicated staff to care for patients with C. auris, disposable or specialized equipment for patient care, and cleaning and disinfection of frequently touched surfaces and equipment. In addition, surveillance cultures were performed twice weekly for each patient and once weekly for the environment. Also, to control the transmission to other departments, patient transfer was limited. At the same time, ICU personnel was educated on the significance and implementation of infection control bundles. The above measures resulted in the control of transmission of Candida auris in our hospital. Conclusion Strengthening appropriate infection control interventions and increasing compliance to their implementation, combined with continued surveillance and healthcare worker engagement by education, can prevent the transmission of pathogens such as Candida auris in healthcare settings. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Swallowing biomechanics in tracheostomised critically ill patients compared to age- and gender-matched healthy controls

ObjectiveThe mechanistic effects of a tracheostomy on swallowing are unclear. Pharyngeal high-resolution manometry with impedance (P-HRM-I) is a novel swallow assessment tool providing quantifiable metrics. This study aimed to characterise swallowing biomechanics in tracheostomised critically ill (non-neurological) patients. DesignCohort study. SettingAustralian tertiary hospital intensive care unit. ParticipantsTracheostomised adults, planned for decannulation. Main outcome measuresSwallowing assessment using P-HRM-I, compared to healthy age- and gender-matched controls. ResultsIn this tracheostomised cohort (n = 10), the Swallow Risk Index, a global measure of swallow function, was significantly elevated (p < 0.001). At the upper oesophageal sphincter (UOS), hypopharyngeal intrabolus pressure and UOS integrated relaxation pressure were significantly elevated (control 0.65 mmHg [-1.02, 2.33] v tracheostomy 13.7 mmHg [10.4, 16.9], P < 0.001; control −4.28 mmHg [-5.87, 2.69] v tracheostomy 12.2 mmHg [8.83, 15.6], P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, UOS opening extent and relaxation time were reduced (control 4.83 mS [4.60, 5.07] v tracheostomy 4.33 mS [3.97, 4.69], P = 0.002; control 0.52 s [0.49, 0.55] v tracheostomy 0.41 s [0.37, 0.45], P < 0.001, respectively). Total pharyngeal contractility (PhCI) measuring pharyngeal pressure generation was significantly elevated (control 199.5 mmHg cm.s [177.4, 221.6] v tracheostomy 326.5 mmHg cm.s [253.3, 399.7]; P = 0.001). ConclusionIn a critically ill tracheostomised cohort, UOS dysfunction was the prevalent biomechanical feature, with elevated pharyngeal pressures. Pharyngeal weakness is not contributing to dysphagia in this cohort. Instead, elevated pharyngeal pressures may represent a compensatory mechanism to overcome the UOS dysfunction. Further studies to extend these findings may inform the development of timely and targeted rehabilitation.

Development and Implementation of Prioritized Care in a Tertiary Hospital Intensive Care Unit During the Sars-Cov-2 Pandemic

Introduction:In the event of a major event or disaster, the intensive care unit (ICU) should be able to offer an adapted and proportional response, within a limited time frame, to the influx of patients who can benefit from the technical facilities of the University Hospitals of Geneva. We developed an innovative approach to ICU care aimed to guarantee continuity by protecting healthcare staff from excessive fatigue and by tailoring the care provided from individualized care to the best care for the most people.Method:A modified organizational and systematic investigation method (MINOS, Paries - 2013) was used to elaborate an ICU security model; threats to activity shut down were identified and their prevention, recovery, and mitigation were planned. These actions were updated following the evolution of the crisis. Crew resources management (CRM) and bedside simulations were used in the implementation phase.Results:The ICU security model pillars were staff protection and patient management; the identified threats to activity continuity were lack of human resources, activity overload, medical errors, pressure sores and healthcare acquired infections; they were evaluated at intermediate or high risk to patients’ safety. The prioritized care plan was developed to control, recover, and mitigate these threats. It consisted in: adaptable level of ICU care, modular organization by cell, huddles, matrix for activities prioritization and controlled delegation method. Before implementation, 55 nurses and 46 doctors were trained by CRM courses and simulations. The pilot phase was deployed in one cell, from December 2021 to January 2022; 67 patients were admitted in the period; 13 adaptations to the original plan were introduced. No critical safety issues were reported.Conclusion:The prioritized care could be an adapted and proportional ICU response to a major event allowing the continuity of the activity while protecting staff from overload. Further tests are needed.

Completion rates of bundle treatment of among patients with sepsis shock in intensive care departments of hospitals in Jiangsu Province from 2016 to 2020 years

Current clinical approaches for septic shock increasingly incorporate bundle treatment, a multi-component approach that uses a collection of tests and agents to assist in the identification and treatment of infection. The present study analyzed completion rates of 3 h and 6 h bundle treatment among patients with septic shock in intensive care units (ICUs) of hospitals in Jiangsu Province from 2016 to 2020, using data from the Jiangsu Provincial Intensive Care Medical Quality Control Center. Current approaches and factors affecting treatment completion were assessed.The completion rates of 3 h and 6 h bundle treatment in ICUs of all medical units in Jiangsu Province and in ICUs of hospitals of different levels were recorded. Analyses show that the completion rate of 3 h and 6 h bundle treatment for patients with septic shock in ICUs in Jiangsu Province increased year by year from 2016 to 2020.The completion rate of 3 h bundle treatment increased from 69.82% (3 604/5 162) to 82.47% (8 915/10 775) (all P<0.001). The completion rate of 6 h bundle treatment increased from 62.69% (3 236/5 162) to 72.54% (7 816/10 775) (all P<0.001). In addition, year by year, the completion rate of 3 h bundle treatment in ICUs in tertiary hospitals increased, from 69.80% (3 596/5 152) to 82.23% (7 375/8 969), while the completion rate of 6 h bundle treatment increased from 62.69% (3 230/5 152) to 72.18% (6 474/8 969) (all P<0.001). Completion rates in secondary hospitals also increased year by year, from 80.00% (8/10) to 85.27% (1 540/1 806) for 3 h treatment and from 60.00% (6/10) to 74.31% (1 342/1 806) (all P<0.001) for 6 h treatment. Completion rates for 3 h treatment in first-tier cities (83.99% (2 099/2 499)) and second-tier cities (84.68% (3 952/4 667)) was higher than in third-tier cities (79.36% (2 864/3 609)). The completion rate of 6 h bundle treatment gradually decreased in first-line (77.19% (1 929/2 499)), second-line (74.37% (3 471/4 667)), and third-line (66.94% (2 416/3 609)) cities (all P<0.001). The data collectively show that from 2016 to 2020, the completion rate of bundle treatment in septic shock patients in ICUs in Jiangsu Province improved significantly.

Outcomes of patients with haematological malignancies and febrile neutropenia at the Universitas Academic Hospital multidisciplinary intensive care unit, Free State Province, South Africa.

Mortality rates in patients with haematological malignancies who required intensive care unit (ICU) admission have in the past been high. More recently, however, improved outcomes for critically ill haematological patients have been reported. To determine outcomes, average length of ICU stay, and factors associated with mortality in patients with haematological malignancies and neutropenic fever in the multidisciplinary ICU (MICU) at Universitas Academic Hospital (UAH), Bloemfontein, Free State Province, South Africa. We conducted a retrospective review of medical and laboratory records of all patients admitted to the UAH MICU with haematological malignancies and febrile neutropenia between 2010 and 2019. A total of 182 patients with haematological malignancies were admitted to the MICU between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2019, of whom 51 (28.0%) fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the study. The median age was 33 years, and 29 patients (56.9%) were female. Most patients had either acute myeloid leukaemia (n=22; 43.1%) or acute lymphocytic leukaemia (n=16; 31.4%), while B-cell lymphoma (n=12; 23.5%) and multiple myeloma (n=1; 2%) were less frequent. The median length of stay in the ICU was 3 days. ICU mortality was 76.5% and hospital mortality 82.4%. Factors associated with mortality included septic shock, vasoactive agent use and mechanical ventilation. Patients with haematological malignancies and febrile neutropenia in the UAH MICU have high ICU and hospital mortality rates. More needs to be done with regard to timeous management of patients with haematological malignancies and septic shock in our setting to improve survival. This is the first study to report on ICU mortality of adult patients with haematological malignancies and neutropenic sepsis in a tertiary hospital ICU in the Free State. These patients had a high mortality rate. What the study adds. Our study shows that septic shock, vasoactive agent use and mechanical ventilation were associated with increased ICU mortality.Implications of the findings. Strict adherence to infection prevention and control measures in haematology wards is required. Early recognition and treatment of sepsis before it progresses to septic shock is important. ICUs must be designed so that isolation cubicles are readily available to prevent cross-infection of patients.

Long-term respiratory follow-up of ICU hospitalized COVID-19 patients: Prospective cohort study.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) survivors exhibit multisystemic alterations after hospitalization. Little is known about long-term imaging and pulmonary function of hospitalized patients intensive care unit (ICU) who survive COVID-19. We aimed to investigate long-term consequences of COVID-19 on the respiratory system of patients discharged from hospital ICU and identify risk factors associated with chest computed tomography (CT) lesion severity. A prospective cohort study of COVID-19 patients admitted to a tertiary hospital ICU in Brazil (March-August/2020), and followed-up six-twelve months after hospital admission. Initial assessment included: modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale, SpO2 evaluation, forced vital capacity, and chest X-Ray. Patients with alterations in at least one of these examinations were eligible for CT and pulmonary function tests (PFTs) approximately 16 months after hospital admission. Primary outcome: CT lesion severity (fibrotic-like or non-fibrotic-like). Baseline clinical variables were used to build a machine learning model (ML) to predict the severity of CT lesion. In total, 326 patients (72%) were eligible for CT and PFTs. COVID-19 CT lesions were identified in 81.8% of patients, and half of them showed mild restrictive lung impairment and impaired lung diffusion capacity. Patients with COVID-19 CT findings were stratified into two categories of lesion severity: non-fibrotic-like (50.8%-ground-glass opacities/reticulations) and fibrotic-like (49.2%-traction bronchiectasis/architectural distortion). No association between CT feature severity and altered lung diffusion or functional restrictive/obstructive patterns was found. The ML detected that male sex, ICU and invasive mechanic ventilation (IMV) period, tracheostomy and vasoactive drug need during hospitalization were predictors of CT lesion severity(sensitivity,0.78±0.02;specificity,0.79±0.01;F1-score,0.78±0.02;positive predictive rate,0.78±0.02; accuracy,0.78±0.02; and area under the curve,0.83±0.01). ICU hospitalization due to COVID-19 led to respiratory system alterations six-twelve months after hospital admission. Male sex and critical disease acute phase, characterized by a longer ICU and IMV period, and need for tracheostomy and vasoactive drugs, were risk factors for severe CT lesions six-twelve months after hospital admission.

The Great pretender: the first case of septic shock due to Capnocytophaga canimorsus in Sardinia. A Case report and review of the literature.

Capnocytophaga canimorsus (C. canimorsus) is an emerging pathogen in critical care. C. canimorsus is a Gram-negative bacillus, commonly isolated as a commensal microorganism of the oral flora of healthy dogs and cats. A 63-year-old woman came to the emergency department with fever, chills, and malaise 2 days after a minor dog bite. After admission to the medicine ward, she developed respiratory failure and livedo reticularis. In the intensive care unit (ICU), she presented full-blown septic shock with thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, severe acute kidney injury, and liver injury. We describe the first case of septic shock with Multiple Organ Dysfunction Syndrome related to Capnocytophaga canimorsus infection in Sardinia and its treatment in a tertiary hospital ICU. We also review recent literature on the relevance of C. canimorsus in human disease and critical illness.

Bacterial Resistance to Antibiotics and Clonal Spread in COVID-19-Positive Patients on a Tertiary Hospital Intensive Care Unit, Czech Republic.

This observational retrospective study aimed to analyze whether/how the spectrum of bacterial pathogens and their resistance to antibiotics changed during the worst part of the COVID-19 pandemic (1 November 2020 to 30 April 2021) among intensive care patients in University Hospital Olomouc, Czech Republic, as compared with the pre-pandemic period (1 November 2018 to 30 April 2019). A total of 789 clinically important bacterial isolates from 189 patients were cultured during the pre-COVID-19 period. The most frequent etiologic agents causing nosocomial infections were strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (17%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11%), Escherichia coli (10%), coagulase-negative staphylococci (9%), Burkholderia multivorans (8%), Enterococcus faecium (6%), Enterococcus faecalis (5%), Proteus mirabilis (5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (5%). Over the comparable COVID-19 period, a total of 1500 bacterial isolates from 372 SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were assessed. While the percentage of etiological agents causing nosocomial infections increased in Enterococcus faecium (from 6% to 19%, p < 0.0001), Klebsiella variicola (from 1% to 6%, p = 0.0004) and Serratia marcescens (from 1% to 8%, p < 0.0001), there were significant decreases in Escherichia coli (from 10% to 3%, p < 0.0001), Proteus mirabilis (from 5% to 2%, p = 0.004) and Staphylococcus aureus (from 5% to 2%, p = 0.004). The study demonstrated that the changes in bacterial resistance to antibiotics are ambiguous. An increase in the frequency of ESBL-positive strains of some species (Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae) was confirmed; on the other hand, resistance decreased (Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii) or the proportion of resistant strains remained unchanged over both periods (Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecium). Changes in pathogen distribution and resistance were caused partly due to antibiotic selection pressure (cefotaxime consumption increased significantly in the COVID-19 period), but mainly due to clonal spread of identical bacterial isolates from patient to patient, which was confirmed by the pulse field gel electrophoresis methodology. In addition to the above shown results, the importance of infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities is discussed, not only for dealing with SARS-CoV-2 but also for limiting the spread of bacteria.

Multicenter Population Pharmacokinetic Study of Unbound Ceftriaxone in Critically Ill Patients.

The objective of this study was to describe the total and unbound population pharmacokinetics of ceftriaxone in critically ill adult patients and to define optimized dosing regimens. Total and unbound ceftriaxone concentrations were obtained from two pharmacokinetic studies and from a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) program at a tertiary hospital intensive care unit. Population pharmacokinetic analysis and Monte Carlo simulations were used to assess the probability of achieving a free trough concentration/MIC ratio of ≥1 using Pmetrics for R. A total of 474 samples (267 total and 207 unbound) were available from 36 patients. A two-compartment model describing ceftriaxone-albumin binding with both nonrenal and renal elimination incorporating creatinine clearance to explain the between-patient variability best described the data. An albumin concentration of ≤20 g/L decreased the probability of target attainment (PTA) by up to 20% across different dosing regimens and simulated creatinine clearances. A ceftriaxone dose of 1 g twice daily is likely therapeutic in patients with creatinine clearance of <100 mL/min infected with susceptible isolates (PTA, ~90%). Higher doses administered as a continuous infusion (4 g/day) are needed in patients with augmented renal clearance (creatinine clearance, >130 mL/min) who are infected by pathogens with a MIC of ≥0.5 mg/L. The ceftriaxone dose should be based on the patient's renal function and albumin concentration, as well as the isolate MIC. Hypoalbuminemia decreases the PTA in patients receiving intermittent dosing by up to 20%.

Variation of Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Velocity Time Integral at Different Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Levels Can Predict Fluid Responsiveness in Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Patients

To explore whether the variation of left ventricular outflow tract velocity time integral (LVOT VTI) between positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) 10 cmH2O and PEEP 0 cmH2O can predict fluid responsiveness in mechanically ventilated critically ill patients. An observational study. A tertiary hospital intensive care unit. A total of 79 critically ill patients who were on controlled mechanical ventilation. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at different PEEP levels and was also performed before and after passive leg raising (PLR). The patients were classified as the fluid responders (n=45) and the fluid nonresponders (n=34) according to the LVOT VTI change after PLR (ΔVTIPLR). The difference of LVOT VTI between PEEP 10 cmH2O and PEEP 0 cmH2O (ΔVTIPEEP) was much higher in responders than in nonresponders (17.9% v 2.1%, p < 0.001). The ΔVTIPEEP and ΔVTIPLR were correlated among all patients (r=0.582, p < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the ΔVTIPEEP was a good predictor of fluid responsiveness, with an area under the curve of 0.935 (95% confidence interval: 0.885-0.986, p < 0.001), and the optimal cutoff value was 10.5%. Variation of LVOT VTI between PEEP 10 cmH2O and PEEP 0 cmH2O can be used to predict fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients on controlled mechanical ventilation.

Hypernatremia at a Tertiary Hospital Intensive Care Unit in South Africa.

BackgroundHypernatremia in the critical care setting is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. However, data pertaining to this has not been evaluated in South African hospitals. The aim of this study was to evaluate hypernatremia with regards to its prevalence, associated factors, and outcomes at an academic hospital intensive care unit (ICU) in Johannesburg, South Africa.MethodsThe ICU charts of patients admitted to the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital adult general ICU from June 1, 2016 to May 31, 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Subjects were categorized into three groups namely, ICU-acquired hypernatremia (IAH), pre-admission hypernatremia (PAH), and normonatremia. Data was compared between the three groups.ResultsOf the 833 subjects that were enrolled, 310 (37.2%) were hypernatremic. IAH was present in 144 (17.2%) and PAH in 166 (19.9%) subjects. Hypernatremia was significantly (p <0.05) associated with a higher rate of altered mental status, higher Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scores, a higher rate and duration of mechanical ventilation, a greater need for inotropic/vasopressor support, longer ICU stay and higher ICU mortality.ConclusionHypernatremia in ICU patients remains a significant contributor to morbidity, mortality, and ICU length of stay. The prevalence of hypernatremia was much higher than that reported in higher-income countries.

Evaluation of Patients Treated in Intensıve Care Due to COVID-19: A Retrospective Study.

BackgroundThe aim of this study is to report the demographic characteristics, clinical features, treatment protocols, comorbidities, imaging findings, prognosis and factors affecting mortality in critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the intensive care unit.Materials and MethodsThis retrospective cohort study consists of adult (≥18 years old) patients hospitalized in a tertiary hospital intensive care unit of with COVID-19. The independent effects of possible factors identified in previous analyzes on survival were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe mean age of all patients was 70.2 ± 13.9 years. Of the 200 patients, 139 (69.5%) had died. White blood cells (19.2 ± 76.1 × 109 per L), neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (15.4 ± 65.1), d-dimer (2,558.4 ± 4,574.2 ng/mL), ferritin (1,481.2 ± 4,447.4 μg/L) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (12.1 ± 11.9 mg/dL) levels were high at the time of admission. According to the results of univariate regression analysis; presence of additional disease (odds ratio [OR]: 3.837; P = 0.015), older age (OR: 1.027; P = 0.015), reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) positivity (OR: 2.58; P = 0.019), higher heart rate (OR = 1.027; P = 0.028), higher APACHE II score (OR: 1.049; P = 0.012), higher sequential organ failure assessement (SOFA) score(OR: 1.479; P = 0.014), high d-dimer levels (OR: 3.180; P <0.001) and high CRP levels (OR: 1.035; P = 0.028) increases the risk of death. When patients with full data for all variables in the multivariate logistic regression model were evaluated; positive RT-PCR (OR=4.105; P = 0.005), older age (OR: 1.033; P = 0.024), higher heart rate (OR: 1.042; P = 0.006), higher (SOFA) score (OR: 1.477; P <0.001), high d-dimer levels at admission (OR: 3.459; P = 0.002) and diabetes mellitus (OR: 3.433; P = 0.035) increase the risk of death.ConclusionMortality of critically ill patients with COVID-19 pneumonia was high (69.5%). Older patients and acute respiratory distress syndrome were at higher risk of death. High SOFA score, high d-dimer at admission, and presence of diabetes mellitus were associated with high mortality.

Medication Errors at a Tertiary Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

BackgroundThe intensive care unit (ICU) generates more medication prescriptions per patient day than any other unit in the hospital. The dynamics of the ICU environment, coupled with the complexity of patient pathology, increases the risk of medication errors. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and spectrum of medication errors in an adult general ICU in Johannesburg, South Africa.MethodsA retrospective chart review was conducted at a 19-bed ICU in a tertiary-level hospital in Johannesburg. Data were independently collected by two of the study investigators. The doctors’ prescription and the nurses’ administration section of patient bedside charts were scrutinized for drug prescription and administration errors.ResultsOf the 656 patient days studied, 3237 drugs (5.6 drugs per patient day) were prescribed. There were a total of 359 medication errors, comprising 237 (66.0%) prescription and 122 (34.0%) administration errors. The total error rate per 1000 patient days was 621.1, while the total error rate per 1000 drug prescriptions was 110.9. The most common errors were incorrect dose prescribed (n=69, 19.2%), incorrect dosing interval prescribed (n=48, 13.4%), incorrect dose administered (n=42, 11.7%) and failure to administer the prescribed drug (n=38, 10.6%).ConclusionThe overall occurrence of medication errors is high but is in keeping with general international trends. Targeted interventions should be implemented to minimize the frequency of medication errors in the ICU and consequent risk to patients.

Is macrocytic erythrocyte a new prognostic parameter in critical COVID-19 disease?

Introduction: In critical COVID- 19 patients, we aimed to examine the relationship mortality between the parameters and the macrocytic/microcytic erythrocyte population that are routinely evaluated in each patient admitted to the intensive care unit. &#x0D; Material and Method: It is a retrospective cross-sectional study and was conducted in Kastamonu University, Faculty of Medicine, a tertiary hospital intensive care units located in the North of Turkey .198 nonanemic critical COVID-19 patients treated between November 2020 and February 2021 were evaluated. The patients were divided into two groups as survival and non survival. Apache II score, saps II score and routine blood examinations of the patients were evaluated.&#x0D; Results: Among the groups; APACHE II score (p

Epidemiology and Mortality of Sepsis in Intensive Care Units in Prefecture-Level Cities in Sichuan, China: A Prospective Multicenter Study.

BackgroundStudies on the epidemiology of sepsis in intensive care units (ICUs) of prefecture-level hospitals in China are rare. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics and mortality risk factors of sepsis in ICUs of tertiary hospitals in Sichuan, China.Material/MethodsIn this prospective, multicenter, observational study, patients admitted to the ICU of 7 tertiary hospitals in Sichuan (China) between October 10, 2017 and January 9, 2018 were screened for sepsis using the Sepsis-3 criteria. Patients with sepsis were included.ResultsOf the 1604 patients screened for sepsis, 294 (18.3%) had sepsis, and 140 (47.6%) had septic shock. Of these, 169 (57.5%) died. Multivariable analysis showed that central nervous system dysfunction (odds ratio [OR]=2.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15–5.84, P=0.022), lowest blood phosphorus level (OR=2.56, 95% CI: 1.21–5.44, P=0.014), highest lactate level (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.10–1.32, P<0.001), 24-h Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation-II (APACHE-II) score (OR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.03–1.13, P=0.002), and lung infection (OR=2.57, 95% CI: 1.30–5.09, P=0.007) were independently associated with mortality in patients with sepsis.ConclusionsThe prevalence and mortality rates of sepsis are high in tertiary hospital ICUs in Sichuan, China. The APACHE-II score on day 1 after diagnosis, acute central nervous system dysfunction, lowest blood phosphorus, high serum lactate, and lung infection were independent risk factors of mortality in patients with sepsis.

Clinical Effect of Systemic Steroids in Patients with Cirrhosis and Septic Shock.

Evidence regarding the utility of systemic steroids in treating patients with cirrhosis and septic shock remains equivocal. This study aimed to evaluate and elucidate the association of steroid use with outcomes and adverse effects in a cohort of patients with cirrhosis and septic shock. Retrospective cohort study of patients with cirrhosis and septic shock admitted to a tertiary hospital intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2007 to May 2017, using a validated ICU Datamart. Patients who received vasopressors within 6 h of ICU admission were included in the multivariate analysis. The effect of steroids on outcomes was evaluated using multivariable regression, adjusting for confounding variables. Out of 179 admissions of patients with cirrhosis and septic shock, 56 received steroids during the ICU admission. Patients who received steroids received a higher total dose of vasopressors (91.2 mg vs. 39.1 mg, P = 0.04) and had a lower initial lactate level (1.8 mmol/L vs. 2.6 mmol/L, P = 0.007). The multivariate analysis included 117 patients and showed no significant differences in mortality, length of ICU admission, or length of hospital stay. Bleeding events, delirium, and renal-replacement therapy requirements were also not associated with the use of steroids. The use of systemic steroids was more prevalent in cirrhotic patients with higher vasopressor requirements. It was not associated with decreased mortality or increased ICU- and hospital-free days, or to adverse effects.

The trauma burden on a tertiary surgical intensive care unit during the lockdown period in South Africa: A retrospective observational study

Background Trauma places a significant burden on scarce South African critical care resources. The impact of the lockdown period in 2020 on these resources has not been studied. Restrictions on citizen movement and alcohol sales during the lockdown period presented a unique time period to investigate the burden of trauma on a low–middle-income country tertiary hospital intensive care unit. Methods A retrospective observational analysis of all patients admitted to a tertiary hospital surgical intensive care unit during the lockdown period in 2020, compared to the same time period in 2019 and 2018. Data were analysed to detect if a significant difference was present in the number of trauma admissions, length of stay and mechanisms of trauma. Results A significant decrease in the number of trauma admissions to ICU in 2020 was observed as compared to 2018 and 2019 during the same period ( p = &lt;0.001), with a reduction of nearly 50%. The incidence of trauma admissions was lower in all individual lockdown levels in 2020 as compared to 2018 and 2019, and the lowest incidence was recorded in level 5 of 2020. There was no difference among the length of stay of trauma patients in ICU in 2018, 2019 and 2020. There was no difference between the incidence of trauma admissions during lockdown level 3 (with and without alcohol sales) in 2020 compared to 2018. The profile of penetrating and non-penetrating trauma over the 3 years was the same ( p = 0.22). There were no interactions between years, lockdown periods and penetrating trauma ( p = 0.22). Interpretation There was a significant decrease in the trauma burden presented to the surgical ICU during the lockdown period in 2020. Levels with the strictest restrictions on movement and alcohol use had the greatest measurable impact. The decreased number of trauma patients admitted in 2020 was comparable to the national trend of decreased trauma numbers recorded in all levels of the national healthcare system.