Corynebacterium species as one of the major causative pathogens of bacterial pneumonia

Recent advances using molecular methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time of flightmass spectrometry, and next-generation sequencers enable rapid and precise detection of bacterial species in the clinical samples, revealing bacterial diversities in the human body. Corynebacterium species are Gram-positive bacilli, which can cause pneumonia and have been reported as causative pathogens of lower respiratory tract infections since the 1970's. However, Corynebacterium spp. may be recognized and sorted as part of normal respiratory flora on Gram staining and culture, resulting in clinical under-recognition as pathogenic bacteria.The results of the clone library method using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence analysis in Japanese patients with hospital-acquired pneumonia revealed that bronchoalveolar lavage fluid obtained from the lung lesions contained 11.8% Corynebacterium spp., which was the second most predominant bacterial phylotype. Additionally, among patients in whom Corynebacterium spp. were detected, C. simulans was most commonly detected followed by C. striatum. In addition, almost half of the patients in whom C. simulans was detected was monophylotypic infection and/or co-detection of C. simulansand C. striatum. Further clinical information is expected on corynebacteria as pathogens of lower respiratory tract infection.     

Nurses’ knowledge,experience and self-reported adherence to evidence-based guidelines for prevention of ventilator-associated events: A national online survey

ObjectiveTo explore Australian intensive care nurses’ knowledge of ventilator-associated pneumonia and self-reported adherence to evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated events.DesignA quantitative cross-sectional online survey was used.SettingThe study was conducted in two Australia intensive care units, in large health services in Victoria and an Australia-wide nurses’ professional association (Australian College of Critical Care Nurses).Main outcome measuresParticipants’ knowledge and self-reported adherence to evidence-based guidelines.ResultsThe median knowledge score was 6/10 (IQR: 5–7). There was a significant positive association between completion of post graduate qualification and their overall knowledge score p = 0.014). However, there was no association (p = 0.674) between participants’ years of experience in intensive care nursing and their overall score. The median self-reported adherence was 8/10 (IQR: 6–8). The most adhered to procedures were performing oral care on mechanically ventilated patients (n = 259, 90.9%) and semi-fowlers positioning of the patient (n = 241, 84.6%). There was no relationship between participants’ knowledge and adherence to evidence-based guidelines (p = 0.144).ConclusionParticipants lack knowledge of evidence-based guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Specific education on ventilator-associated events may improve awareness and guideline adherence.     

Viral infections in critical care: a narrative review

Viral infections form a substantial part of the intensive care workload, even before the recent and ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The growing availability of molecular diagnostics for viral infections has led to increased recognition of these pathogens. This additional information, however, provides new challenges for interpretation and management. As the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has amply demonstrated, the emergence and global spread of novel viruses are likely to provide continued challenges for critical care physicians into the future. This article will provide an overview of viral infections relevant to the critical care physician, discussing the diagnosis and management of respiratory viral infections, blood borne and enteric viruses. We will also discuss herpesviridae complications, commonly seen due to reactivation of latent infections. Further, we explore some rarer and emerging viruses, including recognition of viral haemorrhagic fevers, and briefly discuss post-viral syndromes which may present to the intensive care unit. Finally, we will discuss infection control and its importance in preventing nosocomial viral transmission.     

肺脏超声评价儿童重症肺炎疗效的应用分析

目的:探讨肺脏超声（LUS）评价儿童重症肺炎（SP）疗效的应用价值。方法:选取142例儿童SP患者，回顾性根据临床疗效判断标准分为治愈组75例、好转组49例、无效组18例。分别于入院时、入院第7天和第15天对所有患儿行LUS及X线片检查，观察3组患儿肺部征象，并进行LUS评分。入院第15天时，采用临床肺部感染评分（CPIS）评估3组肺部感染情况，采用血气分析仪检测肺泡-动脉氧分压差（A-aDO2）及氧合指数（OI）水平，采用Pearson相关系数分析入院第15天LUS评分与CPIS、A-aDO2和OI的关系。结果:入院第7天和第15天治愈组患儿LUS评分、坐位B线数和平卧位B线数均少于好转组和无效组（P<0.05）。治愈组患儿胸膜线异常和A线消失率低于好转组和无效组（P<0.05）。治愈组患儿入院时和入院第7天胸腔积液LUS检出率高于X线片（P<0.05），无效组患儿入院时和入院第15天LUS胸腔积液检出率高于X线片（P＜0.05）。治愈组患儿CPIS和A-aDO2水平低于好转组和无效组（P<0.05），OI水平高于好转组和无效组（P<0.05）。Pearson相关性分析结果显示，入院第15天LUS评分与CPIS和A-aDO2呈正相关（P<0.05），与OI呈负相关（P<0.05）。结论:LUS及LUS评分能够有效评估儿童SP的临床疗效，且胸腔积液检出率更高，具有较高的临床应用价值。 【关键词】肺脏超声；儿童；重症肺炎；肺脏超声评分；临床疗效     

Validity of SMART-COP score in prognosis and severity of community acquired pneumonia in the emergency department

BackgroundDetermining prognosis in community acquired pneumonia (CAP), is very important. Many scores are introduced up to now for prediction of pneumonia prognosis like SMART-COP.ObjectiveTo evaluate validity of SMART-COP score in prognosis and severity of CAP in emergency department (ED).MethodsAll patients older than 18 years old with clinical suspicion of CAP (meeting the inclusion criteria), were enrolled in our study. In this prospective study, patients were admitted to the ED of a tertiary referral center. Hospital length of stay, rate of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, mortality rate, number of intensive respiratory or vasopressor support (IRVS) use, patients' SMART-COP scores and all demographic data were recorded. Validity of SMART-COP in the prediction of IRVS rate and its correlation with other variables were determined.ResultsIn this study, 47.6% and 52.4% of patients were females and males respectively. The mean age of patients was 68.13 ± 16.60 years old. The mean hospital length of stay was 13.49 ± 5.62 days. Of all patients entered in our study, 55 cases (38.5%) needed ICU admission, 29 cases (20.3%) were expired within 1 month and 44 cases (30.8%) needed IRVS during their treatment. SMART-COP ≥5 (high risk CAP) accurately predicted the rate of ICU admission, one-month mortality and IRVS need (p-value = 0.001).ConclusionsSMART-COP≥5 had a high sensitivity and specificity in the prediction of patients' prognosis with severe CAP in the ED.     

家庭群居爆发型新型冠状病毒肺炎的临床与胸部HRCT表现

目的 探讨家庭群居爆发型新型冠状病毒肺炎（简称"新冠肺炎"）（novel coronavirus pneumonia，NCP）的临床与胸部HRCT表现特点。方法 收集2020年2月3所医院经核酸检测阳性确诊的新冠肺炎患者10例（4个家庭），其中男性6例（中位年龄60.5岁），女性4例（中位年龄59岁）。所有患者均接受胸部CT扫描并行薄层HRCT重建，由两名10年以上工作经验放射科医生共同阅片分析新冠肺炎HRCT病变发生部位、形态、分布、密度等特点，以及治疗前后HRCT征象变化。并收集临床和实验室指标进行分析和总结。结果 本组4个家庭中首例确诊病例均有武汉确诊病例或武汉疫区接触史，4例为输入型病例（占40%），平均潜伏期5 d。实验室检查中5例（50%）外周血白细胞总数降低，4例（40%）淋巴细胞明显降低；8例（80%）C-反应蛋白增高，10例（100%）乳酸脱氢酶增高。10例（100%）患者胸部CT均有阳性表现，其中7例（70%）表现为双肺散在分布磨玻璃密度影（ground glass opacity，GGO），病变界限大多清楚。8例（80%）累及多个肺叶，2例（20%）为单肺叶病变。绝大多数病灶位于胸膜下和肺外周处，以双肺下叶为著。5例患者（50%）病变内可见细支气管充气征，9例患者（90%）病变内可见增粗细小血管影。7例患者（70%）治疗后复查胸部CT，3例（30%）原肺内胸膜下病变出现不同程度实变及纤维化，2例（20%）实变影转变为GGO，1例（10%）原肺内GGO消失，又出现新发GGO，1例（10%）病变范围有增大。结论 新冠肺炎具有家庭群居爆发的特点，均可有输入性病例，潜伏期较短，其胸部HRCT表现具有一定特征性，且有助于治疗后患者病变动态观察；结合流行病学和实验室检查有助于对NCP做出临床诊断和提供疫情防控的可靠依据。     

养阴清热化瘀方对急性放射性肺炎大鼠TLR-4/NF-κB信号通路的影响

目的:探讨养阴清热化瘀方对大鼠急性放射性肺炎的防护作用及可能机制。方法:采用随机数字表法将48只雌性Wistar大鼠随机分为空白对照组(NC)、模型组(MD)、养阴清热化瘀方提前干预组(YHF-EI)及养阴清热化瘀方组(YHF-ST),分别于照射后4周时采集血清及取出右肺。观察大鼠的一般情况,应用HE染色观察肺组织病理改变,ELISA法检测血清中含量, RT-PCR和Western-blotting法分别检测肺组织内TLR4、NF-κB p65 mRNA和蛋白的水平。结果:养阴清热化瘀方能显著减轻大鼠放射性肺炎的炎症表现; 与空白对照组比较,血清中TNF-α、IL-6、TGF-β的含量升高,TLR4和NF-κB p65 mRNA转录活性增强,肺组织中TLR4和NF-κB p65的蛋白表达水平升高; 与模型组比较,两组养阴清热化瘀方组血清中TNF-α、IL-6、TGF-β的含量降低,TLR4和NF-κB p65 mRNA转录活性下降,肺组织中TLR4和NF-κB p65的蛋白表达水平降低。结论:养阴清热化瘀方可能通过抑制“TLR4/NF-κB”信号通路,从而抑制TNF-α、IL-6、TGF-β的产生,起到抵抗放射性肺炎的发生,从而发挥放射防护作用。     

2019冠状病毒病(COVID-19)不同临床分型患者胸部CT影像学特征

目的: 探讨2019冠状病毒病（COVID-19）不同临床分型患者的胸部CT影像学特征。方法: 收集经核酸检测确诊为COVID-19的患者67例，根据《新型冠状病毒感染肺炎诊疗方案（试行第六版）》对患者进行临床分型，其中轻型3例，普通型35例，重型22例，危重型7例。分析和比较不同临床分型患者的胸部CT影像学特征。结果: 轻型患者胸部CT影像学检查无明显异常。普通型患者中，单发病灶3例（8.6%），多发病灶32例（91.4%）；重型患者中，单发病灶1例（4.5%），多发病灶21例（95.5%）；危重型患者均为多发病灶。普通型患者胸部CT影像以实性斑片影伴晕征为主要表现（18/35，51.4%）；重型患者以条索影伴磨玻璃影为主要表现（7/22，31.8%）；以实变影为主要表现共7例，全部为重型或危重型患者。结论: COVID-19不同临床分型患者胸部CT影像学有特征性表现，以实变影为主要病灶的影像学特征可作为重型和危重型患者的指征之一。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎的中西医防治研究进展

新型冠状病毒肺炎(简称新冠肺炎)归属中医"疫病",主要病位在肺,主要病机为"湿、毒",治疗上解毒化湿贯穿始终。新冠肺炎的主要诊断方法为核酸检测,《新型冠状病毒肺炎诊疗方案(试行第七版)》新增加了血清学检测。中医药在新冠肺炎的预防方面具有很大优势,如中医预防方、香囊、针灸、中国传统功法、食疗、足浴、熏蒸等。在新冠肺炎的治疗过程中,中西医结合疗法效果明显,在缓解患者早期临床症状,减少患者轻症向重症、重症向危重症转化的发生率方面具有重要价值。目前尚无治疗新冠肺炎的特效药,对新冠肺炎的认识尚不完整,因此,文章从新冠肺炎的诊断、预防和治疗3个角度出发,探讨了对新冠肺炎中西医方面的认识,为进一步明确新冠肺炎的诊疗提供参考。