Surviving sepsis campaign: international guidelines for management of sepsis and septic shock: 2016

OBJECTIVE: To provide an update to "Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock: 2012". DESIGN: A consensus committee of 55 international experts representing 25 international organizations was convened. Nominal groups were assembled at key international meetings (for those committee members attending the conference). A formal conflict-of-interest (COI) policy wasdeveloped at the onset of the process and enforced throughout. A stand-alone meeting was held for all panel members in December 2015. Teleconferences and electronic-based discussion among subgroupsand among the entire committee served as an integral part of the development. METHODS: The panel consisted of five sections: hemodynamics, infection, adjunctive therapies, metabolic, and ventilation. Population, intervention, comparison, and outcomes (PICO) questions were reviewed and updated as needed, and evidence profiles were generated. Each subgroup generated a list of questions, searched for best available evidence, and then followed the principles of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system to assess the quality of evidence from high to very low, and to formulate recommendations as strong or weak, or best practice statement when applicable. RESULTS: The Surviving Sepsis Guideline panel provided 93 statements on early management and resuscitation of patients with sepsis or septic shock. Overall, 32 were strong recommendations, 39 were weak recommendations, and 18 were best-practice statements. No recommendation was provided for four questions. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial agreement exists among a large cohort of international experts regarding many strong recommendations for the best care of patients with sepsis. Although a significant number of aspects of care have relatively weak support, evidence-based recommendations regarding the acute management of sepsis and septic shock are the foundation of improved outcomes for these critically ill patients with high mortality.(AU)

Análisis de los pacientes que reconsultaron a un servicio de emergencias pediátricas de un hospital materno infantil como indicador de calidad asistencial / Analysis of patients who consulted for a second time at a pediatric emergency department at a mother-and-child hospital as a marker of quality of care

Objetivos: 1) Analizar las reconsultas (RC) de pacientes a las 72 horas de su primera consulta en el Servicio de Emergencias Pediatría (SEP) de un hospital materno infantil del conurbano bonaerense. 2) Comparar las reconsultas entre dos periodos, luego de implementar mejoras en los procesos asistenciales y de contrarreferencia. Materiales y Metodos: Diseño: retrospectivo, observacional y transversal. Criterios de inclusión: pacientes de 30 días a 15 años de edad, que reconsultaron en el SEP del 01/01 al 31/03 de los años 2010 y 2014. Resultados: Las consultas que se atendieron en el periodo de estudio fueron: 14.003 en 2010 y 13.011 en 2014. Los diagnósticos más frecuentes fueron: infección respiratoria aguda alta (19.2%), fiebre (13%) y diarrea/ gastroenteritis (13.3%). Hubo 7.11% (n=966) de RC en el 2010 y 12.21% (n=1589) en el 2014. La mediana de edad de los pacientes con RC fue 24 meses en ambos años. Los motivos de RC más frecuentes fueron: persistencia de los síntomas (41% y 53.67%); progresión de la enfermedad (25% y 11.43%); otros diagnósticos nuevos (14.07% y 19.5%) y control (14% y 8.3%). Las RC de los domiciliados en San Isidro fueron 72.97% (n=694) en el 2010 y 69.32% (n=1071) en el 2014 del total de RC. La disminución de las RC observada al comparar ambos períodos es estadísticamente no significativa. (Pearson chi2 2.4506, p = 0.117). Conclusiones: 1) Los principales motivos de consulta fueron fiebre, diarrea y patología de la vía aérea superior. 2) Las RC dentro de las primeras 72 horas fueron 7% en 2010 y 12.9% en 2014. 3) La mayoría de los niños que concurren por RC lo hacen por la persistencia de síntomas de procesos que revisten poca gravedad. 4) Hubo una leve disminución, estadísticamente no significativa, de la RC de los pacientes domiciliados en San Isidro (AU)

Aims: 1) To analyze second consultations (SC) in patients within 72 hours of the first consultation at the Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) of a mother-and-child hospital in Greater Buenos Aires. 2) To compare SC between two time periods, after implementing a program of care and counter-referral. Material and Methods: Study design: a retrospective, observational, and cross-sectional study was conducted. Inclusion criteria: patients between 30 days of life and 15 years of age, who consulted at the PED between 01/01 and 31/03 from 2010 to 2014. Results: Patients seen during the study period were: 14,003 in 2010 and 13,011 in 2014. The most common diagnoses were: Acute upper respiratory infection (19.2%), fever (13%) and diarrhea/gastroenteritis (13.3%). SC were 7.11% (n=966) in 2010 and 12.21% (n=1589) in 2014. Median age of patients with a SC was 24 months in both years. Most common reasons for SC were persistent symptoms (41% and 53.67%); disease progression (25% and 11.43%); new diagnosis (14.07% and 19.5%) and control (14% and 8.3%). Home visits for SC in San Isidro were 72.97% (n=694) in 2010 and 69.32% (n=1071) in 2014 of all SC. The decrease in SC when comparing both periods was not statistically significant (Pearson chi2 2.4506, p = 0.117). Conclusions: 1) The main reasons for consult were fever, diarrhea, and upper airway infections. 2) SC within 72 hours were 7% in 2010 and 12.9% in 2014. 3) The majority of childrenwho were seen in a SC had persistent symptoms that were not severe. 4) A slight decrease, that was not statistically significant, was observed in SC of patients seen in the area of San Isidro (AU)

Preoperative anaemia is associated with poor clinical outcome in non-cardiac surgery patients.

BACKGROUND: Retrospective studies suggest that preoperative anaemia is associated with poor outcomes after surgery. The objective of this study was to describe mortality rates and patterns of intensive care resource use for patients with anaemia undergoing non-cardiac and non-neurological in-patient surgery. METHODS: We performed a secondary analysis of a large prospective study describing perioperative care and survival in 28 European nations. Patients at least 16 yr old undergoing in-patient surgery during a 7 day period were included in the study. Data were collected for in-hospital mortality, duration of hospital stay, admission to intensive care, and intensive care resource use. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to understand the effects of preoperative haemoglobin (Hb) levels on in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: We included 39 309 patients in the analysis. Preoperative anaemia had a high prevalence in both men and women (31.1% and 26.5%, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that patients with severe [odds ratio 2.82 (95% confidence interval 2.06-3.85)] or moderate [1.99 (1.67-2.37)] anaemia had higher in-hospital mortality than those with normal preoperative Hb concentrations. Furthermore, hospital length of stay (P<0.001) and postoperative admission to intensive care (P<0.001) were greater in patients with anaemia than in those with normal Hb concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Anaemia is common among non-cardiac and non-neurological surgical patients, and is associated with poor clinical outcome and increased healthcare resource use. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT01203605 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Utilización del atomizador intranasal para la administración de Midazolam en emergencias pediátricas / Use of intranasal spray for Midazolam administration in pediatric emergencies

Introducción: La administración de midazolam por atomizador nasal podría ser eficaz y segura en emergencias pediátricas. Objetivos: describir la administración de midazolam utilizando el atomizador nasal; conocer las complicaciones asociadas. Métodos: Diseño: descriptivo, prospectivo. Pacientes que recibieron midazolam mediante MAD®, entre el 01/08/2007 y el 30/03/2008. Resultados: el dispositivo fue usado 28 veces; niños con edad media de 38 meses, 64% de sexo masculino. Motivos de uso: procedimientos 71,43% y convulsiones 28,57%. Procedimientos: la media de dosis utilizada fue 0,27mg/kg, la media de comienzo de acción 3 minutos. En las convulsiones febriles, luego de fracasar la búsqueda de un acceso endovenoso, se procedió a la administración de la droga por MAD® siendo el tiempo medio desde el inicio del episodio convulsivo hasta el comienzo de la administración de la droga de 3.42 minutos y la dosis media 0.3 mg/kg. No se observaron complicaciones. Conclusiones:1) la administración de midazolam por el atomizador nasal es segura y eficaz; 2) no hubo complicaciones.

Introduction: Midazolam administration using an intranasal spray (MAD®) may be efficacious and safe in pediatric emer-gencies. Objectives: 1) To describe midazolam administration using an intranasal atomizer. 2) To assess the complications associated with intranasal midazolam. Methods: Design: A descriptive and prospective study in patients who were ad-ministered midazolam via MAD® between 01/08/2007 and 30/03/2008. Results: Intranasal midazolam was used 28 times in children with a mean age of 38 months (SD 28.44); 64% were boys. Reasons for administrartion were: Procedures in 71.43% (n=20) and seizures in 28.57% (n=8). Procedures: Mean dose used was 0.27 mg/kg (SD 0.35), and mean time to effect onset was 3 minutes (SD 3.5). In febrile seizures, after search for intravenous access had failed, midazolam was administered using MAD® with a mean time interval between seizure onset and drug administration of 3.42 (SD 6.61) min-utes and at a mean dose of 0.3 mg/kg. No complications were observed. Conclusions: 1) Intranasal midazolam administration was safe and efficacious. 2) No complications were observed.

The variability of critical care bed numbers in Europe.

PURPOSE: To quantify the numbers of critical care beds in Europe and to understand the differences in these numbers between countries when corrected for population size and gross domestic product. METHODS: Prospective data collection of critical care bed numbers for each country in Europe from July 2010 to July 2011. Sources were identified in each country that could provide data on numbers of critical care beds (intensive care and intermediate care). These data were then cross-referenced with data from international databases describing population size and age, gross domestic product (GDP), expenditure on healthcare and numbers of acute care beds. RESULTS: We identified 2,068,892 acute care beds and 73,585 (2.8 %) critical care beds. Due to the heterogeneous descriptions of these beds in the individual countries it was not possible to discriminate between intensive care and intermediate care in most cases. On average there were 11.5 critical care beds per 100,000 head of population, with marked differences between countries (Germany 29.2, Portugal 4.2). The numbers of critical care beds per country corrected for population size were positively correlated with GDP (r(2) = 0.16, p = 0.05), numbers of acute care beds corrected for population (r(2) = 0.12, p = 0.05) and the percentage of acute care beds designated as critical care (r(2) = 0.59, p < 0.0001). They were not correlated with the proportion of GDP expended on healthcare. CONCLUSIONS: Critical care bed numbers vary considerably between countries in Europe. Better understanding of these numbers should facilitate improved planning for critical care capacity and utilization in the future.

Severity assessment tools in ICU patients with 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pneumonia.

The aim of this study was to determine if severity assessment tools (general severity of illness and community-acquired pneumonia specific scores) can be used to guide decisions for patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to pandemic influenza A pneumonia. A prospective, observational, multicentre study included 265 patients with a mean age of 42 (±16.1) years and an ICU mortality of 31.7%. On admission to the ICU, the mean pneumonia severity index (PSI) score was 103.2 ± 43.2 points, the CURB-65 score was 1.7 ± 1.1 points and the PIRO-CAP score was 3.2 ± 1.5 points. None of the scores had a good predictive ability: area under the ROC for PSI, 0.72 (95% CI, 0.65-0.78); CURB-65, 0.67 (95% CI, 0.59-0.74); and PIRO-CAP, 0.64 (95% CI, 0.56-0.71). The PSI score (OR, 1.022 (1.009-1.034), p 0.001) was independently associated with ICU mortality; however, none of the three scores, when used at ICU admission, were able to reliably detect a low-risk group of patients. Low risk for mortality was identified in 27.5% of patients using PIRO-CAP, but above 40% when using PSI (I-III) or CURB65 (<2). Observed mortality was 13.7%, 13.5% and 19.4%, respectively. Pneumonia-specific scores undervalued severity and should not be used as instruments to guide decisions in the ICU.

Prospectively defined indicators to improve the safety and quality of care for critically ill patients: a report from the Task Force on Safety and Quality of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM).

OBJECTIVES: To define a set of indicators that could be used to improve quality in intensive care medicine. METHODOLOGY: An European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Task Force on Quality and Safety identified all commonly used key quality indicators. This international Task Force consisted of 18 experts, all with a self-proclaimed interest in the area. Through a modified Delphi process seeking greater than 90% consensual agreement from this nominal group, the indicators were then refined through a series of iterative processes. RESULTS: A total of 111 indicators of quality were initially found, and these were consolidated into 102 separate items. After five discrete rounds of debate, these indicators were reduced to a subset of nine that all had greater than 90% agreement from the nominal group. These indicators can be used to describe the structures (3), processes (2) and outcomes (4) of intensive care. Across this international group, it was much more difficult to obtain consensual agreement on the indicators describing processes of care than on the structures and outcomes. CONCLUSION: This document contains nine indicators, all of which have a high level of consensual agreement from an international Task Force, which could be used to improve quality in routine intensive care practice.

Epidemiology and outcome following post-surgical admission to critical care.

PURPOSE: To describe the factors related to outcome in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after major surgery at a national level (in Austria). METHODS: Analysis of a prospectively collected database of ICU admissions over an 11-year period. Factors associated with mortality and how this changed with time were explored using logistic multilevel modelling. RESULTS: A total of 88,504 surgical patients had a mean ICU length of stay of 6.5 days and total hospital stay of 31.3 days. They had an ICU mortality of 7.6% and a hospital mortality of 11.8%. Factors associated with hospital mortality included age (odds ratio (OR) 1.42 per 10 years of age), urgency of operation (2.02 for emergency when compared to elective), SAPS II score (OR 1.09), reason for admission being a medical cause and the specific nature of the surgery itself: thoracic (OR 1.81), cardiovascular (OR 1.25), trauma (OR 1.22) or gastrointestinal surgery (OR 1.71). In addition patients who had pre-existing chronic renal (OR 1.40), respiratory (OR 1.20) or cardiac failure (OR 1.29), cirrhosis (OR 2.50), alcoholism (OR 1.42), acute kidney injury (OR 1.88) and/or non-metastatic cancer (OR 1.20) were associated with higher hospital mortality than patients without this co-morbidity. There was a reduction in the OR for death over the whole 11-year period. This improved outcome remained valid even after adjusting for the identified risk factors for mortality (OR per year 0.96). CONCLUSIONS: This study has shown the high level of demand for critical care for this patient group and an improving rate of survival.

Use of early corticosteroid therapy on ICU admission in patients affected by severe pandemic (H1N1)v influenza A infection.

INTRODUCTION: Early use of corticosteroids in patients affected by pandemic (H1N1)v influenza A infection, although relatively common, remains controversial. METHODS: Prospective, observational, multicenter study from 23 June 2009 through 11 February 2010, reported in the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) H1N1 registry. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with completed outcome data were analyzed. Invasive mechanical ventilation was used in 155 (70.5%). Sixty-seven (30.5%) of the patients died in ICU and 75 (34.1%) whilst in hospital. One hundred twenty-six (57.3%) patients received corticosteroid therapy on admission to ICU. Patients who received corticosteroids were significantly older and were more likely to have coexisting asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and chronic steroid use. These patients receiving corticosteroids had increased likelihood of developing hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) [26.2% versus 13.8%, p < 0.05; odds ratio (OR) 2.2, confidence interval (CI) 1.1-4.5]. Patients who received corticosteroids had significantly higher ICU mortality than patients who did not (46.0% versus 18.1%, p < 0.01; OR 3.8, CI 2.1-7.2). Cox regression analysis adjusted for severity and potential confounding factors identified that early use of corticosteroids was not significantly associated with mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 1.3, 95% CI 0.7-2.4, p = 0.4] but was still associated with an increased rate of HAP (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0-4.8, p < 0.05). When only patients developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were analyzed, similar results were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Early use of corticosteroids in patients affected by pandemic (H1N1)v influenza A infection did not result in better outcomes and was associated with increased risk of superinfections.

Experience with lyophilized human dura mater for urethral strictures.

PURPOSE: We report our results using lyophilized human dura mater for urethral strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of 131 urethroplasties using lyophilized human dura mater grafts were reviewed. The etiology of the stricture was unknown in most cases and 44.3% had not been previously treated. Mean stricture length was 10 cm. A dura mater patch was used in 124 cases and tubular graft in 7. RESULTS: Average followup was 56.6 months. The overall complication rate during the first month was 16.3%. At 6 months the graft failed in 2 cases and 25.2% had stricture recurrence. Good results were obtained in the longer term in 41.1% of cases, with a high recurrence rate and malignancy in 4 cases (3.2%) which required penectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Despite being a biologically well tolerated material, lyophilized human dura mater is not good for urethral strictures because of the high number of relapses and possibility of malignancy.

[Tijuana: endemic zone of Coccidioides immitis infection]. / Tijuana: zona endémica de infección por Coccidioides immitis.

To consider a geographical zone as endemic for Coccidioidomycosis, three requisites are necessary: 1. isolation of the causal agent, Coccidioides immitis, from the environment, 2. a prevalence of infection among the population of that area of at least 5%, and 3. the demonstration of clinical cases of coccidioidomycosis in that population. There are no previous reports on the endemicity of Coccidioidomycosis in Tijuana, Baja California, mexico. We are reporting: a) the isolation of the causal agent, C. immitis from the environment, b) the results of a survey with intradermal antigens of the fungus, with a prevalence of infection among 1 128 healthy subjects of 10%, and c) the incidence of this systemic mycosis among the population of patients of the Tijuana General Hospital during a three-year period.