Development and validation of a risk score for predicting positivity of blood cultures and mortality in patients with bacteremia and fungemia.

INTRODUCTION: Bacteremia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Predictors of mortality are critical for the management and survival of hospitalized patients. The objective of this study was to determine the factors related to blood culture positivity and the risk factors for mortality in patients whose blood cultures were collected. METHODS: A prospective 2-cohort study (derivation with 784 patients and validation with 380 patients) based on the Pitt bacteremia score for all patients undergoing blood culture collection. The score was obtained from multivariate analysis. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve of the cohort derivation and the cohort validation groups was calculated, and the difference was assessed using a log-rank test. Mortality-related factors were older age, extended hospitalization, > 10% of immature cells in the leukogram, lower mean blood pressure, elevated heart rate, elevated WBC count, and elevated respiratory rate. These continuous variables were dichotomized according to their significance level, and a cut-off limit was created. RESULTS: The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.789. The score was validated in a group of 380 patients who were prospectively evaluated. CONCLUSION: Prolonged hospitalization, body temperature, and elevated heart rate were related to positive blood cultures. The Pitt score can be used to assess the risk of death; however it can be individualized according to the epidemiology of each hospital.

Ascite liquórica estéril após implante de derivação ventriculo-peritoneal / Sterile ascites from a ventriculoperitoneal shunt: a case report

INTRODUÇÃO: a hidrocefalia, devido possíveis complicações, exige tratamento para desvio do líquido cefalorraquidiano. A derivação ventrículo peritoneal (DVP) é uma das técnicas para isso, entre suas complicações, a ascite liquórica estéril é a mais rara, havendo menos de 30 casos registrados. RELATO DE CASO: feminino, 03 meses, submetida à DVP por hidrocefalia, no Hospital Infantil de Londrina. Contudo, apesar do sistema valvular funcionante, paciente desenvolveu ascite liquórica estéril, clinicamente assintomático e exames laboratoriais normais. Para adequada drenagem liquórica foi realizado DVA, apresentando boa evolução. DISCUSSÃO: devido à incapacidade de absorção liquórica pela cavidade peritoneal, forma-se a ascite estéril. Não existe causa definida para etiologia, mas, é pensado que a quebra da membrana peritoneal associada a rejeição do cateter, induza alterações de celularidade prejudicando a reabsorção liquórica. Nesses casos, DVA apresenta-se como primeira opção. CONCLUSÃO: ascite liquórica estéril demanda estudos profundos e abrangentes, para obter maior compreensão, especialmente quanto à prevenção

Hydrocephallus demands treatment in order to divert the cerebral spinal fluid. The ventriculo peritoneal shunt is the main technique used, and a possible complication (despite the rare stone) is the sterile liquoric ascitis (30 registered cases). CASE REPORT:female, 3 months, submitted to ventriculo peritoneal shunt for hydrocephallus, at Infantile Hospital of Londrina ­ Londrina, Brazil. However, despite the functional valvular system, a sterile liquoric ascitis was developed, asymptomatic and with normal laboratory findings. In order to develop a normal liquoric flow, a ventricular-atrial shunt was performed. DISCUSSION: due to the peritoneum's inability to absorb CFS, the ascitisis formed. There is not a specific cause to this etiology, but is believed that the break of the peritoneal's membrane associated to a catheter's rejection, induce cellularity changes that may harm the liquoric reabsorption. CONCLUSION:liquoric ascitis still demands studies and research, in order to be fully comprehended, with special focus on prevention