The prevalence of healthcare-associated infection in medical intensive care units in Tunisia. Results of the multi-centre nosorea1 study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of Healthcare-Associated Infection (HAI) in medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU), risk factors for these infections and identify the predominant infecting organisms. METHODS: A 1-day point-prevalence study within all medical ICUs in Tunisia, all patients occupying an ICU bed over a 48-hour period were included. Rates of HAI, resistance patterns of microbiological isolates and potential risk factors for HAI were recorded. RESULTS: One hundred and three patients were collected from 15 Tunisian medical ICUs. HAI prevalence was 25.2% CI 95% [15-35].The most frequent HAIs were hospital acquired pneumonia in 19 cases (59%) and catheter related infection in 5 cases (15%). Independent factors associated with HAI occurrence were SAPSII score ≥ 33 with OR 1.047; CI 95% [1.015-1.077], p=0.003 and recent hospitalization with OR 4.14 CI 95% [1.235-13.889], p=0.021. Non-fermenting pathogens were the most frequent microorganisms reported in ICUs ecology, prior colonization and HAIs of the screened patients. CONCLUSION: HAIs are frequent in medical ICUs in Tunisia, which emphasize the importance of specific measures for surveillance and infection control in critically ill patients. Implementing a national monitoring system of HAI should be a major priority of public health in Tunisia.

Critical appraisal of the clinical utility of sublingual immunotherapy in allergy.

Since it was introduced by Noon in 1911, allergen-specific immunotherapy or desensitization has been widely prescribed in the management of allergic diseases. Aimed at the etiology, it represents the only effective treatment for allergy. The basic mechanisms of immunotherapy are becoming better understood and allow us to improve this technique in the future. The sublingual immunotherapy as an alternative to subcutaneous route has been widely studied. Several clinical trials confirmed that sublingual immunotherapy is efficient in reducing allergic respiratory symptoms. The sublingual immunotherapy reduces the risk of developing serious side effects due to desensitization. We performed a literature review in order to remind the mechanisms of action and to demonstrate efficacy and tolerability of the sublingual immunotherapy in the treatment of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma and its impact on the quality of life.

[Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a population of apneic patients: a prospective study with cardiovascular risk estimation]. / Prévalence du syndrome métabolique dans une population de patients apnéiques: étude prospective avec calcul du risque cardiovasculaire.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a highly prevalent clinical condition and frequently associated with obesity. Recent literature has suggested the independent contribution of OSAS in the pathogenesis of metabolic disturbances. Metabolic syndrome (MS), a cardiovascular risk factor, was frequently associated with OSAS. METHODS: This is a prospective study without intervention. Will be included, all consecutive patients referred to the Department of Pulmonology for suspected OSAS confirmed by respiratory polygraphy. Anthropometric, clinical and biological parameters needed to define the MS will be collected. MS was defined according to the IDF 2005. Assessment of cardiovascular risk related to MS will be performed by appropriate scores. EXPECTED RESULTS: To determine the prevalence of MS in a sample of OSAS patients recruited in the Department of Pulmonology of Farhat Hached Hospital (Sousse, Tunisia). To identify risk factors independently associated with the presence of MS in patients with OSAS among the following parameters (age, gender, degree of obesity and the various parameters of OSAS severity). To assess compared cardiovascular risks according to the presence of MS by validated scales to demonstrate the impact of MS in patients with OSAS.

WITHDRAWN: Allergen specific immunotherapy induced multi-organ failure.

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Helium-oxygen in the postextubation period decreases inspiratory effort.

After tracheal extubation, upper and total airway resistances may frequently be increased resulting in an increase in inspiratory effort to breathe. We tested whether breathing a helium-oxygen mixture (HeO(2)) would reduce inspiratory effort in the period after extubation. Eighteen consecutive patients with no chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who had received mechanical ventilation (> 48 h) were successively studied immediately after extubation (N(2)O(2)), 15 min after breathing HeO(2), and after return to N(2)O(2). Effort to breathe, assessed by the transdiaphragmatic pressure swings (DeltaPdi) and the pressure-time index of the diaphragm (PTI), comfort, and gas exchange, were the main end points. The mean reduction of the transdiaphragmatic pressure under HeO(2) was 19 +/- 5%. All but three patients presented a decrease in transdiaphragmatic pressure under HeO(2), ranging from - 4 to - 55%, and a significant reduction in DeltaPdi was observed between HeO(2) and N(2)O(2) (10.2 +/- 0.7 versus 8.6 +/- 1.1 versus 10.0 +/- 0.8 cm H(2)O for the three consecutive periods; p < 0.05). PTI also differed significantly between HeO(2) and N(2)O(2) (197 +/- 19 versus 166 +/- 22 versus 201 +/- 23 cm H(2)O/s/min for the three periods; p < 0.05). Breathing HeO(2) significantly improved comfort, whereas gas exchange was not modified. We conclude that the use of HeO(2) in the immediate postextubation period decreases inspiratory effort and improves comfort.

Continuous versus intermittent nebulization of salbutamol in acute severe asthma: a randomized, controlled trial.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to compare the clinical and spirometric effects of continuous and intermittent nebulization of salbutamol in acute severe asthma. METHODS: Forty-two consecutive patients presenting to the emergency department for acute severe asthma (peak expiratory flow [PEF] mean+/-SD, 24%+/-12% predicted) were prospectively randomly assigned to receive 27.5 mg of salbutamol by either continuous or intermittent nebulization over a 6-hour period. The continuous nebulization group received 15 mg of salbutamol during the first hour and 12.5 mg over the next 5 hours. The intermittent nebulization group received 5 mg of salbutamol every 20 minutes during the first hour and 2.5 mg hourly over the next 5 hours. All participants received oxygen and intravenous hydrocortisone. Clinical and spirometric assessment was performed at baseline, 40 minutes, 60 minutes, and at 3 and 6 hours after the start of the nebulization. Secondary endpoints were the respective rates of hospitalization and treatment failure. RESULTS: A significant clinical and spirometric improvement was observed in both groups over baseline as soon as the 40th minute and was sustained thereafter (absolute PEF increase at the sixth hour 30%+/-18% and 32%+/-22% in the continuous and intermittent nebulization groups, respectively; P <.01 over baseline). PEF and the clinical score evolved similarly in both groups. There was no difference between the groups regarding the failure rate of the initial bronchodilator treatment to terminate the asthma attack (3 [14%] in the continuous nebulization group and 2 [9.5%] in the intermittent nebulization group, absolute difference 4.5% [95% confidence interval -14% to 23%]). Eight (38%) patients and 9 (43%) patients from the continuous and intermittent nebulization groups, respectively, required hospitalization according to predefined criteria (absolute difference 4.8% [95% confidence interval -24% to 34%]). CONCLUSION: We did not observe an appreciable difference between continuous and intermittent nebulization of salbutamol in acute severe asthma. The decision to use one of these nebulization methods should be based on logistical considerations.

Noninvasive ventilation with helium-oxygen in acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The use of helium-oxygen (HeO(2)) was tested in combination with noninvasive ventilation (NIV) in 10 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Effort to breathe as assessed by the respiratory muscle pressure-time index (PTI), work of breathing (WOB), and gas exchange were the main endpoints. Results of NIV-HeO(2) were compared with those obtained with standard NIV (AirO(2)), at two levels of pressure-support ventilation (PSV), 9 +/- 2 cm H(2)O and 18 +/- 3 cm H(2)O. Significant reductions in PTI were observed between HeO(2) and AirO(2) at both the low PSV level (n = 9; 160 +/- 58 versus 198 +/- 78 cm H(2)O/s/ min; p < 0.05) and the high PSV level (n = 10; 100 +/- 45 versus 150 +/- 82 cm H(2)O/s/min; p < 0.01). WOB also differed significantly between HeO(2) and AirO(2) (7.8 +/- 4.1 versus 10.9 +/- 6.1 J/min at the low PSV level, p < 0.05; and 5.7 +/- 3.3 versus 9.2 +/- 5. J/min, p < 0.01 at the high PSV level). HeO(2) reduced Pa(CO(2)) at both the low PSV level (61 +/- 13 versus 64 +/- 15 mm Hg; p < 0.05) and the high PSV level (56 +/- 13 versus 58 +/- 14 mm Hg; p < 0.05), without significantly changing breathing pattern or oxygenation. We conclude that use of HeO(2) during NIV markedly enhances the ability of NIV to reduce patient effort and to improve gas exchange.

Dobutamine in severe scorpion envenomation: effects on standard hemodynamics, right ventricular performance, and tissue oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES: To document the effects of dobutamine on standard hemodynamics and right ventricular (RV) performance in patients exhibiting pulmonary edema following severe scorpion envenomation, and to characterize the tissue oxygenation profile in patients sustaining scorpion envenomation-related shock. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: An ICU in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Nineteen consecutive patients were admitted to the ICU for severe scorpion envenomation; all 19 patients exhibited hemodynamic pulmonary edema, and 10 patients had peripheral shock. INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent a hemodynamic study with a Swan-Ganz catheter. In 8 of 19 patients, the thermodilution catheter was equipped with a fast-response thermistor. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Standard hemodynamic parameters were recorded on admission and following the infusion of dobutamine in all patients at a dosage, from 7 to 20 microg/kg/min, intended to achieve the best hemodynamic and tissue oxygenation compromise. RV ejection fraction (RVEF) and RV volumes were simultaneously recorded in 8 patients, and tissue oxygenation parameters were assessed in the 10 patients with peripheral shock. The clinical signs of tissue hypoperfusion improved, and optimal hemodynamic parameters were achieved at a mean +/- SD dobutamine dosage of 17 +/- 7 microg/kg/min. Dobutamine infusion evoked statistically significant increases in cardiac index, from 2.3 +/- 0.6 to 3.6 +/- 0.7 L/min/m2; stroke volume index, from 18 +/- 5 to 31 +/- 10 mL/m2; and systemic arterial pressure, from 64 +/- 12 to 78 +/- 14 mm Hg. Pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) and venous admixture decreased significantly: from 23 +/- 4 to 15 +/- 6 mm Hg and from 29 +/- 7% to 20 +/- 5%, respectively. With respect to RV function, dobutamine infusion significantly increased the RVEF, from 24 +/- 7% to 42 +/- 9%, without significantly changing the RV end-diastolic volume index, reflecting an enhanced RV contractility. In patients with peripheral circulatory failure, the baseline tissue oxygenation profile was consistent with cardiogenic shock, showing increased oxygen extraction as a consequence of a striking depression in oxygen delivery (DO2). After dobutamine infusion, DO2 improved significantly, from 386 +/- 104 to 676 +/- 156 mL/min/m2, with a significant decrease in oxygen extraction, from 34 +/- 8% to 24 +/- 6%. CONCLUSIONS: In severe scorpion envenomation, dobutamine infusion improves impaired heart function. The effects involve both left ventricular and RV dysfunction. Impaired tissue oxygenation is also improved.

Efficacy of serotherapy in scorpion sting: a matched-pair study.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Although evidence of scorpion antivenin effectiveness in the clinical setting is lacking, scorpion antivenin is generally considered the only specific treatment for scorpion sting irrespective of its clinical severity. We conducted a matched-pair study to assess the efficacy of systematic administration of scorpion antivenin. METHODS: Among 600 stung patients who participated in a study on the efficacy of high-dose hydrocortisone after scorpion sting, 135 (cases) had been treated with 10 to 20 mL intravenous scorpion antivenin (neutralizing 10 LD50 venom/mL). Controls were matched on disease severity on arrival to the emergency department. The severity of envenomation was graded I or II according to the absence (grade I) or the presence (grade II) of systemic manifestations of scorpion envenomation. Assessment of scorpion antivenin efficacy was based on the rate of changing severity grade in both groups (clinical improvement or worsening during an observation period of at least 4 hours). RESULTS: Both groups were similar with respect to clinical severity (36 patients were graded II in each group), age, sex, time-lapse between scorpion sting and ED arrival, and the administration of adjunctive therapy such as hydrocortisone. By the 4-hour evaluation, 50% and 64% of patients initially graded II exhibited a substantial clinical improvement in cases and controls, respectively, suggesting similar effects in cases and controls. There was no difference in preventive effects: 13% and 10% of cases and controls developed systemic manifestations of scorpion envenomation during the 4-hour observation period; 23% of cases and 17% controls were hospitalized by this time. There was no difference in the duration of hospitalization. Three cases developed anaphylactic shock as a consequence of scorpion antivenin administration, while 1 scorpion antivenin-untreated patient died from refractory shock. CONCLUSION: Systematic administration of scorpion antivenin irrespective of clinical severity did not alter the clinical course of scorpion sting. A prospective study is needed concerning the response of the more severe scorpion envenomations.

Successful weaning from mechanical ventilation following balloon mitral commissurotomy.

Successful weaning from mechanical ventilation (MV) following percutaneous balloon mitral commissurotomy (BMC) is reported in a 59-year-old woman with severe symptomatic rheumatic mitral stenosis. The patient was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for acute respiratory failure secondary to pulmonary edema requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation. After resolution of the acute phase, she became completely dependent on mechanical ventilatory support. In spite of the reinforcement of conventional therapy (diuretics, digitalis, vasodilators), weaning attempts were unsuccessful because of persisting elevated left atrial pressure. Percutaneous BMC was performed with favorable hemodynamic results, allowing the removal of external ventilatory support 24 h later and discharge from the Intensive Care Unit the same day.