Evaluation of Direct Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing from Positive Flagged Blood Cultures in Sepsis Patients.

Background: Presently, many laboratories are equipped with automated system for antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for minimum inhibitory concentration-based reporting which enables the clinician to choose the right antimicrobial for timely treatment of sepsis. The study aimed to assess performance of direct AST from blood culture positive broth using automated AST system for accuracy and time taken to release the report. Materials and methods: The present study conducted in a 25-bedded ICU in North India for 12 months. Single morphotype of bacteria on gram stain from positively flagged blood culture bottles were included, which was directly identified (using an in-house protocol) with MALDI-TOF-MS from positive blood culture broths. DAST was carried out from 200 such blood culture broths and results were compared with reference AST (RAST) which was also done using VITEK-2 using overnight grown bacterial colonies as per standard protocol. Results: Among 60 isolates of Enterobacterales, 99% categorical agreement for both E. coli and K. pneumoniae observed by two methods were tested for AST. Among non-fermenters, Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed a categorical agreement of 99.6%, as compared with Acinetobacter spp. and exotic GNBs, which showed 95-96% agreement. A significant difference of 18-24 hours was noted in time to release the report between DAST and RAST, for GNB and GPC both. Conclusion: Direct AST from positive flagged blood culture bottles can significantly reduce the time to release the bacterial susceptibility report by up to 24 hours, at the same time maintaining the accuracy. How to cite this article: Singh V, Agarwal J, Nath SS, Sharma A. Evaluation of Direct Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing from Positive Flagged Blood Cultures in Sepsis Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(4):387-392.

Exploring the Impact of Prior Beta-Blocker and Calcium Channel Blocker Usage on Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients With Sepsis: An Observational Study.

Background Sepsis is associated with increased Ca++ levels in many cell types that can cause cytotoxicity and cell death through multiple mechanisms. In patients with sepsis, limiting beta-adrenergic stimulation may also be beneficial. The intense adrenergic stimulation of sepsis results in cardiac and extra-cardiac effects. In the intensive care unit (ICU), the question of whether to continue calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and beta-blockers in patients with sepsis who were using these medications before ICU admission is of significant concern. Methodology In this prospective observational study, we have included 114 patients who met the inclusion criteria of being diagnosed as having sepsis, aged 18 to 65 years, and expected to stay in the ICU for more than 72 hours. These patients were divided into three groups: group 1 consisted of patients taking CCBs before admission, group 2 included those taking beta-blockers before admission, and group 3 served as the control group, comprising patients who had not taken either of these medications before admission. Disease severity in the ICU was assessed and documented by the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score. Clinical outcomes among three groups were compared regarding the need for vasopressor support, serum procalcitonin (PCT), serum lactate, serum quantitative C-reactive protein (qCRP), SOFA score, and 28 days mortality. Parametric data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to analyze parametric data between the two groups and among three groups. Results Mortality was found lower in group 1 (21.05%) and group 2 (26.31%) than in group 3 (47.36%), and this association was found to be statistically significant (P = 0.033). We also found a significant difference in mortality between groups 1 and 3 (P = 0.015) and no significant difference between groups 2 and 3 (P = 0.057). Mortality was found to be significantly associated with high SOFA scores on days 1, 3, and 7. Conclusions From the aforementioned results, we concluded that the mortality rate in patients with sepsis was improved when they were pretreated with beta-blockers or CCBs before admission to the ICU and that medication should be continued if not contraindicated in the ICU course.

Study of foetomaternal outcomes in COVID-19 afflicted parturients who underwent operative delivery - A retrospective analysis.

Background and Aims: Parturients with coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 are increasingly presenting for operative delivery. The aim of this study was to outline the foetomaternal outcome in COVID-19-afflicted pregnant women who underwent lower segment caeserean section (LSCS). Methods: Data of all COVID-19 positive pregnant females who underwent caesarean section surgery between 1 April and 30 June 2021 was collected. Clinical parameters, including oxygen requirement, laboratory investigations, treatment measures, complications, length of hospital and intensive care unit/neonatal intensive care unit stay, and outcome of parturients and neonates, were collected and analysed. All patients were followed up either during their visits to the obstetric outpatient department or by making phone calls between 1 and 2 months of discharge. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences statistical software 16.0 was used for analysis. Independent group t-test or Mann-Whitney test was used for mean of continuous data. Chi-square test or Fisher's test was used for proportion of categorical data. A P value of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 71 parturients delivered by caesarean section. 36.51% had mild COVID-19, and 87.5% had moderate COVID-19 at admission. One each with mild and moderate disease expired. The median (interquartile range) length of hospital stay was 7 (5-5.9) days for those with mild disease, and it was significantly longer for those with the moderate disease at 14 (9.5-17.5) days. Our study found that after a mean of 41.72 days of follow-up, of the 69 surviving mothers, 17 complained of fatigue, five complained of myalgia and one needed intermittent supplemental oxygen. Out of 74 babies born, seven died, which is 94.6 per 1000 live births. Conclusion: COVID-19 parturients delivered by LSCS stand a higher risk of maternal and neonatal mortality and adverse effects, including more hospital stay and increased mortality.

Reversing the Trend of Antimicrobial Resistance in ICU: Role of Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship.

BACKGROUND: Increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among common bacteria combined with the slow development of new antibiotics has posed a challenge to clinicians. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate whether antimicrobial and diagnostic stewardship program (ASP and DSP)-related interventions improve antibiotic susceptibilities among common bacteria causing bloodstream infections (BSI) in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and whether these resulted in changes in the volume of antimicrobial consumption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the susceptibility patterns of gram-negative bacteria (GNB) and gram-positive cocci (GPC) causing BSI and changes in the volume of antibiotics prescribed for the same before and after 2017 by a retrospective analysis. RESULTS: Postintervention, there was increased susceptibility of all GNBs to aminoglycosides; Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. to beta-lactambeta-lactamase inhibitors (BLBLI) combinations; and Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. to carbapenems. Acinetobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., and Pseudomonas spp. showed improved susceptibility to doxycycline, whereas E. coli and Klebsiella spp. showed significantly improved susceptibility to fluoroquinolones. Among GPCs, there was increased susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus (levofloxacin, clindamycin, and aminoglycoside), coagulase-negative S. aureus (CoNS) (chloramphenicol, levofloxacin, clindamycin, and aminoglycoside), and enterococci (chloramphenicol, levofloxacin, and clindamycin). There was a significant reduction in usage of antimicrobials for the treatment of GPCs (linezolid, doxycycline, chloramphenicol, levofloxacin, BLBLI, macrolide, and cephalosporin) and GNBs (levofloxacin, cephalosporin, carbapenem, and colistin), which caused BSI. CONCLUSION: The present study illustrated that combined ASP and DSP interventions successfully reversed the resistance pattern of organisms causing BSI and resulted in a reduction in antibiotic utilization. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Agarwal J, Singh V, Das A, Nath SS, Kumar R, Sen M. Reversing the Trend of Antimicrobial Resistance in ICU: Role of Antimicrobial and Diagnostic Stewardship. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(6):635-641.

Comparison of the Efficacy of Different Arterial Waveform-derived Variables (Pulse Pressure Variation, Stroke Volume Variation, Systolic Pressure Variation) for Fluid Responsiveness in Hemodynamically Unstable Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Patients.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to assess fluid responsiveness in critically ill patients to avoid various complications of fluid overload. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was done in an ICU of a tertiary care hospital after approval from the institute ethical committee over 18 months. A total of 54 consenting adult patients were included in the study. Patients were hemodynamically unstable requiring mechanical ventilation, had acute circulatory failure, or those with at least one clinical sign of inadequate tissue perfusion. All patients were ventilated using tidal volume of 6-8 mL/kg, RR-12-15/minutes, positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP)-5 cm of water, and plateau pressure was kept below 30 cm water. They were sedated throughout the study. The arterial line and the central venous catheter were placed and connected to Vigileo-FloTrac transducer (Edward Lifesciences). Patients were classified into responder and nonresponder groups on the basis of the cardiac index (CI) after fluid challenge of 10 mL/kg of normal saline over 30 minutes. Pulse pressure variation (PPV), stroke volume variation (SVV), and systolic pressure variation (SPV) were assessed and compared at baseline, 30 minutes, and 60 minutes. RESULTS: In our study we found that PPV and SVV were significantly lower among responders than nonresponders at 30 minutes and insignificant at 60 minutes. Stroke volume variation was 10.28 ± 1.76 in the responder compared to 12.28 ± 4.42 (p = 0.02) at 30 minutes and PPV was 15.28 ± 6.94 in responders while it was 20.03 ± 4.35 in nonresponders (p = 0.01). We found SPV was insignificant at all time periods among both groups. CONCLUSION: We can conclude that initial assessment for fluid responsiveness in critically ill mechanically ventilated patients should be based on PPV and SVV to prevent complications of fluid overload and their consequences. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Kumar N, Malviya D, Nath SS, Rastogi S, Upadhyay V. Comparison of the Efficacy of Different Arterial Waveform-derived Variables (Pulse Pressure Variation, Stroke Volume Variation, Systolic Pressure Variation) for Fluid Responsiveness in Hemodynamically Unstable Mechanically Ventilated Critically Ill Patients. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(1):48-53.

Comparative Study of Effects of Intraoperative Use of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure, Intermittent Recruitment Maneuver, and Conventional Ventilation on Pulmonary Functions during long-Duration Laparotomy.

BACKGROUND: With an increase in the duration of general anesthesia, there is a gradual deterioration in pulmonary functions. Intraoperative atelectasis is the major cause of deterioration in pulmonary functions. This study was performed to compare and determine the best ventilatory strategy among conventional ventilation, application of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP), and intermittent recruitment maneuver. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-five patients were divided into three groups each of 25 patients. In the first group (zero positive end-expiratory pressure [ZEEP]), we have applied zero PEEP intraoperatively. In the second group (PEEP), we have applied PEEP of 6 cm of H2O. In the third group (intermittent lung recruitment maneuver [IRM]), we have done intermittent recruitment maneuver intraoperatively. Pulmonary functions were analyzed by partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2)/fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2) ratio (P/F) and static lung compliance (Cstat). RESULTS: While comparing the mean P/F ratio between the groups, a significant decrease in P/F ratio of the ZEEP group was found from 90 min after induction up till the end (i. e. 24 h after extubation) of our observations as compared to both the PEEP and IRM groups. However, it did not differ (P > 0.05) between the PEEP and IRM groups at all time points on statistical analysis. On comparing the mean of Cstat between the groups, there was a significant decrease in lung compliance of the ZEEP group as compared to both the PEEP and IRM groups at all time points. However, like P/F ratio, compliance was also found to be statistically insignificant between the PEEP and IRM groups. CONCLUSIONS: Pulmonary functions are relatively preserved with application of either PEEP or doing intermittent recruitment maneuver.

Hyperglycaemia and ketosis in a non-diabetic patient--an unusual cause of delayed recovery.

We report a case of hyperglycaemia and ketosis developing in a non-diabetic patient who underwent a neurosurgical procedure under general anaesthesia. A 52-year-old non-diabetic female patient underwent excision of acoustic neuroma under general anaesthesia. Pancreatic function was not disturbed and she received a single dose of dexamethasone (8 mg) and paracetamol (1 g). Delayed recovery from anaesthesia occurred. On investigation, she was found to have hyperglycaemia and ketosis. She was further managed on the line of diabetic ketoacidosis. After 24 hours, when blood glucose had normalised and ketosis abated, she could be weaned from mechanical ventilation and extubated. The patient did not receive any drugs known to cause such a condition. To the best of our knowledge, hyperglycaemia and ketosis developing in a non-diabetic patient causing delayed recovery and extubation is here reported for the first time.

Propofol and fentanyl take longer for induction of anesthesia in aortic regurgitation: a case-controlled prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to determine if induction time of anesthesia in patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) is different from patients with a normal aortic valve (AV). DESIGN: A prospective, case-control study. SETTING: A single institutional study conducted in a tertiary care teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-four male patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, group I (n = 12) patients with competent AV and group 2 (n = 12) with severe AR. INTERVENTIONS: General anesthesia was induced by intravenous infusion of propofol and fentanyl. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Continuous measurements of heart rate, intra-arterial blood pressure, and bispectral index were recorded. Induction doses of propofol and fentanyl were analyzed and compared. There was significant difference between the 2 groups in terms of induction time of anesthesia (mean ± SD 308 ± 68.2 seconds in group 1 v 445 ± 97.9 seconds in group 2). The patients in group 2 (AR) required significantly larger doses of propofol (0.91 ± 0.40 mg/kg) than the patients in group 1 (0.49 ± 0.17 mg/kg). Similarly, fentanyl dose was increased in the group 2 patients (20.8 ± 15.9 µg/kg) compared with the group 1 patients (9.2 ± 2.9 µg/kg). CONCLUSION: The authors concluded that there was a significant prolongation of the induction time of anesthesia and the need of larger doses of propofol and fentanyl by slow intravenous infusion regimen in patients with AR compared with patients with a competent aortic valve.

Perioperative ischaemia-induced liver injury and protection strategies: An expanding horizon for anaesthesiologists.

Liver resection is an effective modality of treatment in patients with primary liver tumour, metastases from colorectal cancers and selected benign hepatic diseases. Its aim is to resect the grossly visible tumour with clear margins and to ensure that the remnant liver mass has sufficient function which is adequate for survival. With the advent of better preoperative imaging, surgical techniques and perioperative management, there is an improvement in the outcome with decreased mortality. This decline in postoperative mortality after hepatic resection has encouraged surgeons for more radical liver resections, leaving behind smaller liver remnants in a bid to achieve curative surgeries. But despite advances in diagnostic, imaging and surgical techniques, postoperative liver dysfunction of varied severity including death due to liver failure is still a serious problem in such patients. Different surgical and non-surgical techniques like reducing perioperative blood loss and consequent decreased transfusions, vascular occlusion techniques (intermittent portal triad clamping and ischaemic preconditioning), administration of pharmacological agents (dextrose, intraoperative use of methylprednisolone, trimetazidine, ulinastatin and lignocaine) and inhaled anaesthetic agents (sevoflurane) and opioids (remifentanil) have demonstrated the potential benefit and minimised the adverse effects of surgery. In this article, the authors reviewed the surgical and non-surgical measures that could be adopted to minimise the risk of postoperative liver failure following liver surgeries with special emphasis on ischaemic and pharmacological preconditioning which can be easily adapted clinically.

Dexmedetomidine overdosage: An unusual presentation.

We present a case of dexmedetomidine toxicity in a 3-year-old child. The case report describes the features and outlines the treatment strategy adopted. The child presented with bradypnoea, bradycardia, hypotension, deep hypnosis and miosis. He was successfully managed with oxygen, saline boluses and adrenaline infusion. He became haemodynamically stable with adrenaline infusion. He started responding to painful stimuli in 3 h and became oriented in 7 h. Dexmedetomidine, a selective α2 adrenoceptor agonist, is claimed to have a wide safety margin. This case report highlights the fact that dexmedetomidine administered in a toxic dose may be life-threatening may present with miosis and adrenaline infusion may be a useful supportive treatment.

A near fatal case of high dose peppermint oil ingestion- Lessons learnt.

Peppermint oil is easily available as a constituent of medicines. A near fatal case due to ingestion of toxic dose of oral peppermint oil is being reported. The patient came in a comatosed state and was in shock. She was managed with mechanical ventilation and ionotropes. Her vital parameters reached normal within 8 hours and became conscious by 24 hours. The side effects of peppermint oil are considered to be mild but this case report warns that ingestion of oral toxic doses of peppermint oil could be dangerous.

The response of the vascular beds to sodium bicarbonate in patients during normothermic bypass.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) provides a unique circumstance to study the effects of drugs on the systemic vasculature. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of sodium bicarbonate on the systemic circulation during CPB in humans. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind study. SETTING: Tertiary care university hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients presenting for coronary artery bypass graft surgery with CPB. INTERVENTIONS: In this double-blind study, 22 consecutive adult patients of both sexes undergoing cardiac surgery were randomized into 2 groups. After establishing CPB and cardioplegia, patients in group 1 (n = 11) received saline (0.9%) (1.2 mL/kg), and group 2 received sodium bicarbonate (SB) (7%) (1.2 mL/kg). The blood level in the cardiotomy reservoir, pump flow, and mean arterial pressure were measured for 25 minutes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The SB-treated patients (group 2) showed significantly greater (p < 0.05) decreases in cardiotomy reservoir blood volume (336 +/- 186 mL) than the saline-treated (140 +/- 97 mL) patients. The mean arterial pressure in group 2 patients significantly (p < 0.05) increased (from 49 +/- 11.9 to 65 +/- 5.3 mmHg) more than in the saline group (from 50 +/- 6.8 to 57 +/- 9.2 mmHg) after 20 minutes. The decrease in reservoir volume significantly (p < 0.05) and inversely correlated (r = -0.61) with the acidotic state of the patients before SB. CONCLUSIONS: This study found a biphasic response to SB on the systemic circulation during CPB. Early dilation of venous capacitance vessels occurred followed by arteriolar constriction over the 20-minute study interval.