Mortalidad intrahospitalaria de pacientes con COVID-19 complicados con neumonías bacterianas en asistencia respiratoria mecánica en Cuidados Intensivos de Adultos en un Hospital del Paraguay / In-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19 complicated by bacterial pneumonia on mechanical ventilation in Adult Intensive Care in a Hospital in Paraguay

Introducción: los pacientes con COVID-19 ingresan en mayor proporción a asistencia respiratoria mecánica, aumentando: el riesgo de neumonía asociada a ventilador (NAV) las tasas de mortalidad, los días de permanencia en las unidades de terapia intensiva (UCI) y los costos sanitarios. Objetivo: determinar la Mortalidad intrahospitalaria de pacientes con COVID-19 complicados con neumonías bacterianas en asistencia respiratoria mecánica en Cuidados Intensivos de Adultos en un Hospital del Paraguay durante los años 2020 a 2021. Metodología: estudio analítico de tipo cohorte retrospectiva. Se registraron variables demográficas, comorbilidades, puntajes en scores de gravedad como el APACHE II al ingreso, la cifra más baja de oxigenación durante la internación expresado por la PaO2 / FIO2, días de ventilación, colocación en decúbito prono, traqueotomía, medidas terapéuticas farmacológicas y no farmacológicas, días de internación, así como las complicaciones y la mortalidad. Resultados: fueron incluidos 214 pacientes, 135 ingresaron a asistencia respiratoria mecánica (ARM) de los cuales 58 (42,9 %) desarrollaron NAV, con edad mediana de 52 años (40-60). Los microorganismos de NAV fueron cocos Gram negativos en 98,3 %, incluyendo Acinetobacter baumanii en 46,5 %, Klebsiella pneumoniae en 22,8 %, Pseudomona aeruginosa en 15,5 % y 5,2 % Stenotrophomona maltofilia. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue del 44,8 %. Los menores de 50 años tienen una sobrevida mayor que los mayores (34 días vs 22 días, con p de 0,026). Conclusión: la mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue del 44,8 %. La edad fue un factor de riesgo independiente para la mortalidad en pacientes con NAV, por lo que los profesionales de la salud deben estar atentos a la posibilidad de NAV en pacientes que requieren asistencia respiratoria mecánica, especialmente en pacientes mayores de 50 años.

Introduction: patients with COVID-19 are more likely to require mechanical ventilation, which increases the risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), mortality rates, length of stay in intensive care units (ICUs), and healthcare costs. Objective: to determine the in-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19 complicated by bacterial pneumonia on mechanical ventilation in Adult Intensive Care in a Hospital in Paraguay during the years 2020 to 2021. Methodology: this is a retrospective cohort analytical study. Demographic variables, comorbidities, severity scores such as APACHE II on admission, the worst oxygenation during hospitalization expressed by PaO2/FiO2, days of ventilation, prone position, tracheostomy, pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapeutic measures, days of hospitalization, as well as complications and mortality were recorded. Results: a total of 214 patients were included, 135 were admitted to mechanical ventilation (MRA), of which 58 (42.9%) developed VAP, with a median age of 52 years (40-60). VAP microorganisms were Gram-negative cocci in 98.3%, including Acinetobacter baumanii in 46.5%, Klebsiella pneumoniae in 22.8%, Pseudomona aeruginosa in 15.5%, and Stenotrophomona maltophilia in 5.2%. In-hospital mortality was 44.8%. Those under 50 years of age have a longer survival than those older (34 days vs. 22 days, with p of 0.026). Conclusion: the overall mortality rate was 44.8%. Age was an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with VAP, so healthcare professionals should be aware of the possibility of VAP in patients who require mechanical ventilation, especially in patients over 50 years of age.

Derivación y validación de un nuevo puntaje predictivo de mortalidad por covid-19 en la altura / Derivation and Validation of a New covid-19 Predictive Score for Mortality at High Altitude / Derivação e validação de um novo escore preditivo de mortalidade por covid-19 em altitude

Objetivo: desarrollar un puntaje predictivo de mortalidad para pacientes con covid-19. Materiales y méto-dos: estudio retrospectivo, analítico, observacional y transversal, realizado en dos fases. Se revisaron 620 historias clínicas con una cohorte de derivación de 320 pacientes y una de validación de 300 pacientes. Las variables se analizaron con test de Anova, chi cuadrado de Pearson y análisis multivariante con regresión binaria, que determinaron sensibilidad, especificidad y valor predictivo negativo y positivo. Los puntajes se compararon mediante curvas cor con los scoresnews y hews. Resultados: los dos puntajes obtenidos incluyeron valores de edad, conteo de linfocitos, SatO2/FiO2, leucocitos, plaquetas, ausencia de síntomas, hipertensión arterial, epid y dhl. El área bajo la curva (abc) fue de 0.838 para el puntaje con dhl, con una mortalidad del 100 % para 7.75 puntos o más, y un abc de 0.826 para el primer puntaje. En la cohorte de validación, el abc para el primer puntaje fue de 0.831 y para el score con dhl fue 0.855. El puntaje hewsobtuvo un abc de 0.451, y el news, un abc de 0.396. Conclusiones: se desarrollaron dos herramientas para predecir mortalidad en pacientes con covid-19, con alto poder de discriminación, superior a los puntajes británicos hews y news

Objetivo: desarrollar un puntaje predictivo de mortalidad para pacientes con covid-19. Materiales y méto-dos: estudio retrospectivo, analítico, observacional y transversal, realizado en dos fases. Se revisaron 620 historias clínicas con una cohorte de derivación de 320 pacientes y una de validación de 300 pacientes. Las variables se analizaron con test de Anova, chi cuadrado de Pearson y análisis multivariante con regresión binaria, que determinaron sensibilidad, especificidad y valor predictivo negativo y positivo. Los puntajes se compararon mediante curvas cor con los scoresnews y hews. Resultados: los dos puntajes obtenidos incluyeron valores de edad, conteo de linfocitos, SatO2/FiO2, leucocitos, plaquetas, ausencia de síntomas, hipertensión arterial, epid y dhl. El área bajo la curva (abc) fue de 0.838 para el puntaje con dhl, con una mortalidad del 100 % para 7.75 puntos o más, y un abc de 0.826 para el primer puntaje. En la cohorte de validación, el abc para el primer puntaje fue de 0.831 y para el score con dhl fue 0.855. El puntaje hewsobtuvo un abc de 0.451, y el news, un abc de 0.396. Conclusiones: se desarrollaron dos herramientas para predecir mortalidad en pacientes con covid-19, con alto poder de discriminación, superior a los puntajes británicos hews y news

Objetivo: desenvolver um escore preditivo de mortalidade para pacientes com covid-19. Materiais e Métodos: estudo retrospectivo, analítico, observacional e transversal, realizado em duas fases. Foram revisados 620 prontuários, com uma coorte de derivação de 320 pacientes e uma coorte de validação de 300 pacientes. As variáveis foram analisadas com teste anova, qui-quadrado de Pearson e análise multivariada com regressão binária, determinando sensibilidade, especificidade, valor preditivo nega-tivo e positivo. As pontuações foram comparadas por meio de curvas cor com as pontuações news e hews. Resultados: os dois escores obtidos incluíram valores de: idade, contagem de linfócitos, SatO2/FiO2, leucócitos, plaquetas, ausência de sintomas, hipertensão arterial, epid e dhl. A área sob a curva (abc) foi de 0,838 para o escore dhl, com 100 % de mortalidade para 7,75 pontos ou mais, e uma abc de 0,826 para o primeiro escore. Na coorte de validação, a abc para o primeiro escore foi de 0,831 e para o escore com dhl foi de 0,855. A pontuação hews obteve abc de 0,451 e o news uma abc de 0,396. Conclusões: foram desenvolvidas duas ferramentas para prever mortalidade em pacientes com covid-19, com alto poder de discriminação, superior aos escores britânicos hews e news

Anti-infection treatment and pharmaceutical care for a patient with severe pneumonia caused by Chlamydia psittaci / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE To provide ideas and reference for the anti-infection treatment and pharmaceutical care for severe pneumonia caused by Chlamydia psittaci. METHODS Clinical pharmacists participated in the whole process of the treatment for a patient with C. psittaci-induced severe pneumonia. According to the patient’s medical history， clinical symptoms and test results， clinical pharmacists assisted the physician to dynamically adjust the anti-infective scheme； for C. psittaci infection， the patient was treated with tigecycline combined with azithromycin successively， and other infection therapy plans were dynamically adjusted according to the results of pathogen examination. During the treatment， the patient suffered from suspicious adverse drug reactions such as prolonged QTc interval， elevated lipase and amylase； the clinical pharmacists conducted pharmaceutical care and put forward reasonable suggestions. RESULTS The physician adopted the pharmacists’ suggestion， and the patient was discharged after treatment. CONCLUSIONS For the treatment of severe pneumonia caused by C. psittaci， the characteristics of patients， drugs and pathogens should be taken into account to develop individualized anti-infective treatment. Tetracyclines and macrolides have a definite effect on C. psittaci infection， but attention should be paid to the possible ADR caused by drugs in clinical application.

Seasonal and epidemiological characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia in Chuzhou in 2010 - 2022 / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To analyze the seasonal and epidemiological characteristics of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Chuzhou from 2010 to 2022. Methods The epidemiological data of CAP in Chuzhou from 2010 to 2022 were obtained from the center for diseases control and prevention of Chuzhou City, Anhui Province. After inclusion and exclusion, a total of 1 053 cases were enrolled. General data were collected. Then the characteristics of CAP patients in terms of gender, age, regional and seasonal distribution and pathogenic bacteria distribution were analyzed. Results A total of 316 patients with CAP, with a prevalence rate of 30.01%, including 152 males (48.10%) and 164 females (51.90%). Regarding age, 86 cases (27.22%) at 19-40 years, 106 cases (33.54%) at 41-60 years, and 124 cases (39.24%) at >60 years, suggesting a statistical difference in the CAP detection rate among different genders and ages (P<0.05). Seasonally, 118 cases (37.34%) were detected in spring, 13 cases (4.11%) in summer, 49 cases (15.51%) in autumn, and 136 cases (43.04%) in winter, with the highest CAP detection rate in winter, followed by spring. Pathogenic bacteria were positive in 198 of 316 patients, with a detection rate of 62.66%. A total of 125 strains of pathogenic bacteria were detected in sputum culture, of which 138 cases were Gram-negative, mainly Escherichia coli (24.24%, 48/198), and 60 cases were Gram-positive, mainly Streptococcus pneumoniae (14.14%, 28/198). Among 198 patients positive for pathogen detection, 41 cases were detected in spring, 37 cases in summer, 56 cases in autumn and 64 cases in winter. The drug sensitivity results showed that Escherichia coli had the highest resistance rate to ampicillin and cefazolin, and was sensitive to imipenem and other antibiotics; Streptococcus pneumoniae has the highest resistance rate to penicillin and erythromycin, and is sensitive to vancomycin. Conclusion CAP is quite common in elderly population in Chuzhou from 2010 to 2022, with a high prevalence rate in spring and winter, and the prevention work of high-risk groups should be strengthened.

Clinical treatment and management of invasive fungal disease in recipients of solid organ transplantation / 器官移植

With widespread application of solid organ transplantation (SOT), the incidence of postoperative invasive fungal disease (IFD) in SOT recipients has been increased year by year. In recent years, the awareness of preventive antifungal therapy for SOT recipients has been gradually strengthened. However, the problem of fungal resistance has also emerged, leading to unsatisfactory efficacy of original standardized antifungal regimens. Drug-drug interaction and hepatorenal toxicity induced by drugs are also challenges facing clinicians. In this article, the characteristics of drug-drug interaction and hepatorenal toxicity among triazole, echinocandin and polyene antifungal drugs and immunosuppressants were reviewed, and postoperative preventive strategies for IFD in different types of SOT recipients and treatment strategies for IFD caused by infection of different pathogens were summarized, aiming to provide reference for physicians in organ transplantation and related disciplines.

Sputum bacterial culture and drug resistance of 475 patients with pneumonia / 公共卫生与预防医学

Objective To understand the distribution and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria in sputum culture of pneumonia, and to provide evidence for the rational application of clinical antibacterial drugs . Methods The clinical data of 475 patients with positive sputum bacterial culture admitted to department of respiratory medicine of Neijiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from May 2020 to May 2023 were collected. The types and drug resistance of pathogenic bacteria isolated from sputum culture were statistically analyzed . Results A total of 539 strains of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from the sputum culture of 475 patients with pneumonia, including 344 strains (63.82%) of Gram-negative bacteria [mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae (79 strains, 14.66%)] and 195 strains (36.18%) of Gram-positive bacteria [mainly Streptococcus pneumoniae (70 strains, 12.99%)]. Klebsiella pneumoniae was highly sensitive to aztreonam, levofloxacin, amikacin, imipenem, and ertapenem, with the sensitivity rates of 94.67%, 92.41%, 94.87%, 96.00% and 98.67% respectively. Streptococcus pneumoniae was absolutely sensitive to teicoplanin, vancomycin and linezolid, and was highly sensitive to cefpirome, levofloxacin, imipenem and ertapenem, with the sensitivity rates of 94.29%, 91.43%, 97.14% and 98.48%. Conclusions The common pathogenic bacteria of patients with pneumonia in Neijiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine include Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Various pathogenic bacteria have different degrees of resistance to common antibacterial drugs. It is necessary to combine with the types and drug susceptibility results of pathogenic bacteria for the rational application of antibacterial drugs.

Efficacy and safety analysis of tigecycline and polymyxin B in the treatment of carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae pneumonia in critically ill patients / 中国临床药理学与治疗学

AIM: To compare the efficacy and safety of tigecycline with polymyxin B in the treatment of carbapenem resistant enterobacteriaceae (CRE) pneumonia in critically ill patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of patients with CRE pneumonia who received tigecycline or polymyxin B therapy from January 1, 2018 to Jun 30, 2023 in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Primary outcomes included the 28-day all-cause mortality and clinical cure rate within 28days. Secondary outcomes included the ICU mortality, in-hospital mortality, the length of hospital stay and ICU stay, microbial eradication, duration of mechanical ventilation. Independent predictors affecting 28-day clinical cure rate were tested using Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: A total of 83 eligible patients were included in the final analysis after propensity score matching, 54 in the tigecycline group and 29 in the polymyxin B group. The 28-day all-cause mortality was 31.5% (17/54) in the tigecycline group and 37.9% (11/29) in the polymyxin B group, the difference was not statistically significant (P=0.554); the clinical cure rate was 63% (34/ 54) in the tigecycline group, which was significantly higher than that of the polymyxin B group of 34.5% (10/29) (P = 0.013). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in terms of secondary outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis found that the use of tigecycline was an independent predictor of the 28-day clinical cure rate (HR 2.083, 95%CI 1.018-4.263, P = 0.045). However, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) were significantly prolonged in the tigecycline group compared with the polymyxin B group (P=0.047; P=0.027), and fibrinogen (FIB) was significantly decreased (P < 0.001) after drug administration. CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in 28-day all-cause mortality between the tigecycline and polymyxin groups; tigecycline might be associated with a higher 28-day clinical cure rate compared with polymyxin B. It should be noted that tigecycline may increase the risk of coagulation abnormalities.

Effectiveness of Tocilizumab in COVID-19 patients with pneumonia: A systematic review

Background and Objective@#COVID-19 contributes significantly to global morbidity and mortality. Age-related comorbidities elevate the risk of severe cases. Studies have recently demonstrated that widely available medications, including tocilizumab (TCZ), can manage severe symptoms. However, its effectiveness is unclear, particularly among the older population. Therefore, this review aimed to evaluate TCZ’s efficacy in managing severe pneumonia in individuals aged 50 and older.@*Methods@#We systematically search several databases and gray literature including Web of Science, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete, PsycINFO, PsycArticles, SocINDEX, CENTRAL/Cochrane Library, PubMed/MEDLINE for original research articles in English across several study designs published in the year 2020-2022. A narrative synthesis was conducted to summarize the evidence. We employed the NIH quality assessment tool for observational cohort studies to evaluate risk of bias. Additionally, we utilized GRADE to appraise the certainty of evidence.@*Results@#Among 539 screened articles, only five studies met the selection criteria. Tocilizumab's impact on severe COVID-19 pneumonia revealed a diverse effect on mortality rate, with 29% in the TCZ group, and 40% in the controls died within 30 days of intubation (OR 0.61; 95% CI, 0.27-1.36). It is also reported that TCZ was not associated with mortality, despite faster decline in pulmonary function and prolonged fever. Hospital mortality in the TCZ group was significantly lower than in the controls, and age over 60 was the only significant risk factor. Moreover, administering TCZ reduced mechanical ventilation needs, with 82% extubated compared to 53% in controls. However, 45% in TCZ group was associated with a higher ventilator-associated pneumonia rate than in the untreated group which was 20% (P < 0.001). Despite this, TCZ-treated patients had shorter hospital stays.@*Conclusions@#The effects of tocilizumab on reducing mortality risk and improving the survival rate of COVID-19 patients with pneumonia remained inconclusive. Yet, the majority of results suggested that giving tocilizumab leads to shorter hospital stays, lowers the requirement for mechanical ventilation, and decreases the likelihood of ICU transfer. Tocilizumab is linked to the incidence of secondary infections; hence, this medication should be closely monitored for side effects.

Effects of traditional Chinese medicine on treatment outcomes in severe COVID-19 patients: a single-centre study / 中国天然药物

As the search for effective treatments for COVID-19 continues, the high mortality rate among critically ill patients in Intensive Care Units (ICU) presents a profound challenge. This study explores the potential benefits of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) as a supplementary treatment for severe COVID-19. A total of 110 critically ill COVID-19 patients at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Vulcan Hill Hospital between Feb., 2020, and April, 2020 (Wuhan, China) participated in this observational study. All patients received standard supportive care protocols, with a subset of 81 also receiving TCM as an adjunct treatment. Clinical characteristics during the treatment period and the clinical outcome of each patient were closely monitored and analysed. Our findings indicated that the TCM group exhibited a significantly lower mortality rate compared with the non-TCM group (16 of 81 vs 24 of 29; 0.3 vs 2.3 person/month). In the adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, TCM treatment was associated with improved survival odds (P < 0.001). Furthermore, the analysis also revealed that TCM treatment could partially mitigate inflammatory responses, as evidenced by the reduced levels of proinflammatory cytokines, and contribute to the recovery of multiple organic functions, thereby potentially increasing the survival rate of critically ill COVID-19 patients.

Efficacy of bronchoalveolar lavage combined with prone positioning in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia and atelectasis: a prospective randomized controlled study / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVES@#To study the efficacy of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) combined with prone positioning in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) and atelectasis and its effect on pulmonary function.@*METHODS@#A prospective study was conducted on 94 children with MPP and atelectasis who were hospitalized in Ordos Central Hospital of Inner Mongolia from November 2020 to May 2023. The children were randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group, with 47 children in each group. The children in the treatment group were given conventional treatment, BAL, and prone positioning, and those in the control group were given conventional treatment and BAL. The two groups were compared in terms of fever, pulmonary signs, length of hospital stay, lung recruitment, and improvement in pulmonary function.@*RESULTS@#Compared with the control group, the treatment group had significantly shorter time to improvement in pulmonary signs and length of hospital stay and a significantly higher rate of lung recruitment on day 7 of hospitalization, on the day of discharge, and at 1 week after discharge (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, the treatment group had significantly higher levels of forced vital capacity (FVC) as a percentage of the predicted value, forced expiratory volume (FEV) in 1 second as a percentage of the predicted value, ratio of FEV in 1 second to FVC, forced expiratory flow at 50% of FVC as a percentage of the predicted value, forced expiratory flow at 75% of FVC as a percentage of the predicted value, and maximal mid-expiratory flow as a percentage of the predicted value on the day of discharge and at 1 week after discharge (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the time for body temperature to return to normal between the two groups (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#In the treatment of children with MPP and atelectasis, BAL combined with prone positioning can help to shorten the time to improvement in pulmonary signs and the length of hospital stay and promote lung recruitment and improvement in pulmonary function.

Uso del cigarrillo electronico y riesgo de padecer enfermedades respiratorias en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes

Objetivo: Determinar el riesgo de padecer enfermedades respiratorias por el uso del cigarrillo electrónico. Materiales y métodos: Revisión integrativa, basada en el análisis de artículos científicos completos en bases de datos como: PubMed, Scopus y SciELO utilizando el método PRISMA, en el periodo 2018-2023, en los idiomas inglés y español. Resultados: Se obtuvo 95 artículos científicos, de los cuales se excluyeron un total de 75 por no cumplir con los criterios de selección, quedando seleccionados 20 artículos científicos que responden a los objetivos planteados. Conclusiones: Este estudio identificó los riesgos de padecer enfermedades respiratorias por el uso del cigarrillo electrónico, siendo las más relevantes: enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, neumonía, lesión pulmonar asociada al cigarrillo electrónico o al vapeo, síndrome de distrés respiratorio, hipertensión pulmonar y asma, además de acompañarse de signos y síntomas como infección de las vías aéreas, el desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares, gastrointestinales y el inicio de adicciones. El estudio identificó que el sexo masculino es el predominante en exponerse más al riesgo de enfermedades respiratorias y la edad oscila entre los 14 a 35 años, convirtiéndose en un problema de salud pública que cada año va en aumento.

Objective: To determine the risk of respiratory diseases due to the use of electronic cigarettes. Materials and Methods: Integrative review, based on the analysis of complete scientific articles in databases such as: PubMed, Scopus and SciELO, using the PRISMA method, in the period 2018-2023, in English and Spanish. Results: Of the 95 scientific articles that were obtained, 20 met the selection criteria and were selected to meet the stated objectives. The remaining 75 articles were excluded. Conclusions: This study identi fied the risks of suffering from respiratory diseases associated with the use of electronic cigarettes. The most significant risks include chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, lung injury associated with electronic cigarettes or vaping, respiratory distress syndrome, pulmonary hypertension, and asthma. Symptoms may also include signs and symptoms of respiratory infections, development of cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, and the onset of addiction. The study found that males are more susceptible to respiratory diseases, with the 14-35 age group being particularly affected. This is becoming a growing public health concern.

Objetivo: Determinar o risco de doenças respiratórias devido ao uso de cigarros eletrônicos. Materiais e métodos: Revisão integrativa, baseada na análise de artigos científicos completos em bases de dados como: PubMed, Scopus e SciELO, utilizando o método PRISMA, no período de 2018 a 2023, em inglês e espanhol. Resultados: Foram obtidos 95 artigos científicos, dos quais um total de 75 foram excluídos por não atenderem aos critérios de seleção, restando 20 artigos científicos selecionados que respondem aos objetivos estabelecidos. Conclusões: Este estudo identificou os riscos de doenças respiratórias decorrentes do uso de cigarros eletrônicos, sendo as mais relevantes a doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, pneumonia, lesão pulmonar associada ao cigarro eletrônico ou vaping, síndrome do desconforto respiratório, hipertensão pulmonar e asma, além de serem acompanhadas de sinais e sintomas como infecção das vias aéreas, desenvolvimento de doença cardiovascular, doença gastrointestinal e início de dependência. O estudo identificou que o sexo masculino está predominantemente exposto ao risco de doenças respiratórias e a idade varia de 14 a 35 anos, tornando-se um problema de saúde pública que aumenta a cada ano.

Prospective, randomized, controlled trial assessing the effects of a driving pressure-limiting strategy for patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to community-acquired pneumonia (STAMINA trial): protocol and statistical analysis plan / Estudo randomizado prospectivo e controlado de avaliação dos efeitos de uma estratégia de limitação da driving pressure em pacientes com síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo devido à pneumonia adquirida na comunidade (estudo STAMINA): protocolo e plano de análise estatística

ABSTRACT Background: Driving pressure has been suggested to be the main driver of ventilator-induced lung injury and mortality in observational studies of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Whether a driving pressure-limiting strategy can improve clinical outcomes is unclear. Objective: To describe the protocol and statistical analysis plan that will be used to test whether a driving pressure-limiting strategy including positive end-expiratory pressure titration according to the best respiratory compliance and reduction in tidal volume is superior to a standard strategy involving the use of the ARDSNet low-positive end-expiratory pressure table in terms of increasing the number of ventilator-free days in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome due to community-acquired pneumonia. Methods: The ventilator STrAtegy for coMmunIty acquired pNeumoniA (STAMINA) study is a randomized, multicenter, open-label trial that compares a driving pressure-limiting strategy to the ARDSnet low-positive end-expiratory pressure table in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to community-acquired pneumonia admitted to intensive care units. We expect to recruit 500 patients from 20 Brazilian and 2 Colombian intensive care units. They will be randomized to a driving pressure-limiting strategy group or to a standard strategy using the ARDSNet low-positive end-expiratory pressure table. In the driving pressure-limiting strategy group, positive end-expiratory pressure will be titrated according to the best respiratory system compliance. Outcomes: The primary outcome is the number of ventilator-free days within 28 days. The secondary outcomes are in-hospital and intensive care unit mortality and the need for rescue therapies such as extracorporeal life support, recruitment maneuvers and inhaled nitric oxide. Conclusion: STAMINA is designed to provide evidence on whether a driving pressure-limiting strategy is superior to the ARDSNet low-positive end-expiratory pressure table strategy for increasing the number of ventilator-free days within 28 days in patients with moderate-to-severe acute respiratory distress syndrome. Here, we describe the rationale, design and status of the trial.

RESUMO Contexto: Em estudos observacionais sobre a síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo, sugeriu-se que a driving pressure é o principal fator de lesão pulmonar induzida por ventilador e de mortalidade. Não está claro se uma estratégia de limitação da driving pressure pode melhorar os desfechos clínicos. Objetivo: Descrever o protocolo e o plano de análise estatística que serão usados para testar se uma estratégia de limitação da driving pressure envolvendo a titulação da pressão positiva expiratória final de acordo com a melhor complacência respiratória e a redução do volume corrente é superior a uma estratégia padrão envolvendo o uso da tabela de pressão positiva expiratória final baixa do protocolo ARDSNet, em termos de aumento do número de dias sem ventilador em pacientes com síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo devido à pneumonia adquirida na comunidade. Métodos: O estudo STAMINA (ventilator STrAtegy for coMmunIty acquired pNeumoniA) é randomizado, multicêntrico e aberto e compara uma estratégia de limitação da driving pressure com a tabela de pressão positiva expiratória final baixa do protocolo ARDSnet em pacientes com síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo moderada a grave devido à pneumonia adquirida na comunidade internados em unidades de terapia intensiva. Esperamos recrutar 500 pacientes de 20 unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras e duas colombianas. Eles serão randomizados para um grupo da estratégia de limitação da driving pressure ou para um grupo de estratégia padrão usando a tabela de pressão positiva expiratória final baixa do protocolo ARDSnet. No grupo da estratégia de limitação da driving pressure, a pressão positiva expiratória final será titulada de acordo com a melhor complacência do sistema respiratório. Desfechos: O desfecho primário é o número de dias sem ventilador em 28 dias. Os desfechos secundários são a mortalidade hospitalar e na unidade de terapia intensiva e a necessidade de terapias de resgate, como suporte de vida extracorpóreo, manobras de recrutamento e óxido nítrico inalado. Conclusão: O STAMINA foi projetado para fornecer evidências sobre se uma estratégia de limitação da driving pressure é superior à estratégia da tabela de pressão positiva expiratória final baixa do protocolo ARDSnet para aumentar o número de dias sem ventilador em 28 dias em pacientes com síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo moderada a grave. Aqui, descrevemos a justificativa, o desenho e o status do estudo.

Antibiotic stewardship and nosocomial infection prevention in critically ill patients: a quality improvement program

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of the implementation of a bundle of interventions through a "Program for Antibiotic Management and Nosocomial Infection Prevention" in the intensive care unit on antibiotic and devices use and healthcare-associated infections. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study of consecutive series of cases in periods before and after the establishment of protocols and checklists for the use of antibiotics as well as other measures to prevent healthcare-associated infection as part of a quality improvement program. Antimicrobial consumption was assessed by the defined daily dose. RESULTS: A total of 1,056 and 1,323 admissions in the pre-intervention and post-intervention phases, respectively, were evaluated. The defined daily dose per 100 patient-day decreased from 89±8 to 77±11 (p=0.100), with a decrease in carbapenems, glycopeptides, polymyxins, penicillins, and cephalosporins. The rates of ventilator and central venous catheter use decreased from 52.8 to 44.1% and from 76 to 70%, respectively. The rates of healthcare-associated infection decreased from 19.2 to 15.5%. CONCLUSION: Quality improvement actions focused primarily on antimicrobial management and prevention of healthcare-associated infection are feasible and have the potential to decrease antibiotic use and healthcare-associated infection rates.

Hospital cohort study on survival predictors for intubated coronavirus disease 2019 patients

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the predictors of survival among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 who underwent tracheal intubation, as part of a hospital cohort study. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study in the Rio do Sul County Hospital, Santa Catarina, Brazil, from April 2020 to May 2021, focused on patients aged 18 years or older intubated for coronavirus disease 2019. We assessed the 90-day survival of intubated patients by estimating the hazard ratio using a Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: The study included 132 participants, with an average age of approximately 60 years. Tracheal intubation was successfully accomplished in 97% of cases within two attempts. The overall mortality rate was 62.9%. Notably, mortality rates were significantly higher in patients aged over 60 years (hazard ratio=2.57; 95%CI 1.54-4.29; p<0.001), those with blood oxygen saturation below 85% (hazard ratio=1.92; 95%CI 1.03-3.57; p=0.04), instances where tracheal intubation was carried out using a conventional laryngoscope (hazard ratio=2.59; 95%CI 1.22-5.48; p=0.013), and when performed by emergency physicians (hazard ratio=3.96; 95%CI 1.51-10.4; p=0.005). CONCLUSION: Our analysis unveiled that the risk of death in intubated coronavirus disease 2019 patients is four times higher when an emergency physician, as opposed to an anesthesiologist, leads the tracheal intubation team.

Características epidemiológicas de pacientes con COVID-19 en el Hospital Regional de Encarnación, Paraguay, entre 2021 y 2023

Introducción: las vacunas desarrolladas durante la pandemia contra COVID-19 fueron elaboradas con el objetivo de ofrecer inmunidad contra el virus y evitar la enfermedad, reduciendo así las complicaciones fatales. Objetivos: determinar las características epidemiológicas de los pacientes con COVID-19, internados en el servicio de Clínica Médica del Hospital Regional de Encarnación. Además, describir el esquema de vacunación y la relación entre el diagnóstico de neumonía por COVID-19 y la vacunación contra ésta. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, observacional, de corte transversal realizado desde marzo del 2021 a noviembre del 2023. Se aplicó un muestro no probabilístico por conveniencia. Se incluyeron pacientes internados en el servicio de Clínica Médica del Hospital Regional de Encarnación, Paraguay, con diagnóstico de COVID-19. Resultados: la muestra estuvo conformada por 806 pacientes, el 63,28% era del sexo femenino. La edad promedio fue 44 ± 21 años. el 52,73% provenían del distrito de Encarnación. El 11,79% correspondía a pacientes internados con diagnóstico de neumonía por COVID-19 de los cuales el 34,74% contaba con algún esquema de vacunación contra el virus y el 88,21% correspondía a pacientes internados por COVID-19 y otros diagnósticos, de los cuales el 69,06% contaba con algún esquema de vacunación. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron el tabaquismo, la diabetes y la obesidad. Se encontró que la vacunación esta relacionada con la menor frecuencia de neumonía por COVID-19. Conclusiones: se encontró una muestra predominantemente femenina, la edad promedio corresponde al grupo de adultos jóvenes, los pacientes residían principalmente en la ciudad de Encarnación. La frecuencia de internados por COVID-19 con algún esquema de vacunación contra el virus es considerable. Los factores de riesgo o comorbilidades frecuentes fueron la cardiopatía crónica, la hipertensión arterial y la diabetes mellitus. Se determinó estadísticamente que la vacunación y el número de dosis de la vacuna están relacionados con la menor frecuencia de neumonía por COVID-19.

Introduction: The vaccines developed during the COVID-19 pandemic were developed to offer immunity against the virus and avoid the disease, thus reducing fatal complications. Objectives: To determine the epidemiological characteristics of patients with COVID-19, admitted to the Medical Clinic service of the Regional Hospital of Encarnación and to describe the vaccination schedule and the relationship between the diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia and vaccination against it. Methodology: Descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study carried out from March 2021 to November 2023. Non-probabilistic sampling was applied for convenience. Patients admitted to the Medical Clinic service of the Regional Hospital of Encarnación, Paraguay, with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were included. Results: The sample consisted of 806 patients, 63.28% of whom were female. The average age was 44 ± 21 years and 52.73% came from the Encarnación district. Eleven-point seventy-nine percent corresponded to patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia, 34.74% of whom had some vaccination schedule against the virus and 88.21% corresponded to patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and others. diagnoses, of which 69.06% had some vaccination schedule. The most common comorbidities were smoking, diabetes, and obesity. It was found that vaccination was related to the lower frequency of COVID-19 pneumonia. Conclusions: A predominantly female sample was found, the average age corresponds to the group of young adults, and the patients resided mainly in the city of Encarnación. The frequency of hospitalizations for COVID-19 with some vaccination schemes against the virus was considerable. The common risk factors or comorbidities were chronic heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes mellitus. It was statistically determined that vaccination and the number of doses of the vaccine were related to the lower frequency of COVID-19 pneumonia.

Púrpura fulminante aguda concomitante con proceso infeccioso pulmonar

La púrpura fulminante o purpura fulminans es un síndrome de trombosis microvascular cutánea y necrosis hemorrágica de rápida evolución. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino, internado por patología infecciosa y evento cardiovascular agudo, que desarrolla púrpura fulminante por déficit de proteína C, relacionado a cuadro infeccioso concomitante.

Purpura fulminans is a rapidly evolving syndrome of cutaneous microvascular thrombosis and hemorrhagic necrosis. We present the case of a male patient, hospitalized for an infectious pathology and an acute cardiovascular event, who developed purpura fulminans due to protein C deficiency, related to a concomitant infectious condition.

A Saúde Bucal e a Prevenção da Pneumonia na UTI: Revisão Literatura / Bucal Health and Prevention of Pneumonia in the ICU: Literature Review / Salud Bucodental y Neumonía en la UCI: Revisión Bibliográfica

Objetivo: Analisar os fatores que interferem na saúde bucal na prevenção da pneumonia, cujos procedimentos metodológicos se fundamentaram a partir da literatura na modalidade integrativa. Método: Estudo do tipo Revisão de literatura nas bases de dados Latino-Americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde (LILACS), Base de dados de Enfermagem (BDENF), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELo). Resultados:Foram encontrados resultados mais relevantes que apesar dos profissionais de enfermagem afirmarem que possuem conhecimento suficiente sobre como realizar a higiene oral em pacientes, a aplicação do protocolo adequado diminui drasticamente nos casos de pneumonia associado a ventilação mecânica. Conclusão: Conclui-se que os protocolos de atividades voltadas para assistência à saúde dos pacientes com pneumonia precisam ser intensificados, sobretudo pelos profissionais de enfermagem

Objective: To analyze the factors that interfere with oralhealth in the prevention of pneumonia, whose methodological procedures were based on the literature in the integrative modality. Method:Literature review study in the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences databases (LILACS), Nursing Database (BDENF), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELo). Results:More relevant results were found that although nursing professionals claim to have sufficient knowledge about how to perform oralhygiene in patients, the application of the appropriate protocol drastically decreases in cases of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation. Conclusion:It is concluded that the protocols of activities aimed at health care for patients with pneumonia need to be intensified, especially by nursing professionals.

Objetivo: Analizar los factores que interfieren en la salud bucal en la prevención de la neumonía, cuyos procedimientos metodológicos se basaron en la literatura en la modalidad integrativa. Método:Revisión de la literatura en las bases de datos de Ciencias de la Salud de América Latina y el Caribe (LILACS), Base de Datos de Enfermería (BDENF), Sistema de Análisis y Recuperación de Literatura Médica en Línea (MEDLINE), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELo). Resultados: Se encontraron resultados más relevantes que aunque los profesionales de enfermería afirman tener conocimientos suficientes sobre cómo realizar la higiene bucal en los pacientes, la aplicación del protocolo adecuado disminuye drásticamente en los casos de neumonía asociada al ventilador. Conclusión:Se concluye que los protocolos de actividades dirigidas al cuidado de la salud de pacientes con neumonía necesitan ser intensificados, especialmente por los profesionales de enfermería

Long-term outcomes for epidemic viral pneumonia survivors after discharge from the intensive care unit: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Objective To review the long-term outcomes (functional status and psychological sequelae) of survivors of critical illnesses due to epidemic viral pneumonia before the COVID-19 pandemic and to establish a benchmark for comparison of the COVID-19 long-term outcomes. Methods This systematic review of clinical studies reported the long-term outcomes in adults admitted to intensive care units who were diagnosed with viral epidemic pneumonia. An electronic search was performed using databases: MEDLINE®, Web of Science™, LILACS/IBECS, and EMBASE. Additionally, complementary searches were conducted on the reference lists of eligible studies. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The results were grouped into tables and textual descriptions. Results The final analysis included 15 studies from a total of 243 studies. This review included 771 patients with Influenza A, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. It analyzed the quality of life, functionality, lung function, mortality, rate of return to work, rehospitalization, and psychiatric symptoms. The follow-up periods ranged from 1 to 144 months. We found that the quality of life, functional capacity, and pulmonary function were below expected standards. Conclusion This review revealed great heterogeneity between studies attributed to different scales, follow-up time points, and methodologies. However, this systematic review identified negative long-term effects on patient outcomes. Given the possibility of future pandemics, it is essential to identify the long-term effects of viral pneumonia outbreaks. This review was not funded. Prospero database registration: (www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero) under registration ID CRD42021190296.

Instrumento multiprofissional de rastreio para risco de broncoaspiração em ambiente hospitalar à população idosa: evidências de validade baseada nos processos de resposta / Multi-professional screening instrument for risk of broncho-aspiration in a hospital environment for the elderly population: validity evidence based on response processes

RESUMO Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo foi validar, com base nos processos de resposta, o Instrumento Multiprofissional de Rastreio para o Risco de Broncoaspiração em Ambiente Hospitalar, direcionado à população idosa. Método O instrumento foi aplicado por juízes em pacientes distintos e selecionados de forma aleatória. Após a aplicação, os juízes foram entrevistados para que fosse possível verificar a impressão deles quanto à relevância dos itens e quanto a interpretação sobre o conteúdo escrito, bem como a questões gramaticais e semânticas. Foram consideradas sugestões de acréscimo de alternativas de perguntas e de respostas, além de propostas de adequação de questões que compunham o instrumento. As reações não verbais, tais como expressões faciais que sugeriram dúvidas ou hesitações, por parte dos juízes, em relação ao instrumento, também foram analisadas. Resultados A concordância dos juízes em relação a cada item do dispositivo foi calculada pelo Índice de Validade de Conteúdo (IVC), e pelo Coeficiente de Correlação Intraclasse (CCI), sendo que seus resultados demonstraram alto nível de concordância. Através das sugestões dos juízes, elaborou-se uma nova versão do Instrumento Multiprofissional de Rastreio para o Risco de Broncoaspiração em Ambiente Hospitalar à população idosa. Conclusão Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que a validade do Instrumento Multiprofissional para Rastreio do Risco de Broncoaspiração em Ambiente Hospitalar junto à população idosa, baseada nos processos de respostas, foi alcançada.

ABSTRACT Purpose The objective of this study was to validate the Multiprofessional Screening Instrument for Broncho-aspiration Risk in Hospital Environment, which is aimed at the elderly population, based on response processes. Methods Judges applied the instrument to different patients and randomly selected. After the application, the judges were interviewed so that it was possible to verify their impression regarding the relevance of the items about their interpretation of the written content, as well as grammatical and semantic issues. Suggestions for adding alternative questions and answers were considered, as well as proposals for adapting the questions that made up the instrument. Non-verbal reactions, such as facial expressions that suggested doubts or hesitations, by the judges concerning the instrument were also analyzed. Results The agreement of the judges concerning each item of the device was calculated by the Content Validity Index (CVI) and by the Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), and their results showed a high level of agreement. Through the suggestions of the judges, a new version of the Multi-professional Screening Instrument for the Risk of Broncho-aspiration in a Hospital Environment in the Elderly was elaborated. Conclusion The results obtained showed that the validity of the Multi-professional Instrument for Screening the Risk of Broncho-aspiration in the Hospital Environment with the elderly population, based on the response processes, was achieved and makes it a promising device to assist professionals in hospital care for the elderly.

Clinical significance of serum microRNA-146a and inflammatory factors in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia after azithromycin treatment

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia after azithromycin treatment. microRNA-146a is known to regulate inflammatory responses, and excessive inflammation is a primary characteristic of MPP. Methods Children with MPP received conventional symptomatic therapy along with intravenous administration of azithromycin for one week. Serum levels of microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA kits, respectively. The correlation between microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors was analyzed by the Pearson method. Pulmonary function indexes were assessed using a pulmonary function analyzer, and their correlation with microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors after treatment was evaluated. Children with MPP were divided into effective and ineffective treatment groups, and the clinical significance of microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic multivariate regression analysis. Results Serum microRNA-146a was downregulated in children with MPP but upregulated after azithromycin treatment, contrasting with the trend observed for pro-inflammatory factors. MicroRNA-146a showed a negative correlation with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pulmonary function parameters were initially reduced in children with MPP, but increased after treatment, showing positive/inverse associations with microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors. Higher microRNA-146a and lower pro-inflammatory factors predicted better efficacy of azithromycin treatment. MicroRNA-146a, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) were identified as independent factors influencing treatment efficacy. Conclusion Azithromycin treatment in children with MPP upregulates microRNA-146a, downregulates pro-inflammatory factors, and effectively improves pulmonary function.