Impact of nonexacerbated COPD on mortality in critically ill patients.

BACKGROUND: The real contribution of nonexacerbated COPD to mortality has not been studied. The aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of nonexacerbated COPD on mortality in patients requiring mechanical ventilation (MV). METHODS: This prospective, observational study included critically ill, ventilated patients without evidence of respiratory infection. Patients with COPD comprised the study group. Clinical and demographics variables were recorded. The main end point was ICU mortality. RESULTS: Of the 235 patients included, 60 (25.5%) intubated patients had COPD. The remaining 175 (74.5%) comprised the control group. Those with COPD were more often medical patients who were older and had a higher number of comorbidities and a higher APACHE (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation) II score than intubated patients without COPD (P < .05). The overall ICU mortality was 26.3% (62/235) and significantly higher in patients with nonexacerbated COPD (36.7% vs 22.9%, P < .05), with an attributable mortality to COPD of 13.8%. Incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia was not significantly different between patients with nonexacerbated COPD (11.9/1,000 MV days) and without COPD (16.0/1,000 MV days; P = .40). In the multivariate analysis, only COPD (hazard ratio [HR], 2.1; 95% CI, 1.10-3.94), shock at ICU admission (HR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.01-4.01), and medical condition (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.01-3.18) were independently associated with mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Intubated patients with nonexacerbated COPD were not exposed to a higher risk of ventilator-associated pneumonia but had a higher rate of mortality.

Mortality in ICU patients with bacterial community-acquired pneumonia: when antibiotics are not enough.

BACKGROUND: It remains uncertain why immunocompetent patients with bacterial community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) die, in spite of adequate antibiotics. METHODS: This is a secondary analysis of the CAPUCI database which was a prospective observational multicentre study. Two hundred and twelve immunocompetent patients admitted to 33 Spanish ICUs for CAP were analyzed. Comparisons were made for lifestyle risk factors, comorbidities and severity of illness. ICU mortality was the principal outcome variable. RESULTS: Bacteremic CAP (43.3 vs. 21.1%) and empyema (11.5 vs. 2.2%) were more frequent (P < 0.05) in patients with Streptococcus pneumoniae CAP. Higher rates of adequate empiric therapy (95.8 vs. 75.5%, P < 0.05) were observed in patients with S. pneumoniae CAP. Patients with non-pneumococcal CAP experienced more shock (66.7 vs. 50.8%, P < 0.05), and need for mechanical ventilation (83.3 vs. 61.5%, P < 0.05). ICU mortality was 20.7 and 28% [OR 1.49(0.74-2.98)] among immunocompetent patients with S. pneumoniae (n = 122) and non-pneumococci (n = 90), in spite of initial adequate antibiotic. Multivariable regression analysis in these 184 immunocompetent patients with adequate empirical antibiotic treatment identified the following variables as independently associated with mortality: shock (HR 13.03); acute renal failure (HR 4.79), and APACHE II score higher than 24 (HR 2.22). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality remains unacceptably high in immunocompetent patients admitted to the ICU with bacterial pneumonia, despite adequate initial antibiotics and comorbidities management. Patients with shock, acute renal failure and APACHE II score higher than 24 should be considered for inclusion in trials of adjunctive therapy in order to improve CAP survival.

Abscesos múltiples de la pared torácica como complicación de un traumatismo torácico cerrado / Multiple chest wall abscesses complicating blunt chest trauma

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Impact of antibiotic guideline compliance on duration of mechanical ventilation in critically ill patients with community-acquired pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: Multiple guidelines exist to aid clinicians in choosing antibiotics to treat patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP). Our goal was to assess the impact of following these guidelines, such as those from the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), on the duration of mechanical ventilation (MV). DESIGN: Analysis of a prospective registry. SETTING: Multiple ICUs in Spain. PATIENTS: ICU patients with SCAP requiring > or = 24 h of endotracheal intubation and surviving their ICU course. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Demographics, comorbid diseases, severity of illness, and process of care variables were recorded. The duration of MV in patients receiving an antibiotic regimen consistent with IDSA guidelines was compared to patients with prescriptions not in accordance with IDSA recommendations. In the cohort (n = 199), Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most frequent pathogen, and unadjusted analysis showed that the duration of MV was longer in persons receiving IDSA-noncompliant regimens (11 days vs 10 days). In a multivariate hazard model, two variables were independently associated with greater durations of MV: development of acute renal failure (hazard ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02 to 2.12), and prescription of an IDSA-noncompliant regimen (hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.93). Adjusted analysis indicated that patients receiving treatment that was not compliant with IDSA guidelines received MV an added 3 days. CONCLUSION: Failure to follow antibiotic recommendations for the treatment of SCAP may increase the need for continuing MV. Conversely, guideline compliance could represent a surrogate marker that captures other aspects of clinical care, rather than be the direct factor leading to better outcomes. Nonetheless, given the costs associated with MV, enhanced guideline compliance may represent a means for improving outcomes and enhancing resource utilization.