Relationship between nosocomial infection and mortality in a neurology intensive care unit in Turkey

Few previous studies have evaluated the relationship between nosocomial infection and mortality in a neurology intensive care unit (ICU). In this study, patients treated for more than 24h in the neurology ICU of the Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Turkey were followed until death or two days after discharge by prospective daily surveillance. The study period was 14 months. One hundred and sixty-nine ICU-acquired infections occurred in 74 (38.9%) of 190 patients during 2006 patient-days. The overall rate of ICU-acquired nosocomial infection was 88.9/100 patients and 84.2/1000 patient-days. While the overall mortality rate was 60%, mortality in patients with nosocomial infections was 69%. In univariate analysis, infection (nosocomial and community-acquired) (P=0.002), nosocomial infection (P<0.05), mechanical ventilation (P<0.0001), presence of two or more underlying diseases (P=0.01), parenteral nutrition (P<0.0001), steroid treatment (P=0.003) and a low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score (P=0.0001) were identified as risk factors for mortality. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed nosocomial infection (P<0.05), mechanical ventilation (P=0.009), the presence of two or more underlying diseases (P<0.05) and a low GCS score (P=0.0001) to be risk factors for ICU mortality. It was concluded that nosocomial infection increases the risk of mortality by a factor of 1.69. The impact of nosocomial infection on mortality in our ICU was higher in patients with high GCS scores and patients aged between 66 and 75 years. In particular, nosocomial infection increased mortality among patients with less severe illnesses.     

Association between metabolic syndrome and mortality in patients with COVID-19: A nationwide cohort study

ObjectivesWe investigated the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and mortality among coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients in Korea.MethodsWe analyzed 3876 individuals aged ≥ 20 years who were confirmed with COVID-19 from January 1 to June 4, 2020 based on the Korea National Health Insurance Service (NHIS)-COVID-19 database and had undergone health examination by NHIS between 2015 and 2017. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were performed.ResultsOf total participants, the prevalence of MetS was 21.0% (n = 815). During 58.6 days of mean follow-up, 3.1 % (n = 120) of the participants died. Compared to individuals without MetS, COVID-19 patients with MetS had a significantly increased mortality risk after adjusting for confounders in total participants (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.68, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.14–2.47) and women (HR: 2.41, 95 % CI: 1.17–4.96). A low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in total participants (HR: 1.63, 95 % CI: 1.12–2.37) and hyperglycemia in women (HR: 1.97, 95 % CI: 1.01–3.84) was associated with higher mortality risk. The mortality risk increased as the number of MetS components increased among total participants and women (P for trend = 0.009 and 0.016, respectively). In addition, MetS groups had higher mortality risk in aged ≥ 60 years (HR: 1.60, 95 % CI: 1.07–2.39), and never-smokers (2.08, 1.21–3.59).ConclusionsThe presence of MetS and greater number of its components were associated with increased mortality risks particularly in female patients with COVID-19. Managing MetS may contribute to better outcomes of COVID-19.     

Mortality and gram-negative rod bacteraemia in the intensive care unit

This study identified 37 intensive care unit (ICU) patients with gram-negative rod (GNR) bacteraemia. The sources, causative organisms and mortality of gram-negative bacteraemia were consistent with historical series. Antibiotic resistance among well-described species with a propensity for antimicrobial resistance was the most common reason for ineffective antibiotic administration. This study emphasizes the importance of antibiotic resistance in antimicrobial selection and the power of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation criteria for predicting patient mortality.     

Visceral adipose tissue area predicts intensive care unit admission in COVID-19 patients

We retrospectively investigated, in 62 consecutive hospitalised COVID-19 patients (aged 70 ± 14 years, 40 males), the prognostic value of CT-derived subcutaneous adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) metrics, testing them in four predictive models for admission to intensive care unit (ICU), with and without pre-existing comorbidities. Multivariate logistic regression identified VAT score as the best ICU admission predictor (odds ratios 4.307–12.842). A non-relevant contribution of comorbidities at receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under the curve 0.821 for the CT-based model, 0.834 for the one including comorbidities) highlights the potential one-stop-shop prognostic role of CT-derived lung and adipose tissue metrics.     

Tocilizumab as treatment for COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUNDThe majority of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have good prognoses, but some develop a critical illness that can lead to death. Evidence shows severe acute respiratory syndrome is closely related to the induced cytokine storm. Interleukin-6 is a key player; its role in systemic inflammation is well known.AIMTo evaluate the effect of tocilizumab (TCZ), an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist, on the outcomes for patients with COVID-19 pneumonia.METHODSPubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Web of Science, MedRxiv, Science Direct, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to 9^th June 2020 for observational or prospective studies reporting results of hospitalized adult patients with COVID-19 infection treated with TCZ. Effect sizes were reported as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and an OR less than 1 was associated with a better outcome in those treated with TCZ.RESULTSOverall 13476 patients (33 studies; n = 3264 received TCZ) with COVID-19 pneumonia and various degree of severity were included. Outcome was improved with TCZ. In the primary analysis (n = 19 studies reporting data), mortality was reduced in patients treated with TCZ (OR = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.47-0.87; P < 0.01). In 9 studies where risk of death with TCZ use was controlled for other variables mortality was reduced by 57% (OR = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.27-0.7; P < 0.01). Intensive care need (mechanical ventilation) was also reduced (OR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.14-0.89; P = 0.02).CONCLUSIONIn COVID-19-infected patients treated with TCZ, outcome may be improved compared to those not treated with TCZ.     

The Association between Nutritional Status and In-Hospital Mortality of COVID-19 in Critically-Ill Patients in the ICU

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The impact of poor nutritional status on increased mortality and prolonged ICU (intensive care unit) stay in critically ill patients is well-documented. This study aims to assess how nutritional status and BMI (body mass index) affected in-hospital mortality in critically ill COVID-19 patients Methods: We conducted a retrospective study and analysed medical records of 286 COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit of the University Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw (Poland). Results: A total of 286 patients were analysed. In the sample group, 8% of patients who died had a BMI within the normal range, 46% were overweight, and 46% were obese. There was a statistically significantly higher death rate in men (73%) and those with BMIs between 25.0–29.9 (p = 0.011). Nonsurvivors had a statistically significantly higher HF (Heart Failure) rate (p = 0.037) and HT (hypertension) rate (p < 0.001). Furthermore, nonsurvivors were statistically significantly older (p < 0.001). The risk of death was higher in overweight patients (HR = 2.13; p = 0.038). Mortality was influenced by higher scores in parameters such as age (HR = 1.03; p = 0.001), NRS2002 (nutritional risk score, HR = 1.18; p = 0.019), PCT (procalcitonin, HR = 1.10; p < 0.001) and potassium level (HR = 1.40; p = 0.023). Conclusions: Being overweight in critically ill COVID-19 patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation increases their risk of death significantly. Additional factors indicating a higher risk of death include the patient’s age, high PCT, potassium levels, and NRS ≥ 3 measured at the time of admission to the ICU.     

Beneficial of adding Tocilizumab to standard care in critical forms of Covid-19 pneumonia: Study on paired series

Introduction: Tocilizumab (TCZ), a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptors, has been tried in various studies as a Covid-19 therapy with controversial results. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of adding TCZ to standard care (SC) in critical Covid-19 patients. Methods: it was designed retrospectively as a comparative study on two paired series of critical patients affected with Covid-19: the 1^st group received TCZ plus SC versus a 2^nd group which received only SC. The matching criteria were age, sex and severity score and the matching was based on the propensity score matching (PSM) by the nearest neighbor. Outcomes were: survival, mechanical ventilation (MV) and nosocomial infections. Results: Ninety patients were included by pairing estimated successful (PSM > 0.5 in more than 50% in each group for all matching criteria). 55.5% of SC group progressed to stage 3-acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) versus 31% of TCZ+SC patients (p=0.03). No effect of TCZ was found on mortality (49% in each group, p=1) nor on MV use (p=0.67). ICU stay was more prolonged in TCZ+SC group (16 versus 8 days, p <10^-3). The administration of TCZ induced a significant decrease in CRP but not changed the IL-6 dosage. Nosocomial infections occurred in 18 (40%) of TCZ+SC group comparatively to 15 (33,5%) of SC group, p=0.66. Conclusion: Tocilizumab reduced the risk of progression to severe ARDS probably due to its immune-modulating properties. But no beneficial effect was found on survival or on the use of ventilation.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎与吸烟的相关性研究进展

目的 着重从新型冠状病毒肺炎（Coronavirus disease 2019 ,COVID-19）患者的吸烟率、吸烟对COVID-19患者预后的影响、吸烟与严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2（Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,SARS-CoV-2）感染机制这三个层面阐述了COVID-19与吸烟的最新潜在关系,为COVID-19与吸烟关系的进一步研究提供理论参考。方法 提取世界卫生组织报道的COVID-19最新资料,检索PubMed和中国知网数据库2000年至2021年间收录的与吸烟和COVID-19相关的文章进行综述。结果 吸烟的COVID-19患者发展为重症和出现死亡的风险更高,但关于COVID-19在吸烟者中的发病率是否比非吸烟者高,即吸烟是否会增加SARS-CoV-2感染风险,尚无定论和结论。结论 目前关于COVID-19与吸烟的研究仍处于初级阶段,在将来需要完善更多的分子、细胞水平实验和进行更严谨的调查研究,这将使COVID-19患者获益,尤其是吸烟的COVID-19患者。     

急诊重症监护病房呼吸机相关性肺炎患者的致病菌分布及耐药分析

目的 观察急诊重症监护病房(EICU)机械通气患者呼吸机相关性肺炎的致病菌及耐药情况,为临床治疗提供依据.方法 收集2007-2009年EICU发生呼吸机相关性肺炎的机械通气患者的痰培养结果和致病菌的耐药情况.结果 在102例机械通气患者中,发生呼吸机相关性肺炎70例,发病率68.6%.检出致病菌157株,其中革兰阴性菌92株(58.6%),革兰阳性菌35株(22.3%),真菌30株(19.1%).铜绿假单胞菌和耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌各22株(各占14.0%),嗜麦芽窄食假单胞菌21株(13.4%),鲍曼不动杆菌17株(10.8%).在70例呼吸机相关性肺炎患者中,单一致病菌感染11例,混合感染59例(84.3%),其中31例为2种致病菌感染,28例为3种致病菌感染.结论 EICU呼吸机相关性肺炎患者中最常见的致病菌为铜绿假单胞菌、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌、嗜麦芽窄食假单胞菌和鲍曼不动杆菌.真菌感染有上升趋势,但仍以白色念珠菌为主.致病菌存在多重耐药和广泛耐药的情况.     

新型冠状病毒肺炎患者死亡风险列线图模型的构建与验证

目的构建列线图模型以预测新型冠状病毒病2019(COVID-19)的死亡风险,以早期筛选死亡高危患者。 方法收集2020年1月至2020年4月武汉大学人民医院(东院)和2022年4月至2022年5月上海市第九人民医院(北院)收治COVID-19患者的临床资料。以武汉大学人民医院患者(166例)作为训练集,上海市第九人民医院患者(52例)作为验证集。采用先单因素后多因素Logistic回归分析确定死亡的独立危险因素,应用R语言构建列线图模型。采用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)、C指数及校准曲线评估列线图模型的预测准确性及判断能力,决策曲线分析评估模型的临床应用价值。通过验证集对模型进行外部验证。 结果本研究共纳入重型/危重型COVID-19患者218例,其中67例(30.73%)死亡,多因素Logistic回归分析显示,≥3种基础疾病、APACHE Ⅱ评分(5~40分)、中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞(0~90)、乳酸(0~16mmol/L)均是死亡的独立危险因素。ROC曲线分析显示,训练集的曲线下面积(AUC)为0.869(95%CI：0.811~0.927),验证集AUC为0.797(95%CI：0.671~0.924),训练集与验证集校准曲线经Hosmer-Lemeshow拟合优度检验(P＝0.473,P＝0.421)。临床决策曲线分析表明,该列线图预测模型的临床应用价值高。 结论本研究构建COVID-19患者死亡风险列线图模型预测效能良好,可个体化、可视化、图形化预测,有助于医师早期做出合适临床决策及诊疗。     

重症新型冠状病毒肺炎患者死亡风险因素研究

目的 分析重症新冠病毒肺炎住院期间死亡患者临床及实验室特点,研究死亡相关危险因素,为进一步制定新冠病毒肺炎防治策略及优化医疗资源配置提供理论依据。 方法 回顾性收集武汉市两家三甲医院重症新冠病毒肺炎患者一般临床资料、实验室检查指标,通过多因素logistic回归分析死亡相关危险因素。 结果 1002例重症新冠病毒肺炎患者中,死亡142例,健康出院860例,高血压（36.7%）及糖尿病（15.3%）是最常合并的基础疾病。多因素logistic回归分析提示:高龄（OR=1.07,95%CI: 1.04～1.09）、 中性粒细胞/淋巴细胞比值（NLR）（OR=1.10,95%CI: 1.06～1.13）、降钙素原（PCT）大于0.5ng/ml（OR=2.17,95%CI: 1.09～4.31）、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）大于300U/L（OR=2.20,95%CI: 1.23～3.91）、高敏肌钙蛋白I大于0.1ng/ml（OR=2.30,95%CI: 1.12～5.11）及C-反应蛋白（CRP）大于30mg/L（OR=3.33,95%CI: 1.95～5.71）均是重症新冠病毒肺炎死亡的独立危险因素。结论 高龄、NLR、PCT大于0.5ng/ml、LDH大于300U/L、高敏肌钙蛋白I大于0.1ng/ml及CRP大于30mg/L等入院指标为重症患者早期死亡危险因素,密切关注这些危险因素可帮助临床医务人员进行疾病死亡风险评估及判断预后。     

新型冠状病毒肺炎轻症患者进展为重症的危险因素分析

目的 探讨新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID - 19）患者由轻型/普通型进展至重型/危重型的早期危险因素,以指导临床救治。方法 回顾分析成都市公共卫生临床医疗中心所收治的98例COVID - 19患者的临床资料。先采用单因素分析进行独立样本t检验,后将有统计学意义的指标纳入多因素logistic回归分析,最后绘制受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线,评估各项指标的预测价值。 结果 98例COVID - 19患者中共31例进展为重型/危重型。单因素分析显示:年龄（t = - 5.048,P＜0.001）、白蛋白（t = 8.024,P＜0.001）、白细胞计数（t = - 2.104,P = 0.041）、CRP（t = - 3.896,P＜0.001）、血乳酸（t = - 3.407,P = 0.001）、氧合指数（t = 4.348,P＜0.001）与其进展相关。多因素logistic回归分析及ROC 曲线下面积（AUC）结果显示:白蛋白［优势比（OR） = 0.690,95%可信区间（95%CI） = 0.975～1.073,P = 0.002;AUC为0.883,P＜0.001,临界值为39.45 g/L］;血乳酸（OR = 0.424,95%CI = 0.189～0.948,P = 0.037;AUC为0.726,P＜0.001,临界值为1.885 mmol/L）;氧合指数（OR = 0.991,95%CI = 0.983～0.998,P = 0.018;AUC为0.791,P＜0.001,临界值为334.5）。结论 白蛋白降低、血乳酸升高、氧合指数下降是轻型/普通型COVID - 19患者进展为重型/危重型的独立危险因素,且具有较大的早期预测价值,可为临床早期识别COVID - 19高危患者提供参考。     

重症监护病房常见病原菌调查分析

目的对重症监护病房(ICU)住院患者各类感染性标本病原菌分布和药物敏感性进行回顾性调查分析,为指导临床合理用药,减少耐药菌产生,及时采取有效的隔离措施,降低医院感染,提高医疗质量提供指导依据。方法对2009年4月-2010年3月ICU住院患者各类感染性标本分离的328株病原菌资料进行回顾性分析。结果 ICU患者共送检标本1320份,阳性328份,阳性率24.85%,主要来源于痰液、尿液、血液,分别占81.40%、5.18%、5.18%;医院感染病原菌以革兰阴性菌为主,占71.95%,革兰阳性菌占16.16%,真菌占11.89%;大肠埃希菌中产ESBLs的菌株占78.95%,金黄色葡萄球菌中MRSA占97.67%。结论重症监护病房的病原菌以铜绿假单胞菌、鲍氏不动杆菌以及金黄色葡萄球菌为主,并且对多种药物耐药,临床上要引起高度重视。     

北京65例新型冠状病毒肺炎患者临床特征分析

目的　分析新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）确诊病例的流行病学、临床症状及实验室检查指标,为全面总结COVID-19的临床特征与正确评价患者预后提供依据。方法　采用回顾性研究方法,以2020年1月20日—2月29日期间本中心收治的65例COVID-19患者为研究对象,根据临床症状将患者分为轻型组（18例）,普通型组（31例）和重/危重型组（16例）3组,对所有患者流行病学、临床症状及实验室检查指标进行分析。结果　65例COVID-19患者中男37例（57%）,女28例（43%）;年龄3～85岁,平均（46.63±18.63）岁。从出现症状到入院平均时长为（7.00±5.02）d,住院时间为（17.07±10.51）d。3组间及两两分组之间年龄比较差异均具有统计学意义（P均＜0.05）,即年龄越大的患者病情越重。相较于轻型组和普通型组患者,重/危重型组患者合并有更多的基础疾病。COVID-19患者临床症状以发热（75%）、咳嗽（57%）、肌痛或乏力（43%）为主,其余症状还包括咳痰,头痛,胸闷、气短及腹泻等。24例（37%）有武汉暴露史,19例（29%）有家族聚集性接触史。实验室检查结果显示：3组患者WBC和淋巴细胞绝对计数降低;D-二聚体,CRP,IL-6及ESR水平升高。在重/危重型组患者中,8例（50%）出现淋巴细胞绝对计数下降,9例（9/14,64%）出现D-二聚体水平升高。此外,重/危重型组患者中,CRP、IL-6、降钙素原和ESR水平都显著升高。COVID-19患者住院时间与淋巴细胞绝对计数呈负相关。结论　COVID-19患者的临床特点复杂,一般以发热、咳嗽、肌痛或乏力为主要症状。与轻型组和普通型组患者相比,重/危重型组患者淋巴细胞绝对计数减少和炎症相关的指标上升更显著,免疫平衡失调,可能影响患者的疾病进展、恢复和预后。     

小儿重症监护病房多重耐药菌分析与控制措施

目的分析重症监护病房中小儿多重耐药菌的情况,并总结有效的临床控制措施。方法选取该院在近期内收治的578例重症监护病房的患儿,对入选患儿进行多重耐药菌的检测分析,并总结有效的临床控制措施。结果本组578例患儿中,合计检出51例患儿发生了多重耐药菌的感染,占患儿总数的8.82%;检出的多重耐药菌中以肺炎克雷伯菌最多,占35.29%(18/51),其次依次为鲍曼不动杆菌27.45%(14/51)、耐甲氧西林凝固酶阴性葡萄球菌25.49%(13/51)、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌11.76%(6/51)。结论重症监护病房中小儿患者发生多重耐药菌感染主要以肺炎克雷伯菌为主,引起小儿患者发生多重耐药菌感染的因素主要以抗生素药物的不合理应用为主,临床应加强监测并合理对患儿适时抗生素治疗,这样可以有效的降低多重耐药菌感染的发生率。