Study of nosocomial urinary tract infections in a pediatric intensive care unit

Nosocomial urinary tract infections (NUTI) are one of the commonest infections in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). This prospective study was conducted in PICU between January and December 2008 to study the incidence, organisms and risk factors for NUTI. A total of 287 consecutive patients with >48 h PICU stay and sterile admission urine culture, were enrolled and monitored for NUTI (defined as per CDC criteria 1988) till discharge or death. Patients with and without NUTI were compared with respect to demographics, PRISM scores, primary diagnosis, nutritional status and device utilization to identify risk factors. Outcome was defined as length of PICU stay and survival or death. There were 69 episodes of UTI in 60 (20.9%) patients; incidence being 18 episodes/1000 patient days. Candida (52.1%) and Enterococcus (13%) were commonest followed by Escherichia coli (11.6%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.1%). Catheterization and duration of catheterization were the risk factors for NUTI (p < 0.001). The median length of PICU stay was significantly longer in NUTI group compared to non-NUTI group (19 vs. 8 days, p = 0.001). Mortality rates in both the groups were similar.     

Evaluation of the outcome of patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit in Alexandria using the pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the use of pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) score to predict the patient outcome in Alexandria Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The study included all admissions to a tertiary care teaching hospital for 13 months. All patients were subjected to thorough history taking and clinical examination. The PRISM score was obtained within 8 h from admission (including 14 parameters with 34 variables). The primary affected system, referral site, number of organ failure on admission, length of hospital stay (LOS) and outcome of patients were recorded. The bed occupancy rate, turnover rate, average LOS, total and adjusted death rates were also recorded. Results showed that the total and adjusted mortality rates were 50 and 38 per cent respectively (n = 205/406 and 125/326, respectively). The mean PRISM score on admission was 26. Non-survivors showed a significantly higher mean score compared with survivors (36 vs. 17). Non-survivors compared with survivors, were significantly younger (12 vs. 23 months), had shorter LOS (3.8 vs. 5.3 days), three or four organ system failure on admission (77 vs. 25 per cent, and 9 vs. 0 per cent of patients) and had significantly higher percentage of sepsis syndrome and neurological diseases, as the primary affected system (20 vs. 10 per cent and 26 vs. 16 per cent). The PRISM score showed a significant positive correlation only with the number of organ failure on admission (r = 0.8104; p < 0.001). The cut-off point of survival was a PRISM score 26 with expected/observed ratio of 1.05 for non-survivors with 91.6 per cent accuracy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that PRISM score, LOS, and the primary affected system were relevant predictors of patient outcome in PICU. In conclusion, the PRISM score is proved to be a good predictor of outcome for children admitted to a PICU with a cut-off point of 26. The mortality in the PICU is affected by LOS, primary system affected, and number of organ failure on admission.     

重症监护室免疫抑制和免疫健全脓毒症患儿28天内死亡因素的病例对照研究

目的评估伴免疫抑制相关基础疾病的儿童重症监护室脓毒症患儿入PICU 28 d内死亡及其危险因素。方法病例对照研究。回顾性收集复旦大学附属儿科医院（我院）因脓毒症/脓毒性休克收入PICU的患儿临床资料,分为免疫抑制组和免疫健全组,考察免疫抑制患儿入PICU 28 d内死亡的危险因素。结果2015年12月1日至2018年12月31日我院PICU出院诊断脓毒症连续病例385例,排除入科后24 h内死亡和PICU获得性脓毒症病例,251例PICU脓毒症/脓毒性休克患儿进入本文分析,免疫抑制组110例 (43.8%),免疫健全组141例。与免疫健全组比较,免疫抑制组以住院转入患儿（70%）为主,PICU维持治疗需求（血管活性药物、有创/无创机械通气）高、24 h PRISM评分高,不明确感染部位比例高,免疫抑制组接受ECMO治疗者全部死亡,持续肾脏代替治疗（CRRT）存活率为17.4%,入PICU第28 d病死率69.1%。免疫健全组和免疫抑制组28 d内存活和死亡患儿比较,除脓毒性休克、有创机械通气、CRRT、PRISM Ⅲ评分、乳酸>2 mmol·L-1比例、PICU住院时间、总住院时间、脱离PICU时间、24 h内放弃治疗、总放弃治疗差异有统计学意义外,应用血管活性药物在免疫抑制组入PICU 28 d内存活和死亡因素比较中差异有统计学意义。多因素COX比例风险模型分析显示,PRISM Ⅲ评分、有创机械通气、乳酸>2 mmol·L-1是免疫抑制组和免疫健全组入PICU 28 d内病死率的共同危险因素,休克是免疫抑制组入PICU 28 d内病死率的危险因素。结论重症监护室脓毒症患儿病死率较高;伴免疫抑制相关基础疾病的脓毒症患儿病死率更高;PRISMⅢ评分、48 h内有创机械通气和入院乳酸值(>2 mmol·L-1)是其预后的重要危险因素。应建立早期预警指标,对免疫抑制患儿进行早期识别,早期干预,可能改善预后。     

One year study of bacterial and fungal nosocomial infections among patients in pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Alexandria

A 1-year prospective and observational study included all admissions (n=216) until 48 h after discharge to Alexandria PICU between first of May 2003 and end of April 2004. Cultures for bacteria and fungi and antibiotic sensitivity tests (19 antibiotic using Bauer-Kirby disc diffusion method) were obtained (blood, stool, urine and cerebrospinal fluid, if needed) and repeated on suspicion of NIs. All cannulae, endotracheal tube (ET) aspirates and tips, nasogastric tubes and different catheters were cultured. All PICU health care workers (HCWs) were subjected to throat and under-finger nails cultures as well as inanimate objects, both on bimonthly basis. The referral place (ward or emergency), PRISM III score, length of stay (LOS) and fate were recorded. Amongst those patients whose age ranged from 1 to 23 months, 23 per cent had NIs with infection rates of 40/1000 days. Significantly high rates of mortality, LOS and PRISM III score were encountered among patients with NIs (52 per cent vs 30 per cent; 9.4+/-4.8 vs 5.4+/-2.2 days; 14.4+/-7 vs 11.8+/-6 respectively). The descending order of frequency of NIs was blood stream infection (BSI) (47 per cent), urinary tract infection (UTI) (28 per cent), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) (16 per cent) and meningitis (9 per cent). Gr-ve bacilli accounted for 76.7 per cent; Gr+ve cocci 13.3 per cent (with satisfactory sensitivity to cefepime, imipenem and meropenem) and Candida albicans 10 per cent of all NIs. The rate of NIs/1000 device days were: 18.7 per cent for BSI, 10.9 per cent for VAP and 25.5 per cent for UTI. Vulnerable age groups were >6 m for VAP and <6 m for meningitis. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified LOS, PRISM III score and referral from wards a predictors of NI acquisition (odd ratio and 95 per cent confidence interval: 1.537, 1.423-1.659; 1.073, 1.041-1.105 and 0.269, 0.178-0.406 respectively). Bimonthly cultures for HCWs isolated coagulase-ve Staphylococci, while inanimate objects isolated diphtheroids and Candida albicans. CONCLUSION: NIs rate was high (23 per cent) mainly due to severity of condition on admission as shown by high PRISM III score value, the high PRISM III score, LOS and referral from wards were predictors of acquisition of NIs and there is a high incidence of Candida albicans infection (10 per cent of NIs).     

重症监护室免疫抑制和免疫健全脓毒症患儿28天内死亡因素的病例对照研究

目的评估伴免疫抑制相关基础疾病的儿童重症监护室脓毒症患儿入PICU 28 d内死亡及其危险因素。方法病例对照研究。回顾性收集复旦大学附属儿科医院（我院）因脓毒症/脓毒性休克收入PICU的患儿临床资料，分为免疫抑制组和免疫健全组，考察免疫抑制患儿入PICU 28 d内死亡的危险因素。结果2015年12月1日至2018年12月31日我院PICU出院诊断脓毒症连续病例385例，排除入科后24 h内死亡和PICU获得性脓毒症病例，251例PICU脓毒症/脓毒性休克患儿进入本文分析，免疫抑制组110例 (43.8%)，免疫健全组141例。与免疫健全组比较，免疫抑制组以住院转入患儿（70%）为主，PICU维持治疗需求（血管活性药物、有创/无创机械通气）高、24 h PRISM评分高，不明确感染部位比例高，免疫抑制组接受ECMO治疗者全部死亡，持续肾脏代替治疗（CRRT）存活率为17.4%，入PICU第28 d病死率69.1%。免疫健全组和免疫抑制组28 d内存活和死亡患儿比较，除脓毒性休克、有创机械通气、CRRT、PRISM Ⅲ评分、乳酸>2 mmol·L-1比例、PICU住院时间、总住院时间、脱离PICU时间、24 h内放弃治疗、总放弃治疗差异有统计学意义外，应用血管活性药物在免疫抑制组入PICU 28 d内存活和死亡因素比较中差异有统计学意义。多因素COX比例风险模型分析显示，PRISM Ⅲ评分、有创机械通气、乳酸>2 mmol·L-1是免疫抑制组和免疫健全组入PICU 28 d内病死率的共同危险因素，休克是免疫抑制组入PICU 28 d内病死率的危险因素。结论重症监护室脓毒症患儿病死率较高；伴免疫抑制相关基础疾病的脓毒症患儿病死率更高；PRISMⅢ评分、48 h内有创机械通气和入院乳酸值(>2 mmol·L-1)是其预后的重要危险因素。应建立早期预警指标，对免疫抑制患儿进行早期识别，早期干预，可能改善预后。     

儿童重症监护室主动出院患儿的多中心前瞻性队列研究

背景：在中国PICU,患儿主动出院是医生常面对的无奈和棘手的问题。 目的：探讨PICU主动出院患儿死亡与存活的临床特征,并分析影响主动出院后死亡的因素。 设计：多中心前瞻性队列研究。 方法：以2016年8月1日至2017年7月31日华东地区8家儿童专科医院PICU主动出院的连续病例为队列人群,以主动出院后28 d内电话随访的存活和死亡为队列结局终点,采集主动出院患儿人群特征、原因、病种、用于小儿危重病例评分（PCIS）和小儿死亡危险评分（PRISMⅢ）评价的所有参数。采用Logistic风险模型分析主动出院死亡的影响因素。 主要结局指标：主动出院后28 d内病死率。 结果：8家医院PICU共4 952例进入本文分析,住院病死率56%（279/4 059）。主动出院893例（18.1%）中,男518例（58.0%）,女375例。年龄中位数1.4岁;主动出院后28 d内失访3例,死亡550例（61.6%）,存活340例。主动出院病例农村占比高于城市(62.2% vs 37.8%),主动出院后28 d内死亡病例农村占比高于存活病例（65.0% vs 57.8%）,差异均有统计学意义;主动出院病例死亡病因感染占49.2%,病因不明、肿瘤、先天畸形和遗传代谢分别约占10%。主动出院病例死亡［8(3,15)］与存活［3(0,7)］PRISMⅢ评分差异有统计学意义。对主动出院死亡与在院死亡病例的临床特征行单因素分析,差异有统计学意义的变量进入Logistic回归分析,主动出院的农村病例较城市病例死亡风险增加55%（OR=1.554,95%CI：1.112~2.173,P=0.01）、无医疗保险病例较有医疗保险病例死亡风险增加169%（OR=2.686,95%CI：1.910~3.778,P=0.000）;院前有心肺复苏史的患儿出院死亡风险降低53%（OR=0.467,95%CI：0.271~0.802,P=0.006）,PRISMⅢ每降低1分,出院死亡风险降低4%（OR=0.962,95%CI：0.946~0.978,P=0.000）。 结论：中国华东8家医院PICU狭义病死率56%,广义的病死率16.8%（829/4 959）;居住地为农村、无医疗保险增加了主动出院死亡风险。院前有心肺复苏史能降低主动出院的死亡风险。     

小儿死亡危险评分的临床应用

目的观察小儿死亡危险评分(PRISM评分)与PICU急性危重症患儿预后的关系。方法对2003年2-10月PICU收治急性危重症45例,回顾性评定PRISM评分,并依据评分分组,记录患儿临床资料和住院时间、预后。结果PRISM 评分<15分24例,>15分21例。两组年龄、体质量和院内感染率均无显著差异(P均>0.05)。两组死亡率分别为8.1%(2/ 24例)和38.1%(8/21例),PRISM评分<15分组死亡率明显低于>15分组(x2=4.14 P<0.05)。PRISM>15分组存活病例住院天数(13.2±6.1)d显著长于PRISM<15分组(9.7±8.5)d(t=1.74.P<0.05)。结论PRISM评分越高,死亡率随之增加。PRISM评分增高,患儿住院时间越长。PRISM评分能够准确评估急性危重症病人的严重程度和预后。     

儿童重症监护病房收治意外伤害临床特征及死亡危险因素分析

目的:探讨儿童重症监护病房(PICU)收治意外伤害的临床特征和危险因素。方法:回顾性总结上海交通大学附属儿童医院2017年1月至2019年12月因意外伤害收住PICU的患儿。分存活组和死亡组,比较临床特点与实验室指标的差异,多因素Logistic回归筛选死亡的危险因素和受试者工作特征曲线确定其阈值。结果:(1)意外伤害...     

Simplified PRISM III score and outcome in the pediatric intensive care unit

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the association of the PRISM III (pediatric risk of mortality) score with the infant outcome in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and to determine if this score could be simplified. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was carried out with 170 infants who were consecutively admitted to the PICU. The PRISM III score with 17 physiologic variables was performed during the first 8 h of admission to the unit. Statistical analysis was done with logistic regression, odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and receiver operating curve. The Alfa value was set at 0.05. RESULTS: There were 42 deaths (24.7%). The two main causes of death were septic shock (28.6%) and head trauma (16.7%). The PRISM III score had a sensitivity of 0.71, and a specificity of 0.64 as a mortality predictor. Out of the 17 physiologic variables only four of them were significant: abnormal pupillary reflexes OR 9.9 (95% CI, 3.5-28.4), acidosis OR 3.1 (95% CI, 2.0-4.9), blood urea nitrogen concentration OR 1.03 (95% CI, 1.01-1.04), and white blood cell count OR 1.02 (95% CI, 1.01-1.03). The whole logistic regression model had a coefficient of determination R(2) = 0.219, P < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: In this setting, the PRISM III score had good sensitivity and specificity to predict mortality. This score could be simplified using only the four variables that were significant in this study. This modified PRISM III score could reduce the cost of patient care especially in developing countries PICU.     

Nosocomial infections due to Acinetobacter baumannii in a pediatric intensive care unit in Turkey

The aim of this study is to document the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Acinetobacter baumannii infections in pediatric patients in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Turkey. The ages ranged from 1 month to 16 years with a mean age of 55.5 months, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.5. Ventilator-associated pneumonia (10 patients) was the leading diagnosis, followed by catheter-related blood stream infection (4 patients), and bacteremia and ventilator-associated pneumonia associated with meningitis (1 patient) due to A. baumannii. Mechanical ventilation (93.3%), central venous catheter (73.3%), urinary catheter (93.3%), and broad spectrum antibiotic usage (80%) were the frequently seen risk factors. Neuromuscular (40%) and malignant (26.7%) disorders were the most common underlying diseases. Nosocomial A. baumannii is commonly multidrug-resistant, prolongs the length of stay in the PICU and increases the mortality rates in pediatric critical care.     

Incidence and Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism in Critically Ill Children With Cardiac Disease

Cardiac disease is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children. In this study, we investigated the incidence and risk factors of VTE in critically ill children with cardiac disease, who were prospectively followed-up for VTE after admission to a tertiary care pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Risk factors were compared between VTE cases and (1) patients in the cohort who did not develop VTE and (2) the next three cardiac patients sequentially admitted to the PICU (case control). Forty-one cases of VTE were identified from 1070 admissions (3.8%). Thirty-seven percent of VTE cases were central venous catheter (CVC)–associated, and 56% of cases were intracardiac. Sixty-six percent of patients were receiving anticoagulation at the time of VTE diagnosis. Increased VTE incidence was associated with unscheduled PICU admission, age <6 months, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, increased number of CVCs, increased number of CVC days, higher risk of mortality score, and longer PICU stay. Using logistic regression, VTE was associated with single-ventricle physiology (odds ratio [OR] 11.2, 95% CI 3.0–41.9), widened arterial-to-somatic oxygen saturation gradient (SpO₂–rSO₂ >30) (OR 4.3, 95% CI 1.1–16), and more CVC days (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.04–1.13). Risk factors for VTE in critically ill children with cardiac disease include younger age, single-ventricle cardiac lesions, increased illness severity, unscheduled PICU admission, and complicated hospital course.     

乌鲁木齐市多中心儿童侵袭性念珠菌病临床特征及其血流感染的危险因素分析

目的了解儿童侵袭性念珠菌病的临床特征,探讨念珠菌血流感染的危险因素。方法选取2010年1月至2015年12月乌鲁木齐市5家三级医院确诊或临床诊断的134例侵袭性念珠菌病患儿为研究对象。采用多中心、回顾性研究方法,检测患儿真菌感染类型及构成比,比较念珠菌血流感染组及非血流感染组患儿的临床资料,并应用logistic多因素回归分析探讨念珠菌血流感染的危险因素。结果 134例患儿中分离出134株念珠菌菌株,其中非白色念珠菌占53.0%。侵袭性念珠菌病在PICU及非PICU病区的发生率分别为41.8%、48.5%。血流感染为主(68例,50.7%),其次为尿路感染(45例,33.6%)。念珠菌血流感染组与非血流感组在年龄及广谱抗生素使用率、慢性肾功能不全发生率、心力衰竭发生率、留置尿管率及非白色念珠菌感染率比较中差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。多因素logistic回归分析显示,年龄(1~24个月)(OR=6.027)、非白色念珠菌感染(OR=1.020)是念珠菌血流感染的独立危险因素。结论侵袭性念珠菌病在儿科ICU及非ICU病区发生率基本相同;感染菌株以非白色念珠菌为主;血流感染为最常见的念珠菌感染形式;年龄1~24个月及非白色念珠菌感染患儿发生念珠菌血流感染的风险增加。     

Short‐term and long‐term mortality following pediatric intensive care

Background: The aim of the present study was to examine short‐term and long‐term mortality following discharge from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods: This was a prospective observational study. Data collected consisted of demographics, severity scores, procedures, treatment, need for and duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), length of PICU and hospital stay, and mortality at PICU and hospital discharge, at 3 and 6 months and at 1 and 2 years. Results: A total of 300 patients (196 boys and 104 girls), aged 54.26 ± 49.93 months, were included in the study. Median (interquartile range) Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM III‐24) score was 7 (3–11) and predicted mortality rate was 11.16%. MV rate was 67.3% (58.3% at admission) for 6.54 ± 14.15 days, and length of PICU and hospital stay was 8.85 ± 23.28 days and 20.69 ± 28.64 days, respectively. Mortality rate at discharge was 9.7% and cumulative mortality rate thereafter was 12.7%, 15.0%, 16.7%, 19.0%, and 19.0% at hospital discharge, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, respectively. Significant risk factors of PICU mortality were inotrope use, PRISM III‐24 score >8, MV, arterial and central venous catheterization, nosocomial infection, complications, and cancer. Independent predictors of mortality at discharge were inotrope use and PRISM III‐24 score, whereas predictors of mortality at 2 years were comorbidity and cancer. Conclusions: A 2 year follow‐up period seems sufficient for a comprehensive mortality analysis of PICU patients. Severity of critical illness is the key factor of short‐term mortality, whereas comorbidity is the major determinant of long‐term mortality.     

Prediction of mortality by application of PRISM score in intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: Prediction of mortality by application of Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) patients under Indian circumstances. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: PICU of a tertiary care multi-specialty hospital. METHODS: 100 sick pediatric patients admitted consecutively in PICU were taken for this study. PRISM score was calculated. Hospital outcome was recorded as (died/survived). The predicted death was calculated by the formula: RESULTS: Of 100 patients, 18 died and 82 survived. By PRISM score 49 children had the score of 1-9. The expected death in this group was 10.3% (n = 5.03) and the observed death was 8.2% (n = 4). Among 45 children with the score of 10-19, the expected mortality was 21.2% (n = 9.6) and observed was 24.4% (n = 11). There were 3 patients with the score of 20-29, the expected mortality in this group was 39.3% (n = 1.18) and observed mortality 33.3% (n = 1). There were 3 patients with score > or = 30, observed death 66.3% (n = 2) and expected mortality was 74.7% (n = 2.24). There was no significant difference between expected and observed mortality in any group. (p > 0.5). ROC analysis showed area under the curve of 72%. CONCLUSION: PRISM score has good predictive value in assessing the probability of mortality in relation to children admitted to a PICU under Indian circumstances.     

小儿严重脓毒症并发多器官功能障碍综合征的研究

目的 小儿脓毒症是PICU的常见疾病,具有较高的病死率.本研究旨在了解小儿脓毒症的临床特点及转归,探寻儿童严重脓毒症的死亡危险因素.方法 分析2008年1月至12月收入我院PICU的脓毒症病例,对严重脓毒症患儿作单因素分析,并建立Logistic回归模型,探寻儿童严重脓毒症的死亡危险因素.结果 纳入脓毒症患儿103例,病死率16.5%.严重脓毒症45例,其死亡危险因素是PRISM Ⅲ评分(OR 1.502;95%CI 1.131～1.995)和病程中外周血血小板计数最高值(OR 0.991;95%CI0.982～1.000).小儿严重脓毒症伴随1、2、3、4个及4个以上脏器功能障碍的病死率分别为10.0%、11.1%、44.4%、68.8%,差异具有非常显著性(P＜0.001).最常受累的是心血管系统(75.6%)和呼吸系统(66.7%),严重脓毒症伴发MODS死亡危险因素是呼吸系统(OR 23.179;95%CI2.095～256.522)和肾脏(OR 9.637;95%CI 1.698～54.703)功能受累.结论 小儿严重脓毒症的死亡危险因素是PRISM Ⅲ评分和病程中外周血血小板计数最高值.小儿脓毒症合并MODS提示预后不良,其病死率与发生功能障碍的脏器数目呈正相关,呼吸系统和肾脏功能受累是儿童脓毒症死亡的危险因素.     

Reliability of PRISM and PIM scores in paediatric intensive care.

AIMS: To assess the reliability of mortality risk assessment using the Paediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score and the Paediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) in daily practice. METHODS: Twenty seven physicians from eight tertiary paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) were asked to assess the severity of illness of 10 representative patients using the PRISM and PIM scores. Physicians were divided into three levels of experience: intensivists (>3 years PICU experience, n = 12), PICU fellows (6-30 months of PICU experience, n = 6), and residents (<6 months PICU experience, n = 9). This represents all large PICUs and about half of the paediatric intensivists and PICU fellows working in the Netherlands. RESULTS: Individual scores and predicted mortality risks for each patient varied widely. For PRISM scores the average intraclass correlation (ICC) was 0.51 (range 0.32-0.78), and the average kappa score 0.6 (range 0.28-0.87). For PIM scores the average ICC was 0.18 (range 0.08-0.46) and the average kappa score 0.53 (range 0.32-0.88). This variability occurred in both experienced and inexperienced physicians. The percentage of exact agreement ranged from 30% to 82% for PRISM scores and from 28 to 84% for PIM scores. CONCLUSION: In daily practice severity of illness scoring using the PRISM and PIM risk adjustment systems is associated with wide variability. These differences could not be explained by the physician's level of experience. Reliable assessment of PRISM and PIM scores requires rigorous specific training and strict adherence to guidelines. Consequently, assessment should probably be performed by a limited number of well trained professionals.     

Reliability of PRISM and PIM scores in paediatric intensive care

Aims: To assess the reliability of mortality risk assessment using the Paediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score and the Paediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) in daily practice. Methods: Twenty seven physicians from eight tertiary paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) were asked to assess the severity of illness of 10 representative patients using the PRISM and PIM scores. Physicians were divided into three levels of experience: intensivists (>3 years PICU experience, n = 12), PICU fellows (6–30 months of PICU experience, n = 6), and residents (<6 months PICU experience, n = 9). This represents all large PICUs and about half of the paediatric intensivists and PICU fellows working in the Netherlands. Results: Individual scores and predicted mortality risks for each patient varied widely. For PRISM scores the average intraclass correlation (ICC) was 0.51 (range 0.32–0.78), and the average kappa score 0.6 (range 0.28–0.87). For PIM scores the average ICC was 0.18 (range 0.08–0.46) and the average kappa score 0.53 (range 0.32–0.88). This variability occurred in both experienced and inexperienced physicians. The percentage of exact agreement ranged from 30% to 82% for PRISM scores and from 28 to 84% for PIM scores. Conclusion: In daily practice severity of illness scoring using the PRISM and PIM risk adjustment systems is associated with wide variability. These differences could not be explained by the physician''s level of experience. Reliable assessment of PRISM and PIM scores requires rigorous specific training and strict adherence to guidelines. Consequently, assessment should probably be performed by a limited number of well trained professionals.     

Nosocomial bacteremias in pediatrics]

OBJECTIVES: To identify pathogenic microorganisms responsible for hospital-acquired bloodstream infections and to evaluate the associated risk factors in pediatric units, in a case-control study over 30 months from January 1st 1997 to June 30th 1999. RESULTS: Forty-six of 855 (5.4%) positive blood cultures were attributed to nosocomial infections. They were related to 32 infectious episodes in 28 patients hospitalized for more than 48 hours. The incidence rate was 0.11 per 100 admissions. Gram-positive cocci (n = 14; 38.8%) were the most frequently isolated pathogens (7 cases of Staphylococcus aureus, 5 of coagulase-negative staphylococci), followed by enterobacteria (n = 9; 25%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 5; 13.8%) and yeasts (n = 5; 13.8%). The major risk factors for hospital-acquired bloodstream infections were: length of stay before positive blood culture (32 +/- 51 days in cases vs 15 +/- 43 days in controls, p < 0.01), presence of central venous catheter [odds ratio (OR): 6.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.87-20.42], number of days with central venous catheter (p < 0.001) and parenteral nutrition (OR: 9.44, 95% CI: 2.03-50.05). CONCLUSION: Central venous catheter use, length of stay, parenteral nutrition and particularly intravenous lipids are major risk factors for the acquisition of bloodstream infection in hospitalized children.     

Mortality Risk Prediction by Application of Pediatric Risk of Mortality Scoring System in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Objective

The Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) score is one of the scores used by many pediatricians for prediction of the mortality risk in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Herein, we intend to evaluate the efficacy of PRISM score in prediction of mortality rate in PICU.

Methods

In this cohort study, 221 children admitted during an 18-month period to PICU, were enrolled. PRISM score and mortality risk were calculated. Follow up was noted as death or discharge. Results were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier curve, ROC curve, Log Rank (Mantel-Cox), Logistic regression model using SPSS 15.

Findings

Totally, 57% of the patients were males. Forty seven patients died during the study period. The PRISM score was 0-10 in 71%, 11-20 in 20.4% and 21-30 in 8.6%. PRISM score showed an increase of mortality from 10.2% in 0-10 score patients to 73.8% in 21-30 score ones. The survival time significantly decreased as PRISM score increased (P≤0.001). A 7.2 fold mortality risk was present in patients with score 21-30 compared with score 0-10. ROC curve analysis for mortality according to PRISM score showed an under curve area of 80.3%.

Conclusion

PRISM score is a good predictor for evaluation of mortality risk in PICU.     

Outcome of patients requiring tracheostomy in a pediatric intensive care unit

Abstract Background : Although tracheostomy is a commonly performed procedure, there is a lack of studies in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) setting that describe its association with patient outcome and especially hospital mortality. Our goal was to evaluate the outcome of patients receiving a tracheostomy, while on mechanical ventilation (MV), in a PICU.
Methods : Records of 260 children were reviewed retrospectively regarding PICU mortality, PICU length of stay (PICU LOS), duration of MV and a cost indicator (weighted hospital days; WHD).
Results : Nineteen patients received tracheostomy (7.3%). The mortality of patients submitted to tracheostomy in the longer term was significantly higher compared to patients who were not (52.6% vs . 27.6%; P  = 0.04) despite having a significantly lower severity of illness at admission (Pediatric Risk of Mortality score – PRISM) (10.9 vs . 13.7; P  < 0.001). The mortality of patients without tracheostomy, however, was significantly higher within 30 days (24.8% vs . 5.2%, P  < 0.001). Tracheostomized patients had significantly higher mean PICU LOS (68 days vs . 8 days; P  < 0.001), duration of MV (62 days vs . 4 days; P  < 0.001) and higher WHD (171.5 vs . 21.5; P  < 0.001).
Conclusion : Contrary to findings in critically ill adult patients, ventilated children receiving a tracheostomy had less favorable outcomes compared with non-tracheostomized patients. In view of the greater use of resources, further studies are needed to confirm and to identify the subgroups of mechanically ventilated patients who will benefit most from this procedure.